Change Your Image
starwars827
Reviews
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
If you're curious about this show, read this.
I feel compelled to write a review for this show because of the nonsensical hate it's been getting. The day before the first episode aired, IMDb allowed users to rate and review it. There is a written review on here dated the day before this show came out, clamoring about how it's just as awful as the rest of Phase 4.
I have never been this infuriated by the Marvel fanbase. It is utterly disrespectful to the work that gets done bringing these characters to life and all the people that get involved to do it.
I understand that there will be a significant amount of people that dislike this show, even if they didn't have a negative connotation attached to it prior to viewing. I get it. Maybe they didn't think it was funny; maybe they don't like the MCU's emphasis on wokeness lately.
But to review bomb this show before it has even comes out irks me to my core. This show had a rating of 4 out of 10 before it even came out. How is that possible? How can you make a judgement about the show before seeing the first episode?
What annoys me the most is that perhaps if people watched the first episode before reviewing it, they'd be able to form an opinion about it with a little context. These reviews are vague and complain about things that I find hard to critique. I read one that claims the story is messy because Jennifer appears suddenly in Bruce's life, seemingly out of nowhere. She does. That is true. However, any movie or series seeking to add a new character to the MCU, specifically one related to a character we already love and cherish, has to understand that there's going to be some level of exposition to bring them in and make them feel natural and belonged to the universe. That's the biggest thing that this episode's narration and car ride scene accomplish. They explain what Jen's deal is. They explain why she's here, who she is; this is very much an origin episode.
I know I'm typing this in a Hulk-rage, so I fear that a lot of my anger might be construed poorly. Look, all I want is for people to step outside themselves a bit, and give it a chance. If you don't like it, you don't like. But to come into the first episode already wanting to dislike it, you're going to dislike it. Please keep an open mind, because this first episode was actually pretty good! It was funny in a bit of a brasher way that the MCU tends to shy away from. The post credit scene had me crying laughing.
There is so much to enjoy here. I thought the story was structured and paced well and left me wanting more. There is some wokeness when Jen explains her pet peeve with men telling her how to do her job, but it certainly serves the story. She claims that because of that she's learned to control her anger her entire career, but ends up transforming into the Hulk as she gets angry just thinking about it. It shows that she has a way to go. They also don't make her out to be this perfect character who's incapable of making mistakes. Jen has flaws, she's in denial, she's cocky. I think these flaws play into her character exceptionally. This is a woman who worked her ass off at law school going into a mountain of debt, and now she's being asked to throw it all away? She keeps trying to one up the Hulk we know because she's trying to prove that she doesn't need training and can return to the safety net of her old life ASAP. That's the most interesting thing about this show and where I want it to go. I enjoy watching Jen out of her comfort zone, denying an irreversible change, because the moment she finds a little acceptance for how her life has changed at the end of the episode felt very compelling to witness.
She-Hulk is a blast. If you're debating seeing it, give the first episode a look. It's only half an hour, and I thought it was well worth my time. As far as first episodes go, I'd put it right up there with Moon Knight and Wandavision. It gets you hooked.
Watchmen: Little Fear of Lightning (2019)
Amazing
If you liked the graphic novel, this show is an absolute slapper. Thus far each episode has been the new best episode of the season. Can't wait to see how they top this!
Watchmen: She Was Killed by Space Junk (2019)
So underrated.
This episode proves that creator Damon Lindelof, the producers, and the actors all read the graphic novel, understand the graphic novel, and somehow have managed to greatly expand on the heart and soul of the graphic novel in new and unexpected ways. So often with perfect examples of literature or film do we not want a sequel. Movies like Predator, The Karate Kid, The Silence of the Lambs, et cetera operate so much better as stand alone films. Books like The Giver, Catch 22, Rosemary's Baby, et cetera all did not need to be tainted by an additional novelizations. I initially categorized Alan Moore's Watchmen as something I would never want to see have a sequel. I wasn't even too fond of Zack Snyder's film. Basically, I figured the only thing that could make this show not a dumpster fire was Damon Lindelof, Regina King, and Jeremy Irons. And oh my god, do these incredible people not disappoint. Lindelof CLEARLY has a deep understanding of what gave Watchmen its charm, depth, originality, and enjoyability. He expands on the graphic novel in many ways, unafraid to make controversial choices with characters and plot, something the original Watchmen did as well. Lindelof has captured the spirit of Watchmen beautifully and has proven that un-sequel-able mediums can have more story while still feeling earned and genuine. Not nearly enough people realize how great an achivement this show is.