‘Jessica Jones’ Season 2 Updates: Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg Talks Social Issues, Jessica-Trish Relationship; Series to Feature More Villains?

‘Jessica Jones’ season 2 is set to feature the return of Krysten Ritter as the titular superhero. Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg explained that the incoming season is set to tackle more social issues as well as delve deeper into Jessica and Trish’s relationship. Rosenberg also teased that the series may feature multiple villains.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rosenberg revealed that the show intends to tackle more social issues and female relationships in addition to being a superhero show.

Rosenberg said, “The first season we hit a lot of them — we had issues of choice, interracial relationships, domestic violence, issues of consent. We kind of ran the gamut there a little bit, obviously all about feminism and being a woman in this world. It’s a very feminist show, and intentionally so.”

She added, “If you’re digging into the dark side of the human psyche and all the different experiences we go through, and as women we go through, you’re going to find those things. If you treat them honestly and with respect, you’re also going to hit social issues. So I’m not quite sure what the social issues yet that we’re dealing with [in season 2]. We’re just trying to find some resonance for her character and a new place to push her, to give Krysten something new to play and really push the boundaries of the character.”

Krysten Ritter is set to return as the titular Jessica Jones, a former superhero suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who opens her own detective agency in New York City. She possesses superhuman strength and limited flight.

Joining Ritter is co-star Rachel Taylor as Patricia “Trish” Walker, a former child star and model who is also Jessica’s best friend and adoptive sister. Rosenberg admitted that she planned for the show to explore Jessica and Trish’s relationship deeper. She said, “That is the core relationship in the piece. It is about female friendship, it is about how friends evolve — they’re sisters, really — and it’s about how they evolve and ping off each other. I’m interested in relationships, whether they be romantic, or family, or friends, or professional — that’s what’s interesting to me, is Jessica in relationship to people.”

Rosenberg added that although some viewers think there is a romantic side between the two characters, she isn’t bothered by it. She said, “Honestly, I love that people are seeing that. I’m fine with that. It’s not what interests me about their relationship. To me, it’s about their history, and their trust and connection.”

Meanwhile, according to /Film, the incoming season may feature multiple villains. Rosenberg admitted that they would have difficulty topping David Tennant‘s Kilgrave. It was speculated that Will Traval’s Will Simpson may be returning. It was also speculated that the “antagonists” Rosenberg was referring to would be more of an anti-hero and less an actual villain such as the Punisher or Daredevil.

‘Jessica Jones’ is a web television series based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name and is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The first season premiered on Netlix on November 2015 with season 2 renewed on January 2016.

It is produced by Marvel Television, ABC Studios, and Tall Girl Productions.