Review: Jessica Jones - 1.05 "The Sandwich Saved Me"

The show takes us back to Jessica's origin story while finally moving the plot forward in the hunt for Kilgrave.

We finally get a glimpse of who Jessica was before she met Kilgrave. After Jessica bounces from job to job, Trish persuades her to use her abilities to become a hero. Jessica saves people for a while until Kilgrave discovers her and takes her under his wing. In the present day, Team Jones plots a Kilgrave kidnapping, which works rather well up until Kilgrave's hired goons whisk him away to a safehouse. In the end, Jessica manages to save Malcolm once again, and reestablishes an intriguing connection with Kilgrave.

It's interesting to see that Jessica wasn't all sunshine and roses pre-Kilgrave. Turns out, she had pretty much the same personality she has now -- snarky with a penchant for day drinking. She was listless and bored with her job, already showing a knack for sleuthing as she discovers embezzlement occurring at her office. But she was also goofy, fun, and carefree.  I have to wonder why the showrunners didn't decide to make her past self even more different. Wouldn't it have made her story more tragic if she had been a cheerful do-gooder who was transformed into a cynical louse by Kilgrave? Although I suppose it is more realistic to keep her personality relatively the same. Her attempts at heroism are pretty tragic, though. When she saves the little girl, she can't help but smile. It was probably the first time she felt any meaning to her life. She tells Kilgrave that she enjoyed beating up those guys because she liked to help people, to make a difference. Jessica had finally found her purpose in life and Kilgrave just ends up perverting it. The contrast between that Jessica and the Jessica now is stark. She doesn't believe in doing good anymore.

The whole kidnapping scene was so tense and well-done. Knowing that it's only mid-season and they can't capture Kilgrave this early on, you're just waiting for something horrible to go wrong. Surprisingly, their scheme actually worked. Kilgrave was just one precautionary bastard, hiring the bodyguards and planting a tracking device on himself. It does make me wonder what exactly are the limitations on Jessica's powers. It seems like she should've been able to take those guys out pretty easily. She was able to withstand the cattle prod for a little while. It would be helpful for viewers to know what she can and can't handle, just to give us a sense whether or not the stakes are high.

It's nice to see Jessica and Trish easily picking up their friendship from where they left off, despite the six months where Jessica shut Trish out. In the flashback, we see how protective Jessica is of Trish, mouthing off to the weird guys who hit on her. She's doing the same now, antagonizing Simpson as soon she discovers they're sleeping together (whereas before she was trying to help Simpson). Likewise, Trish was always encouraging Jessica to use her powers for good, and it is partly because of Trish that Jessica decided to stay and try to save Hope.

Speaking of Trish -- I love Trish. She just wants to save the world! She'd be a hero if she could. She also doesn't take any bullshit from men: "Hey, last night was fun, but that doesn't mean I want your opinion." Go Trish! Trish is also an awesome friend, fully believing in Jessica's capabilities, telling Simpson that Jessica doesn't need him (but there's no harm in using him). She is also staunchly loyal, not giving in an inch when Simpson grills her for some dirt on Jessica. And when she gets knocked out during the kidnapping, she feels so guilty. "I'm just a goddamn radio talk show host." Aw, Trish is the best. She wants to do good so badly -- and she can, despite her lack of superpowers. Smart, practical, independent, caring -- can we get a Patsy Walker spinoff already?

Despite being such a minor character, Malcolm has really garnered sympathy as his backstory reveals just how much damage Kilgrave has done. He used to help people as a social worker; now, Kilgrave has turned him into a junkie who blames himself for Kilgrave's actions. Kilgrave has made him believe that he deserves this mess of a life. Much like what Kilgrave did to Jessica. He's made her believe she's an infection, hurting people wherever she goes. She needs a win, so she can believe once more in her ability to do good -- she needs to save Malcolm.

And then we get to the interesting power plays between Kilgrave and Jessica. He is the one with the mind controlling voice, and yet he is so desperate to hear Jessica's voice. They're both under each other's spells. It also looks like Kilgrave is holding all the cards as he gives Jessica a "choice": he'll let Malcolm go if Jessica will continue sending him pictures. Jessica will have no other option than to give in to Kilgrave in order to save Malcolm. However, Malcolm subverts Kilgrave's control by saving his own life, and thus saving Jessica from having to obey Kilgrave. Now, Jessica is playing along with Kilgrave by her own choice. She's holding the power now.  It's a dangerous game she's playing, and I hope she's smart enough to win it.

Other Thoughts:

• I know the scene with the douchebag wanting to play "Love Tester" was meant to be funny. But since we already know she's going to beat him, the scene just feels really drawn out and unnecessary. 
• "It's more like guided falling." Jessica Jones is Buzz Lightyear, guys.
• Again, a well-done portrayal of PTSD, as just seeing Kilgrave sends Jessica into a panic attack.
• Holy shit, the way Kilgrave casually tells the man to throw coffee in his face is chilling. Even Jessica gasps a little.
• I'm still not sure what Reuben and his twin sister are doing on the show. Are they just comic relief? Will they be revealed as another Malcolm? 
• "Do you like banana bread?" "No." She takes it anyway. Hehe.
• Another racy sex scene. I actually appreciated this one, though. So often, sex scenes in the media are often portrayed as a male-dominated arena, where it's all about the guy getting what he wants. It's good to see the woman using sex for her own pleasure for once. 
• Hope is a tragic character. Her life is pretty much over. I wonder if Hope getting beat up was on Kilgrave's orders, or if it was just a typical prison beating. Either way, poor Hope.
• It seems like Simpson's got a bit of a hidden past. He used to be in black ops, now he's not. And Jessica had to remind Simpson to serve and protect when he was getting all torture-happy with the bodyguard.
• I love the scene where Jessica and Simpson are talking to each other through the soundproof glass."You GI Joe. You definitely have a screw loose."  "I've seen heroes. You're not even close." Just a really clever way to show their mistrust of each other without another tired argument.

• Simpson looks eerily similar to Steve Rogers. Blond hair. Brown leather jacket. Intentional?

• Cute nod to the comics with Jessica's superhero costume and moniker ("Jewel is a stripper name!").

• There needs to be a superhero dressed like a hoagie. Somebody make that happen. 
• I wonder why no one just uses earplugs to defend against Kilgrave's powers. The power is exerted aurally, right?
• "Okay, let's all go back to tense silence, I think." Heehee.
• "Dont play the hero with me." The implications are chilling. 
• "Send a picture, save the junkie. Sounds like an ad campaign." Possible dig at the Heroes slogan, "Save the cheerleader, save the world?" If so, well done.