The Genius of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (Disney+) Is In The Details
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is an action comedy superhero show on Disney+. It’s not epic in scale like the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies (MCU). It features low-key stakes compared to other Marvel movies and shows. The plot devotes plenty of screen time to Jen Walter’s love life and quest for romance. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is also unapologetically female-centric and feminist.
Despite wearing the mantle of an “escapist”/frothy comedy show, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law has numerous elements that, taken as a whole, raise it to the genius level of superhero entertainment. No wonder I went from liking it to loving it!
Here are several examples (beware spoilers) that demonstrate the genius strokes of creativity on display—sometimes Trojan Horse style—in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law:
Nikki the Genius
Hearing Nikki acknowledge herself as a “genius” while she investigates Intelligencia was breathtaking. Such a description helps smash the myth that only men can be geniuses. Furthermore, by highlighting female intellectual achievement, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law provides a moment of affirmation and validation for female viewers that is all too rare in mainstream media shows.
Pug The Feminist
Pug’s negative response to Intelligencia was so strong and visceral that it took me by surprise. He’s utterly repulsed by the organization’s ideology, a repulsion that oozes from his every pore.
No wonder he’s reluctant to infiltrate it, but he does, and valiantly! What an ally. Very few male characters in mainstream media shows reach the feminist high bar set by Pug. Every man who aspires to be a feminist should follow his lead.
She-Hulk The Perfect Human Actor and CGI Blend
The combination of actor Tatiana Maslany and the CGI special effects that make her She-Hulk work perfectly for me. The facial expressions of this She-Hulk impact me emotionally in ways I doubt I’d ever experience with She-Hulk comics or a She-Hulk animated series.
There’s something magical about the pairing of Tatiana Maslany in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law with the show’s special effects team. The result is a chemistry that hit all my sweet spots. She-Hulk’s face features an engaging display of emotions and expressions. I applaud the efforts of all involved—they’re all geniuses.
Morris The Not-All-Superheroes-Wear-Capes Dad
Jen Walters’ dad Morris, played by Mark Linn-Baker (of Perfect Strangers fame), is hilarious and endearing whenever he comes to Jen’s defense. Weapons of choice include a shovel and a garden hose with plenty of water to spare.
At one point, Morris saves his daughter from a throng of intrusive reporters, a situation where it would have been ill-advised for her to transform into She-Hulk. Talk about strategy! The water hose scene is especially poignant because it highlights that even superheroes need help now and then. Morris is such a loving, supportive parent—and a true dad goal.
Wong The “Era of Peak TV” Fan
Wong the Sorcerer Supreme loving peak TV and binging shows is pure comedy gold. The truly genius part is when he joins forces with BFF Madisynn to eat froyo and chat about The Sopranos. Theirs is an unlikely friendship like no other.
Madisynn The Homebody
In the mid-credits scene of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law episode #4, party gal Madisynn hangs out with Supreme Sorcerer Wong at his home in Kamar-Taj and they bond over their love of drinks. One striking detail is that Madisynn wears a comfy purple hoodie.
That’s a genius detail for two main reasons: it shows the homebody side of Madisynn and reinforces her friendship with Wong, a bond that has the same importance as a romantic one. This bonus fluffy scene of humor, comfort, and warmth reveals that Madisynn is far more than the sparkly socialite she at first appears.
Todd The Lip Licker
Another example of a genius detail in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is when Todd’s tongue slithers out to swipe across his lips during the Intelligencia gathering. Not only is that moment one of the purest encapsulations of his character throughout the show, it’s also an example of genius level acting by Jon Bass.
Todd is truly a villain you love to hate. He’s the perfect patriarchy-obsessed, misogynistic antagonist for our feminist She-Hulk, whom Todd targets just for existing.
Also, how about the irony of the name “Intelligencia” for a group of evil, wannabe Lex Luthors when Nikki, a woman, is the true genius?!
Jen Walters The Fan Service Queen
When Jen Walters asks KEVIN “When are we getting the X-Men?” and then gives a thumbs up and sassy grin combo to the viewers makes a person feel all warm and fuzzy. Jen Walters has our back! Advocating for the X-Men movie is a superb deployment of her lawyer superpowers and a true genius fan service move.
Emil Blonsky The Meditation Guru
In the words of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law’s reformed villain and resident meditation guru Emil Blonsky, “Today is today.” ‘Nuff said.
Lastly, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is a genius show as evidenced by She-Hulk’s last line in the final episode: “Okay.” This deceptively casual line of dialogue, combined with how she abruptly walks away from the reporter who asked her a question about her clothing, is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, yet striking social commentary; namely, a rejection of the idea that a woman’s value lies solely in her appearance. In that moment, She-Hulk smashes the patriarchy with aplomb.
This scene also reveals that no matter how powerful and effective a woman is—whatever her chosen field and even if she’s a superhero—the patriarchy will continue its ongoing oppression of women in multiple, insidious, and sometimes seemingly innocuous ways.
The reporter surely thought he was complimenting She-Hulk on her smart suit when in fact he was reducing her to an objectified woman. Fortunately, both Jen Walters and her alter-ego She-Hulk know exactly how to handle such opponents: deprive them of attention.
A final thought: She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is notable for providing insightful social commentary about how women have learned to control their anger to keep themselves safe from dangerous men, but it doesn’t delve into one particularly egregious way that white women channel their anger: by weaponizing their tears to target, harm, and oppress BIPOC—especially Black women. Addressing that topic in a show about a superhero whose power is linked to anger is a missed opportunity.
If a future Marvel show featuring a white female protagonist never tackles such a theme, perhaps other shows/movies will take up the mantle.
Thanks for reading!
Enjoy my posts about female superheroes in movies and sci-fi romance books:
Molly J. Bragg’s F/F Superhero Romance Scatter Has Big Gay Energy!
F/F Superhero Romance With Black Main Characters: The Mercy Chronicles By Fiona Zedde
