WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Jessica Jones season 2
Who is Doctor Malus in Jessica Jones season 2?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dr. Karl Malus is villainous mad scientist who is responsible for giving Jessica Jones (played by Krysten Ritter) her powers.
In the Netflix series, the latest incarnation of the comic book character is portrayed by Callum Keith Rennie.
The character actually first appeared in the original Spider-Woman comics but the newer version sees him as head of IGH – the shady organisation that illegally experiments on individuals.
Malus is actually the ‘doctor’ who is responsible for saving Jessica’s life when she was almost killed in a car crash as a teenager.
In season two, viewers discover that Jessica’s mother Alisa (Janet Mcteer) also survived the accident and was treated by Malus.
However, Alisa’s injuries were much more severe, resulting in her receiving much harsher treatment.
As a consequence, her powers are stronger than Jessica’s, but they come at the cost of her murderous and uncontrollable rage that leads to her killing sprees.
Despite Malus’ experimenting on her without her consent, Alisa is grateful to him for saving her life, and resents Jessica for not feeling the same when they reunite.
The character is portrayed somewhat sympathetically for a few episodes in season two, as Jessica’s opinion ion him softens when she sees how happy he makes her mother.
She even assists him in attempting to flee the country when Alisa is captured.
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Dr Karl Malus
When he is kidnapped by Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor) her tone changed again.
In an attempt to become a superhero like Jessica, Trish forces Malus to perform his genetic editing procedure on her.
However, before the process is finished, Jessica intervenes and berates him for experimenting on her sister.
Thinking that it failed, Malus destroys the lab with himself inside.
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Dr Malus and Alisa
Who is Hellcat in Jessica Jones season 2?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hellcat is the alter-ego of Patsy Walker.
Patsy or Trish, is of course Jessica’s foster sister and best friend.
In season two, Trish becomes more and more complacent with her life as a former child star and radio talk how host and channels her energy into finding out what happened to Jessica.
She also tries to turn her fluffy radio show into a hard news show but when her investigation leads her back to Will Simpson (Wil Traval) she discovers his stash of elite military equipment.
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Trish is bored with her life in season 2
Following his death early on in the season, she finds an inhaler type device he used to enhance his combat skills.
As a former addict, she quickly becomes hooked to the sensation of power the inhaler gives her, even though she becomes violently ill when it’s effects wear off.
When it eventually runs out, Trish decides she wants the effects to be permanent and seeks out Dr. Malus forcing him to turn her into a super like Jessica.
It appears that the procedure didn’t work in the last episode because it was interrupted, causing Trish to nearly die in the process.
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Trish becomes hooked on the feeling of power
However, one of the final scenes of the season shows Trish dropping her phone and managing to expertly catch it with her foot, proving that maybe the procedure ended up working after all.
This charts Trish’s origin story to becoming Hellcat, the hero from the Marvel comics.
Hellcat’s powers include being able to sense mystical energy, a forcefield, retractable claws a well as being an expert fighter.
A potential season three will likely delve into Trish’s transformation into Hellcat.
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Trish scratching an attacker – foreshadowing her transformation into Hellcat
Will there be another season of Jessica Jones on Netflix?
No announcement has been made in regards to a third season just yet.
However, it seems highly likely based on this run’s popularity.
Jessica Jone’s partner show Luke Cage has just been slated for a summer 2018 release.
Jessica Jones season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix.
