Jessica Jones is back, and ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ season might have been more than just a nostalgic reunion for fans. The series treated Jessica like a character with a real history in this universe, and that was immediately apparent with Krysten Ritter’s return.
Her encounters with Matt Murdock and Karen Page seemed to have been years in the making, and the MCU’s street-level corner suddenly sounded much more lived-in and connected. However, the end of the story took things a step further.
Jessica Jones’ Return Gives Marvel Another Grounded Hero To Build Around
The most surprising twist was the confirmation that Jessica’s daughter Danielle is also Luke Cage’s child, with Mike Colter reprising the role for the emotional reveal. It was a nice reminder to longtime Marvel fans.
Most importantly, however, it gave Jessica a whole new emotional trajectory that the Netflix series didn’t really delve into.
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Jessica was always portrayed as distant, guarded, and emotionally drained. Someone who would push people away before they could hurt her. It is great to see her now balancing motherhood, strained relationships, and superhero chaos.
There’s also a sadness that underlies her return. The reunion with Luke was warm. However, the show makes it abundantly clear that the relationship between the two is not a stable one.
There is definitely some tension between Luke and his morally dubious work overseas, and the fact that Jessica doesn’t like the decisions he’s making is an interesting source of conflict going forward.
Marvel Finally Has The Right Street-Level Hero For Another Solo Series
Daredevil has been successful in bringing Marvel back to darker street-level stories, and Jessica feels like the perfect character to be the lead of the next Disney+ solo series. Part of that is the tone. Unlike other heroes of the MCU, Jessica has a world where detective stories, trauma, dry humor, and grounded superhero action are all a natural part of life.
In case you missed it: Marvel’s Next Daredevil Story After ‘Born Again’ Might Be Inspired By Some Of His Most Brutal Comic Arcs
That particular combination made Netflix’s Jessica Jones one of the best shows of the entire Defenders period, and there’s still a lot more to see. Rebuilding Alias Investigations could be the theme of a new series, as Jessica attempts to balance motherhood and reconnect with Luke.
At the same time, the finale hinted that something may be wrong with her powers following Danielle’s birth, giving Marvel another compelling mystery to build around. It’s also the right time, as the rest of the Defenders are also looking for new homes in the MCU.
The Punisher just got a Special Presentation. Luke Cage and Iron Fist look like they’re heading for a Heroes for Hire direction. Meanwhile, Jessica is in a different emotional realm. She’s messy, reluctant, cynical, and deeply human, and that’s why audiences connected with her in the first place. After ‘Born Again’, it seems like Marvel remembers that, too.
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