by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
Well what a doozy this one has been. From the outset, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has been mired by toxic fandom and an onslaught of review bombing. You might even say that it never even had a chance, except in this case I believe it has taken its chance and gone to the next level.
One of the biggest criticisms of the MCU to date has been how similar all the content feels, whether it’s the movies or Disney+ shows. They all seem to work to a formula — a proven process if you will — and never look to go beyond the known in order try something completely new or different.
This is definitely not relevant when it comes to the MCU’s latest and final series for the year. She-Hulk is a legal comedy that centers on Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), a 30-something attorney who has a complicated life as a single person, and also happens to be a green six-foot-seven-inch superpowered hulk.
From the outset, this isn’t like the others. There’s no massive overarching story, the world is very rarely in any real peril, and the brooding is at an all time low. She-Hulk instead decides to upend all that has been done before, and delivers the most TV show-esque TV show that Marvel has done so yet.
I’m talking “monster of the week,” under 40-minute, singular storylines, with a fun rotating cast of characters that you get to know through circumstantial hijinks. It harkens back to the days of Ally Macbeal, Boston Legal, and Judging Amy, to name a few, and I loved every minute of it.
In the “Golden Age Television,” it’s such a relief to be able to just watch something that isn’t so serious and full of itself all of the time. On top of that, don’t get me started on how series are starting to really take advantage of my time with their dire stakes, and hour-plus long episodes. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love me some premium TV; however, from time to time you do need a palate cleanser to look forward to, and She-Hulk really was that for me.
However, before final judgment, there are still some of key elements that require further discussion.
First, and foremost, let’s not ignore the VFX, or really the lack of budget. Unfortunately, this small-screen character seemed to have been given a small-screen amount of money with which to create a consistently computer generated character on screen. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s definitely passable, and after a while I stopped caring so much about it, but it’s certainly noticeable. Unfortunately the rendering of the character results in her movements being too fluid, and her face being without enough detail to even suspend what belief there may be when watching a “Hulking” green woman on screen. If there’s going to be a season two, I’d certainly recommend that Marvel Studios injects about a million dollars more into making this work, as given she’s the central character, it’s kind of important she look real.
Let’s also discuss Maslany’s performance, or should I say expert crafting of character, wit, and personality. It’s no secret, from her time on Orphan 8 that Maslany is a force to be reckoned with. However, given her previous foray had been much more on the darker, more dramatic side, I was interested to see how she would pull off such a lighthearted character. I’m happy to report that as inferred above, she does so flawlessly, and is such a fun character to watch that I couldn’t wait to see more from her with each passing episode.
Finally, let’s touch on the story. This was very clearly catered to be a more gendered experience, specifically that of the single, independent woman in the modern age. The jokes made, the plot lines explored, and the characters showcased all speak to it, and I loved every moment of it.
It finally felt like I was watching something that had been made for me and those like me, unapologetically so. I could see myself through Jennifer Walter’s eyes, and relate to all of her struggles — yes, even those she faced as the big green superhero. Some might say that it was a little too on-the-nose, a little too apparent — and that might be true. However, I simply didn’t care while I was watching it. I was mostly looking forward to seeing what would happen next, while also enjoying all the nuance and MCU Easter eggs being peppered throughout.
Overall, She-Hulk is a show for the fans, for the girls, and for everyone in between. Most importantly, it’s fun and never pretends to be anything otherwise. If you’re looking to take a break from the normal, and explore a nostalgic format with modern storytelling, then She-Hulk is really the one for you. If the first episode has you rolling your eyes, wincing at the VFX, and desperate to click off, then maybe skip this one, and stick to the movies for now.
Score: 9/10
You can follow Alice-Ginevra Micheli on Instagram and Letterboxd