Jessica Jones season 3, episode 13 review: A.K.A Everything

The last episode of Jessica Jones and the Marvel Netflix Universe provides its audience with a legitimate ending befitting of its titular hero.

For a brief moment, Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) had a perfect win. During the penultimate episode of Jessica Jones’ third and final season, the super strong, hard-drinking PI had prevented her best friend and adoptive sister, Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor) from murdering her mother’s killer, Gregory Salinger (Jeremy Bobb). In turn, Jess, with the help of the empath blackmailer, Erik Gelden (Benjamin Walker), tricked Salinger into confessing to his crimes on tape. She even managed to help her cop pal, Eddy Costa (John Ventimiglia) get back on the force.

Unfortunately, Jess’ win wouldn’t last. Although Salinger would face trial, Trish was still furious that the most he would get would be life in prison. Thus, as police escorted Salinger to the courthouse, Trish attacked his guards and then brutally killed him. Now, Jess must find Trish before the cops do, even though it means having to confront the only family she has left.

Yet as “A.K.A Everything” gets underway, Jess receives a surprise visitor to give her a much-needed pep talk–none other than the Sheriff of Harlem, Luke Cage! Yes, it’s great seeing former co-star Mike Colter come back, if only for a cameo. It’s also a bittersweet reminder that this episode doesn’t only serve as Jessica Jones’ series finale, but also as the very last episode of any Marvel Netflix series. Yet Cage’s conversation with Jess also highlights what this season of Jessica Jones has been about all along. Family taking care of their own doesn’t always mean protecting them when they’re in trouble. It sometimes means someone can only be stopped by someone who is family.

Sister vs. Sister

You have to hand it to the Jessica Jones’ showrunners for making the bold, shocking decision to turn their version of Marvel Comics’ Hellcat into a villain. It’s especially unexpected if you’re at all aware of Patsy Walker’s history in the comics. Yet it seems this version of Trish has always been intended as the series’ main antagonist, with Hogarth, Alisa, Salinger, and even Killgrave as elaborate red herrings. For an unconventional superhero television series, this couldn’t be more fitting.

Her being a villain also fits when you take a closer look at who Jess is. From the beginning, Jess never looked the part of a superhero. Aside from her drinking, swearing, and hook-ups, she doesn’t wear a costume, has a public identity, and claims to only be in her line of work for the money. But all along, Jess shares many qualities often found in most superheroes. She’s an orphan, obtained her powers by accident, doesn’t seek the limelight, lives by a simple moral code, and, most importantly, doesn’t see herself as a hero.

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Compare this with Trish who actually ticks off more villain boxes than you might think. Raised by an emotionally manipulative and abusive parent? Check. Feels as though people don’t take her seriously? Check. Self-destructive behavior? Check. Uses people to get want she wants? Check. Intentionally sought ways to give herself superpowers? Check. Self-important and self-righteous? Check. Jealous of the hero even though she’s also her best friend and that they’re as close as siblings? One-hundred percent check! That the series hid all of this right under the audiences’ noses is simply incredible.

Credit, too, for the way the series has Jess defeat Trish in the most appropriately ironic way possible–by outing her on a live stream broadcast. Yes, the media star becomes exposed as a criminal to the media by someone who hates the media. It also proves, once again, that Jess’ true strength lies in her intelligence which everyone, including herself, underestimates.

It also leads to some of the best performances Taylor has ever done on the series. The scene of her in the interrogation room, looking disheveled in her prison jumpsuit as Costa reads her the long list of charges against her, is devastating to watch, particularly when Taylor, as Trish, utters the words, “I’m the bad guy.”  The same goes for when Jess watches Trish escorted to the helicopter that will  take her to the Raft. It’s perfect face acting between both of Ritter and Taylor, silently encapsulating everything about Jess and Trish’s relationship in what is, no doubt, the last time they’ll ever see each other.

A muddled finale…

Mixed in with the tragic confrontation between Jess and Trish, however, is the rest of the episode. Endings have always been somewhat of a problem, not just for Jessica Jones, but for all the Marvel Netflix series. While they take the time developing their characters, having thirteen episodes per season also drags out various plots and subplots almost to the point of aimlessness. By the time the season reaches its finale, the showrunners are then forced to rush through wrapping up all its various storylines at breakneck speed that it can feel unearned. “A.K.A Everything” is no exception.

Case in point: how the series ties-in Trish with Jeri Hograth (Carrie Ann-Moss) and her obsessive love for her former college flame, Kith Lyonne (Sarita Choudhury). Throughout the episode, Jeri keeps switching her allegiances between Jess and Trish faster than most politicians can flip-flop. The scene in Jeri’s apartment alone, where Trish threatens to kill Kith, causing Jeri to shoot Jess in the leg and then help Trish escape the country, moves in such a rushed pace, it’s hard to even process what just happened.

It also seems rather convenient that when Jess and Jeri then set up a trap for Trish, Kith decides now is the time to change her mind about being with Jeri, just so Trish can threaten to kill her. Likewise after Trish, who’s essentially been given the go-ahead by Jeri to kill Patseras–Kith’s former donor who’s been threatening her with a fraud suit–decides not to when his young daughter just happens to show up. Perhaps if the series devoted an episode towards Jeri hiring Trish to kill Patseras, this subplot would’ve felt more organic instead of a developed crammed in at the last moment.

…But the perfect end to an era

“A.K.A Everything” does have a leg up on other Marvel Netflix finales, however, in that it feels like an actual ending. Perhaps knowing this would be their last season and the last of the Marvel Netflix series, the showrunners have given Jessica Jones a real sense of closure. Thus all the remaining cast members storylines, some of which have lasted throughout the series, are given real resolutions.

Aside from Trish, Jeri has definitely gotten a bad ending. Her law practice is still under a cloud, her ALS symptoms have become noticeably and progressively worse, and what little respect Jess had for her is gone. As for Kith, the woman Jeri desperately wanted back in life? She ends up leaving Jeri anyway. Jeri’s worst fear–that she will die alone, unloved, and in constant pain–will soon come to pass.

Erik, however, has graduated into New York’s newest plainclothes superhero and, thanks to Jess, has teamed-up with Costa, helping taking down bad guys. Malcolm Ducasse (Eka Darville) and Zaya (Tiffany Mack) officially break-up, leaving Malcolm in a relationship with Erik’s sister, Berry (Jamie Neumann). He also becomes the new head of Alias Investigations, courtesy of Jess giving him the keys, adding “Don’t screw it up.” Yes, after three seasons of constantly busting his chops, Malcolm has earned Jess’ complete trust. It also means she’s officially retired from the PI business.

Yet when it comes to Jess, the series ends on ambiguous, yet hopeful note. Feeling she has no reason to stay in New York with Trish imprisoned, Jess proceeds to buy herself a bus ticket to the closest town near Mexico. That is until she hears the familiar voice of Killgrave (David Tennant), telling her she’s “right to give up.” But instead of giving in to her doubts, Jess turns around and leaves the station, choosing to stay on and fight the good fight. The only question is how?

One can’t help see the symbolism in this. Although Jessica Jones and the other Marvel Netflix series are over, the stories of Daredevil, Punisher, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica will continue. Not on Netflix, of course, and perhaps not even on Disney’s new streaming service. Still, even though none of the series are picked up, at least Jessica Jones went out on a high note.