Jessica Jones - Shark in the Bathtub, Monster in the Bed

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“Shark in the Bathtub, Monster in the Bed” is one of my favorite episodes of the second season of Jessica Jones. It addresses Alisa’s uncontrollable violence urges (Jessica’s investigative rival, Pryce, was the sniper who tried to kill Alisa, but struck Jessica instead accidentally), Jessica’s need to find common ground with her mother while still trying to keep her from killing someone else, Trish’s collapse into addiction to the IGH “combat enhancer” (she flies off the handle on her Trish Talk show, ripping into a gluten-kills doctor guest, questioning why more isn’t done about the real issues in the world, rage-filled and unleashing verbal fury, quitting as a result), Jeri securing help from the healer she sets free from prison (blackmailing essentially into doing it because the healing process drains him), Jeri shutting Trish down when she demands Inez come on her show to reveal IGH’s criminal practices in the past (that whole ugly history), and Carlos (the super of Jessica’s building, love interest who painted her affectionately) panicked because his ex-wife seems to have fled with their son perhaps to leave the city (and country) out of fear she’ll lose him.

I think the real problem for some perhaps is that this second season has a different type of villain. Whether it is addiction for Trish, the unpredictability of Alisa’s temper and need to kill, Carol’s ex’s inability to trust that him, or disease to Jeri: the episode seems to really emphasize answers to each one of these issues. Trish empties the inhaler after receiving a phone call from a major company interested in her after her outburst on the radio show gets a ton of attention (seeing her former lover in war-torn Syria, “being a hero”, gets to her). Jessica could tell Trish needs to get help, although Trish isn’t interested, having convinced herself that the enhancer isn’t the same as heroin or alcohol. The entire episode has Alisa just huffing and puffing, doing whatever she can to hold off the inner demons at play and wanting to surface. Jessica clearly worries that her mother is unstable and on the verge of exploding, particularly since Pryce is nearby and a threat to her and her daughter. Jessica receives some actual help from Alisa when they are tasked with finding Carlos’ ex-wife and son, locating them at a bus station heading for Montreal. Pryce, of all people, convinces Jessica that turning Alisa in is the only option in order to stop the killing. Pryce’s own friend was ripped apart by Alisa, leaving a family without a husband and father. This episode even has a great conversation where Alisa refuses to allow Jessica to believe she’s the reason behind the wreck that killed her brother and father any longer, a self-mutilating grief that has left her miserable since she was orphaned…it is about time Jessica realizes she shouldn’t feel ashamed and continue to beat herself up over something that wasn’t her fault. But the big acting showcase goes to Carrie-Anne Moss when she’s being healed while Inez asks her if she’s okay…her face as the pain goes away and the relief (and gratitude) that follows is just marvelous.

Ritter remains quite an anchor for the show. You see why this has been such a star-making and vital role for her, the titular tortured super heroine. Like the scene where Jessica tells Trish she just wants to have a normal life and not always face the dangers of society, even mentioning dropping her pursuit of justice against IGH. Jessica propped against a wall or on the floor with weight on her shoulders and angst just nearly overwhelming her. The desire for relief is evident as she just wants some peace for a change. That is what makes her so relatable and why I love this character as I personally do. She deals with the past and present, just wondering if she will ever even have a future that isn’t weighted down by grief and loss. The onslaught that doesn’t seem to cease…anyone constantly dealing with drama in your life can symphathize.