Marvel's second installment to the inevitable Defenders build-up is set to hit Netflix this month. The latest release takes on the character of Jessica Jones, a private detective in Hell's Kitchen who happens to have some superpowers. In the comics, her character becomes a superhero known as "Jewel," but for the new direction that Netflix is taking this franchise, we expect the super power angle to be downplayed quite a bit, as it was in the extremely successful series Daredevil.
"Daredevil" is an extremely popular one of the classic comic book character. In order for the new "AKA Jessica Jones" to follow suit, it will have to follow the same type of formula, and not fall prey to some of the mistakes made by the other superhero shows on TV these days.
Brian Cox played a dark but very successful version of Matt Murdock in Daredevil.
In order to grab the target Netflix audience that they are looking for, the producers need to stay true to the theme and tone of the first Defenders project. The Daredevil project was dark and brooding with a very sinister tone. The subject matter was adult in nature and the writing was geared toward an older crowd. This was not your typical kid show.
If AKA Jessica Jones wants to repeat Daredevil's success, they need to learn from the show that came before them. The temptation for the producers will certainly be to go with a lighter tone and appeal to a wider variety of people. The TV shows on the CW have both gone down this path. It worked for The Flash quite well. It wrecked Arrow.
Jessica Jones, as a character, led a tragic life as a child. The accident that gave her super-powers also took her family. The story of her origin is set up to be a sad tale from the very beginning; at least it is in the comic books. So a lighthearted romp really doesn't fit the profile.
Jessica Jones eventually develops a love interest in Luke Cage, A.K.A. Power Man.
In addition to the tone and theme, the top decision makers over at the set of AKA Jessica Jones need to take a lesson from the first season of Arrow when developing her eventual love interest with future teammate Luke Cage. Cage is set to be the third installment of the Defender series released on Netflix, but he will be making appearances in the Jessica Jones series regularly, as the season progresses.
The first season of Arrow saw the hero constantly torn about his feelings for Laurel Lance, but always deciding to stay away from her on a personal level in order to protect her. This series has a bigger responsibility to its character that must not go overlooked.
Jessica Jones is a low-key, understated, female heroine without a lot of flash or spectacle. The character is going to need some time to develop on her own, as an individual, before she becomes Luke Cage's other half.
Costarring in AKA Jessica Jones is Rachael Taylor, who eventually becomes the Marvel Heroine, Hellcat.
The show needs to go slow with ramping up the sidekicks. This is another mistake that Arrow made, and Daredevil didn't. On Arrow, by season three, there was Felicity, Diggle, Laurel as the Black Canary, Roy as Arsenal, etc. It was ridiculous. On Daredevil, there was just the man without fear. That's it. It worked.
We know that Rachael Taylor has been cast as a friend and potential coworker for Jessica Jones, and we know that her character is the one that eventually becomes the Hellcat in Marvel comic lore. How this change takes place is very important for the health of the series.
Once again we need to caution the producers and writers to slow down and let their main character breath a bit. We want to see the Hellcat in action, especially since it is Rachael Taylor we are talking about. But we need to see Jessica become a true force, on her own, first. Hopefully, the writers and producers will take advantage of all of this hindsight, and learn from the mistakes, and successes, of those who came before them.
