Netflix presents Marvel’s Jessica Jones Season 2 Episode 11 AKA Three Lives and Counting for your consideration in 2018’s Emmy
With the 2017-2018 television season wrapping up, it is time to submit for the Emmy’s. I’m not entirely sure how shows/studios pick which episode they want to submit for consideration, but in Marvel’s Jessica Jones I definitely see why they would choose AKA Three Lives and Counting.
AKA Three Lives and Counting is the climax of the season, Jessica has just taken the life of the guard harassing her mother, Patsy has kidnapped the doctor who gave Jessica her powers, Malcolm was manipulated by Patsy and perhaps irreparably hurt Jessica, and Jessica’s Mother Alisa has to cope with the culmination of the other 3’s action. It’s a huge clash of personal desire, familial duty, and betrayal that leads inexplicably screams, “DRAMA!” It’s kind of a no-brainer that the powers that be selected AKA Three Lives and Counting for your consideration, FYC or in Netflix’s brilliant branding, FYSee.
What’s so great about an FYSee event is that you get to hear from the people responsible for creating the show. After the screening of the episode, fans in attendance were treated to a panel featuring most of the cast, as well as some key figures behind the camera. The Jessica Jones FYSee panel featured Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Janet McTeer (Alison Jones), Melissa Rosenberg (Show Runner), Rachael Taylor (Patsy Walker), Eka Darvill (Malcolm Ducasse), Manuel Billeter (Director of Cinematography), and Jeph Loeb (Executive Producer). The panel dove deep into the creative process, and what was going on through everyone’s minds as they put together the episode we saw. In contrast to their characters, it was almost shocking how much the actors are different than their characters. Granted it is their profession, and they are professional AF, to say the least, but considering Taylor, Darville, and McTeer speak with noticeable accents on the regular, and Ritter seems to naturally smile and brighten up a room, it really highlights their undeniable acting ability.
During the panel’s Q&A with the audience, there was one topic that really stood out to me, the fact that this season was directed entirely by female directors. It is a milestone, and a much welcomed and sought out one. The advantages and beneficial intangibles are evident from the show, but what I found really interesting was the casts’ experience from it. Ritter spoke of the natural shorthand and understanding having a female director allowed the show to have. Her example talked about how much more comfortable and understanding she was of the amount of ass she was asked to show from a female director versus the same process with a male director. This is not to say that she would not do the same for/with a male director, but that process requires a little more effort and understanding to create the same trust and comfort with a woman. It is naturally easier to trust someone you know you have something in common with, versus having to build the trust with someone you have to learn you have something in common with. McTeer and Taylor also brought up how female directors understand female relationships, such as sisters and mothers and daughters, and how that allowed them to really direct them to a real portrayal of those relationships. Which makes so much sense, it is literally impossible for men to have those same relationships, and it is kind of impossible for men to portray, or even envision, those relationships with the same authenticity. Rosenberg shared that having all female directors was not the goal, as their goal was to get the best they could for the show, and it just so happened that the best way to go was all female directors. Loeb added that, though incredibly proud of the milestone, they are looking forward to the day when it is normal for an all-female directing team to be normal, and that hopefully, this is a step in that direction.
The Jessica Jones FYSee event was an enlightening and fun event. Fans were able to watch the show on the big screen, get inside information from the cast and creators, and then welcomed to Netflix’s reception area where they got to see exhibits from all of Netflix’s FYSee programs. I do not know all those shows in the running for the category, or if the behind the scenes stories have any effect on the consideration, but I believe the performances, story, and achievements of Jessica Jones gives it a strong chance to at least be one of the finalists in the category. Be sure to check out Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix.
