Marvel's Jessica Jones Season 2: What Does The Ending Really Mean?

9. Jessica Will Still Be Haunted By Kilgrave

Though it takes way too long to happen, David Tennant's return as Kilgrave is one of the season's real highlights, though it means something pretty terrible for Jessica's state of mind. As she loses her grip, his ghost - not just of her being forced to kill him, but what he did to her when he had control - begins to insist once more and it almost gets to the stage where he controls her.

Ultimately, she resists and she seems to overcome his presence with her final realisation:

“I’m not a killer. I’m not you. I’m not my mother. I can control myself. Which means I’m more powerful than you ever were.”

That seems like a victory, but there are hints that Kilgrave hasn't gone completely. He leaves with a parting shot of “I’ll be around if you need me" and it's no accident that the scene that sees the death of her mother is lit so ominously in his colours. The threat that Kilgrave will return will remain as long as threats to Jessica Jones' mental stability remain. And she's got enough baggage and puts herself in enough danger by choice for that to be never-ending.

And frankly, this is good news, because David Tennant's performance - and indeed the character - is the best thing about the entire show. More of him as a sort of Joker-hallucination in Season 3 is a great idea.