Netflix cancelling the Marvel TV shows of the 2010s disappointed a lot of fans. Sure, each of the series - Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, The Defenders and The Punisher- had their highs and lows, but they were fun. Most importantly, this grounded corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a nice alternative to the mainstream MCU movies and shows simply because these projects were for adult viewers only.
The language, situations, and fight scenes were geared towards a mature audience. Disney and Marvel Studios saw the value in this even a half-decade later, and that’s among the reasons why revival series Daredevil: Born Again was created for Disney Plus. And, because of the popularity of the actors who played the heroes of the Netflix shows, they were brought back to reprise their roles. The most recent return was Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones.
The return of Jessica Jones
A lot was riding on Jessica Jones’ debut in Daredevil: Born Again. It was the first time we had seen the character since the conclusion of her own three-season series and it was her first time making an "official" appearance in the MCU (the Netflix shows were only recently confirmed to be canon). Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
Viewers got to see that she’s still as tough and cynical as ever. The episode, "Requiem", even featured a nice fight scene that highlighted her powers and allowed her to team with Daredevil once again after all these years. However, the biggest takeaway is that it seems like something is up with her powers. She revealed that she has cracked ribs and even hurt herself when punching Officer Powell.
At first, I thought that maybe Powell had superpowers and they took this opportunity to reveal them. But when you add in the fact that Daredevil mentioned that Jessica doesn’t get hurt like she is, you have to wonder what’s going on with her. This was a smart move by the creators because it adds more vulnerability to her along with the storyline involving her daughter, Danielle, and potentially even Luke Cage. There's more to Jessica's story than her simply serving as a special guest star in Daredevil's story.
And speaking of Luke Cage, let's talk about that.
The curious case of Luke Cage
I try my best not to be a comic book fan who can’t get past the differences between the source material and a TV show or movie adaptation. A lot of creators have done a great job making their projects even better than the source material. Prime Video's Invincible is a great example of that. However, the way Luke Cage has been handled in the MCU has been bothersome since the Netflix days.
During her conversation with Daredevil, Jessica says that a sketchy person from an agency called - Mr. Charles - and was interested in people with powers. While she told them no, Jessica says not everyone she knows did. Matt pauses and, with a surprise in his voice, replies, “Oh.” It hints that Luke Cage (and possibly Danny Rand) said yes. As a Luke Cage fan (thanks to Brian Michael Bendis), I have an issue with this.
First, he decides to become the Kingpin of Harlem (see: the season 2 finale of Luke Cage), and now it’s hinted that he’s working with the U.S. Government. These are things that are out of character for him and tarnish what makes him special (look no further than issue No. 22 of New Avengers to see why).
I will wait to judge just yet because more will be revealed. Viewers could find out that agreeing to work with an agency protects Luke’s family and may get answers for what's up with Jessica Jones' powers. If that's the case, Cage won't be happy that they attacked his beloved. That being said, as of now, I’m not happy with what’s being done with him, but I'm up for being wrong. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to see what the future holds for Power Man and Jessica Jones.
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