Jessica Jones: Review: Series 1 Episode 3: AKA It’s Called Whiskey

In a misguided attempt to help Hope, Trish makes herself a target…

Remember I said in the review of episode 1 that the violence wasn’t as much a part of Jessica Jones as it had been of Daredevil? I take it back. There are a number of well-choreographed fights in this, some, but not all, involving superpowers and they have the same raw violence to them that characterised the first Netflix Marvel show. Kilgrave doesn’t need to battle Jessica himself: he’s got more than enough people willing to do that for him, which of course adds an extra twist to the battles – Jessica doesn’t want to hurt people who are as innocent as she was when she got caught up with Kilgrave.

We get our first proper look at David Tennant in the role, and he’s got the supercilious arrogance down pat – it’s been clear from his tone of voice up to now, but the visuals add another layer. I may be reading more into it than is there, but it does seem as if he’s more peremptory in the current sections than he is when he’s talking to Jessica in the flashbacks (at that point, of course, he fully expects to be obeyed, whereas now he’s had experience of someone resisting him).

While the first two episodes seemed to shy clear of emphasising the links between this and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s fully embraced now, with Jessica and Luke talking about the Hulk, and Trish referencing the Battle of New York in her radio show. (No mention of SHIELD yet… that might be a crossover too far!) I did wonder if we were going to see Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple during one of Jessica’s visit to Metro-General Hospital, but not so far.

As with Daredevil, the casting is one of the distinct strengths of the series: Krysten Ritter is excellent, while Rachael Taylor gets better by the episode as Trish as the character becomes more rounded. I’d like to see more from Carrie-Ann Moss’s Jeri Hogarth, who’s still feeling rather one-dimensional.

Verdict: Gripping stuff. 8/10

Paul Simpson