The first reviews have arrived for Jessica Jones season 2, and while they praise the cast it seems the series still suffers from Netflixâs pacing issues. Netflix has had a lot of success with their original series, especially when theyâve teamed up with Marvel. Though Iron Fist and even The Defenders had their detractors, Daredevil and Jessica Jones won countless praise for their first seasons. As such, anticipation has been high for the return of Krysten Ritterâs show, especially as the Jessica Jones season 2 trailer proved everything we loved was coming back.
Though Ritter and the supporting cast gathered praise and the showâs focus on life after sexual abuse was one of the boldest things a comic book show has done, David Tennantâs Kilgrave was also a big part of season 1âs appeal. While Jessica dispatched her abuser in the finale, we know Kilgrave is back thanks to some images and teasers from the show. They appear to be all in Jessicaâs head, but they also ensure some continuity between the episodes. But when it comes to the early reviews of the new season, it seems the characterâs absence removes some of the showâs dynamism.
The first five episodes of Jessica Jones season 2 were sent out to critics, and theyâve begun weighing in on the show. Though many are quick to claim the charms and intensity of season 1 are till present, itâs clear that critics miss Kilgrave. And Netflixâs notorious issues with episode and season length also mean the new season has some pacing issues.
Collider â Allison Keene â No Grade
The first episode (out of five sent for review) is clunky, both in its dialogue and its pacing (more on that in a minute). But what it does achieve is a new investigation for Jessica that keeps things personal. One of the great triumphs of the showâs first season was how we watched her deal â or not deal â with her PTSD from the abuses of Kilgrave (David Tennant), an evil she defeated in the finale. The show is certainly missing him as a driving force, but thereâs still a lot for Jessica to process, going back to the death of her family as well as her abduction and torture during the illegal experiments that gave her powers. Sheâs a cool girl who doesnât care, until she has to â and then she does, deeply.
Indie Wire â Liz Shannon Miller â B
There was an undercurrent of terror throughout âJessica Jonesâ Season 1 that gave the series a darkness and dynamism which elevated it over previous Marvel series; Season 2 lacks that in its first five episodes. Yet there are still eight to go, which is plenty of time for Jessica to make bad decisions in her fight to do right. And one thing remains unchanged â her story is singularly hers, uncompromising and unapologetically all about what weâve come to love about this character. The point of Jessica Jones isnât that sheâs a hero, but that sheâs still standing despite everything thatâs happened to her, and everything she is. So even if her story takes its sweet time to get going, weâre still glad to be on the journey with her.
Polygon â Susana Polo â No Grade
The episodes available to press presented a show that told its story too slowly, and a story that was difficult to become invested in. I can admit: Iâm going to stick it out until the end, because of the goodwill Jessica Jones bought with its first season. And also because the fifth episode showed a bit of an upswing, by finally giving our villain the time and space to be properly frightening to the world.
Den of Geek â Delia Harrington â No Grade
Jessica Jones Season 2 is a different animal from the electric first season, but thatâs to be expected, and is largely a good thing. The sophomore season brings with it a deeper sense of our main characters, which couples well thematically with the central mystery of the season, the origin of Jessicaâs powers. One of Marvelâs most successful shows, Season 2 breaks new ground without forgetting what made it so compelling to watch in the first place.
The Mary Sue â Marykate Jasper â No Grade
In sum, this season feels less binge-worthy, thanks to its story and villain problems. But I still loved getting to reunite with these characters. This is still very much a series with something to sayâabout trauma, about womenâs anger, and about trying to survive without losing the person you want to be. In the era of peak TV, when so many series are technically well-crafted but not necessarily showing up with something to say, that makes Jessica Jones so worth watching for me.
Empire â Dan Jolin â 3/5
Krysten Ritterâs still on top acerbic, deadpan form, and the (mostly female) writersâ room is generous and proficient with its one-liners. When a cocksure alpha bro-dude struts into Jessicaâs office, announces heâs another private eye who wants to buy her out and says he doesnât take no for an answer, Jessica retorts, âHow rapey of you.â So while the plotting feels like itâs back-stepped towards the super-vigilante conventional, she at least remains the most textured and spikily interesting of the Defenders â one whose guilt, self-loathing and rage at least come served with a potent dose of wit.
Itâs a shame that Jessica Jones seems to be slow going in parts, but thatâs long been a problem for Netflix. Most of their original shows sag in the middle and even throughout episodes, from Daredevil to Altered Carbon. When it comes to season 2 of Jessica Jones, it seems the absence of Kilgrave robs the show of some momentum. Then again, a series built around exploring a characterâs life after trauma and abuse should hardly need to rely on the abuser to keep things interesting.
It could be Jessica Jones is still settling into its place post-Kilgrave and we may find the show actually snaps into focus following the early episodes. Indeed, some reviewers note that episode 5 shows promise, so perhaps season 2 of Jessica Jones has inverted the pacing problem: starting out slow and finding its footing before delivering on the promise of season 1. Luckily, fans wonât have to wait much longer to judge for themselves.
Jessica Jones season 2 debuts Thursday March 8 on Netflix.
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