Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Flawed heroine fights evil in a darkly sexy, violent world.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jessica Jones
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 26 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Haunted by memories of her time with the controlling Killgrave (David Tennant), JESSICA JONES (Krysten Ritter) is a hard-drinking private detective who makes her living tracking wayward spouses through the shadows of Hell's Kitchen. But she's also an ex-superhero with extraordinary abilities that she's trying to keep under wraps. While she sifts through the wreckage of her shattered personal life, she gains strength from her best friend (Rachael Taylor), a powerful employer (Carrie-Anne Moss), and an intriguing bartender (Mike Colter) with secrets of his own.
Is It Any Good?
As a role model, she's dark and dicey. But if you like your heroines strong with a side of snark, there's no denying that Jessica Jones makes for great and ultimately addicting TV. And you don't have to be a "comic book person" either. Even those coming to this Marvel drama with zero backstory will find plenty to like, from the cinematic story lines and compelling cliffhangers engineered to keep binge-watchers sated to the main character's refreshing twist on modern feminism. It's all a little weird, but it works.
Whether you want your kids watching or not is your call. Though the series' fascinating study of an abused woman coming to grips with her past may resonate with some teens, the show's overall themes are dark and difficult. Most scenes involving Killgrove are also deeply disturbing. And though the show steers clear of "graphic" sex in terms of nudity, what you do see is definitely ... explicit.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about how Jessica Jones measures up as a role model. What are her virtues? What are her vices? Why do we root for her in spite of her flaws?
Does Jessica Jones make any major changes to the Marvel comic that inspired it? What are the pros and cons of staying faithful to a show's source material versus adapting it to suit a different medium?
Does the fact that Jessica Jones airs exclusively on Netflix affect the way it's written and constructed? What would the show be like in terms of language, violence, sexual content, and structure if it aired as a non-streaming series?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 20, 2015
- Cast: Krysten Ritter , David Tennant , Mike Colter
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Book Characters
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 22, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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