Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a wild ride so far. It has featured some of my favorite storytelling that has ever taken place in the MCU (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, WandaVision, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, to name a few examples) and also some that left me a little more “meh” (looking at you Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder).
Initially, the new Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law fell a little closer to the “meh” end of the spectrum, at least for me. The tone/style wasn’t particularly my jam, just as I wasn’t really vibing with the comedy in Thor: Ragnarok.
However, I’m not here to suggest a bunch of changes that would make She-Hulk “better,” because I think it’s important for the MCU to explore a variety of styles, and I know some fans who love She-Hulk exactly as it is.
I don’t mind watching it, and overall I’ve had fun with it. It just hasn’t captured my heart and imagination the same way some of the other MCU Disney+ series have – although I am warming up to She-Hulk as the show has progressed.
Even when I don’t fall madly in love with a Marvel show right away, I never see watching it as a waste of time, for several reasons. 1) You never know how characters/storylines will impact the larger MCU narrative, and sometimes stuff that doesn’t impress me in the moment ends up being very important later on. And 2) I’m usually always entertained, at least at some level.
There’s often a fine line between cheesy and clever, and sometimes it comes down to one’s personal taste. She-Hulk often feels a little cheesy to me (I’m not a fan of fourth-wall breaking in general), and the show is a little more over-the-top than I generally like my superhero stories.
Still, as mentioned before, as I’ve continued to watch episodes, I’ve found myself accepting it for what it is and enjoying it more. I like Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, and it’s interesting to see a superhero that remains committed to their day job more so than their super-powered side gig. Plus, it’s always a pleasure to see Benedict Wong in an MCU cameo.
In short, this show won’t rank among my MCU favorites, but I also don’t dislike watching it. The episodes are short, light, and entertaining to put on while I’m doing a baking project or working on a craft.
