Amazon Prime just came out with the greatly anticipated second season to Hanna, and viewers are buzzing with excitement over the recent additions to a show that so many have grown to love. One of the most notable features of season two, and the most contrasting to season one, is the evolution of the character of Marissa Weigler.
Marissa served as the antagonist of season one. She was the ultimate villain and the cause for almost all of Hanna’s problems. It’s difficult for some fans to adjust to her new role as Hanna’s ally in season two, because one can’t forget the knowledge that without Marissa, Hanna might have lived a much better life. Season two offers many opportunities to endear Marissa to viewers, but alongside such moments are reminders of who she is and what she’s done.
Love Her: She Covers For Hanna And Clara
Marissa spends all of season one making Hanna’s life a living hell just to adopt an affection for her and take a complete 180 at the end of the season.
The switch is slightly infuriating as it makes all of her previous efforts to thwart Hannah seem like they could have easily been avoided, but all the same, her help is necessary for Hannah and Clara’s escape, and she puts a bullet in her own leg to make it all more convincing, thus further enforcing the genuine nature of her change of heart.
Unforgivable: She Killed Hanna’s Mother
Viewers repeatedly witness a horrible scene that shoes Marissa executing the murder of Hanna’s mother. Hanna is just a baby at the time, and her mother, alongside Erik Heller, desperately tries to escape Marissa’s grasp to save Hanna’s life.
Marissa could have easily let the mother live and escape with Hanna and Erik into isolation in the forest, but instead pursues them to the extreme, determined to kill them all.
Love Her: She’s Complex
Like her or not, one thing that viewers can’t say about Marissa is that she is a simple character.
She was complicated even before her switch over to Hanna’s side, being seen showing remorse for the deeds she did in contributing the program Hanna was meant to take part in.
Unforgivable: She’s The Reason Hanna Grew Up Hiding
Hanna’s life has been full of suffering from the moment she was born.
One could argue that she was legally signed over to take part in Marissa’s program, but for such a program to exist in the first place, one that would use infants for testing, is a deplorable thing that stands on shaky moral grounds in the first place, and so should surely return a child to its mother should the mother change her mind as Hanna’s did.
Love Her: She’s Fierce
Not enough TV features capable female characters. Hanna is a hearty contributor to filling this lack. Even in season one when Marissa was the bad guy, she still portrayed a female character with personal agency and highly developed skills.
The fact that season two makes her more likable only increases the pleasure one gets from watching her many impressive fight scenes.
Unforgivable: She Killed Infants
As soon as one is becoming more sympathetic toward Marissa, the memory of her ordering the murder of countless infants in season one pangs at the back of the mind.
It begs the question, could someone who justified such a horrendous act to themselves really ever be redeemed in the eyes of others?
Love Her: She Loves Hanna
If it’s ever possible to feel warm and fuzzy about Marissa–something already difficult in a high-action assassin show, nevermind toward the villain in such a show–it’s through her affection to Hanna.
The two never say as much, but the acting between these two talented actresses communicates an increasing feeling of care and appreciation that is palpable through the screen.
Unforgivable: She Isn’t Completely Honest With Hanna
After all that Marissa has done to Hanna, Hanna deserves Marissa’s utter and complete honesty.
Marissa does nearly just this but misses the mark when she takes a call from Carmichael and lies about who it is to Hanna. It’s possible she was just trying to protect her, but it makes Marissa less trustworthy to Hanna and to viewers
Love Her: She Plans To Overthrow The Pioneer Group
The end of season two reveals Marissa’s intentions to use her information against Carmichael to infiltrate Utrax and overthrow the Pioneer Group–the group with a hit list of people all under the age of 30.
While some might understandably still be on the edge about Marissa, viewers find themselves wanting to root for her and hoping she won’t let them down.
Unforgivable: She Only Cares For Hanna
The biggest red flag that remains about Marissa throughout season two is her singular devotion to Hanna. One would hope that with turning over a new leaf Marissa would see the error of all of her evil ways and use her efforts to better all children involved in the new program.
Instead, Marissa values only Hanna and shows little regard for the other young girls, suggesting that her change of heart is a specific, fluke thing and not a fundamental shift in her values. However, season two ends with the hope of Marissa setting her sights on larger aims–and viewers can only cross their fingers that she will follow through in season three.
