She-Hulk: Attorney at Law – A Case of Too Much Trying, Not Enough Substance
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, premiering on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar, marks Marvel Studios’ first full-fledged comedy venture. While WandaVision offered comedic moments, its tragic core remained. She-Hulk, however, wears its humor on its sleeve, with Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who also happens to be a powerful green Hulk, breaking the fourth wall and commenting on the show’s own narrative. While the series draws comparisons to Deadpool and WandaVision‘s mockumentary style, it ultimately falls short due to a reliance on forced humor and a lack of depth in its exploration of key themes.
A World of CGI and Blandness
She-Hulk is the first Marvel series to feature a fully CGI protagonist, with Tatiana Maslany‘s performance captured through motion capture and digitally rendered into the six-foot-seven She-Hulk. Despite initial concerns over the CGI quality, the show itself showcases a visually convincing She-Hulk. However, the reliance on CGI contributes to a sense of artificiality, creating a disconnect between viewers and the characters. The environments, from law offices to courtrooms, feel sanitized and devoid of personality, further amplifying the artificiality.
Exploring Identity and the Superhuman World
While She-Hulk avoids the classic trope of an internal conflict between human and Hulk personalities, it delves into the complexities of navigating a superhuman existence within an ordinary world. Jennifer Walters, unlike her cousin Bruce Banner, embraces her Hulk powers, finding a balance between her superpowered form and everyday life. She-Hulk explores the societal pressures and expectations placed upon women with superhuman abilities, highlighting how they are often exploited for their strengths, regardless of their desires.
Misogyny and Toxic Masculinity in the Marvel Universe
The series tackles issues of misogyny and toxic masculinity through several male characters, including her colleague Dennis Bukowski, who exemplifies entitlement and disrespect towards women. Jennifer Walters encounters similar behaviors on dating apps, where her appearance as She-Hulk garners an overwhelming response, but not necessarily genuine interest in her personality. While She-Hulk aims to address gender issues, it ultimately fails to delve into them deeply, leaving a sense of missed opportunities.
The Burden of a Name
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law makes a conscious effort to address the problematic nature of the protagonist’s name, "She-Hulk," highlighting its sexism and derivative nature. Jennifer Walters constantly contemplates a different name, but these discussions are undermined by the show’s title itself, highlighting a dissonance between the narrative’s intentions and reality. The series’ attempts to justify the name with contrived arguments further expose the writing’s lack of confidence. While the "She-Hulk" title might have resonated in 1980, it feels outdated and unnecessary in the present day. The series could have taken a bolder stance by simply introducing her as "Hulk" or adopting a new, more fitting moniker, mirroring the approach taken with Layla El-Faouly in Moon Knight, who became Scarlet Scarab without any gender-specific prefixes.
A Case of the Week with MCU Cameos
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law adopts a "case of the week" structure, introducing new characters and narratives with each episode. The series cleverly integrates these cases with the larger MCU, bringing back iconic characters like Emil Blonsky/ Abomination, Wong, and Daredevil, as well as introducing new antagonists like the superpowered social media influencer Titania. While the frequent cameos aim to appeal to a wider audience, they can feel like forced fan service, ultimately detracting from the core narrative.
A Missed Opportunity for Deeper Exploration
Despite its comedic tone, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law possesses the potential to tackle significant themes, from gender dynamics to the complexities of navigating superpowers in a mundane world. The series, however, often settles for surface level explorations, resorting to forced jokes and predictable plotlines. It ultimately leaves viewers wanting more depth and a stronger commitment to the issues it attempts to address. While She-Hulk: Attorney at Law might entertain with its comedic moments and MCU cameos, it loses its potential to be truly impactful due to its reluctance to fully embrace its ideas and engage in meaningful commentary on the themes it presents.
