The Women Directing “Jessica Jones”

Jessica Jones is back, and the private investigator turned reluctant hero with superhuman strength has some rebuilding to do—of both her life and her career. After teaming up with Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist in the first season of The Defenders, Jones is on her own for season 2 of her series, streaming now on Netflix.

Expect plenty of witty banter, furniture-busting brawls, and new mysteries to solve in this season’s 13 episodes, all of which have a female director—a rare move in the world of TV.

Here are a handful of those episodes, along with other work by these directors. Watch them all on Netflix.

British director and photojournalist Minkie Spiro has worked on Downton Abbey and other hits from the UK. She has spoken about her efforts to ensure diversity in her camera crews. She directs episode 2 of Jessica Jones.

Spiro on Netflix: Better Call Saul (season 3, episode 9), Call the Midwife (season 2, episodes 7 and 8)

Canadian director Mairzee Almas is no stranger to comic book heroes. Her previous credits include multiple episodes of Smallville, about Superman’s teen years, and Arrow. She directs episode 3 of Jessica Jones.

Almas on Netflix: iZombie (season 2, episode 11), Once Upon a Time (season 6, episode 9)

Canadian film and television director Deborah Chow’s first feature film, The High Cost of Living, starring Zach Braff, garnered critical acclaim. She has also worked on the hit sci-fi show Mr. Robot. She directs episode 4 of Jessica Jones.

Chow on Netflix: Iron Fist (season 1, episode 11), The Vampire Diaries (season 3, episode 4)

New Yorker Liz Friedlander made her name directing music videos in the ’90s for artists like Alanis Morissette, Seal, and Céline Dion. Her TV credits include rich-kid soaps 90210 and Gossip Girl. She directs episode 12 of Jessica Jones.

Friedlander on Netflix: The Following (season 1, episode 3), Gossip Girl (season 4, episode 19)

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