By Anna Greer | TV
Make sure to binge-watch the second season of Jessica Jones this weekend. Netflix released the female-driven, powerful show on International Women’s Day. The night before, I attended the New York premiere on the red carpet—which happened to be purple—to gather insights from the cast and creators of this feminist series. Every actor I spoke to identified as a feminist.
All the people I interviewed expressed immense enthusiasm for Season 2. Janet McTeer, whose role I cannot reveal without giving away a huge spoiler, described it as 'bigger, bolder, braver, more messed up.'
The first season concluded with Jessica Jones—portrayed by Krysten Ritter, who also graces the current cover of BUST—killing her rapist Kilgrave (David Tennant) and stepping into an uncertain future as a hero. The show is a marvel (pun intended) that blends noir detective style with superhero action to delve into grim realities, particularly sexual assault. Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel Television and author of one of my favorite Batman comics, remarked, 'We’ve always found that the best stories we tell originate from what’s happening out there… in our world… That’s what people find special and unique.'
Given the rise of the #MeToo movement, sexual violence is a particularly timely topic. I inquired whether any cast members foresaw that movements like Time’s Up or #MeToo might alter how audiences perceive the show, months after production wrapped. Leah Gibson, who portrays Inez Green, responded: 'I think the movement has been gradually building in our industry for some time, and like all things, it gains momentum and expands. The female spirit is immense and powerful; it has snowballed and become the moment of now.'
Regarding the interplay between art and reality, Ritter shared with BUST during her cover story interview that survivors of sexual assault have approached her, expressing how deeply Jessica Jones impacted them. She told me, 'What resonates with and excites me is that the character affects people like that. Everyone deserves to feel represented, heard, and seen. If people feel that way through a character like Jessica Jones, that’s incredibly thrilling for me as an actor.' This conversation happened after we both excitedly jumped up and down about her being on the cover of BUST.
Women appeared both on screen and behind the scenes, and that remained consistent in season two. Every episode was helmed by female directors—a rarity in the industry for many cast members. Yet they appreciated it, noting that it mirrored their own experiences. Gibson commented, 'I feel proud and fortunate to have been part of season two of this show, with the female-driven initiative already in motion.' It was her first time working on a project with an entirely female directing team, and she hoped it would be the first of many such experiences.
Maury Ginsburg, who plays Steven Benowitz, stated, 'It was wonderful and crucial. We need more of this.' Wil Traval (Will Simpson) added, 'It feels natural, doesn't it? That's the essence of the show. It has always been led by women, and that's what makes it great. I was raised by a single mother, so having a woman in charge feels completely normal to me.'
However, several individuals also expressed a wish that this focus on gender wouldn't be the main topic of discussion (or the focus of my queries). Loeb remarked, 'I look forward to a day when questions like these are no longer the hot topic, but rather something everyone is already doing—something we always strive for at Marvel. Our general philosophy is that we don't care if you're a woman, a man, or an alien; if you have talent, we want you at Marvel.'
These are valid arguments, yet I believe that perspective overlooks the intrinsic worth of stories told by women, people of color, LGBTQ2+ individuals, and other marginalized communities who have been excluded from shaping the mainstream narrative. Lived experience holds value, and storytelling serves as a means to dismantle barriers. Clearly, the entire team behind Jessica Jones is immensely talented, which explains its success. But it's also successful because the creators' raw talent and hard work were informed by their unique perspectives and life experiences. A vast audience resonated with that.
That's precisely why we should applaud Jessica Jones. I also long for a world where it's no longer noteworthy to have a badass superhero series featuring women and led by women, or to see a diverse lead cast including people of color, or to watch queer characters navigate complex relationships on television. Until then, I'll be curled up on my sofa, sipping La Croix, and binge-watching Jessica Jones.
Lead photo credit: Marion Curtis/Netflix
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Anna Greer works as an editorial intern and is a senior at the University of Tennessee, majoring in comics and human rights. When she's not involved in feminist activism, she's typically sporting Doc Martens and browsing Star Wars prequel memes.
