Do As I Say, Not As I Do

The recent debut of Jessica Jones on Netflix added a new layer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe—one with darker tones (even more so than those in Daredevil), a surly protagonist, and the specter of sexual violence. Alyssa Rosenberg zeroes in on the sinister Kilgrave, whose possesses the ability to make people do as he says yet lacks any self-awareness around his actions:

“He believes that because he doesn’t commit murder himself, despite ordering others to do so, he’s not a killer or a rapist. In some scenes, he’s even disgusted by the language Jessica uses to accuse him, as if telling her not to use the word “rape” means he can’t possibly have committed the act. 

These aren’t the actions or ideas of a commanding alpha, a man who’s truly in control of himself and confident in his relationships with other people. They’re the acts of someone who’s terrified about what would happen if he tried to work for money; whether he could actually have a fulfilling consensual relationship with a woman whose needs he might actually have to meet; or how he would handle the inevitable friction that comes from everyday contact with other people.”

(Image: Kilgrave (David Tennant) and Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) deciding not to get coffee; Netflix/Marvel Television)

Posted in: Theatre Comics