Strong female leads are my favorite to write about. I especially like leads who keep fighting no matter how hard things get. The character in today’s article is about as imperfect as you can get. She fights, she drinks, and she seeks the truth. Jessica Jones, I admit, wasn’t on my radar until the Netflix show. However, I fell in love with her. It’s the spark inside Jessica that keeps her going throughout the dark times.
Warning: A few minor spoilers included.
In the Spotlight
Jessica Jones, the titular character from the Alias comic series, is a private investigator for Alias Investigations. Jessica was given superpowers against her will. Although she rejects the title of superhero, she is definitely an anti-superhero. She prefers to investigate cases rather than go out and save the world. She tries her best to show she doesn’t care and remain in the shadows. However, her path edges closer to being a heroine than what she probably likes. She has a moral code she doesn’t like to break. Even though she drinks and parties hard, she truly believes in right and wrong. Many of her personal crises are when morals go into a grey area. However, she manages to stray towards the light.
There are those that say Jessica mostly hates everyone. Not a good trait for a superhero. However, I don’t think this is true. She is just afraid to trust most people. She truly has good reasons for not trusting many people. Jessica is loyal to those she loves. She will protect them with her life. Another point about Jessica is she never stops fighting her demons. She may try to drown them in drink, but eventually, she does confront them. There is no perfect way to defeat personal demons. As mentioned before, Jessica is far from perfect. Broken pieces often form a beautiful whole.
It will be interesting to see character growth in future installations with her. I know what happens in the comic, but the TV show and Krysten Ritter’s amazing performance add a new dynamic. Her time on The Defenders shows more potential for Jessica coming out of the shadows to defend the world. Jessica is a character after my own heart and I look forward to seeing her save the world.
