Jessica Jones 2.08: “AKA Ain’t We Got Fun”
Jessica wakes up in restraints, but Karl tries to convince her he’s not the bad guy – and neither is her mother. He didn’t know Alisa was murdering people but believes she was only trying to protect them. It was the people like Dr. Kozlov who were abusing the science, not him.
In a great montage, Alisa goes into a rage over a broken egg leaking in the carton which feels far too relatable but also illustrates how easy it is for her to lose control.
This is all hard for Jessica to stomach, but she’s forced to make a decision when Trish calls: she decides to lie to Trish and tell her Karl and the killer have disappeared.
However, her change of heart is short lived. She doesn’t buy this twisted love story and decides to turn them both in, texting the address to the police and deriding Karl as a “pervert with a God complex who made himself a powered girlfriend.” Alisa traps her long enough for Karl to escape and they’re both locked in. Nothing like being locked in a room with your murderous mother!
Alisa shares some cold truths with Jessica, including the fact she resented Jessica’s father for holding back her ambition and that the two were on the cusp of divorce. Such a pleasant time! She tears apart Jessica’s rose-colored image of her childhood, even calling her out for being a moody teenager:
“Nirvana isn’t depressing.” “Oh really, didn’t that guy kill himself?”
However, it’s not all bad. Jessica may not recognize her mother’s face, but it’s the same voice and as she comes to accept the same woman. Alisa fondly remembers their time on the Ferris wheel, a tradition for just the two of them, and Jessica decides to bust them out and go on the run.
Meanwhile, Jeri and Trish both continue along their destructive attempts at redemption. Jeri agrees to help out Shane, the man Inez promises can help heal her. At the beginning of the season, I’ll admit I found Jeri’s story completely unnecessary, but Carrie-Ann Moss plays the role so well I’ve gotten sucked into Jeri’s desperation. There’s always a certain level of tragedy and irony around seeing someone so powerful realize all their power can’t save them.
Trish won’t accept she’s become addicted to her superpower inhaler and won’t back down from the case. After their messy hookup and argument, Malcolm decides the two are better off going it alone and not bringing each other down. He later proves he can be a competent detective on his own, making progress in finding dirt against Jeri’s law firm partners. However, he still lacks one thing Jessica has: super strength. After getting into a fight, he ends up needing Trish to save him. It looks like they can’t stay away from each other.
After the cab ride from hell (Don’t text and drive!), Alisa and Jessica make it back to her apartment, narrowly avoiding the police who have come to see why Jessica sent them a dead end. Honestly, did Jessica really think they wouldn’t come looking for her after that stunt she pulled? You know who they can’t avoid? Jessica’s burgeoning love interest, Oscar. Mama is impressed with his painting skills (and probably his looks, implicit assumption), but Jess doesn’t have time for love right now. She still needs to figure out what to do with the fugitive she’s harboring.
The two seem to be at peace, with Jessica possibly even considering letting her mother stay around. Even if she wonders why “she would waste perfectly good whiskey” on a hot toddy. The bonding moment is broken up when Jessica is shot by an unknown assailant through the window and Alisa runs off to find the attacker.
Nothing’s ever simple.
Other Thoughts:
- The Lady Bird mother-daughter vibes are even stronger this episode, though it’s a little weird seeing someone put Jessica in her place. Normally it’s the opposite dynamic.
- Alisa seems much more motherly out of Karl’s grasp and it’s almost sweet to see how protective she is of Jess (when she’s not hulking out, anyway). The taxi scene is particularly funny.
- I like Oscar, but I also kind of assume he’ll end up dead at some point…
- After the Griffin debacle, Trish needs to be single for a second, OK?
- I don’t trust Inez and to see Jeri place her trust in her just shows how desperate she has become.
Read on for our review of episode 2.09.