Last week the season finale of She-Hulk aired on Disney+, and it left me satisfied with its unique closure, and let me tell you right now: I’m 100% expecting a second season! But, oddly enough, not everybody agreed that the series was good. In fact, since its first episode, maybe even before that, She-Hulk has received tons of hatred. Some of the most popular comments complained about the CGI and the expectation of keeping the story close to the original.
I must confess that before the image of Jen as She-Hulk even appeared online, I was feeling a little hesitant about it. Once we got an initial glimpse, I still wasn’t convinced, but it wasn’t that bad. I’m not an expert in animation, even less in CGI, but back then, I thought the final look was pretty decent for a Marvel series. Anyway…
Then, the first trailer came out.
Why would any complain if the character looks terrific on TV? Plus, the little we saw seemed like the content would be as exciting and funny. So, honestly, I don’t think there was anything to be hateful about. Hardcore fans will always go for the details, the outfits, the story, and the characters. Anything that won’t match with the real deal. But in this case, I will give insight, not on the story's integrity and how true it was to the comic. But the message the series carried within made a point without people noticing it.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Whenever She-Hulk aired, a controversial conversation took place on social media weekly. One of the most memorable was the episode in which Megan Thee Stallion appeared. The videos, images, and memes of the artist and She-Hulk twerking had people infuriated. They were mocking the character and complaining about the creators’ decisions to make it relevant and human. According to people online, a successful attorney couldn’t have a victory dance (“ugh, millennials.”) Then there was the Tinder/Bumble episode and boom! Social media was filled with comments about how the story was turning into a chick flick, how portraying everyday life was boring and that the superhero stuff was being left behind.
Then Daredevil made an epic appearance, which divided people into excitement for the character’s appearance, and its implication in the story (wink, wink.) I have to say; until this point, I was beyond excited; I was LIVING the story as my Mexican “telenovelas.” But then again, people were missing the issue because they kept complaining about these plot points and how the main character led the hero story, the attorney story, and the interaction with the audience in a fourth-wall-breaking that was on point. There was so much more to this series than the superheroes' cameos, the romance, and the villains.
I did a personal exercise on every episode and found a match on a common ground that everybody was missing. An underlying topic that “anyone” could find on every episode.
THE FUTURE IS FEMALE, AND SHE-HULK KNOWS IT TOO WELL
Every single episode addresses feminism from a superhero's point of view. Of course, some topics are more evident than others. But I was blown when I realized this was a constant underlying topic in the series. Let me clarify: I’m not trying to convince you to participate in feminism, hate men, or anything else. But as a woman created the TV adaptation, the writing was done on its majority by women, and the main character is a super powerful female. This is not a coincidence; this is a statement on the everyday struggles of any woman’s life. Lawyers, writers, artists, celebrities, you name it; we all go through similar situations that are incredibly relevant to talk about online and offline.
And as these topics arrive in a “subconscious” way because they are not the focus of the series (as a Marvel series, the catch is always the superhero stuff), anger was lying underneath. I’m sure you won’t find as much hateful media from any other Marvel series as this one has received. And oddly enough, no one is talking about this.
Let me display a couple of examples of this series's powerful message. The first episode shows how Bruce tries to teach Jen to control her “Hulky” transformations because they are allegedly related to an emotional state. That’s Hulk’s motto, right? His secret is that he is always angry. And then, Jen brings the biggest comeback by explaining what it is like to control your emotions as a woman—holding the tears, the anger, and the fear when a man (I know not all men, but all women know one who does) whistles to you, when he gropes you on the subway, or when he harasses you. It’s, sadly, a common thing, and Jen (and the women behind the series) knows it all too well.
The eight-episode makes this point even harsher when her sex video is displayed at the gala without her consent. This happens every day worldwide; it’s so common you wouldn’t believe how many people roam around sharing intimate content from women. That scene, in particular, broke me. I have seen this phenomenon, and the implicated morbidity in it is disgusting. Truly disgusting.
Another one? Sure, why not. The episode where Jen starts using a Tinder-like app and ends up dating that Josh guy, ugh. I know guys and NB’s can be ghosted too, but my point here is how often a woman dates, opens up and lets herself feel to only be seen as “too much” and ultimately being left behind. In this case, the Josh guy is one of the baddies, but then again, that’s the superhero stuff that tones down the real issue.
The last one I’ll mention is less obvious but still hurtful. The season finale is the ultimate fourth-wall-braking moment. Jen escapes her story, goes straight to the Marvel team to complain about the ending, and demands a do-over. It was genius to put on a Funny Games-like moment; witty and fun. But, of course, trolls demanded a “real ending” because this felt like cheating like something was missing. But then again, if a movie like Deadpool, a Marvel character, does this same thing, he gets praised. He can do and undo anything, which is why we love him. But Jen gets all the hate because she doesn’t hold up to the expectations of hardcore fans and storytelling “connoisseurs.” See my point now?
I could go on, but I think all of you got the idea. So, maybe, you could re-watch the nine episodes (if you’re up for the challenge) and spot these critical moments that are going through a “poor story” treatment according to people on social media, when in reality, they carry a powerful message?
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