Jessica Jones Season 2’s Female Directors, and Why It’s a Big Deal

Variety released an article about Jessica Jones’ upcoming season 2, every episode of which will be directed by female directors, and enough people are going apey over it that it’s a trending topic on Facebook.

I am going to start by saying that Jessica Jones is important. She’s the first heroine of the MCU to have her own show, and a lot of people have addressed this and sung her praises, so I don’t feel a need to retread that ground for this post.  I will say that I enjoyed the first season tremendously. I cannot attest to comic faithfulness as an adaptation as I never read the comics, but I will say that as a television show, I found it very entertaining. Not entirely unproblematic, but pretty darn authentic in representing an array of real women (as opposed to women who exist only to be someone’s love interest, mother, etc.).

The announcement of the inclusion of female directors has reminded me once again that ignorance reigns supreme on the internet, and the reactions to the news about season 2 are so staggeringly off point that I have to address them. I have no doubt someone will write a better post somewhere, but this is my soapbox and I’m going to use it.

Most of the negative comments are by men, but there are a few women arguing that it’s sexist to purposefully pursue female directors. I guess the fact that only four women ever have been nominated for a Best Director’s Oscar (and only one has ever won) means that it’s all good. Woman have equal opportunity in Hollywood, and we can all go home now.

Some of the men point out that the gender of the director is irrelevant, that it doesn’t matter if “a monkey were to direct it as long as it’s good.” Several assert that in striving for political correctness and progression “instead of hiring the best individuals for the job” is the problem. They all seem to assume that there aren’t enough women that could possibly qualify as the best individuals for the job. One man boldly condescends that he doesn’t “personally think women directors will make me think this version of Jessica Jones isn’t extremely boring and unlikeable[sic], but give it a shot gals.”

After requiring that the directors be “competent first and foremost,” without any explanation of what that looks like or why women wouldn’t automatically qualify, a lot of commenters gloomily drew parallels to the Ghostbusters reboot. To that I say awesome, I enjoyed the reboot, and I agree with Erin Ramsey that you should see it.

 A few women chided in to say that it’s “appalling” and a “step back” that they’re choosing just women, supporting the apparently unspoken consensus that the only thing Melissa Rosenberg will look for in a director is a vagina and that there simply aren’t enough talented women to do Jessica Jones justice in the second season.  According to WomenAndHollywood, from 2007-2015 (excluding 2011), there were only 29 unique women directors out of the 800 top grossing films of that time, totaling 4.1%. Yup, giving possibly 13 women the chance to direct an episode is totally a step back.

I hate ending on a negative note, so I dug until I found a couple comments that give me some hope for humanity.

“I wrote the comment below on the original post. It was met by a lot of ‘likes’ and a handful of men insisting that it wasn’t important, didn’t matter, or unfairly left out talented men.

Why does it matter that women are going to direct every episode of season 2 of Jessica Jones? Because men dominate the directing field on a level that looks like that 1950’s in just about any other industry. Because there are plenty of smart, capable, talented female directors out there. Because it’s not going to break anything to allow for diversity. Men have literally directed every single Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Men have directed all but one episode of two seasons of Daredevil.  The question shouldn’t be why are women directing every episode of Jessica Jones next season. The question should be why aren’t women directing more episodes of everything?”

Well said, Jack Cameron.

My favorite comment was from a woman who pointed out how irritating it is to see a female-led show or movie that’s written, directed, and produced by men. “It’s not a woman’s story. That’s a man’s story with the face of a woman on it. More women behind the scenes!!” I agree with you, Sarah Vhay! More ladies everywhere!