Season three of Jessica Jones not only wraps up its own series, but it is the final set of Marvel episodes produced under Netflix. In a way, the timing is fitting. With "Endgame" concluding one era of the MCU on the film side, the end of the Netflix partnership is just one of the many changes coming to the TV side (if only it was Marvel's decision). Jessica Jones has had the most consistency with good seasons of all the Netflix shows, and while season three couldn't possibly mark the end of the line altogether, it at least concludes its own story in a satisfying way that brings about a conflict building up since season one.
First and foremost, unlike last season, we once again have a clear and present villain with Gregory Salinger, known in the comics as Foolkiller. Compared to Kilgrave and Alisa, Salinger is just a serial killer with no super powers. He's just cold, calculating, and precise. Think of him as the Lex Luthor to Jessica's Superman. He's even able to play the public by coming off as the innocent victim to Jessica's "harassment." Between his non-threatening exterior and scary voice, I really have to applaud Jeremy Bobb for his performance.
While there is a main villain, the struggle against him isn't the main conflict. Like season two, one of the main themes that's even more present this time around is that of morality. With Trish essentially becoming Hellcat this season, she's constantly at odds with Jessica over methodology, and the two are already in a bad spot since she killed Jessica's mother at the end of last season. The Salinger situation pushes them to their limit, making them question what the right thing to do is, as well as compromising their own beliefs at some points. Jessica knows there are areas of gray while Trish sees black and white; it's all about whether bad people should receive a punishment fitting of their crime. Much like what "Civil War" did to Tony and Steve, you can understand both sides of the argument and it leads to the two sisters coming to blows in a battle that brings just as much heartache.
The question of morality and character isn't just limited to Jessica and Trish though.
There's a new character, Erik, who initially believes that bad people just do bad things, and that's there's no point trying to change them or turn them in. His meeting Jessica and Trish and the actions he takes throughout the season puts him on a journey that I feel makes him a better person in the end.
Trish realizes this season that despite her issues with her mother and how she was raised, Dorothy still meant a lot to other people. Dorothy has a pretty upfront personality, and when it comes to perception, how you feel or what you know about one person won't necessarily be the norm for everyone.
Working under Hogarth, Malcolm finds himself performing tasks that makes him question his ethics; considering I think of him as the nicest character of the series, it's really hard to watch him pretty much going to the dark side. Thankfully he's able to come back from the edge as the season progresses.
As for Hogarth herself, she's a real piece of work this season. You'd think with her ALS diagnosis, she'd try to make amends for her past or act more altruistically, but she acts just as selfish as she ever does. Her actions in the finale show she does have a soul, but I don't think it excuses her actions, and I think she does end up getting what she deserves by the end.
Much like Daredevil and Punisher, the season ends in a way that concludes the character's journey, as well as leaves it open to another season. Compared to the Bullseye tease from Daredevil though, the tease at the end of Jessica Jones' finale is a bit more compelling. Keep in mind that unlike the other Netflix shows, they announced in advance that season three was the end for Jessica Jones. They could have just let the season end without such a tease but left it in anyway. This gets me thinking that maybe once the Netflix drama cools down, Marvel really may have plans for these characters. Here's hoping.
If this is the last we see of these characters though, I'd like to thank Krysten Ritter and by extension the casts of all the Marvel-Netflix series (yes, even you Iron Fist) for bringing a different side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and showing it can go darker and more serious than one would have thought.
Overall, if you enjoyed the previous seasons, take one more trip to Alias Investigations to see how it all ends.
My Final Marvel-Netflix Season Rankings:
1. Daredevil Season Three
2-4. Jessica Jones Season One, Two, Three
5. Daredevil Season One
6. Punisher Season One
7. Punisher Season Two
8. Luke Cage Season Two
9. Luke Cage Season One
10. Iron Fist Season Two
11. Daredevil Season Two
12. Defenders
13. Iron Fist Season One
No comments:
Post a Comment