Unlike the other Disney+ Marvel original shows, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law leaves behind the classic show and film formula for a completely different approach. Jennifer Walters’ origin story as She-Hulk is told in a comical sitcom tone, automatically separating it from the more serious pacing of the other shows. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law builds on the funny side of Marvel but still allows more serious storylines to be a significant plot focus. Jen’s internal struggle surrounding her new persona plays a vital role in self-perception, especially considering how people view She-Hulk compared to Jen.
However, the series did not hold back in calling out people’s horrible responses to the character. Instead, the show anticipated it and created an entire central arc portraying how wrong it was. The sitcom formula kept the show upbeat and kept Jen a fun and exciting character. The sitcom formula also makes She-Hulk: Attorney At Law feel like the beginning of a new potential direction for Marvel, especially in a series finale that calls out previous franchise projects. While the episodes were shorter, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law brings a lot to the table regarding the new superhero, the world she comes from, and hopefully incorporating her into the rest of the Marvel franchise.
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Changes The MCU Tone
Marvel Studios
The MCU is known for mixing comedy with drama and adventure. However, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law discusses elements that the Marvel Cinematic Universe never could before. Bruce Banner spent years being frustrated with the Hulk and his inability to control his transformations. It took until Avengers: Endgame for Bruce to discover how to merge himself with his green counterpart. Jen understands how to handle her anger much better, something she explains to Bruce in a monologue referencing how women are treated in the world, personally, professionally, or just when walking in the street. Due to that, Jen does not have the same issues when transforming into and out of She-Hulk while remaining in control of her green counterpart. However, Jen brings a light-heartedness to the series, allowing her to make fun of herself and call out the MCU. Jen’s more light-hearted approach to becoming a Hulk is a far different response than Bruce Banner, having looked at the Hulk as a burden for some time.
Changing the tone makes sense after the franchise has existed for so long. Introducing different elements while keeping the identity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can help it broaden its horizons beyond what audiences have become comfortable seeing. The finale even questions what the audience truly wants from an ending, given the controversies that have surrounded Marvel shows. Conclusions have had a habit of ending with massive battles that leave the audience unsatisfied. Not only does She-Hulk: Attorney At Law prevent a show’s bad ending, but it could also be the catalyst for suggesting how the Marvel Cinematic Universe may change and develop if it is willing to try new things.
Breakout Supporting Character
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is filled with fun guest-star appearances from Bruce Banner to Wong and Daredevil. There are also a variety of fun recurring characters within the show that add to it. However, of everyone, perhaps the most prominent break-out supporting character was Madisynn, a drunk Florida party girl. Patty Guggenheim’s performance added tremendous fun and incredible potential to “Is This Not Real Magic?” Madisynn’s only appearance in the series. Madisynn may have been one of the most unique characters ever introduced in the MCU. She does not have magical abilities, nor is she a scientist. Madisynn is not a superhero or anything similar. Instead, she humanizes the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ways nearly every other character can not by reminding the audience that non-superheroes still live in this world.
While her character tended to be limited to spoiling The Sopranos for Wong and making Jen’s job as a lawyer slightly more entertaining during a trial, she was also one of the best parts of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. A non-sitcom show could not have introduced a character like Madisynn, and she quickly became a fan-favorite after her episode aired.
Fourth Wall Breaks
From the beginning, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law used the fourth wall breaks to show that this would not be like every other Marvel project. Jen quickly establishes the series as her own, but specifies that it is a lawyer show, not a superhero one. Jen speaks to the audience in every episode, making quippy references to the show’s events. But the season finale demolishes the fourth wall and truly opens the door for brand-new potential in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, breaking the fourth wall in a franchise this vast can be dangerous. However, given Marvel’s dive into the Multiverse Saga, it may be the show’s way of letting the audience know that things may be changing for Marvel’s tone in the future.
While breaking the fourth wall is a massive part of the finale, it is also a big deal as a formulaic system. No other Marvel show or movie breaks the fourth wall so much. It is a plot device that could be used if Jen were to appear in future MCU films. It also opens the door to create a more meta portrayal of the Multiverse Saga, something She-Hulk: Attorney At Law brilliantly portrayed in its season finale.
