Jessica Jones - The Double Half Wappinger

 

That ending, though! So fucking satisfying. Seeing Jessica Jones kick Sallinger's ass and embarrass him (and tell him she found Nathan's body and learned of Nathan's death) in front of kids he was teaching to wrestle was just a thrill. And the "Class dismissed" line as she walks away, leaving Sallinger on the floor, as the episode fades to black, going to credits, couldn't have left a more exciting feeling. It was a rush, really. I know that many feel Jessica Jones lost its way, that it never was quite as good as the first season. I don't feel that way, personally. I actually like the third season, though, I totally understand why a lot of the series first season fans feel Sallinger isn't up to the same standard as David Tennant's Kilgrave...but that standard was never going to be reached. Bobb has that really skin-crawling psychopath who appears calm, cool, and collected but obviously is screaming inside down to an artform. Sallinger even inviting Jessica Jones to a wrestling match seemed ridiculous, but Sallinger was expecting her overpowering him to be considered by anyone watching as "cheating". The kids cheering Jessica as she throws Sallinger around, and her smile, was such that extra cherry on top. When Jessica smiles, because she is so often hurt and rarely does, I can't it...my heart smiles, too.

Earlier, Sallinger tells Jeri Hogarth and her assistant, Zaya, that they three worked for all they had--he chills them by describing their backgrounds to them (as Malcolm listens on in horror)--while Jessica doesn't deserve the super power she has.

That's the thing about Jessica and her super power and how Sallinger considers her unworthy of her gifts. What this episode proves is that Jessica is a DAMN GOOD investigator. How she is able to determine the death of Donny, Sallinger's brother, and a wrestling friend of Sallinger's growing up, Nathan, when Jessica and Trish road trip to his hometown is proof of that. Nathan buried under a gazebo Sallinger was there to see completed and Jessica giving his parents' relief from years of grief is just an incredible moment in the episode, too. 

Sallinger cleverly is able to secure the firm of Hogarth (who desperately needs the publicity in order to resurrect her firm as it seems to be dying) and publically blame Jessica for wrongfully accusing him of serial murders and assaulting him (also calling out Trish as a "masked" accomplice). Hogart representing Sallinger puts a fire under Malcolm, too, while drawing Jessica's ire for trying to free a psychopath. That Hogarth is this desperate, not taking Jessica or Malcolm's warnings to heart, speaks volumes. Zaya is all-in, and you can see the cracks in her relationship with Malcolm widening. It sure won't help that Zaya sees Trish in mask on camera breaking in to Malcolm's office, looking at his computer, and talking to him, as Malcolm lets her go voluntarily. That's not going to go down well. Malcolm's employ at Hogarth's firm is probably over.

Trish, probably wanting some publicity, finds a photographer on the street, shows off her "leaping off tall building in a single bound", and turns her head slightly to make sure he got her before she leaves. This is what she wants...to be more than Trish, decaying celebrity. 

I reallllllly like the conversation between Jessica and Hogarth where the former confronts the latter about representing Sallinger. You can see that Jessica feels betrayed and hurt...and worried. Jess knows Hogarth is very good at what she does, also recognizing the terrifying concept of Sallinger remaining free to murder again. Jess realizes and calls Hogarth out for why she's doing this. Hogarth not breaking at all, totally unyielding, as Jess brings the truth is quite a moment. Everything about this screams, "NOOOOO! Don't do it!!!!" But Hogarth is committed. 

So Jessica is once again up against quite some obstacles, but that awesome woman is resilient. I love this character so much.

Oh, and this cool episode has a fun series of interactions between Jessica and a cop that knew Greg Sallinger when he was a kid. Chief Volasco (Mary B McCann) saw the social media of Jessica being called out by Sallinger and the news reporters following her. Chief Volasco has no reason to believe Sallinger is a serial killer, and for all she knows, Jessica is tormenting him. So giving Jess a hard time when she needs to view Sallinger's files makes sense. But thanks to some amusing Trish attention diversion through her car's alarms going off, Jess gets the files and the two of them later study them, hoping to locate something of note. Nathan's case is there. This season has done a good job of getting Jessica and Trish back to good terms, with Sallinger the right plot device to do just that. Both know each other so well, so it was obvious their separation wouldn't last. And Malcolm devoted to the end of Sallinger is a cause I can also get behind! 5/5