What’s Happening with Jessica Jones’ Powers in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2′?

After years of fan campaigns and rumors, Krysten Ritter has finally returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the hard-drinking, heavy-hitting investigator Jessica Jones. Her debut in Season 2, Episode 6, “Requiem,” was every bit as gritty as fans hoped, but it came with a shocking twist: Jessica is no longer the invulnerable powerhouse she once was.

If you’ve been watching Daredevil: Born Again and were surprised to see Jessica bleeding after a standard punch, here is everything you need to know about what is happening to her powers.

For three seasons of her own Netflix series and The Defenders, Jessica Jones was defined by her effortless super strength and high level of durability. While not completely bulletproof like Luke Cage, she could stop a moving car or jump several stories without a scratch.

In Born Again Season 2, Jessica reveals to Matt Murdock that her abilities have become unreliable. She describes it as her powers “dropping out” at random moments. One minute she can tear a steel door off its hinges, and the next, she possesses the strength and durability of an average human.

Why are Jessica’s power fading?

The series provides a grounded, biological explanation for this change: Childbirth.

The show introduces Jessica’s young daughter, Danielle (a name familiar to comic book readers as the daughter of Jessica and Luke Cage). Jessica explains to Matt on a rooftop that ever since having Danielle, her body hasn’t been the same. “After Danielle, it just drops out sometimes… I don’t think there’s an owner’s manual for this,” she quips.

In the MCU, it seems the physical toll of a “super-powered pregnancy” has caused a permanent or recurring instability in her physiology. This “flickering” power set adds a layer of vulnerability and tension to her character that we haven’t seen before.

The true impact of this power loss is felt during the warehouse raid against Mayor Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF). In previous years, Jessica would have mowed through unpowered guards with ease. However, mid-fight, her strength deactivates.

In a jarring moment for longtime fans, a standard agent lands a punch that causes Jessica to visibly bleed and reel back in pain. This isn’t just a cosmetic change; it changes how she has to fight. She can no longer rely on brute force and “tanking” hits, forcing her to utilize more tactical teamwork with Daredevil.

Protecting Danielle and the Luke Cage Connection

Jessica’s motivation for returning to the fray isn’t just heroics—it’s survival. Her suburban life was interrupted by goons working for the mysterious Mr. Charles, who targeted her because of her refusal to be recruited into a government-sanctioned “super-team.”

While Jessica is back in New York fighting alongside Matt, fans are also asking: Where is Luke Cage? Episode 7, “The Hateful Darkness,” confirms that Luke is currently working for the CIA on an overseas covert mission. This explains his absence but also hints at a larger conspiracy involving super-powered individuals that Jessica is now caught in the middle of.

What’s next for Jessica Jones?

The “flickering powers” storyline is likely more than just a plot device to keep the action grounded. It sets up a potential character arc for Season 3 (already confirmed for 2027), where Jessica may have to find a way to stabilize her abilities or learn to be a hero without them.

What did you think of Jessica’s return in Daredevil: Born Again?