The second installment of “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” begins precisely where we anticipated it to, with no explanation of Titania’s (Jameela Jamil) issue. The only information the episode gives us about the mystery antagonist is a quick mention on a local news segment. The only information provided about Titania is that she is a super-powered influencer and that she is currently being held. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about that in the future, or Jamil may have exaggerated just how important she is to the show.
In the second episode, Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) accepts a position at GLK&H, where she works in the section of superhuman law. Her initial case? The Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination, parole hearing (Tim Roth), the person who allegedly attempted to kill her cousin Bruce. There are even more fourth-wall breaks, unsteady CGI, and jokes that, depending on how much alcohol you drank before watching, may or may not land. While there isn’t much to take in from Episode 2 (we believe it to be a set-up episode for the next), there is undoubtedly a hint here that foreshadows a significant MCU project.
She-Hulk Episode 2 Recap
When a news reporter speaks with a witness to the entire incident, he shouts excitedly about the appearance of a new hero, She-Hulk. Jen obviously doesn’t like this name, but there may be an implied endorsement here. (See? We have already begun learning about the law.) The She-Hulk name is problematic for anyone who writes about the show. She despises the fact that it’s her real name. Without Jen’s permission, it has been used on her. This makes using that title when writing about the show problematic. But it also serves as the show’s title. See the problem?
The workplace comedy element of the show grows as a result of Jen being fired and then hired to lead a team that specializes in superhuman cases. The problem is that she is explicitly informed that her hiring was based on her own superhuman abilities. Jen is well aware that she is more than qualified to lead any law firm in the country, but she is now worried that people will assume she was hired only on the basis of her appearance. Another feminist subject explored in the series is the way women must deal with unfair views, the pressures they face in the job, and casual microaggressions.
Meet The New Abomination
Emile Blonsky’s parole was Jen’s first case. How well do you recall Blonsky? You might be familiar with renowned British actor Tim Roth (Oscar-nominated star of Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Lie to Me, and Tin Star). The Incredible Hulk, which came out in 2008, was technically the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; thus, the character is something of a deep cut for Marvel. Before being replaced by Mark Ruffalo, Ed Norton portrayed the Hulk in that movie, which has largely been forgotten about. Blonsky is simply too brilliant of a guest star to be abandoned in MCU canon now that we’ve reached a show that exclusively focuses on the Hulk(s).
Blonsky, a Russian-born but British-raised Royal Marine commando, was chosen by the US military to participate in a World War II-era subprogram for Bio-Tech Unit Enhancement, or super soldier serum, in an effort to take down the Hulk. But it wasn’t sufficient. Blonsky became the ruthless green monster known as the Abomination after injecting himself with Bruce Banner’s blood in a fit of rage. He has now spent ten years behind bars. He’s a changed man, though, thanks to his seven friends, soulmates, and future brides.
Though Jen might not be interested in his confessional haikus, Blonsky has had time to reflect on the significant changes that Jen is still dealing with. He might be the person on the earth who can connect to her problems the most. According to show creator Jessica Gao, the Blonsky trial was originally going to be the central theme of the entire She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series. One thing, though, that “everyone slowly learned was that none of us are really talented at writing, you know, dramatic trial sequences”. Although it seems strange for the creator of a lawyer show to publicly declare that. Roth nevertheless adds some complexity to the series despite having a smaller part. The best performance in the entire project can be found in his monologue about believing he’d be the hero.
The Silence of the Lambs Joke
Let’s discuss that joke from Silence of the Lambs. The scene is similar to the tense prison scene from the 1991 serial murderer thriller Silence of the Lambs. Thanks to the director’s lasting suspense and Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins’ riveting performances, that scene became a pop culture phenomenon. It has been continuously parodied for three decades, usually just with people uttering catchy phrases to get a quick laugh from the crowd. The least common denominator across pop culture references is the menu and sniffling tone of Hannibal Lector.
I’m trying to say that if you’re going to make a Silence of the Lambs joke in 2022, it better be a pretty excellent one. Perhaps one that challenges your expectations and familiarity and makes a statement about the source material itself or your relationship to it. As a show that is based on pop culture references but never settles for the easy joke, Rick and Morty excel at that kind of stuff.
You can probably tell that I’ve been thinking about this attempt at a joke a lot. This sequence perfectly captures the nagging impression that She-Hulk’s humor is never as good as it could be. It’s not just the joke, either. For instance, Jen’s family is kind, but are they funny? Equate them to the Khan family from Ms. Marvel’s Kamala. When the Khans got together, drama and laughter easily flowed because they were a group of characters who were plainly well-thought-out and clearly characterized.
World War Hulk?
A Sakaaran class inspired Jen’s original story. She crashed her car when a courier vessel acted with obvious disrespect for the law. Although the sender of the message is still unknown to us, it appears to be significant enough for Bruce to go into space without informing Jen. So, to clarify, after last week’s training montage, he just leaves his cousin to go through the same life-altering transformation that wreaked havoc on Bruce’s life?
I’m only saying that something significant ought to be happening on Sakaar. Something like realizing he’s a father, for instance. The notion that Skaar, the Hulk’s half-Sakaarian kid from the 2007 World War Hulk comic book series and others, may make an appearance has comic book fans buzzing. However, if there is anything we can take up from the irrational speculation that Mephisto would appear in WandaVision, it is to refrain from making sweeping assumptions about which comic book characters will unquestionably appear in a show.
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Easter Eggs
When Jen makes fun of the types of individuals that become superheroes by referring to “billionaires” (Tony Stark), “narcissistic people” (also Tony Stark), and “adult orphaned” (also, sadly, Tony Stark). It’s not just a logical set of issues for Jen to wonder if the Avengers provides healthcare, maternity leave, pensions, and compensation. It’s also a reference to the financial difficulties Sam Wilson and his family experienced in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Jen browses a page filled with Easter eggs while she should be looking for a job. Along with the categories “Avengers,” “Find Ant-Man,” and “Norse Mythology” on this page, there is also an advertisement for Iron Man Threes sneakers in the sidebar with the title “Man Fights With Metal Claws In Bar Brawl.” That last one seems to be a Wolverine reference and the most recent clue at the X-Men’s impending arrival.
Another headline on that page asks, “Why Is There a Giant Monument of a Man Coming Out of the Ocean?” This is most probably a reference to the Eternals, given that film’s ending featured Tiamut the Communicator, a physically enormous version of the Celestial, sticking out of the water. There are two MCU timeline indications. We notice a wall of framed Marvel comics in one of the lawyers’ offices as She-Hulk enters the GLK&H offices, further showing that there are comics featuring the MCU’s characters inside the MCU. On the covers are characters like Thanos, Captain America, and the Hulk.
When Jen calls Bruce to discuss Blonsky, Smart Hulk responds and ultimately reminds us of the Incredible Hulk film no one ever talks about—where Tim Roth made his MCU debut as Abomination. He specifically states, “That fight took place so many years ago I’m a totally different individual now, literally,” in reference to Edward Norton’s portrayal of Bruce Banner in that film. Then we saw the video of Wong and Abomination battling from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the last time we saw Abomination before Blonsky “escape out” of the DODC SuperMax Prison.
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