Eka Darville – Jessica Jones

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) Where do we pick up in the Jessica Jones universe when we return with season two?

A) We pretty much pick up where we left off at the end of Season One. We’ve had a little brief interlude, which we got to see in “The Defenders,” which also alludes to the relationship that is budding between Jessica (Krysten Ritter) and Malcolm. Malcolm is trying to put his life back together and trying to build a business with Jessica.

Q) When reading the scripts for season two, what about the writing really stood out and was striking for you? In season one the heightened layers of suspense mixed with snark and sharp edged diabolically and deliciously delivered dialogue by everyone always was such a huge treat. 

A) Yeah, I guess Season Two is more of the same and it kind of takes it even further in my opinion. I was just so incredibly grateful when reading the scripts for Season Two because there is such juicy work for all of the characters, including Jessica. But we really expand the world in Season Two and we explore the backstories and how they overlap. So, I guess it is really just the character development that they took the time to really play with and the richness of the comedy that they layer in, even in these intense often dark situations – the brevity of Mel’s [Rosenberg] dark humor really brings a layer of sass to the whole show that is just a joy to read and even more so to play.

Q) Jessica isn’t just battling her inner demons this season, her past is coming back in a big way. As she says, it takes a monster to stop a monster. What can you tell us about the darkness that drives Jessica and how this season pushes her even further to the brinks?

A) Episode six is a huge twist and you’ll get the payoff of all the suspense and buildup in the first five episodes. I’ll just say it’s well and truly worth it. It’s a spoiler alert to say how much further we can push her over the brink, but I think it takes a massive leap further into breaking her down and defining how she came to be who she is.

Q) Malcolm is not just her neighbor this season, he becomes Jessica’s eager assistant. How does the dynamic between the two differ? Jessica and Malcolm have such a great push and pull to them, can you talk about what it’s been like working through this sort of tug of war for these two with Krysten?

A) [Laughs] If you ask Malcolm whether he was her assistant, he would say he was her “associate.” [laughs] But they have a very almost sibling like relationship where there is that love/hate bickering that goes on, but there is a deep sense of trust that they have built for one another. In Season One, more than anyone else Jessica and Malcolm really see each other at their lowest point. At their most vulnerable, weakest moments and that is very indicative of family. So, I very much view Malcolm as almost like her brother. We definitely explore that a bit more in Season Two and it’s really about Malcolm coming of age and finding himself outside of addiction and rebuilding his life post-Kilgrave (David Tennant).

Q) What was so compelling about season one of the was this intense build up of emotion, aggression, and tension all tangled together. When you watch you’re trying to catch your breath and keep up, and it becomes a wild cardio ride. How does this season provide that same captivating consistency?

A) I really hope so and I really believe so. For me, reading this year’s scripts was even better than the first season because they have the luxury of completing all thirteen episodes before we shot even a single frame. So, the layering of nuance that they were able to put in in terms of the plot, the character development and the arc of each character and where it’s leading – it’s essentially a thirteen-part movie rather than your regular procedural TV series. Really, the detail they put into is unbelievable and you will be riveted. I’m just as excited as a fan to watch this. I’ve cleared my schedule and I know what I’ll be doing!

Q) What are some of the prevalent themes we will see in Season Two?

A) We definitely delve deeper into the whole roll of psychology and trauma. We explore that in a big way. We explore the concept of family and for Malcolm it’s very much about coming of age and identity and finding himself outside of the idea of being an addict.

Q) What have you enjoyed or been the most challenging part about the evolution of Malcolm’s journey and his character development these two seasons?

A) The thing I love the most about Malcolm is the constant evolution. As a character, he just keeps growing and changing. As you know from Season One, he started in one place and ended in a completely different place. This season is as big if not bigger in terms of his journey. I guess it’s playing each little incremental step along this incredible arc that we can justify and earn these payoffs of where we get to take these characters. I guess that’s what I enjoy most about playing Malcolm.

Q) By the end of Season Two, what will the impact be for everyone from Jessica’s culminating confrontation with what she finds out about her past and what it means for her? 

A) [laughs] I think that’s a question for Friday so clear all of your questions so you can get to that point. There are so many beautiful twists that I really don’t want to give anything away that I’d be doing a disservice.

Q) How did it feel to have all thirteen episodes being directed by women, for Season Two?

A) Oay, so we started out with Mel (I think) wanting half the episodes being directed by women. It just makes a ton of sense. Then, it was Allie Gross over at Netflix who actually made the suggestion. Once they started digging and looking for different directors it really became apparent that there was such an uncapped pool of talent of filmmakers – regardless of gender or race that they fall under. It no longer became a question of trying to get thirteen female directors. It really became who is the best person for the job. These women all fell into that category. Working with them was so rewarding and refreshing. As an actor and growing up as a black actor, you have to work twice as hard to get to the same place. So, these women are so overqualified and so fucking good at what they do. So, it was really that same hunger I feel within myself of just having to prove myself time and time again in order to have the same level of respect within the industry. You could feel it with these women. They are powerhouses and incredibly creative that are just by far the best person for the job. So, it really wasn’t a question of gender. It was just getting to work with these incredible hungry filmmakers.

Q) What most surprised you about the response to Season One, and what are you most excited about, with people getting to see with Season Two?

A) The response to season one was just that it was such a well received show and such a beautiful balance of the mainstream kind of marquee value that comic book hero genre are for, but being able to do incredible deep storytelling in that space. I think that the content and themes that we dealt with struck a chord with all audiences, but particularly with female audiences and other minorities that can resonate with that struggle. With Season Two, I think we really take that narrative even further and explore that even more. I just love that it is really fundamentally flawed and absolutely broken yet absolutely powerful characters – Jessica being the spearhead of that. She’s a mess. She’s a hot mess! But, literally, you just can’t help but adore her and root for her in every sense. I think with all of the characters we really get to expand on that. In Season One, you can only tell the peripheral stories in how they prop up Jessica’s story and now we’ve really earned the right to explore these other character. What I’m most excited about is for audiences to get to see more of Jeri Hogarth’s (Carrie-Ann Moss) world and everything that is her struggles, her pain and what is going on as her as an individual, which is just such a rewarding story this season. Then, it’s everything that goes on in Trish’s backstory and how she became who she is and her relationship with Jessica and what it was like for them growing up together. Then, it’s Malcolm’s journey of who he is becoming and a lot more about what it was and where he came from before. All of these new characters that we introduce in Season Two there is such a richness of the tapestry that I think is just going to be a joy for all the audiences to watch.

Q) Is there anything else about this season and the surprises it holds that you would like to tease?

A) Clear your schedule and get out and binge. It’s such a worthy and exciting show. I’m just so excited for audiences to see all the hard work and love we’ve poured into the characters and this project.