TV Review: Marvel’s Jessica Jones – Season 1 Episode 10 “AKA 1,000 Cuts”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

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EPISODE 10: "AKA 1,000 Cuts"

SYNOPSIS: A discovery has the potential to change the entire game — if Jessica can refuse Kilgrave’s offer.

BREAKDOWN: Picking up just where the prior episode left off, we see how Kilgrave made his escape thanks to Jeri Hogarth. The attorney was the one responsible for cutting the fail safe wire that led to the death of Kilgrave's mother all with the aim to have the villain force her wife to sign the divorce papers. For the last nine episodes, I was left wondering just why there was so much focus on the marriage woes of Jessica Jones' part time employer and now we know. Kilgrave forces Hogarth to take him to a doctor so they head over to Wendy's. As she fixes his bullet wound, Jeri also reveals to Kilgrave that Jessica wants to free Hope and also that she took Hope's aborted fetus. Kilgrave leaves to find his father but not before releasing Wendy to kill Jeri with a thousand cuts.

Fighting through the house, Jeri bleeds profusely as she barely holds on. Pam, Jeri's lover, enters and bludgeons Wendy, knocking her into the corner of the coffee table, killing her. Jessica arrives to find out what happened and goes to find a way to stop Kilgrave. Pam is taken to jail and confronts Jeri about what she planned to do wituh Kilgrave. With Pam going to jail, it seems like that storyline is wrapping. Back at Jessica's apartment, Malcolm and Robyn are leaving missing person flyers for Ruben. Malcolm's guilt is eating at him, but Jessica says they cannot say anything. She heads up to her apartment where Kilgrave is waiting. He reveals that he knew he coudn't control her and reminisces about when she wanted to be with him voluntarily. Jessica remembers it very differently and about how she yearned to escape on a white horse in the street. They argue and Jessica knocks him out.

We also have the new issue of Will Simpson. After taking too many of the pills from Dr. Kozlov, Simpson is beginning to act strangely. He arrives at the safe house where Detective Clemons is cleaning up. Trish has taken Albert, Kilgrave's father, to try and find a cure. It turns out that Kilgrave's power is actually a virus. Using Jessica's blood, they may be able to make a vaccine. Trish must act as Albert's hands as he is restrained since his son ordered him to cut out his own heart. Simpson is determined to end Kilgrave and in his madness shoots Clemons and torches the safe house and all evidence of Kilgrave's power. The once likeable supporting character is turning into a villain himself with echoes of The Punisher. This makes me wonder if he will be a future villain on this series or potentially a foe for The Defenders.

Simpson finds Albert and Trish and tries to accost Kilgrave's father for creating the villain and hits Trish. She pushes him away but not before taking his pills. Albert, now free from his son's power, hypothesizes that Simpson may be under the influence of a military experiment to enhance soldiers. Malcolm unburdens himself to his support group about his role in Ruben's death, unknowing that Robyn is there are overhears. She gathers the Kilgrave survivors to go after Jessica and releases Kilgrave. After being knocked out, Jessica comes to and realizes Hope is gone. A guard tells her to head to her favorite restaurant. She gets Albert who has finished the vaccine and heads for the former Italian restaurant to try and rescue Hope. Albert sprays himself with the vaccine

They enter and Kilgrave asks Jessica to apologize for hitting him as Robyn, Ruben, and two former victims stand on the bar with nooses around their necks. Hope begs Jessica to kill Kilgrave who beckons his father forward, Albert listens, the vaccine seemingly a failure. Hope breaks a glass and stabs herself in the neck as Kilgrave orders the others to jump from the bar. He leaves with his father. Jessica jumps and pulls down the support holding the nooses, saving the four and then rushes to Hope. As she bleeds, Hope tells Jessica she is now free to kill Kilgrave and Jessica vows to do so. Hope dies in Jessica's arms as a look of hate fills Jessica's face.

Damn, this was another intense hour of what is quickly becoming the best Marvel series to date. As much as I loved Daredevil, Jessica Jones feels much more consistent and is building quite the thriller. Sure, the stakes are much smaller than any of the other superhero properties, but the character development here is top notch. They also took Simpson, who seemed like a throwaway character early, and have built him into a burgeoning villain in just half a dozen episodes. Gotham has been trying to do that for two years and haven't done what this series has. Now that Jessica is on the verge, what will she do next?

MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE REFERENCES: Nothing overt this episode.

Final Verdict:

NEXT ON JESSICA JONES: Episode 11 "AKA I've Got The Blues" – Jessica searches morgues for clues. Trish goes all out to keep Simpson from getting in Jessica’s way. Malcom has an epiphany.