Jessica Jones: Season 2: A Fight For Feminism: Video Essay

Jessica Jones Season 2 Review: A Fight For Feminism by Deffinition

Jessica Jones Season One was my favourite Marvel TV show. Handling highly provocative themes such as rape and sexual harassment it perfectly encapsulates the Me Too and Times Up movement way before either of those issues were at the forefront of the media.

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What the show demonstrated was a man that had manipulated Women to carry out all of his desires no matter how sick and twisted they were. He was unable to be stopped due to the power that he possessed. The fact that Jessica managed to break free from his control symbolised the feminist movement as a whole and was a testament to her character.

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Krysten Ritter who plays the titular hero stated that “Real Women on the street come up to me in tears because this is the first time they felt represented by the lead; it made them feel so much better about their own traumas.”

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This shows just how powerful the show is and that at its core it follows the theme that Women are just as strong as men, if not stronger, and don’t deserve to be reduced to subservience in order to matter.

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Jessica Jones: A True Feminist Hero

Picking up on this theme is Jessica Jones: Season 2. Now set in a time amongst a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations in Hollywood, it’s metaphors are a lot more prevalent. Throughout the season Jessica is hounded by males in positions of power. Her Landlord hates her, her superintendent wants her evicted and there is a monster stalking her every move.

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The show questions what does sexual assault mean, and what does it do? Why does it leave the wrong person ashamed and everybody silent? A new villain who wants to take over her business states that he doesn’t take no for an answer to which Jessica replies; “How rapey.” This marks out the new terrain, where the things that have always been said crash headlong into the things that are never said.

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It’s very clear that the majority of the males in the JJ universe want Women to be in second place. This aesthetic is put in place early on by the fact that Jone’s previous employer, The Insidious Harper, played by Carrie Ann Moss, comments on how society has always deemed her as ‘pretty good for a girl.’ This speech is delivered during an award show that Harper helped to fund in order to gain the acclaimed main prize and whilst this could be viewed as tactically shallow due to only being achieved through monetary means, it also confirms that Harper is able to operate with the same tactics that those who oppose her do in order to gain power. Making her as equal as they are.

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Going on her own arc of self-destruction that somewhat mirror’s Jessica’s own downfall, at Season 2’s core is the motif that both characters are dealing with trauma. Jessica believed that killing Killgrave would end her depression, however, it didn’t and she must learn acceptance and growth from the fact that her past has made her as strong as she is.

Trish Talks

Jessica’s adopted sister, Patsy too symbolises the rise of power for women. Abused by a film director at 15 she is the closest symbol of the sexual harassment scandal that can be found in the show. Throughout Season 2 she comes to realise that she is not using her platform ‘Trish Talks’ productively. The radio show becomes a platform for the voiceless to gather and unites those without power as one force. It’s a true stand for feminism and depicts it as a movement that shouldn’t be ignored.

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To me, she showcases the power of the media and demonstrates how it can be used to either positively empower, or silence those that it sees as a threat. This is show is a clear beacon for Feminism.

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Oh, and the show was released on international Women’s day.

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It’s hard to ignore just how much social commentary that there is packed within the thirteen episodes. Jessica Jones Season 2 does an excellent job of exceeding all of the stereotypes that this is just another ‘superhero show.’ Steeped in a wealth of metaphor and political symbolism, Jessica Jones remains one of the greatest Comic Book tv shows ever created and definitely demands a second watch especially in todays political climate.

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Your Thoughts

Thanks very much for taking the time to watch my video. It’s always difficult dealing with such controversial themes as presented in the show so I hope that I didn’t cause any offense in the way that I presented my argument. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Season 2 so please leave a comment below telling me whether it lived up to your expectations.