Mind control, super strength, and unbreakable skin. Marvel’s newest series “Jessica Jones” recently premiered on Netflix with all of the bad-guy fighting and incredible abilities of your typical superhero story line. But this series addresses issues far more complex than the typical struggle between good and evil: the struggle of recovering from abuse. Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a rough P.I., who drinks to forget her troubled past, including her abuse by the mind-controlling villain Kilgrave (David Tennant). For six months Jones was trapped under his control, forced to comply with his every will, including sex and killing innocent people. The shame and guilt she grapples with permeate her day to day life, and she struggles to forgive herself for her actions under Kilgrave’s influence while trying to stop him from ruining even more lives. Because of the fantastical nature of Kilgrave’s abilities one of Jones’ greatest obstacles throughout the series becomes convincing others of his powers and clearing the names of his victims. It takes first-hand experience of Kilgrave’s abilities in order for most to believe his powers, but once they do, many waste no time in trying to assist Jones in her quest.
The dialogue this series creates about the nature of consent and the experiences of victims of assault and abuse does not come across as gratuitous or preachy. On the contrary the show provides a nuanced and deeply insightful depiction of how violating someone’s consent is never justifiable. When someone is under Kilgrave’s control they do not become become an expressionless zombie, and no grandiose special effects are used to visually represent his powers. His control is black and white and invisible, either he has complete control over someone’s actions or none at all, and often passers-by are never the wiser. The realistic quality of it is terrifying, both a testament to the acting and directing. The clear distinction of Kilgrave's control is what makes the definition of consent so clear in the series. Whenever Kilgrave gives an order he is without a doubt imposing his will on an unwilling victim, and the results are predictably devastating, leaving no room for an attempt to justify his actions.
The unambiguous nature of consent in the show eliminates the possibility of victim-blaming on the part of the audience and allows for a profound exploration of the damage that occurs when consent is violated. This is one of the qualities that makes this show so powerful. The non-stereotypical title character is another. Though she is grappling with the mental and emotional fallout of her experiences, she is never portrayed as a victim. Unlike the standard damsel in distress, Jones never requires a man to save her and she never plays into gender stereotypes to fool her enemies. Those who do try to protect her are not motivated by any perceived weakness on her part, but rather a genuine concern for her wellbeing. Despite the lack of outdated gender roles in this series, Jones’ love life is no less intriguing. Not far into her story bar owner Luke Cage (Mike Culter) enters as a complicated love interest, and proves to be Jessica’s equal in almost every way. Both their professional and romantic relationship are truly a joint effort, and his assistance in no way diminishes Jones’ agency in the fight to bring Kilgrave to justice.
“Jessica Jones” at its core is an empowering tale of the oppressed rising up against the oppressor. Not only will it leave you on the edge of your seat, but it will also leave you thinking. About free will. About toxic relationships. And about what it really means to be a hero. The Marvel Universe tackles the issue of consent in its new series "Jessica Jones" and, spoiler alert, it succeeds.
