Jessica Jones season 2 has a serious villain and story problem

Anybody who enjoyed the debut outing of the acid-tongued, super-powered and somewhat troubled Jessica Jones back in 2015 will have been eagerly awaiting her fully-fledged return. Simply hearing that title music again is a thrill.

Krysten Ritter's shambolic PI is arguably the Marvel TV stable's most compelling protagonist (with The Punisher's Frank Castle a hair's breadth behind). And for the most part, the first season was a gripping thriller that had suspense, conflict and wry comedy in spades.

Unfortunately, though this new season is still strong on humour, sharp of dialogue and packing some potent character work and themes, the overriding plot-line lets it down.

Jessica is every bit as entertaining and compelling a flawed hero as before. But if the first five episodes are anything to go by, season two lacks a central mystery and antagonist worthy of her.

Missing the shocking grip of the first season

When we catch up with Jess - still breaking rules and into places she shouldn't, and seemingly still with only one outfit to her name - she's struggling to get on in a New York that now views her as a violent vigilante. In a world where punching your problems in the face only creates more problems.

Plagued by self-loathing, exacerbated by new, terrible events, the persistence of Trish and the arrival of a strange prospective client compels Jessica to reluctantly begin digging into her own past.