Plot: What’s it about?
It’s really hard to plot the Marvel Universe. Given the success of the films, it’s now extended to the small screen bringing some familiar and some not so familiar names to the plate. It started with Daredevil in which we meet Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer working in Hell’s Kitchen. This set the stage for more New York-based series and Jessica Jones was next up. Since this first season aired, we’ve now got a few more names on the roster like Luke Cage (who makes his first appearance this season) as well as Iron Fist. Most will recognize all of these names, all of whom are now gathered into one series – The Defenders. Confused? Intrigued? Both? Well, let’s get started.
Imagine having superhuman strength – and no control over it.
With the success of Daredevil, Marvel brought another albeit lesser-known, heroine to the small screen. Jessica Jones. Don’t let the plain jane name fool you – she’s tougher than she looks. Created, written and executive produced by Melissa Rosenberg (Dexter and Twilight), we meet the troubled superhero working as a private investigator. Yes, she’s got super strength and the ability to, well, fly. But she’s got issues just like the rest of us. The first season focuses on an investigation into a missing NYU student. Discovering that the missing person is a victim of Kilgrave (David Tennant), a mind-controlling narcissist, the season mainly focuses on Jessica and her continued encounters with the aforementioned villain. Along the way we meet some of the other players like Luke Cage (Mike Colter, paving the way for his own show) as well as Jessica’s confidant, Trish (Rachel Taylor).
There’s a lot going on this first season and it carries over to the second. I can’t and won’t go into all the details as I want this to remain as spoiler-free as humanly (and I use that word lightly) possible. Suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of David Tennant and his witty antics on Doctor Who, he’s a different kind of beast here (and missing the purple skin from the comic books – but I digress…). Likewise Krysten Ritter, who some will recognize as Jane from Breaking Bad, is right at home here. She seems to have the wit and persona to carry this title character.
Video: How’s it look?
All 13 episodes are presented in a 1.78:1 AVC HD image that’s a bit on the dark side. Then again, given the character and some of her antics – it makes sense. Having watched this via Netflix, the Blu-ray offers a bit better image. There’s less compression, the colors seem a bit more lifelike and it’s basically an all-around better-looking version that it’s streaming counterpart. Don’t get me wrong, things on Netflix look good, but there’s just no substitute for physical media. Ritter’s pale skin and jet black hair provide a nice, stark contrast to one another. Most sequences are indoors or on the streets of New York, giving a more muted visual representation to one another. Detail is, of course, excellent.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The included DTS HD Master Audio mix carries some weight, but by and large this is a pretty standard affair. Some music and cut scenes offer a bit of ambiance, though the front-heavy mix is what carries the show. Vocals are sharp, well-centered and crisp. I had no trouble making anything out. Given Jones’ powers, she doesn’t tend to use them that much. Maybe a broken door here or a moved car there. Certainly this could have opened the door for some more robust sound, but it is what it is and and it sounds fine. Viewers should be amply satisfied.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Unfortunately, there are no supplements present on this four disc set. That’s a shame. But I guess depending on how sales go, it might dictate some extras on future seasons and/or series.
The Bottom Line
There’s more than a passing tip-of -the-hat to the female influence in this show. It’s a different type of Marvel superhero and Jessica Jones is a different kind of heroine. Don’t expect to see any of the Avengers showing up, rather her buddies are all in The Defenders. Jessica is a hard-drinking, hard-living character that just happens to have superhuman abilities. Proving that anyone is susceptible to the human condition. This first season is where it’s at and it’s nice to see it on physical media. Recommended.
