Episode Title: Wig Out Originally
Aired: June 22nd, 2018
After the build-up in the first two episodes, things are finally coming to a head, especially between Luke and Claire, in tonight’s episode which contains the best moment of the series to this point. Continue reading Luke Cage S:02 E:03
Episode Title: Straighten It Out
Originally Aired June 22nd, 2018
Things are ramping up quickly for Luke after two episodes. Mariah and Shades had three potential buyers for their weapons at the start of last week’s episode and the end of this episode they are down to one. This will make them more desperate and more dangerous, but it also sets Luke on a collision course with Nigel, the Yardies, and Bushmaster. Continue reading Luke Cage S:02 E:02
Episode Title: Soul Brother #1
Originally Aired: June 22nd, 2018
You may know him as Power Man, the hero for hire, or Carl Lucas, but he wants you to know his name is Luke Cage. Luke is back after the events of The Defenders and ready to tackle his second solo season. Several season one favorites have returned including Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Rosario Dawson (Claire), Simone Missick (Misty) Alfre Woodard (Mariah) and Theo Rossi (Shades) they are joined by Mustafa Shakir as the primary season 2 villain John ‘Bushmaster’ McIver. I can’t wait and see who will survive and what surprises we will encounter over the 13 episode season.
I think Claire sums it up perfectly when she talks about Luke throughout this episode Luke is a hero through and through and he is corny. Which makes it hard to tell if it is the character, the writing or the acting that causes some of Luke’s lines to hit with a thud instead of being smooth or intimidating or whatever the situation required.
This first episode was fine, but it existed to mark things off a checklist. They want us to know how Luke, Claire, and Misty are handling themselves after The Defenders. Losing Matt, Misty losing her arm and saving the city, if not the world, could have lasting impacts outside of the obvious that may unfold throughout the season. We get to catch up with our main villains from last season and get an idea of what new schemes they are running. We get a brief intro to this season’s main bad guy and learn he is the anti-Luke, he is a bulletproof mobster.
While we are on the subject of bulletproof, apparently sometime between the events of season one and this episode Luke became impervious to the Judas bullets. Maybe it’s like an immune response or a what doesn’t kill him makes him stronger situation, or perhaps without Diamondback, the weapons are of lower quality. No matter the reason it was poorly handled, he is hit with one and brushes it off like it wasn’t his only real weakness in his nearly 30 episodes in the Marvel Netflix universe.
Despite a few shortcomings, I found this episode enjoyable and it was nice to be back in this world. It may be telling of my reaction to season 1 that I’m most excited for the cameos that may be coming from Jessica, Danny, Jeri or anyone else in this world. However, I am still very excited to see where the creative team takes us and how our characters will evolve over the next 12 episodes.
Episode Title: AKA Playland
Originally Aired: March 8th, 2018
The final episode has finally arrived, and it delivered in a big way. AKA Playland had its peaks and valleys, and like the glaciers or swift water responsible for the geographical versions, the events of this episode have reshaped our character’s world. Whether their life ended, hit the reset button or veered off in an entirely new direction everything will be altered when Jessica Jones returns for season 3.
The biggest lowlight of this episode was its CGI. The big scene where Jess and her mom work together to save a family and a truck driver who was involved in an accident looks like Syfy five years ago. Fire can be essential to a major crash and the tension of an action scene, but CGI fire is rarely successful and not something that should be attempted on a lower budget. The practical effects and the stunt work continue to be excellent especially in the climactic scene at Playland.
Jeri continued to be a highlight for me. Now that she has her drive and determination back, it should be interesting to see where she takes her firm and how she interacts with the rest of the Netflix supers. One thing that was fun to see was Jeri behaving like the stereotypical man. When she is getting her private yoga lesson, she is more interested in her trainer’s backside than proper technique. Jeri has gone from one long-term relationship to another before searching for love in all the wrong places while battling her depression. She may be in the midst of her disease, but Jeri can still get lost in the moment and enjoy something as ordinary as finding another person attractive even if does mean the objectification of a young woman.
Next season Jess may be more alone than she has ever been but she may be in the best situation of her life. She will have the chance to develop real connections that are not shrouded guilt, anger, and whiskey. Things probably won’t end well for her because Jessica will always be a character that is more tragic than happy go lucky but her spending some time on the other side will be great and make her fall that much worse. This season and especially this episode will make it harder to predict what Jess will do, but what more could you ask for of a season. We were given a compelling story, and it left her in a place where we know next year cannot be more of the same and the creative team needs to be commended for that.
Rumors are that production will begin on season three after this year. If that is true, we could be back here this time next year talking about the all-new adventures of Jessica and Hellcat.
Episode Title: AKA Pray for My Patsy
Originally Aired March 8th 2018
The penultimate episode of the second season of Jessica Jones is upon us, and things are darkest before the dawn of the season finale. Jessica, Trish, and Jeri are all at their lowest points either emotionally and physically. Trish is in the hospital after her attempt to gain powers, and she may never recover. Jeri has had her hope stolen along with most of her possessions that weren’t too heavy or nailed down. Jess continues to have family problems, Her adopted mother hates her, her sister may be dying but not quickly enough for her mom who’s one goal is to kill Trish.
This season has been very good, but I am ready for it to come to an end. The themes and the plot lines of the season are beginning to drag because nothing is being wrapped up. Every issue is a season-long issue instead of headway being made and problems being solved throughout they are just compounded. The complications come in new and varying ways for each of our main three characters, but I am ready for resolutions. Everything about the show is good it just needs to move a little more quickly, I am getting tired of the same lackluster fights both verbal and physical between mother and daughter.
Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri continues to be the highlight for me. Her portrayal of a desperate and scorned woman is fantastic. It is fun to try and guess what her motives are and how she is going to attack her problem. Just when I thought she had gone off the deep end and was going to get her hands dirty, she used her mind to get what she wanted.
I know at least one person will die next week, I’m just not sure who. Jeri will go to any lengths to punish the people who wronged her, Trish thinks the only way to stop Jess’ mom is to kill her and Jessica’s mom is always ready to kill someone. After her murder of a police officer, in this episode, she will be on the run, on edge, and a danger to everyone. There seem to be too many story lines to wrap up in just a single episode so we will be primed for a third season whenever Netflix can fit it in its schedule.
Episode Title: AKA Three Lives and Counting
Originally Aired: March 8th, 2018
Jessica has done it again, for the third time some has died at her hand. First, it was Luke’s wife Reva, not her fault because she was being controlled. Next was snapping Kilgrave’s neck like a glow stick, a revenge tainted necessity to stop the madman. The final victim was a correctional officer defending his home until Jessica caved in his skull. Ok, maybe it wasn’t that simple, and neither is the way Jessica deals with the unexpected psychological ramifications. Continue reading Jessica Jones S:02 E:11
Episode Title: AKA Pork Chop
Originally Aired: March 8th, 2018
This was a poorly named episode because the name relates to one small thing while providing no implications of what else is going on during the episode. I think something like big game or betrayal would have been much more fitting of a title. This episode is all about betrayal committed by or against all of our primary characters. One character and a relationship between two of our characters never be the same after this week, and the divides aren’t done growing. Continue reading Jessica Jones S:02 E:10
Episode Title: AKA Shark in the Bathtub, Monster in the Bed
Originally Aired: March 8th, 2018
Superpowered private investigator down! When we left off last week, a sniper had shot Jessica, and her mom was in a murderous rage hell-bent on finding the shooter. This week we get a couple of cases of kidnapping, a career change, a possible cure and a missing Malcolm.
Trish’s arc this season is impressive and will continue to ramp up as she enters the full meltdown phase, but I also find her incredibly annoying. Her obsession and arrogance make me hope Jessica slaps some sense into to her. Unfortunately, Jess is too busy trying to wrangle a mass-murdering mother that she won’t be there to catch Trish when she falls. When Trish gets good news, she attributes it to the inhaler, but now that her supply has run out, I am afraid for her and anyone who cares about her over the lengths she will go to find more.
Jessica has the most roller coaster like experiences this episode. She is nurtured and injured by her mother; she makes plans for her mom’s freedom and incarceration, she commits a felony and stops someone from doing the same thing. As sweet and damaged as Jess is it’s hard to say how this new situation will changer her. She feels less guilty about some issues and more about others so it could be a wash but I imagine she has many dark days ahead.
Alisa Jones was an angry woman long before the experiments that gave her powers. Her trauma loosened her control over her emotions and provided her with the tools to murder almost anyone she wants. I don’t know what conclusion the show will come to, but I have already decided that she can never be trusted. Whether she goes to jail and can continue a relationship with Jess or if she has to die something must end, her freedom or her life.
I hope we get more Jeri next week. Now that Jeri is on the precipice of a cure or knowing that she is a lost cause and it is just a matter of time, Jeri will be fun to watch. Where is Malcolm? Did he go home to visit his parents or is he in rehab or out on a bender after Trish got him to use the inhaler? There are so many questions and possibilities I can’t wait to see what happens next week.
Episode Title: AKA Ain’t We Got Fun
Originally Aired March 8th, 2018
Here’s to hope, hope gained and hope lost. The hope for a relationship you believed was impossible, hope for future you thought was impossible and the hope to survive a fall from the wagon. This episode was filled with characters full of hope but also full of denial to believe that all solutions or within their control or that they could be this lucky. Continue reading Jessica Jones S:02 E:08
Reunited and it feels so weird. She was a fool to ever leave your side, you minus her is such a lonely ride. Jessica is shaken by a reappearance of someone from her past, and things are never going to be the same. Continue reading Jessica Jones S:02 E:06
Channel: Superhero 