Jessica Jones 2.09: “AKA Shark in the Bathtub, Monster in the Bed”
If you didn’t already guess at the end of the last episode, the shooter aka “Shark in the Bathtub” turns out to be Pryce Cheng. Jessica manages to stop Alisa from killing him, but they still technically kidnap him after sedating, tying him up and throwing him in the bathtub.
Alisa thinks they should just kill him to finish it all, but Jessica is still clinging to her idea of morality, believing murder can’t be the solution. This has become a theme throughout the season, Jessica’s battle for her soul, trying to convince herself she’s not a monster because of her past murders. She’s not a monster if she doesn’t kill again.
There are more whiskey jokes as they clean up wounds (“You’re wasting perfectly good booze.” “It’s bottom shelf.”). But you can tell Jessica is back to reality.
Trish comes by and Jessica has to lie again about what’s happening. She instead turns the focus on Trish’s addiction, pushing Trish away again. There’s a sense of truth in what Jessica says though, “When do I get to be normal? When do I get to have a life.” A part of her really does want this to be over. After Trish leaves, Alisa slips into a night terror, not realizing where she is and Jessica becomes even more worried.
She runs into Oscar the next day who has noticed the broken window. This turns into a bigger problem when his ex arrives at the same time Vito decides to almost fall out of a window and Jessica has to save him.
What’s more revelatory is the conversation Alisa and Jessica have about the ashes Jessica holds on to. Alisa learns Jessica blames herself for the accident when Alisa promises her it was her dad’s terrible driving that caused the accident. Jessica’s losses have always been an integral part of her character, but it’s new to look at the role guilt over her family’s death plays.
Trish is still messed up from the drug, and during a segment on her talk show about gluten-free diets she completely loses it. There are things like war, famine, and sexual assault and Trish is stuck interviewing a cookbook author. Trish quits on air and storms out. In a turn of luck, this antic is enough to get ZCN’s attention to bring her in for a screen test. Cable news might be a good fit for unhinged Trish after all. 
Oscar calls Jessica in a panic because Vito has gone missing and it looks like his mother kidnapped him. This gives Jessica and Alisa a mission and the superhero look suits them for a minute as they track down the bus and stop it with their super strength.
They convince Vito’s mom this isn’t the right way to get custody of her son, and the crisis is resolved. However, now Oscar knows the truth about Jessica’s mom.
Jeri undergoes the healing process after Shane leaves prison, but we’re left in the dark as to whether it actually worked. She seems to have a moment of peace, but there is a level of ambiguity.
Pryce wakes up and Jessica decides to let him go. But before he leaves he tells her she needs to turn in her mother. With Elisa listening through the wall, she hears Jessica call the police. Her fight or flight instinct kicks in and she bursts out of the apartment, nearly killing Jessica on her way out.
But she doesn’t get too far. The cops are waiting outside for her. Jessica begs her, “no more.” Maybe she thinks she can’t outrun the guns or maybe she just doesn’t want to cause her daughter any more pain. As she puts her hands on her head we hear Jessica say in the voiceover, “This is how I lose my mom.”
Other Thoughts:
- I love Vito, but this crazy ex subplot is so unnecessary
- There is a reduced level of suspense in the show now that the mystery behind the killer/ IGH has been unraveled. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I miss Kilgrave, but the absence of a true evil villain does change the pacing of the conflict. The stakes don’t feel as high.
Jessica Jones Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.
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