The titular character from Jessica Jones, portrayed by Krysten Ritter, is immune to the powers of her nemesis Kilgrave (David Tennant), and here’s why. “The Defenders Saga” has come to Disney+, introducing a whole new range of potential viewers to the adventures of its gritty street-level superheroes. These include some of the most compelling heroes crafted by Marvel Television, such as Ritter’s Jessica Jones, a superpowered detective who struggles with PTSD due to her encounter with a dangerous villain named Kilgrave.

Lifted straight from the comics, David Tennant’s Kilgrave is a twisted madman who believes the whole world is meant to revolve around him. He possesses the ability to manipulate the minds of others with just a word; when he speaks, men and women alike fall under his thrall and will do almost anything he wishes. There’s just one exception to Kilgrave’s power, one woman who has managed to overcome his control; Jessica Jones. Naturally, Kilgrave has become utterly obsessed with Jessica and longs to coerce her into serving him of her own free will.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Jessica Jones’s resistance to Kilgrave’s control is never fully explained in Jessica Jones. Flashbacks eventually confirm Kilgrave forced Jessica to commit murder on his behalf, an act so outside her own sense of morality that it seems to have functionally “flipped a switch” in her mind, leaving her in such a state of shock she was able to simply walk away from him. Jessica’s mind appears to have then gone on to develop a natural immunity to Kilgrave, meaning he can never control her again.

See also  Skyrim: How To Enter The Inner Sanctum

It’s possible there is also some sort of biological component to Jessica’s resistance. Jessica Jones season 1 eventually reveals Kilgrave’s body releases a virus into the air around him. When anyone around Kilgrave breathes that virus in, they become thrall to his will should he speak to them and make it known. Jessica is exposed to Kilgrave’s virus for eight months, one of the longest cases known, meaning her body may well have begun to naturally develop antibodies. This may well have been boosted by Jessica’s superhuman metabolism.

Jessica’s immunity is essentially the driving force of Jessica Jones season 1, as she and Kilgrave engage in an insane game of cat-and-mouse, with Kilgrave eager to control the life of the one woman who has ever walked away from him. Ironically, Jessica herself was probably no threat to him; struggling with PTSD after her experiences, she would have preferred to stay well away from her old tormentor. And so, Kilgrave’s obsession sealed his fate in Jessica Jones season 1.

The Mandalorians Are More Like The Sith Than Disney+ Tells You

About The Author


Thomas Bacon
(4893 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

See also  Game Of Thrones: 5 Times Jaime Lannister Was A Hero (& 5 Times He Was The Villain)

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

More From Thomas Bacon