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[jadesfire]

Day 8

In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I actually ended up going to my AO3 works list to try and figure out what to talk about. That didn't help much, as apparently 'Multifannish' should be somewhere in my bio.

Instead, I'm going with Jessica Jones. Honestly, I was disappointed that this qualified for Yuletide last year, because it means there isn't the amount of fic out there for it that there should be. Given the juggernaut that is Daredevil fandom, it's sad that the other Defenders don't get the same amount of love. On the other hand, look at me complaining when I've written the sum total of 1 JJ fic, and am kind of nervous of going out there to look for more (although that's partly because Jessica/Trish is a NOTP for me, but not for the rest of the fandom, it feels like).

My lack of output is down to sheer intimidation, because this series is Just. That. Good. It felt like it had a huge "follow that!" banner over it for me. I didn't feel the need to fix it, or fill gaps, or expand on the characters. It's not perfect, but it hit me so hard that I couldn't really think what I would write to respond to it.

In case you missed it, Jessica Jones is a New York PI with PTSD, a drinking habit and superpowers. One thing the show does wonderfully is roll out the reveal of those powers slowly and carefully, so that it actually takes a while to notice. Similarly, the source of her trauma, another superpowered individual called Kilgrave, is revealed slowly, and with such menace that it can make the show hard to watch, it's so damn raw. The supporting cast is brilliant, both in terms of acting, and in the way they have their own lives. I love that the show makes their supporting Jessica a choice that they make, and that she's part of them, not the whole.

But what really, really makes the series is the performances. David Tennant is one of the few actors who really lives up to the hype around him, and he is blistering in this. Kilgrave is menacing and evil, and also petulant and understandable. You can see how he ended up like he is, even if that's no excuse for what he does (and the show doesn't excuse it). Kristen Ritter is a superb actress, playing Jessica with more layers than an onion. The common comment to come out of The Defenders was how much they loved Matt and Jessica's scenes together, and I think it's something about the styles of the two actors. Both play characters with secrets, who have to be guarded, and both are able to get those layers across in their performances.

Jessica Jones isn't a perfect series. It's difficult, traumatic, and on a couple of occasions, too gory for me. But it's an amazing portrayal of people facing up to their trauma - not just Jessica, but her friends as well - and learning to live with it. There's no 'overcoming' here. People struggle with recovery, or don't want to get better, or have just plain run away. The journey of the series for all of them helps them face up to it, and learn to cope. I am both incredibly nervous and bouncing with anticipation to see what will happen in S2.

ETA: So, in a piece of Reading Comprehension Fail, I didn't actually manage to pick an episode. I think AKA The Sandwich Saved Me is my favourite, for being the turning point of the series. Without spoilers, things swivel on this episode, intertwining with some of Jessica's backstory. I love flashback episodes, and few shows do them better than this.

Comments

[jainas]

This is a great show, and I honestly found Kilgrave terrifying, not just his power, but the sheer pettiness and self-centered malicious diseregard for anyone else he uses it with.
Layered is a very good term for this show, there is many things going on with it, and the depiction of Jessica's trauma always felt very subtle, and yet spot-on.

[jadesfire]

Oh yes. I thought the character of Kikgrave was terrifying because he was so plausible. *this* is what happens if you give a traumatised boy the power to do whatever he wants, and at the same time, making it clear that he also chose the path for himself - his behaviour can be explained, without ever being excused. It’s a show with a very nuanced view of good and evil, and how people end up in one place or the other.

...which is probably why there’s so little fanfic. Trying to wrap all that up somehow is a helluva tall order!

[jainas]

I haven't read a lot of fics for that show, but my favorite is an incredible crossover with Hannibal: It's a Pleasure by willowbilly https://archiveofourown.org/works/7375483

[jadesfire]

I'm going to approach with caution, as there are some warnings in there that are high on my squick list (as is the whole of Hannibal). BUT I will try anything, so I'll see how I get on, thanks!

[jainas]

I understand being cautious in this fandom (and with Hannibal involved nonetheless!) I was wary for a long time before finally reading it... But for me at least it turned out to be a well balanced fic, and the abuse and rape inherent to the time Jessica was under Kilgrave's control were neither glossed-over nor overplayed or described in a graphic way.
But that's just me, so maybe your threshold is different...

[jadesfire]

That's good to know, thanks. I'm okay with most content, as long as it's not gratuitous, but the cannibalism thing really, really squicks me. But as that's not in the list of warnings, I'm a bit happier about giving it a go. Ta muchly.

[naye]

The series definitely qualifies as a moment, though - summing up everything that makes you love it!

It's not perfect, but it hit me so hard that I couldn't really think what I would write to respond to it

xparrot calls this a Type A show: so good you don't need fanfic. (Type B fandoms are the ones with cracks and gaps and things to fix - not perfect in any way, which is why you need fanfic!)

[jadesfire]

As usual, she’s spot on. It’s a show to marvel at and sink into. I honestly don’t feel the need to explore it further, because I already got so much.

BTW, have you noticed how many active SGA people are on the Snowflake meme (speaking of Type B ;D)? It’s making me want to crack out the dvds again and have a rewatch!

[naye]

The Type A/Type B classification is a really useful shorthand. You can love something and not be inspired to fic for it - and then there are the shows that you like "But..." and those are the ones that fandom fixes for you. ♥

And I had noticed that! Such fun to see! (I'm sure a rewatch would lead to disappointment, but a re-read of my favorite fanfic? Now that you can't go wrong with!)

[titti]

I love this show and I can understand the trepidation at writing fic. I'm not surprised that there aren't many fics, because I find that it's always easier to write in fandoms where the plot holes abound.

I can't wait to see season 2.

[jadesfire]

Oh gosh, me either. It looks like they're doing interesting things for S2, so I can't WAIT.

I think you're dead right about the lack of fic. There really weren't gaps, and there weren't plot or character-motivation holes. Which is awesome, but it does mean it can be harder for writers to engage with as they would most things, which is sort of a shame. But I'm not complaining about having good material in the first place!

[maplemood]

Oh, I love Jessica Jones (both the show and the character) so, so much, and you're right--there isn't nearly enough fic in the fandom, especially compared to Daredevil.

[jadesfire]

Yeah, both JJ and Luke Cage have a dearth of material compared to Daredevil. There are lots of reasons, but I do think one is the sheer quality of Jessica Jones compared to DD. It doesn't feel like there's a whole lot to fix or fill in.

Still, it would be nice for there to be more!

[teigh_corvus]

I love Jessica Jones SO MUCH. She's a hot mess and an absolutely brilliant modern Noir PI. So not something women get to do generally. All the women in that show are interesting - sometimes terrible, but interesting - and *that* made me so happy too. AND OH BUT I ADORE TRISH. They are the most beautiful frieeeeends. *draws hearts around the show* *not Kilgrave* :P

[jadesfire]

I hadn't thought of her as specifically Noir, but yes, that's spot on. Dammit, I heart her so hard <3

"*draws hearts around the show* *not Kilgrave* :P"
BWAH!

[teigh_corvus]

I AM VERY EXCITED FOR SEASON TWO. :D :D

I don't know where I saw it mentioned, but back when Winter Soldier came out, I read an article about what made Marvel movies so much more universally successful than previous attempts at superhero movies. The Russos talked about how they didn't treat Winter Solider like a superhero movie - instead, they made a spy movie with superheroes in it. I've been watching for genres in Marvel media since. And boy howdy did I lose my ever-lovin' mind when I realized they'd framed Jessica Jones as an update on Noir PI ness.

I also think that they do a heck of a lot more with the TV series than they do with the movies. Which makes sense, as there's more room in TV, for all that the screen's smaller. ;D

[jadesfire]

Oh gosh yes. SEASON TWO, I NEEDS IT.

That's an interesting point about genres. I liked how each of The Defenders own series had their own distinct feel, even before it was sure that they would team up. It was a possible weakness in The Defenders itself, but I loved how clearly they drew Jessica as a character. As you say, the space gives characters a chance to grow, in a way that films don't have time for.

Also, I love that Jessica *doesn't* grow very much. I mean, she tries some new things, takes a few small steps, but she is still, definitively *her*. She gets resolution, and I like that the show doesn't say it means she's recovered. It would have been too pat an answer, and not at all noir-ish.

So yes. GIMME SEASON TWO NAO!

[mf_luder_xf]

I love JJ. The character and the show. I was really impressed with what the show did.

[jadesfire]

Absolutely. To my mind, it's the best of the Netflix shows by far - the strongest arc and some of the strongest performances. Here's hoping S2 carries that on!