Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire Ep 10 review

Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire
Season 1 Episode 10: “Newton’s Third Law”
By Lauren Beukes, Vita Ayala, Sam Beckbessinger, Zoe Quinn, and Elsa Sjunneson
Narrated by Fryda Wolff

Stunned. That’s how I feel after finishing the latest installment of Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire. An incredible follow-up to last week’s wonderful episode, with one of the best reveals I’ve read in a book or a comic book.

Sam Beckbessinger once again handles the writing chores in Episode 10: “Newton’s Third Law”. This Serial Box exclusive is now firing on all cylinders as a stubborn Jessica Jones makes it her mission to find out the truth about Jamie’s death.

You would think a superhuman like Jessica, with her super strength and healing powers, would hardly be the underdog in this novel. But she definitely is, and as readers we are constantly worried that she has bitten off more than she can chew.

Spoilers ahead.

Jessica and Diane

A surprised Diane finds Jessica outside the door of her house instead of the person she was expecting, Sam. Jessica had used Sam’s mobile phone last episode to send a text message to Diane.

Diane invites Jessica inside her house. Jessica asks her again about Jamie and Brendan. Trying to catch any inconsistency in Diane’s statements, comparing these to what she now knows after gaining access to Jamie’s mobile phone.

As a cynic, Jessica simply can’t believe that Diane founded the commune out of the goodness of her heart. But once again, we hear Diane talk about her sister, and the tragedy that befell her.

“Diane sighs. ‘My younger sister was gifted,’ she says, glancing at a stone sculpture across the room. ‘That piece is hers. She was so talented. But unstable. My parents…’
“When she trails off, it’s the first real, raw emotion Jessica has ever seen on her face. That’s something worth registering. Dead sister, burned too bright too soon. So now Diane makes herself a savior. To atone, to forget.”

Why can’t we have nice things?

I’m sure many of you, like me, have felt that Diane is simply too good to be true. And that she must also be gifted — somehow able to manipulate the thoughts or emotions of people.

Just as in Nova Naledi, Diane has a strange effect on Jessica. Making her uncharacteristically emotional, and more willing to consider new thoughts and experiences.

“Diane stretches across the table, takes Jessica’s hand lightly. It almost undoes her, this gesture of kindness, especially after she had just thrown Diane’s own family history back at her. She feels––for a moment––like she could cry. Just curl up on the couch with Diane and be held while she has a good old sob. Like she could just let it all go.
“‘I’m sorry there was nothing or no one like this for you. I know what it’s like to obsess over someone who has died–’
“‘It’s not obsessing if it’s my job,’ says Jessica, staring at her teacup so Diane doesn’t see the tears gathering in her eyes. What the hell is wrong with her? The heat from her hand is like a low, electric thrum.”

Diane has almost convinced Jessica that Jamie wasn’t murdered, when all hell breaks loose.

Actually, it wasn’t quite that dramatic. Just the front door slamming, and Sebastian Shaw walking into the room.

Newton’s Third Law

It’s a delightfully well-written sequence of events. The villains didn’t set a trap for Jessica. She just has a knack for getting herself into a trouble.

And to think I was hoping Diane would really turn out to be a good person.

“‘Darling, I picked up some salmon–’ He stops at the sight of Jessica. A slow, huge grin creeps across his face, like a Cheshire cat. ‘Well, look at that.’
“Jessica is frozen on her chair, her mind scrambling to catch up.
“Shaw, here. ‘Darling.’ They’re lovers. Diane has a pinched look on her face. She shrugs, unfolding her legs and slipping her feet back into her mules. ‘Ah. That’s regrettable timing.'”

And once again we’re afraid for Jessica. Shaw has already beaten her soundly, and could have actually killed her if he wanted. And Jessica hasn’t even fully recovered from her encounter with Mister Telekinesis.

Once again she attacks Shaw with brute force. And once again Shaw is unhurt. Jessica is filled with fear. Diane then asks Shaw to take this outside.

And that’s when Shaw calls Diane by her real name.

What’s in a name?

Shaw says her real name so casually. But it’s a stunning moment if you’re a longtime Marvel fan.

I mean, I knew Diane had to be gifted, but it was still shocking when she was finally revealed to be a longtime Marvel supervillain.

Shaw continues to make Jessica pay for every blow. Until finally she realizes the nature of his superpower. How he’s throwing her own punches back at her.

Shaw again batters Jessica mercilessly, and is about to deliver the killing blow when Diane asks him to stop. Diane tells Shaw that she has plans for her.

And now we are very afraid for Jessica Jones.

(Editor’s note: This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by Serial Box. Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire Season 1 Episode 10 will come out on July 16. Exclusively available on Serial Box.)

Previous reviews:

Jessica and Diane

Why can’t we have nice things?

Newton’s Third Law

What’s in a name?

By Joey Alarilla

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