Hellcat in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones' is markedly different from the Marvel Comics character, lending the series a potent narrative
This article contains spoilers for 'Jessica Jones' Season 3
The Hellcat from the comics is very different than the one we saw in 'Jessica Jones.' For starters, Patsy Trish Walker aka Hellcat is a relatively light-hearted superhero. She has been credited for helping out the Avengers. The superhero has also been affiliated with the Defenders, Lady Liberators, and Legion of the Unliving
In the series, Trish, played by Rachael Taylor, is shown to get her superpowers by the end of season 2. She seemingly develops enhanced superhuman strength, though she is not as strong as Jessica. She also acquired enhanced endurance, agility, balance and reflexes, as well as razor sharp nails and enhanced vision, allowing her to see in the dark.
Compared to Hellcat's comic persona, Trish's version in the series is a more troubled one. In a bid to become as powerful as her sister, she tracks down Malus, who was responsible for giving Jessica (Krysten Ritter) and her mother, Alisa Jones (Janet McTeer), their powers and forces him to repeat the experiment. What set back Trish despite having superpowers was the fact that she viewed the world as a place that comprised of two kinds of people - heroes and the bad guys.
The baddies had to be swiped off the face of the earth, no matter the cost and that mindset resulted in her tracking down Jessica's mother and fatally killing her as she was deemed to be a psychopath. The third season showed Trish working hard to hone her skills and begin her career as a superhero. There was also a dash of comedy when she tries out different costumes, including the traditional suit from the comics, but eventually ditches them to something that is inconspicuous. Sadly, the desire to be a superhero and whoop baddies becomes an unhealthy obsession.
Over the course of the series, we get a glimpse of what Hellcat's abilities are as she uses all her powers to punish the wrong-doers. When Gregory Sallinger aka Foolkiller (Jeremy Bobb), in order to push Jessica over the edge, murders Trish's mother Dorothy Walker (Rebecca De Mornay), Trish flips and goes on a violent killing spree. Such is her ferocity and addiction to bringing criminals to justice that she savagely rips Sallinger apart by the end of the series.
Eventually, Hellcat's story ends when Jessica musters up enough courage and strength to realize Trish has gone wayward. Her idea of being a superhero was flawed for the sole reason that she didn't believe in handing out a second chance. This forces Jessica to take on Trish, expose her of her murders and finally, we see Hellcat being taken away to the Raft.
It was a pity things had to end the way it did for Hellcat, but in a way, the narrative is effective. Not just because 'Jessica Jones' needed another superhero or a sidekick, but because Trish's definition of being a hero was against everything Jones would have done.
In many ways, Marvel brought out a different side of Hellcat. Going by the theme and tone of the show, it was only fitting that we saw Trish's vigilante in this form rather than the lovable light-hearted character that is she is in the comics.