The Ending of 'Jessica Jones' Season 2, Explained
What's going on with Trish?
As is seemingly tradition in the Marvel/Netflix universe, the finale of Jessica Jones Season 2 ends on a somewhat bittersweet note. But, the transformation of one character is nearly complete, which hints that Jessica Jones may turn into a different show entirely by Season 3.
Warning: Spoilers for Jessica Jones Season 2 ahead.
All season long, Trish has been transforming into something… else. Hooked on the drugs used by Simpson, Trish has spent all of Season 2 with enhanced strength, speed, agility, and a significant loss of control and cognitive thinking. She’s not the Hulk, but she’s also not herself. Remember how she bombed a ZCN audition? Yeah. The lesson here is “Don’t do drugs, kids.”
But while Trish is off the leftover IGH formula, she’s apparently kept her abilities. After saying goodbye to Jessica for maybe the last time, Trish saves her cell phone from falling into an elevator using her foot. It’s a totally impossible move that’s made Trish aware of her sharpened agility, beyond that of a normal human. She’s been trained to kick ass since Season 1, and now in Season 2, Trish has the raw power to become something else.
Maybe, she’s going to become Hellcat.
'The Avengers' #144, featuring Patsy Walker as Hellcat.
Who Is Hellcat?
Like the Whizzer, Patsy Walker was a Timely Comics character who was included into the Marvel Universe when Timely changed its name to Marvel Comics in the 1960s. Patsy came from a teen-centric franchise of humor comics (think Archie), who had appearances in comics like Miss America, Teen Comics, and her own books like Patsy Walker, which spawned its own spin-offs.
Then, in the 1970s, Marvel writer Steve Englehart included Patsy in a back-up feature with the X-Man, Beast, in Amazing Adventures. The story didn’t last long, but in 1975, Patsy was introduced in The Avengers #141. A few issues later in Avengers #144, Patsy became the superhero Hellcat, picking up the costume of Grant Greer Nelson’s “The Cat.” In 1977, Hellcat joined the Defenders.
Hellcat has been around here and there since, but she rose to prominence in 2015 with her own series, Patsy Walker A.K.A. Hellcat! from Kate Leth, which combined modern superheroics with the humor and style of the teen comics Patsy Walker originally hailed from. The series lasted for 17 issues, with its final issue published in 2017.
Preview from 2015's 'Patsy Walker, a.k.a. Hellcat!' #1.
Will Trish Become Hellcat?
In an interview with Inverse ahead of Season 2, Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter and Rachael Taylor largely dismissed the idea of costumes being a thing in the Netflix series. However, Taylor did suggest that being a hero is Trish’s motivation throughout the new season.
“At the forefront of Season 2 is Trish’s appetite for more,” Taylor explained to Inverse. “She wants to be more than what she is. She wants power, Jessica has power.” Taylor then added that she wonders how Hellcat “would play out.”
“I’m sure [showrunner] Melissa [Rosenberg] could cook up some grounded version of that in the future,” Taylor said.
Well that's... curious.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.
