By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
The finale starts with an extremely amusing Hulk parody that is certain to put a smile on a lot of people’s faces! However, from this high point, we plummet to the lows of all of the fallout from last week’s ending. Seeing Jen endure so much pain and trauma was difficult, even if the show still tried to keep it light in tone. It sucked and it was unfair. Luckily, Jen has friends to watch her back and a super supportive family.
I loved that in the first act we follow Nikki and Pug as they try to find a way into Intelligencia, while Jen withdraws to Emil’s retreat for some mental health nurturing. These two storylines connected in a rather predictable way, however, that was the intention, because it was all part of the plan for the greatest fourth wall break of the show so far! Now, I think some people are really not going to like this, however, I think and hope that this will be a minority opinion. I LOVED it. Everything that happened was fantastic and Tatiana Maslany absolutely crushed every part of it!
As for the Season One resolution, I think it was very fitting the way they handled it and how the ‘She-Hulk blood’ arc panned out. Again, I think some will take issue with it, however, I thought it was very fitting for what the show has been about.
Looking back at the show as a whole, while I wouldn’t say it’s my outright favourite, it’s in the upper tier of Marvel shows for me. It approached itself in a unique and interesting way and very organically set itself apart from its peers. It also has very much done its own thing and even when the MCU formula props up, they have managed to use it to poke fun at it – so with things like the weekly cameos and especially in this week’s meta fourth wall break. Jessica Gao had a clear blueprint of the character, story, and themes she wanted to bring to the screen and having an MCU property shot through the female gaze is so incredibly important and welcome. Now, I’m not saying the show is not without its faults, and I am not saying that if you didn’t enjoy, She-Hulk, you’re some kind of raging misogynist. However, the very people the show puts under a microscope and makes fun of being out there! I have seen them myself. People, mostly white men on social media, attack the show on a weekly basis with very unfounded criticism. With those people out there, Season Two cannot come soon enough and I look forward to seeing where we go from here.
As for the show’s titular star, I think I may have fallen a little in love with Tatiana Maslany! Her character portrayal is SO good and from the very first episode, I was completely on board with the character and the performer. With two Superhero lawyers now in the MCU, there is no reason we can’t see more of her appearing elsewhere when legal representation is required!
While I said this from a personal standpoint last week, I am now using my power as Editor-in-Chief to unequivocally state that X-Geeks now, and forever more, ship #JenDock
What did you think of the latest episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
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