Marvel-s Jessica Jones - Season 1 -

Yes, the CGI is sometimes rough. Yes, the middle episodes drag. Yes, the eventual Defenders crossover diluted the character. But none of that matters.

Absolutely. While later Marvel Netflix shows got bogged down by too many episodes (looking at you, The Defenders ), Season 1 of Jessica Jones is a tight, brutal 13-episode psychological thriller.

Tennant imbues Kilgrave with a chilling mix of charm and petulance. He is a man who has never been told "no" in his life, and Jessica is the first variable he cannot control. The cat-and-mouse game between Jessica and Kilgrave is not a battle for the fate of the universe, but a battle for autonomy. It is intimate, suffocating, and deeply personal. Marvel-s Jessica Jones - Season 1

Kilgrave’s ability is simple: he emits a virus that forces anyone who hears his voice to obey his commands. There is no super-science antidote. No punching your way out. If he says, "Put a fork in your eye," you do it with a smile.

Ritter’s performance is the anchor of the series. She embodies a woman who is seemingly hard-edged and abrasive, yet the audience is privy to the profound cracks in her armor. Jessica is a victim of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stemming from her time under the control of the villain Kilgrave. Unlike Tony Stark, who uses trauma to build suits, Jessica uses trauma to build walls. She doesn't want to be a hero; she wants to be left alone. Yes, the CGI is sometimes rough

Where to watch: Disney+ (international) / Hulu (US – via Disney bundle) Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, mind control as a metaphor for rape, PTSD, addiction, violence, suicide ideation.

Here is why you should (re)watch it immediately. But none of that matters

Jessica spends her days taking photos of cheating spouses. She sleeps with random men from the bar, drinks herself unconscious, and pushes away the few people who care about her—namely her best friend, Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor), and her reluctant neighbor, Malcolm Ducasse (Eka Darville).

The climax of Marvel’s Jessica Jones - Season 1 is a direct challenge to traditional superhero morality. In most cape stories, the hero finds a third option. Batman doesn't kill the Joker. Spider-Man always saves the villain.