The tale of a private detective whose superhero past comes back to haunt her, “Jessica Jones” comes to us from writer-producer Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote all the "Twilight" movies and many episodes of "Dexter.”
Mike Colter plays Luke Cage on “Jones” before he spins off to his own series next year. The “Jones” cast also includes “Doctor Who” vet David Tennant (as the villainous Kilgrave), Carrie-Anne Moss (“Chuck,” “Vegas”), Rachel Taylor (“Charlie’s Angels,” “666 Park Avenue,” “Crisis”) and Erin Moriarty (“Red Widow,” “True Detective”).
The first Marvel/Netflix series, “Daredevil,” arrived April 10. Other Marvel series turning up on Netflix in the near future are “Luke Cage” (following the adventures of Jones’ superhero romantic interest), “Iron Fist” and “The Defenders” (a series that will team Jones, Cage, Daredevil and Iron Fist).
“Jessica Jones” is set in the same onscreen Marvel universe that houses Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson, Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter, Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, Robert Downey’s Tony Stark, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, James Spader’s Ultron, etc. etc. etc.
… It's by far the darkest and most adult of any of the current wave of comic book TV shows (Jessica's swearing alone would make Agent Coulson blush), and instantly one of the best, even if it suffers at times from tunnel vision. … "Jessica Jones" is unlike anything Marvel or DC has tried in the live-action realm, and it's excellent. Hopefully, it leads to even more risk-taking with the kinds of characters and stories that get taken from page to screen.
... There’s a tricky balancing act going on — crossing a moody detective show with both a comic action thriller and a woman-in-peril psychological drama — but Ms. Rosenberg proves to be mostly up to the task. … it doesn’t really feel as if Ms. Rosenberg is refashioning the superhero genre. It feels as if she’s adapting it to another goal: making as fond and meticulous a homage to the spirit of “Veronica Mars” as possible. …
... "Jessica Jones," which becomes available Friday, is a marvel. Legally (it's "Marvel's Jessica Jones"), creatively and, it must be said, surprisingly. … Yes, Jessica Jones (Ritter) is a woman granted extraordinary strength and, apparently, the ability to fly. But it's her superhumanity, rather than her superpowers, that makes the show so riveting. Owing more to Tony Soprano, Jane Tennison and "Orphan Black" than Iron Man, Black Widow and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Jessica Jones" is Marvel's first official foray into the Emmy-tempting world of prestige drama. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
... The series isn’t perfect. To be honest, it drags a bit and seems repetitive, as though Rosenberg is stretching things out to increase audience tension. In fact, you’re likely to feel the opposite from time to time, a desire to say, “oh, get on with it.” But stick with it. …
... thanks to Rosenberg and Ritter, the first season is well on its way to delivering. …
... not just a contender for the title Best Marvel-related TV Property; in a supremely crowded TV scene, it is one of the year’s most distinctive new dramas. …
12:01 a.m. Friday. Netflix.
