Jessica/Trish
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Jessica Jones/Patricia "Trish" Walker |
| Alternative name(s): | Jessica/Trish, Jess/Trish, Trishica |
| Gender category: | femslash |
| Fandom: | Jessica Jones, Marvel Cinematic Universe |
| Canonical?: | no |
| Prevalence: | popular |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Jessica/Trish, or Trishica, is a femslash pairing from the MCU Netflix series Jessica Jones.
The relationship between Jessica and Trish is the central relationship and the emotional backbone of the show. Some fans liken its appeal to the popularity of other canon "bromances". Their dynamic and ambiguity of their relationship in early episodes led some fans—and even Krysten Ritter, who portrays Jessica—to conclude that they may have been canonical exes. The revelation that they were adoptive sisters turned best friends comes in later episodes.
Canon
This article or section needs expansion. |
Fandom
Numerous fans came to the conclusion that Jessica and Trish were exes after viewing the first episode[1]
Jessica/Trish has historically been Jessica Jones's most popular ship, at least in terms of quantity of fanworks. This was true as early as the end of November 2015 (mere days after the series was released on Netflix),[note 1] and remains the clear trend as of early 2017.[2] However, there has been a perception within fandom that Jessica/Kilgrave has received the majority of the fandom's attention and discussion, though the veracity of this is difficult to measure.[note 2]
Because there is also strong fandom support for the platonic relationship between Jessica and Trish, many fanworks such as fanart and vids are ambiguous as to whether they are intended as shippy, and can be interpreted either way.
Opposition
The Jessica/Trish ship also has its detractors. Some argue that Jessica/Trish is incest because the two are adoptive sisters. Most fans of the pairing disagree, citing the fact that although Jessica was legally adopted by Trish's mom as a teenager, the adoption was just a publicity stunt and Jessica was never made truly part of the Walker family. Jessica and Trish themselves refer to one another as best friends; only Kilgrave ever refers to them as sisters.[note 3] One fan, dealanexmachina, contrasted Jess/Trish with Kara/Alex in the Supergirl fandom, concluding that the two shows treat the relationships between the adoptive sisters very differently and proposing that this is why more fans appear to by squicked by the incestuous aspects of Kara/Alex over Jessica/Trish.[3]
TPTB on Jessica/Trish
TPTB have been supportive of the ship. Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg has said that she "love[s] that people are seeing [a romantic side to Jessica and Trish]," even though she didn't intend to imply a romantic relationship in the script.[note 4][note 5] She later elaborated: "I sometimes think there's sort of a prurient interest in that, like, can't women just be friends? I feel like for me that's what is unique about the relationship, that they are such intimate friends, and I think they don't have to become lovers—that being said, one never knows."[4] These comments produced a mixed fan reaction—as did The Mary Sue's reaction article, entitled "Why Jessica and Trish Getting Together on Jessica Jones Would Be a Bad Idea".[note 6]
Krysten Ritter is also supportive of the ship on social media, for example retweeting a comment about Jessica and Trish dating in Season 2.[note 7]
Ritter supported the conclusion held by many fans that they may have been canonical exes.
"There was some stuff that I... I worked on with a different thing in mind than—For example, I didn't know that Rachael Taylor's character Trish was going to end up being my sister... I didn't know that. I knew that there was, like, real history there, um, I actually couldn't tell if they maybe were lovers at one point, just because their relationship was so dynamic and complex and so real and so alive, that I just felt like there had to be more there.[5]
Ritter has also been quoted saying similarly:
[Q:] "Not only is a female fronted superhero series, but there is this amazing female friendship at the core of it. And also I’m curious, because it’s gotten a lot of attention from the press, about the female sexuality aspect of the series. Was that something you guys were aware of when you were filming it? Were there conversations about that?" [A:] "My acting teacher and I talked a lot about the relationship between Jessica and Trish. We thought there was some history there. The relationship was so layered. I thought maybe they were ex-lovers. Umm… I guess they weren’t. Turned out they were sisters, a little different [laughs]. But that connection runs pretty deep. It was still a very deep love between those two women. I feel like that’s the heart of the show.[6]
Example Fanworks
Fanfiction
- rumour has it by thecrackshiplollipop - Fake/Pretend Relationship, Pre-canon
- Remember to Let Her Into Your Heart by willowbilly, Jessica cuts Trish off by flapping a hand in front of her nose. “One sec.” She reaches into her coat and draws out a very small, rather crushed bouquet of violets, unwraps them, and plunks them into the squat makeshift vase. (Jessica Jones/Trish Walker)
- Doing Fine by willowbilly - character study involving PTSD and childhood abuse
- AKA 3 times Patricia Walker said "I love you" (and one time Jessica did) by qrnrd
- and as I recall you used to be mine by likebrightness - Pre-series, "Trish comes home from rehab and tells Jess she loves her. Jess, as Trish expected, kind of panics. Her fingers twitch and she glances around like she’s looking for an exit."
- Broken Art is More Beautiful by fiona_249 - "A story of falling in love, even though it is a goddamn terrible idea and you should know better by now. Basically, Jessica falls for Trish as a teenager and they live through drug abuse, rehab, abandonment and Kilgrave, and still come out of it loving each other more than they love anymore else, and are so stupidly sure that the other person doesn't feel the same way."
- Five Times They Slept in the Same Bed by PoeticallyIrritating - Hurt/Comfort, "She always comes back to Trish."
- AKA Your Beloved by JobethDalloway - After Kilgrave has been dealt with and Luke leaves, memories of shared kisses many years in the past bring mixed emotions to Jessica and Trish.
Fanart
- I finished Jessica Jones and I've adopted this ship., Archived version by andlatitude (2015)
- I am tired of missing you, Archived version and Something I never say by MoishPain (2015)
- Untitled Sketch, Archived version by brokencharcoal (2016)
- female dynamics ★ Jessica and Trish by earpwave (2016), gifset
- тнey ㅤ αllㅤ тнιɴĸㅤ ι ㅤнαve ιтㅤαll..., Archived version by American Werewolf (2016), photomanips
Fanvids
- The feeling by sweetcoffeelips (2015)
- Is there someone by violetGG13 (2015)
- one exception by iredreamer (2015)
- i'll be good by mommyregina (2015)
- fight for you by Kaiirel (2015)
- the sun came out by justoneyesterday. (2015)
- You Are a Memory by PositivityGleek (clexaislove) (2016)
- you're the only friend I need by Vintage Cartinelli (nxncy-wheeler) (2016)
Fanmixes
- The Only Thing by queen-juliet (2015)
- Holding Heavy by valeriestahl (2015)
- we could be heroes by vesper-v (2016)
- I Can't Risk You by starsdecay (2016)
Links & Resources
- Jessica Jones/Patricia Walker tag at Archive of Our Own
- [Jessica J., Trish W.] pairing filter at FanFiction.Net
- trishica and jessica-x-trish tags at Tumblr
- ao3feed-trishxjessica, a Tumblr AO3 feed (defunct)[7]
Notes
- ^ A comment at fail_fandomanon on 28 November 2015, Re: Fandom Venting, states: "Jessica/HER AWESOME BEST FRIEND AND ADOPTED SISTER has twice as many fics as Jessica/Kilgrave or Jessica/Luke" on AO3. A reply to the comment states that, at that time, Jessica/Kilgrave had 16 works and Jessica/Luke had 13 works, implying that Jessica/Trish had around 30 works on AO3.
- ^ For example, one fan at fail_fandomanon asks: "It seems like all everyone cares about is Jessica/Kilgrave and where they stand in relation to it, including/especially people who hate it. I wanted to watch it for the femslash, but now, after the initial wave of gifsets has passed, I never see Jessica/Trish fans talking about their pairing on the meme/on my dash. Is it small or have I just managed to miss all the discussions/fan art/etc. accidentally/by not following the right people?" (Re: Ask meme - Jessica Jones, 17 February 2016)
- ^ Various fail_fandomanon threads debate whether Jessica/Trish is incest, for example Re: Fandom Venting (02 May 2016), Re: Marvel - Jessica Jones (25 June 2016), Re: Ship Recs (16 August 2016), Re: Best sister pairing (05 September 2016). It is also a frequent topic of debate on Tumblr, for example see this post by trishxjess, 07 October 2016.
- ^ Melissa Rosenberg quoted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: "Jessica Jones boss teases Jessica-Trish dynamic in season 2" by Natalie Abrams, published 07 August 2016:
- "A lot of people saw [a romantic side to Jessica and Trish] in their relationship. Honestly, I love that people are seeing that. I’m fine with that. It’s not what interests me about their relationship. To me, it’s about their history, and their trust and connection."
- ^ tiffanysolitano also reports asking Rosenberg in May 2016 about the ship, writing: "Considering the subtext and the seemingly sexual tension and the closeness of their relationship, I asked [Melissa Rosenberg] if there was ever intentional thought behind that. She said that there initially was not, but that she knows that that is how Rachael and Krysten sort of played it just by total organic chance and chemistry. ... Mel mentioned to me that she does have female writers in her writing room that are rooting for Jessica and Trish to be in a relationship (!!!!!!!!!!). So although there was no intention behind it, maybe not all hope is lost? Who knows." (Anonymous : omg tell us what Melissa said about Trishica, 22 May 2016).
- ^ "Why Jessica and Trish Getting Together on Jessica Jones Would Be a Bad Idea" by Teresa Jusino at The Mary Sue, published 22 September 2016. For one fan's strong reaction to the piece, see this post by pleaseletmeshowyou on Tumblr, which begins "This is one of the worst articles I’ve read from The Mary Sue...." (22 September 2016).
- ^ Kyrsten Ritter (@Krystenritter) on Twitter: retweet @ChloeGMoretz, Is the plot twist of season 2 Jessica jones gonna b that trish and Jessica start dating !?" and reply to the response, "please tell me you just confirmed it and make dreams come true !!!!": "Haha! Marvel snipers will get me!! 🤐😜" (13 August 2016). (Screenshots on Tumblr.)
References
- ^ see for example this thread at fail_fandomanon, 05 September 2016.
- ^ As of 19 January 2017, the Jessica Jones (TV) fandom tag at AO3 has a total of 762 works, 232 (30.4%) of which are tagged "Jessica Jones/Patricia Walker", 89 (11.7%) tagged "Jessica Jones/Zebediah Killgrave", and 78 (10.2%) tagged "Luke Cage/Jessica Jones".
- ^ dealanexmachina at Tumblr, 17 May 2016. Anonymous asked: it seems that you are always hip to the latest meta - has anyone written anything about why Kara/Alex is offputting in a way that Jessica/Trish is absolutely not?, Archived version
- ^ Melissa Rosenberg, quoted in Esquire's "What To Expect From the Second Season of Jessica Jones" by Emma Dibdin, published 20 September 2016.
- ^ From GoldDerby's interview with Krysten Ritter (posted 15 June 2016), starting at 3:15.
- ^ (see this gifset
- ^ ao3feed-trishxjessica was active as of 14 December 2015 but deleted as of 19 January 2017. It was last archived by the Wayback Machine on 20 February 2016.