She-Hulk is going to catch MCU fans off guard. Its style and tone are so drastically different from the rest of the shared universe that it almost feels detached. It is its own unique entity, utilizing characters and plot details from the MCU to create its own stand alone world. The episodes are brisk, an average of thirty minutes or so for the first four episodes, but those thirty minutes are packed with fantastic story telling, interesting characters and enough laughs to give you six pack abs.
Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) is She-Hulk, a title she despises but is stuck with thanks to the media. She’s a successful lawyer, independent woman and Bruce Banner’s (Mark Ruffalo) cousin. Through an unfortunate series of events, she finds herself with powers similar to that of the Hulk. Now, she struggles to find a balance between her normal life and that of the six foot, seven inch tall She-Hulk. It won’t always be easy, but it certainly won’t be boring.
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She-Hulk is a sitcom, through and through. It’s the type of series that you could slap a laugh track on and find in the Friday night, Fox television lineup in the late 90’s. I mean that as the biggest of compliments. One thing that WandaVision proved with its early episodes, is that taking super powered beings and placing them in the style and tropes of classic television works, and works very well.
There is so much to love about She-Hulk. Tatiana Maslany is perfect in every way. She captures the essence of the single woman, struggling to prove herself against the established barriers; like Ally McBeal but with a towering stature, green complexion and super strength. Maslany’s comedic timing and delivery are spot on. Marvel has been critiqued for an over reliance on comedy in movies like Thor: Love and Thunder; however, this series is designed to be a comedy and the humor within it feels purposeful and effortless; as a result, She-Hulk is the funniest entry in the MCU.
Admittedly, She-Hulk’s first episode feels a bit like filler and fluff. It lays the groundwork of establishing Jennifer Walters as a character and allows her story to properly unfold throughout the following episodes. With each episode I fell a little bit deeper in love with these characters. I wanted more, and luckily, this is a series that feels endlessly rewatchable. With nine episodes, this journey has only just begun. Remember, I was only provided with screeners for the first four episodes, so this review only pertains to those. However, I can’t wait to see where else the series goes, and I can only hope that we get more She-Hulk in the future.
Packed with laughs, stellar performances and enough cameos to please even the pickiest of MCU fans, She-Hulk might end up being my favorite Marvel series to date. A powerhouse homage to the drama/comedy, legal series that were so popular once upon a time. 8.5/10
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