'Jessica Jones' Season 2, Episode 1: 'AKA Start at the Beginning'

The Defenders return!! Well, a defender returns.  Yes, the second season of Jessica Jones hit Netflix  a while back and we're finally diving into it.  Much like with Daredevil, we're starting from the second season because the second season of that show is when these write ups started to begin with. 

The second season of this series gets off to a rather strong start.  True, Jessica starts off feeling a bit flat just because she's still drinking and pushing those closest to her away.  Thankfully, over the course of the episode, her arc starts to begin in earnest.

The first season used IGH as a sequel hook and this episode hints that it will be the main focus.  Not only is it a good way to escalate things, but it also allows us to explore Jessica's origin.  We know the jist, but it seems like there's more to what happened. 

This gives Jessica a more personal stake, gives us more info on her background, and also allows her traumatic past to come to the forefront.  Ritter brings her A-game here, as Jessica is frequently shaken and even teary eyed at various points in the episode.  Either because she is that adamant about letting the past stay buried (despite Trish's well-intentioned protests), or because she saw a fellow super get crushed to death.  While Jess is acerbic and isolationist, it allows the viewer to connect to and feel for the character, as her emotional anguish is palpable. 

That said, this episode is also the most comic book-y to date.  Jessica encounters another powered person who says that something is hunting them  Some may like it, others won't.  I thought it made it feel more established in the MCU, but it is kind of jarring going from Jessica's binge drinking and denial to a goofy chase around the office with a paranoid speedster.  I totally get the argument that it's out of place in this show, but we'll see where it goes.  I'm OK with the show playing into the setting more.  Frankly, it's always weird to see people skeptical of things after everything that's happened since Tony Stark first made his debut as a superhero. 

Speaking of superhero, the episode devotes a lot of time to showing Jessica outright denouncing the title.  It's a bit weird that everyone used the exact term "vigilante superhero".  I'd think people would lean towards one or the other, but it does make for some nice character moments.  Jess doesn't really fit the "superhero" profile, clearly, and her offense at being called a vigilante makes sense.  While she doesn't always succeed, she does try to work within legal parameters.  You even see it in "Defenders".

As far as plot, there is the IGH stuff, but beyond that, the only real antagonist is a rival PI who offers to buy out Alias Investigations.  He's smug, but you can't help but feel like he's in the right when he talks about suing Jessica after she beats him up.  Yeah, he provoked her, but at the same time, it seems like a winnable law suit.  He's also not wrong in pointing out that the slap on the wrist was a bit too light. 

Even though Cox's name wasn't in the credits, it seemed like it would've been a great cameo to have him be the one representing her.  I guess they figured it would just be a rehash of how they met, but it still seems like a missed opportunity. 

Speaking of, Rand gets name-dropped and there's one mention of "the others" (re: vigilante superheroes) but there's no real mention of the Defenders.  On the one hand, the public at large wouldn't know about those events so I kind of get it, but you'd think that Trish would point out that Jessica saved the city not too long ago or that Jess' ego would get a boost.  I mean, taking down an ancient cult of ninjas is a pretty impressive feat. 

Overall, I found this to be a strong opening.  It had a nice balance in regards to tone.  The stakes seem to be both higher and more personal.  The writing and acting are also more impressive.  The characters and story are able to take what worked in the first season and build on it to become more compelling and developed.  I'm looking forward to seeing where Jess' story goes from here. 

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'The X-Files' Season 11, Episode 3: 'Plus One'

Thus far, the 11th season of 'The X-Files' has been wildly inconsistent.  It opened terribly, but then recovered with a surprisingly strong second episode.

This episode provides a more stable footing for both the show and the viewer, as it delivers another entertaining outing for the pair of FBI agents. 

The writing works well, the cast puts in strong performances, and the episode brings a nice balance.  There's some legitimately spooky goings-on this time around, but the episode isn't afraid to throw some levity and humor in there.  Rather than detract, it actually adds to the experience.  It makes it more entertaining, sure, but it also highlights just how strange Mulder's and Scully's lives get.

I think it's also to the writer's credit, that even though few of the supporting characters are likable here, they're still sympathetic.  The first victim is a routine DUI offender and the second is a sleazy attorney.  Still, when they're put in life or death situations, you do kind of root for them.  When the attorney goes to Mulder and Scully for help, you can't help but feel for the guy, being in a desperate situation that he has no control over.  Even his attempt at taking precautionary measures ultimately proves futile.

You'd think that the various plot elements would become jumbled.  I mean, we have phantom doppelgangers that drive you to suicide, a pair of schizophrenic twins playing a telepathic game of hangman, and talk of some looming evil presence that could be demonic or just mankind's darker impulses or something.  For the most part, it all comes together, though we don't really get any answers on anything. 

We do get some nice character moments between the two agents.  The banter is always fun, but the two also get a chance to reflect.  Scully, especially, becomes more introspective and wonders about what could have been and what is to come. 

Her talk of death would make sense in most cases, though Clyde Bruckman did say that she wouldn't die.  I wonder if that will ever come up again.  Also her fear about losing their jobs seems a bit shallow.  I mean, they've been fired before.  She's a doctor, I think she'll be fine.  I know it's supposed to be a hint towards the show ending, but it was still a little odd.     

In any event, this episode also made some nice (likely unintentional) nods.  When the agents talked of "mass hysteria", I couldn't help but think of "Ghostbusters".  Given the looming "end of the world" thing going on, it kind of adds to the connection.

We also have people committing murder by writing down names.  Sure, it's via hangman, but my brain couldn't help but connect this to "Death Note".  Suffice it to say, I smirked when one of the siblings asked if there was an L.  Again, I figure it has to be a coincidence, but it did amuse me. 

I do wonder how Scully is still skeptical at this point.  I'm pretty sure they've confronted ghosts before, so her dismissal of that was weird, but you'd think she'd be more open minded by now. Heck, when Mulder was abducted, she became "the believer".  It was odd to see, but the turn kind of made sense.  I'm kind of curious what pushed her back to skeptic territory.  Yeah, status quo is god, but you'd think they'd at least try to justify the back pedal. 

While the episode does have some cons, they are outweighed by the pros.  I don't think that this was as strong an outing as its predecessor.  The writing was largely on point, the plot hook was solid, it was well paced, and it effectively provided a nice balance of what viewers hope to find in an episode of 'The X-Files'. Hopefully, the positive momentum can continue. 

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'The Punisher' Episode 4: 'Resupply'

So, yeah, it's been a while since we've discussed "The Punisher" and I figured it was time to get back on the ball here.  I kind of remember what was happening.  I was worried that I was going to have a hard time keeping up, but this episode is largely self contained and doesn't really have any connection to the overall plot.

The episode keeps it simple, as both Frank and Homeland Security are gunning for a cache of weapons (see what I did there?) that are being transported by a crime syndicate.

At first I wasn't sure if this was some plot thread that carried over and was some piece of the puzzle. It occurred to me later that Frank Castle could just want the guns because he's Frank Castle.  The episode's title reinforces this and it works well enough, so it doesn't really matter either way.

Having the two parties go after the same target could be seen as a contrived coincidence, but it works as it gives the episode focus, even though we're following three groups of characters over the course of the episode.

The third group focuses on Curtis Hoyle and his attempt to help rehabilitate one of the suffering vets in his group.  It's not going well.  The guy's built a foxhole in his backyard and is eager to go back out into the field.  He even goes so far as to attempt to sign on with a private military group.  It might've worked had Curtis not torpedoed the effort.

My first thought was that the guy could get a non-combat centric job in the organization.  You know, split the difference.  Billy actually does bring up this idea, but Lewis is dismissive.  You'd think that Billy would point out that there are other jobs besides "janitor" that could be done here, but that idea never comes up.   Between his declining mental state and his newfound grudges against two of the recurring supporting characters, I don't see this guy remaining a good guy for much longer.  It doesn't seem to be a question of if he'll crack, but when. 

I don't doubt that this story will have ramifications later on, but right now it does seem a bit peripheral.  Still, it'll be interesting to see how the show ties it all together.

In the meantime, we get to see Frank rough up criminals.  The more impressive showing is obviously his showdown with the car thieves, but he does get to interrogate Turk in the show's opening scene.  It was an unexpected appearance, but it worked and I found it entertaining. 

It's odd how Turk keeps running afoul of the Netflix MCU vigilantes.  He's like the mirror of Claire Temple.  Where she runs into them and becomes friends, he seems to have a rockier go of it.  Still, he lives to see another day, so his charm seemed to have worked to some extent. 

It was good to get back to this show.  The characters are all entertaining and the cast continues to shine.  Having this be a "one and done" worked for me, but it also gives viewers a break from the "myth arc" and focus on Frank facing off against criminals.  There wasn't much in the way of plot advancement, but there was quite a bit of character progression.  Lewis, Madani, and Micro are all changed by the episode's end.  It should allow for interesting progression as we move deeper into the season.

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