**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law delivers a stellar and heartbreaking episode as the end of Season 1 approaches, with ‘The Retreat’. This feels like the perfect time to bring both Jen and She-Hulk together, and delve deeper into what makes them one. Tim Roth’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. His continued rehabilitation continues to be a grounding force in the show. He’s made funnier by the performances on this episode.
If you wanted more Jen content, this is your episode. In many ways, her story here is everything that the show’s been leading up to. It’s commendable that the show leans into Jen’s feelings of rejection from friends and potential romantic interests, because she is the She-Hulk. This is the perfect opportunity for Tatiana Maslany to showcase her range and vulnerability. As expected, she delivers. This character remains one of the most relatable, as she works through the fact that she wants to be accepted as she is, but consistently finds roadblocks in her way.
This episode leans into the RomCom genre, and honestly, Jen and Josh could have been everything. The sweetness drips off of the screen, and this is the perfect set-up for a couple we’d love to cheer for. The devastating twist is a punch in the gut, because we know how much Jen has worked on herself, and how rejected she feels by so many because of her alter-ego. This twist is a surprising one, and one can only hope there is a purpose within the story for not allowing Jen to be happy in love (yet).
To offset the tragedy, the Supervillain support group brings the comedic chops. This is one of the best comedic team-ups that the MCU has given fans in a while. They’re not afraid to call on another out, and they’re not afraid of vulnerability. It’s a shame that they’re all men. However, it’s clear that they are ready and willing to welcome Jen into their hearts. The repeated attempts to re-habilitate Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) remains one of the most endearing and hilarious storylines this series has to offer.
Arguably the best part of this episode is that there’s still no Daredevil to be found. With two episodes left, a Matt Murdoch appearance has been teased in promos and in Episode 5. However, he has yet to actually make an appearance. What makes this so incredible is that it feels like Marvel is intentionally subverting fan expectations. Already on the internet, the worst parts of this fandom are knee-deep in pearl-clutching that the red vigilante remains absent from this series.
Not every character needs to be shoe-horned into every project. At this point, it would be unimaginably funny if Daredevil simply makes a brief cameo in the final episode, and that’s the extent of his involvement here. While Marvel has made a brand of tying characters into each others’ projects, this shouldn’t come at the expense of character development or unique storytelling. As Jen famously reminded fans, we need to know whose show this actually is.
With two episodes left, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has the potential to wrap up what’s been a fun and engaging story so far. There’s still room for everything to go wrong, however, if the powers that be forget what makes this show a cut above other Marvel series. Hopefully, the last two episodes will bring everything together in a way that lets everyone know that Marvel needs more Jen Walters and more She-Hulk.
New Episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law air Thursdays on Disney+.