Jessica 1.8Jessica moves in with Kilgrave and even manages to persuade him to do something that benefits others rather than just himself…

The series tackles one of its underlying themes head on in this episode – the fact that Jessica has been raped mentally and physically by Kilgrave during their relationship. That element was clearly there but not pushed hard during the discussion of Hope’s pregnancy and abortion, but here it’s front and centre, as Jessica and Kilgrave talk in her old childhood home. It leads into revelations about Kilgrave’s own childhood (which I suspect is markedly different from his origins in the comics), but, as Jessica points out, he can’t use the fact that he was badly treated to justify what he does now… and nor is saving people a zero-sum game where if he helps save one life, it somehow makes up for what he did before.

David Tennant owns the episode – from the twisted way in which Kilgrave treats his servants to his genuine belief that Jessica should be grateful to him, and finally to his amazement that the woman whose life he saves is thankful – but Krysten Ritter doesn’t let the energy levels drop for a moment.

Verdict: A well-written and acted instalment. 9/10

Paul Simpson