Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire Season 1
Authors: Lauren Beukes, Vita Ayala, Sam Beckbessinger, Zoe Quinn, Elsa Sjunneson
Narrator: Fryda Wolff
Publisher: Serial Box
Released: May 28^th, 2020
Received: Own

Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire is the second Marvel series to hit Serial Box, and I’m gonna be honest with you here: I about lost my mind when I heard the news. This is exactly the sort of series I would have wanted to see adapted, and thus I couldn’t be happier about the fact.

It all started out as an easy, open and close case. The sort of case that PI dream of, and one that would allow Jessica to make a go at this whole self care thing that her therapist has been trying to push on her.

Naturally, it didn’t stay that way. What was once a missing person case quickly turned into a darker investigation, one that Jessica simply couldn’t walk away from. Too many people had already been hurt, and more people would be in the line of fire if she couldn’t find a way to stop it. So much for a mental health day.

“It’ll be a cinch, he said, it’s an ice cream turf war, he said, and sure they’re getting a little heavy, but nothing you can’t handle.”

Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire is absolutely my favorite series to come from Serial Box (so far). I know I’m probably a little bit biased when I say that, since Jessica Jones is one of my favorite heroes of all time, but still.

In many ways, this series was so perfectly suited to the format available on Serial Box. Her sass and wit carried over perfectly, as did the many characters that find their way into her world and series. It was one of the many charms that this series had going for it.

You can really feel the frustration that Jess is dealing with, basically on a daily basis. Likewise, the hurt that this case caused could not be avoided. The emotions in this entire adventure felt so raw and open, much like Alias.

The authors involved are another highlight, naturally. Lauren Beukes, Vita Ayala, Sam Beckbessinger, Zoe Quinn, and Elsa Sjunneson all were involved in the writing, with Fryda Wolff providing the narration. In short: it was freaking perfect.

Another highlight of this series is how much effort the creative team put into making the world sensitive to everyone. The ability to read or listen to the series is just a start. Even Jessica Jones, the stubborn and exasperating character made efforts to understand and connect with the characters around her.

While the series undoubtedly leaned towards the darker and grittier side of the Marvel universe (basically: Jessica Jones in a nutshell), it did have its humorous moments. They were bright spots in the series, reminding characters and readers alike of all the reasons why Jess keeps fighting so hard, despite all of the temptations towards giving up.

In short, I completely fell in love with Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire. I sincerely hope that there will be more seasons of this series, as my heart just couldn’t take the thought of saying goodbye after such a captivating read/listen.