So this week I’ve been watching a lot of TV with women in it. Sorry, not just in it…they are the heroes and the main character…no, not just that, the programs are named after them!
I’ve been watching Jessica Jones and Supergirl. Jessica Jones is more the character that I prefer to write myself. She’s complicated, messed up, and in your face. She has super powers, but those are almost secondary to the force of her personality. She makes me think of Socha from my Books of the Order in those respects, and I love seeing that on television. Krysten Ritter brings in an amazing preformance as Jessica, being tough with just enough of a hint of vulnerability underneath to keep her interesting.
The series is dark, superhero noir, and explores issues that many shows would shy away from: rape and its after effects. I know there are people who have gone through these traumas, and can’t watch Jessica Jones because it is just too close to home. For the rest of the world though, these are important dark subjects that we should examine, we should shine a light on. If Jessica makes us as a society look closer at these things, then all the better. However, like Daredevil before it, it is not for children.
However, if you are looking for something the kids can enjoy with you, there is Supergirl. This is a show which only has in common with Jessica Jones the superpowers. If Jessica is turning over rocks at the bottom of the garden to see what is hiding underneath, then Supergirl is leaping away from the darkness into a bright blue sky.
It took a little bit longer for the show to find its legs—much like a rookie superhero might—but now I am really enjoying it. Melissa Benoit does geeky, awkwardness well, but watching her develop into a powerful superhero is just as much fun.
I cannot tell you the enjoyment of seeing our daughter entranced by Supergirl, and wanting to see more. It made me suddenly understand the power of who you are, whatever race, sex or sexuality, reflected in media. Suddenly there is inclusion, where you almost had given up noticing its lack.
And yet, some said that because we had Jessica, Supergirl was in danger, or started comparing the shows, saying one was better than the other. Yes, apparently we can’t have more than one super-powered woman on the TV screen…you know even though apparently we can have the Flash and Arrow at the same time. Arghhh…too many women!! I nearly threw my bowl of cereal across the room.
Also, they are different. We want variety. We want optimism, we want dark, we want shows that are fun, and shows that make us think.
We also want women’s stories where they are front and centre, and we want them in genre shows, because women watch, read, and buy stuff. We’re geeks too.
Some have complained that there is too much diversity in TV and in books. This statement just makes me scratch my head. Too much? How can there be such a narrow world few? The world is not white and not male. It is full of all shades of people, so many cultures, and yes…different sexes. I am excited that girls like my daughter can see herself represented in media, and when I see her riveted to shows like Supergirl, I have hope there will be much, much more to come.
Oh that’s right, Agent Carter Season Two starts next month! Now about Wonder Woman…
