Jessica Jones: 10 Reasons Why Marvel's Films Simply Can't Compete

What is it about Netflix that makes Marvel so much better?

by Ewan Paterson

When Iron Man first hit cinema screens in 2008, no one at the time would've even had the slightest inkling that Marvel Studios would grow to be the cinematic titan it is today. Having spawned dozens of sequels, spin-offs and more, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arguably become the most significant and bankable film franchise in recent memory. This doesn't come without its pitfalls however, and you don't have to look far to see Marvel's detractors make their thoughts known. Among the most common of criticisms levelled at the franchise has been its uniform approach to story telling, with many viewers begrudgingly making their way to new releases often at the expense of forced humour, undeveloped antagonists, and iffy CGI. These critiques haven't gone away either, and have actually increased with each successful Marvel outing (even if there are exceptions - Winter Soldier to name but one). Quite the anomaly then, is the franchise's Netflix presence. Kicking off earlier in the year with the universally acclaimed Daredevil, shows on the streaming service have pushed the boundaries of the universe's normal constraints, tackling mature themes and depicting unconstrained brutality in a way the films simply couldn't dare venture - lest they sacrifice the much-coveted PG13 rating. The same is true of Netflix's latest addition to the MCU, Jessica Jones, which is also dealing with themes left unapproached by not just Marvel's wider slate of media, but by comic book adaptations as a whole as well. It isn't just the gritty approach to story-telling that differentiates the shows from the films however, but the strength of writing overall. Yes, the darker avenue grants show-runners a huge creative licence to adapt Marvel's characters more faithfully, but when line delivery doesn't just hinge on how many laughs it will get from the audience, better character development and emotive climaxes are a distinct and very much intended consequence. Indeed, as Marvelites world-over make their way to their couch of choice to binge-watch yet another costume-clad series, Jessica Jones is already demonstrating that Marvel's blockbusters simply can't compete.

Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.