Marvel's "She-Hulk" makes for a welcome addition to the MCU
Where Aya and I sit down for another Saturday evening, female character analysis courtesy of Disney+
Tatiana Maslany, while currently starring as Jennifer “Jen” Walters aka “She-Hulk," will always be known for her stunning portrayal of Sarah Manning (+ 4 other very different characters) in the sci-fi thriller Orphan Black. That said, she does pack a punch as a she-lawyer who also happens to be a green giant she-hulk with superpowers.
How did she become a hulk? Her cousin is Bruce Banner, fyi, the original hulk, who in the series is played by Mark Ruffalo, the primary Hulk in MCU since 2012 (The Avengers) who took over from Ed Norton’s 2008 Hulk (The Incredible Hulk).
In the first episode, Bruce, her cousin, decides to teach her the mindful and intentional buddha ways of the hulk. Ok, really it’s DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy) so she can learn “hulking.” Yes, “Hulk” was a noun. Now, it’s a verb.
Aya, do you think you’d appreciate learning hulking from your cousin, if you had a cousin Bruce who was a hulk? Yes or no and why?
Aya:
No. It would take a lot of work and I wouldn’t get to see my friends or go to school. I’d miss out on everything. And plus every time you get angry you turn green. Like, that doesn’t sound like fun.
Beth:
They talk about Captain America/Steve Rogers a lot and She-Hulk clearly has a crush on him. I know they will have a Daredevil cameo which makes sense since Daredevil/Matt Murdoch (played by Charlie Cox) is a lawyer like She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters but I’m pretty sure Daredevil is in NY and Jennifer is in LA. Hmmm. Back to Rogers, it would be good to have Captain America come to the future and have Jen do an episode with him. This is MCU. They can figure it out.
Ok, we’re back to emotions and no longer daydreaming here.
Aya, Do you think She-Hulk is good at regulating her emotions and controlling her anger?
Aya:
Um, no.
Beth:
I like that it feels like there’s more depth to this show with focus on Jennifer’s POV - what she had to say about how as a female, she has to control her emotions on the daily because of how she’ll be judged and labelled as “emotional,” or “difficult,” or “might literally get murdered.” So in essence her lived experience as a woman has given her a crash course in being good at controlling her anger because the alternative is not a viable option. That’s a very different take than Bruce, her cousin who is always looking to master his emotions and in some ways, suppress them. Like how does someone who is more regulated, in this case Jen, live with the green?
As an aside, hulk belching as a form of familial bonding is disgusting. I feel like they are going for a Shrek effect and it’s not working.
Aya:
Yeah, it was weird.
Episode 2 now:
Beth:
Why does she do the hulk thing all the time even when she isn’t angry. I’m lost.
Aya:
Cause she learned to control it. It’s the third time you’ve asked me.
Beth:
Well yeah, I’m typing. I don’t type as fast as you speak. Ok, so I’m getting this. She chooses to be green depending on when it’s convenient for her.
[After Jen is losing jobs based on her hulk appearance in day-to-day life and her superhero actions] Do you think being a she-hulk is a liability?
Aya:
Yes
Beth:
Her dad is “Cousin Larry” (Mark Linn-Baker) from the 1980s comedy Perfect Strangers. I love that her family is trying to normalize this situation. And btw, her dad rocks. The whole chaos he orchestrates at the dinner table with the family only to sneak Jen away to have a heart-to-heart warmed my heart.
Is Jen being punished for doing a good thing i.e. when she saved people but it also revealed her superpowers? Would you have done it?
Aya:
Yes, she’s being punished. It depends. If someone found out about it, it’s tricky.
Beth:
I get that. It’s a hard decision and required her to sacrifice her privacy, but by being authentic, she’s also able to be famous and bank on that. And hopefully pay off her law school loans.
Oooh. Moral dilemma time. In her new job, she’s being asked to represent someone who tried to kill her cousin, Bruce. Yikes. How is that not a conflict of interest? And good on Jen. She mentions this very fact to her boss.
Aya:
Well, her boss said, “Represent him or you’re fired.”
Beth:
Oh yeah, forgot. Intimidation by way of blackmail trumps law or common sense any day. See: Little Mermaid. But wait, it’s actor Tim Roth as the bad guy, the Abomination/Emil Blonsky. I like him. And I think they are manipulating us into like him? What do you think Aya? You think he’s still bad?
Aya:
Yeah.
Beth:
Yup, turns out you’re right. Or are you? Stay tuned.
Episode 3 features a case involving Megan Thee Stallion. This is getting good.
I appreciate that this show doesn’t take itself too seriously but hits on some decent female experience themes.