Spoilers for Jessica Jones Season 3 ahead. So long, street level heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the diligent New Yorkers who pepper their world. The new season of Jessica Jones marks the end of Netflix's Marvel run, but there are a few returns and comic book surprises left in this last adventure. The Easter Eggs in Jessica Jones Season 3 reference some Marvel favorites and provide a little closure as well.
As you likely know, the Marvel characters that made up the Defenders — Matt Murdock, Luke Cage, Claire Temple, Colleen Wing, Danny Rand, and Jessica Jones — will no longer grace our streaming queues. Their individual series, as well as The Punisher, have all been canceled. Maybe one day these heroes will be hired by Disney+ but until then, this is the end.
In Season 3, Jessica is trying to use her powers for good while working within the system. That's something that the larger MCU addressed with the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War, and has been debated on all the Netflix series as well. Jessica Jones is not a huge fan of being categorized a superhero or teaming up with other vigilantes like her — and she says so, often, in Season 3. No matter how much she cares, and she cares so much, her good deeds are almost never unpunished.
Meanwhile, her newly powered former BFF Trish Walker is not interested following rules to save people in need — and well on her way to becoming Hellcat from Marvel comics. When we check back in with them in Season 3, here are the other ways Jessica Jones references the larger universe that our hero drinks to forget.
Episodes 1 - 4
Coming in hot, minutes into Episode 1 a child spats at Jessica that "Captain America would never have done this," essentially calling her a bad superhero. Famously, Jessica once only referred to Steve Rogers as "flag guy," but the series is a little more blatant with its Avengers references now. Maybe the fact that Cap did all those public school PSAs has something to do with it.
To become Hellcat, Trish uses her love of self-defense training to really hone her enhanced reflexes. She briefly mentions Dr. Karl Malus' experiment, saying that it worked. Her vigilante disguise, with a pop of yellow and a black mask, is like the Disney bounding version of the Hellcat suit. Jessica asks if she's a cat burgler, too, a nice joking nod to that alias.
There are more jokes about her costume in Episode 2, where she even tries on a cat mask and scoffs "hell no" at it, something Luke Cage has done with nods to his character's cornier costumes in the comics as well. Also in that makeover montage is a Captain Marvel costume/Easter Egg.
Other returns include Jeri Hogarth, who now has Jess' neighbor Malcolm under her employ. When someone makes a snide comment about Hogarth representing dangerous vigilantes, she replies "only a couple of them," referencing not only Jessica but Danny Rand, of course. Jessica also derides someone for assuming all masked heroes know each other. Detective Eddy Costa, who has worked with Jones before, is back too. Finally, in case you were wondering, Netflix Marvel institutions such as the New York Bulletin and Metro-General Hospital are both still in business.
In Episode 2, Trish's coworker mistakenly refers to Jessica Jones (we think) as "Jennifer something" — which is quite possibly an Easter Egg alluding to Jennifer Walters, also known as She-Hulk, who joined the Heroes for Hire in the comics.
Then comes Jessica's newest love interest Erik Gelden, played by Benjamin Walker. His Marvel comics equivalent is Mind-Wave, though his psychic powers are slightly different in the Netflix series. In the comics, he used a helmet to boost his powers. On the series, he serves as a super judge of character.
Episodes 5 - 8
There's a brief shoutout to Maury the morgue guy in Episode 5. Other regulars that show up include Thembi Wallace, an on-camera reporter who interviewed Mariah Dillard in Luke Cage and also appeared on Iron Fist. Hogarth's old partner Steven Benowitz returns, too. There are also brief references to Kilgrave, and IGH (the company that "made" Jessica) as well. The man that calls Hogarth asking for a comment, Sid Franken from the Bulletin, is a comic book character.
Of course Trish's mom wants to make action figures of Jessica and Trish as their manager. Little does she know, female superhero toys are hard to come by.
It also starts to become clear around this point that the serial killer Jessica and Erik are after is Gregory Salinger, also known as Foolkiller in Marvel comics. While a villain, in the comics Salinger worked for Deadpool and befriended Spider-Man. His obsession with both killing and superheroes has always been a problem.
One of the biggest, and saddest Easter Eggs for Marvel completists, is the Danny Rand updates in Episode 6. While Danny is still on "an extended sabbatical" with Ward Meachum and his fistiguns, Benowitz seized legal control of Rand Enterprises away from Hogarth.
Episodes 9-13
As has often been the case on these Marvel shows, the last third of episodes are not too reference-heavy as the season's plot takes over.
The hit song "I Want Your Cray Cray" from Season 2 makes a return in Episode 10, as a ringtone. Trish also scratches Foolkiller's face, like a cat. In the comics, Patsy "Hellcat" Walker has red hair, and Episode 11 gives a nod to that, with the origin story of Trish's star turn in the It's Patsy television series.
Finally, there are two big returns in the series finale. First, Luke Cage appears to check in with his old friend (and lover) Jessica Jones. He mentions Willis, also known as Stryker, and how he sent him to Marvel's supervillain prison The Raft. He also mentions his "new line of work" running Harlem's Paradise.
Then, as Jessica buys a one way ticket to "as close to Mexico as possible," she hears Kilgrave's voice in her head. Yes, that was really David Tennant. As a purple glow covers her face, he encourages her to run away and let other people do her job — which is all she needs to turn around and stay. Kilgrave may be her demon, and a reminder of the life she didn't want to take, but she doesn't have to listen to him. She also kind of smiled... not for him, for herself.
With Jessica Jones over, we've reached the end for these gritty heroes. At least Jessica was able to find some kind of closure, peace, and confirmation that she really is a hero. As much as she hates "giving a sh*t," it actually makes a difference.
