She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Just Jen

September 22, 2022 5:18 AM - Season 1, Episode 6

Jen is a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding, a stressful event compounded by uniquely She-Hulk issues.
posted by 1970s Antihero (40 comments total)

So not only did the staff perfectly anticipate what the online haters’ reaction to the show would be, they went ahead and made them the Big Bads for the series? That is some pro-level trolling right there.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 5:23 AM on September 22, 2022 [28 favorites]

I found this episode a bit slow - I was waiting for the other shoe to drop when Titania turned up at the wedding, and there seems to have been no payoff for the awful behaviour of the bride - but I loved the fact that one of mr. Immortal’s spouses was a man, no explanation or jokes about it. It’s not even mentioned in the narrative.
posted by The River Ivel at 6:25 AM on September 22, 2022 [10 favorites]

I have heard horror stories from friends who were pressganged into bridesmaiding that matched what was shown, so I wonder if the show omitted to pay off the bridezilla behaviour because it is a semi-common shared experience?
posted by Molesome at 12:19 PM on September 22, 2022 [5 favorites]

This felt like the slowest episode so far, which only two obvious plotlines going.

That's literally the worst criticism I have of those episode. I still absolutely enjoyed it, just felt like a bit of filler episode as they laid groundwork for some future story arcs. The show still remains highly entertaining and fun and I hope it gets renewed. Having light and relatively low stakes superhero show has been a great change of pace.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:14 PM on September 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

I'm worried that Josh is not the nice guy he seems to be. Mr. Immortal and his wives (and Sebastian) were fantastic. Nikki is a force to be reckoned with and I was glad that Mallory really appreciated her special talents.

Titania is an obsessive pain in the butt and if she were played by anyone but Jameela Jamil, I would be unhappy that she keeps turning up. But Jamil is sooooo good. The bride and the bridesmaids were so awful but I'm still glad Jen's groomsman could be resuscitated.

Nice of them to stick an inconvenient wedding in the mix; I was expecting fireworks, but I do like that Jen has a real life and they're spending time on it.
posted by ceejaytee at 1:28 PM on September 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

It seems inevitable that Josh will somehow be tied to the Intelligentsia people, but that could be a misdirect. I really like that we spent time with Mallory and Nikki in Jen’s absence, especially because Renée Elise Goldsberry is such a delightful presence. I think Marvel properties are significantly helped when the ensemble of supporting players is just as engaging as the heroes.
posted by wabbittwax at 3:27 PM on September 22, 2022 [5 favorites]

Yeah, Josh seems too good to be true.

Drunk Jen getting her dance on was delightful. Why is Tatiana Maslany so impossibly cute?

(I also appreciated how well she played being drunk. Too many actors do that badly.)

Everything about this show is so much fun and perfect and I want it to continue forever.
posted by edencosmic at 4:55 PM on September 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

I enjoyed the wedding scenes. I loved the Mr. Immortal+Nikki+Mallory scenes.
posted by kingless at 5:09 PM on September 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

So if I'm reading it right, basically her main antagonist is actually MCU-fied incels/4chan/KF? delicious. Wish fulfillment fantasy indeed.
posted by cendawanita at 7:33 PM on September 22, 2022 [5 favorites]

Yeah, in general, the expectation that her main rivals would be Mallory (at work) and/or Titania (in public/superheroing) seem to be being neatly averted. Now, my guess is that the mysterious power-stealer will end up being some dude who thinks that becoming a Hulk will make him a gigachad.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:41 PM on September 22, 2022 [5 favorites]

Huh, can't believe The Leader is an actual viable guess at this point (what with this year's MCU slate announcement etc).
posted by cendawanita at 7:49 PM on September 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

Not only did they predict the outrage online (not hard to predict, since it happened with Captain Marvel), but they knew well enough that some fanboys would be hanging out for Daredevil this week (after the tease at the end of last week's episode) and they totally swerved away and made this episode "standalone". It's a bit of a trope now to throw in an episode that doesn't progress the main plot, so I'm glad they had fun with this idea. Even not showing the super suit was a great way to sidestep expectations.

The comedy is working. The case of the week is very suited to the whole premise of the show, while also highlighting the fact that Mr Immortal is a self-professed nice guy who can't have a conversation with his many spouses. Good criticism of so-called nice guys.
posted by crossoverman at 7:59 PM on September 22, 2022 [7 favorites]

Also, TIL that my favorite Shulkie comics writer consulted on the series.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:03 PM on September 22, 2022

Anyone who says this isn't a real Marvel Comics show, has never read the original run of Spider-Man. Lee & Ditko loved this kind of thing: a social situation where the hero can't/shouldn't use their powers and then some bully or actual supervillain comes along and the focus is on how socially awkward the hero feels just a much as the fights-n-tights.
posted by straight at 8:38 PM on September 22, 2022 [10 favorites]

First of all: Patti Harrison!! Such a perfect addition to the cast, hope she comes back. Am I crazy or did we never see the groom at all?

Just noticed today that the lipstick-smeared mug in the evidence bag in the closing credits is an Avongers mug. Was it always and I didn’t notice, or did they change it after last episode? I could go back and look at previous episodes, but I am enjoying the mystery.

And yeah, loved how the standalone episode also suddenly propelled the plot a mile ahead in literally the last minute.
posted by ejs at 8:39 PM on September 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Ok but I still hate her HS "friends" dumping stupid crap on her to do. And wearing those pink monstrosities.

In general the whole "so much shame that I'm a single woman" thing feels like it's getting dated fast. But I understand it's about showing Jen as having human insecurities. I guess I wish to escape from the "super successful woman insecure about being loved," thing because it's so overdone.

And I was not super impressed at the convertibility of that dress, it was far too baggy on Jen. That designer needs to keep trying, at least give her a drawstring or two to bring it in.

Josh, man, I am going to be pissed if he's a baddie. That's gonna hurt.

Enough griping, good things:

Nikki shines: yes!
Fight w Titania: awesome. Also, what IS Titania's deal? Jen mostly avoids her, doesn't try to outshine her. And is green, not a thing Titania has to deal with! Titania's motivation seems underdeveloped, though if this weren't MCU, I'd say we were hinting at a fucked-up romantic obsession.
posted by emjaybee at 8:42 PM on September 22, 2022 [4 favorites]

I imagine Titania'a social media brand is built on having super powers and looking fabulous--or, more to the point, being stronger and more fabulous than everyone around her--and when Jen defeated her in the courthouse in episode one, she felt neither.

So the She-Hulk cosmetics line was sweet, sweet revenge for someone who doesn't easily let go of a grudge. But it failed. So double-grudge. Now this.

Seems plausible to me. You could write an in-depth story about who Titania is and how she got to be that, but it doesn't have to be this story. I think it's refreshing to have a show like this that doesn't devote 2/3 of the scenes to showing us how bad--but so compelling, sympathetic even--the baddie is.

This is how baddies look to superheroes who don't get to watch all the villain backstories with us. The evil monologue may seem like old hat to us, but it's really the supervillain's only chance to make this stupid hero understand that they have *reasons* for what they do. If you only knew how I feel, what I've endured, you wouldn't be so...condescending...when you prevent me from hurting people who, really if you'd just listen, actually deserve it.
posted by straight at 9:17 PM on September 22, 2022 [5 favorites]

I've seen plenty of criticism of this show for having "filler" episodes and not advancing whatever they think the plot should be.

Anyone who says this isn't a real Marvel Comics show, has never read the original run of Spider-Man. Lee & Ditko loved this kind of thing: a social situation where the hero can't/shouldn't use their powers and then some bully or actual supervillain comes along and the focus is on how socially awkward the hero feels just a much as the fights-n-tights.

Exactly. This is all comic book stuff! Usually a Marvel movie doesn't have time for the slice-of-life parts of superheroing. This show is all about that.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:05 AM on September 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

Emjaybee, I agree with you. If Josh turns out to be evil… well, I just really don’t need that in my life right now. I need one more decent guy on this show besides Bruce and McShoe-Lovin’.
posted by emkelley at 5:46 AM on September 23, 2022

Just noticed today that the lipstick-smeared mug in the evidence bag in the closing credits is an Avongers mug. Was it always and I didn’t notice, or did they change it after last episode?

It's been in the closing credits from the first episode.
posted by mikelieman at 8:44 AM on September 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

I'm enjoying the sort of low-stakes "life as Jen" level of this. I'm curious if Mr Immortal will show up again or if this is just some throwaway "yeah, there's a lot of weird powered folks we have around these days, now."
posted by rmd1023 at 9:36 AM on September 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

I burst out laughing at Mr. Immortal straight-up killing himself just to get out of an uncomfortable conversation with his lawyers. Honestly, I've been in some meetings where I wished I could do the same if I could regenerate afterward.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:05 PM on September 23, 2022 [5 favorites]

I'm curious if Mr Immortal will show up again or if this is just some throwaway "yeah, there's a lot of weird powered folks we have around these days, now."

They could do a lot worse than revive the stalled project that mashed up the Great Lakes Avengers and the New Warriors, which got a pilot but never made it to a series. I don't know if Milana Vayntrub still wants to be Squirrel Girl, but I liked a lot of her stuff on her old LivePrudeGirls YT channel. There's gotta be room in the MCU Master Plan for a straight-up misfit team.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:09 PM on September 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

I don't know if Milana Vayntrub still wants to be Squirrel Girl

Milana Vayntrub played Squirrel Girl in the Marvel Squirrel Girl podcast earlier this year.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:45 PM on September 23, 2022 [4 favorites]

Yeah, I meant live-action.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:05 PM on September 23, 2022

I burst out laughing at Mr. Immortal straight-up killing himself just to get out of an uncomfortable conversation with his lawyers. Honestly, I've been in some meetings where I wished I could do the same if I could regenerate afterward.

Felt like one of them should have yelled down the window, "DUDE YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO PAY YOUR BILL."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:07 PM on September 23, 2022 [5 favorites]

... and that squirrel girl podcast was SUCH a delight.
posted by simonw at 8:11 PM on September 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

And I was not super impressed at the convertibility of that dress, it was far too baggy on Jen. That designer needs to keep trying, at least give her a drawstring or two to bring it in.

Thank you, yes! I was kind of shocked how baggy it was on Jen, considering just how tight it was on She-Hulk. That has to have been a purposeful decision by the show’s designers. Maybe to cast the “genius” fashion designer as not so genius? Or, is Jen shrinking?

I loved how Jen tells you up front this is a stand-alone episode dropped into the middle of the season.

There really are a ton of seemingly unrelated threads hanging out there now, aren’t there?
posted by Thorzdad at 3:04 AM on September 24, 2022 [2 favorites]

There really are a ton of seemingly unrelated threads hanging out there now, aren’t there?

We’re still talking about the dress, right?
posted by transient at 3:50 AM on September 24, 2022 [4 favorites]

There really are a ton of seemingly unrelated threads hanging out there now, aren’t there?

Indeed. Three episodes still to go and we still haven’t really learned yet who the Big Bad is (Todd seems like the best candidate so far) nor seen some of the other appearances of MCU figures being (re-) introduced here: Matt Murdoch is still offscreen and Frogman/Leapfrog is still basically missing in action (although the performer, Brandon Stanley, does have a literal one-second-long cameo in ep. #5, picking up his suit from Luke). Abomination/Blonsky seems to have wandered off somewhere and the credits have Hulk/Banner in the upcoming three episodes as well.

I am enjoying it more than most of the MCU series but good lord, there are a lot of balls in the air right now.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:48 AM on September 24, 2022

there are a lot of balls in the air right now.

Obligatory
posted by LooseFilter at 10:34 AM on September 24, 2022

richochet biscuit, it seems to me that incels are the Big Bad.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 11:11 AM on September 24, 2022

Even the bridesmaid's dress was terrible (at least I think that's the one I'm picturing). When she leaned over there was just way too much space under her arms (the armholes were too deep) and the bust didn't fit her properly either. I thought maybe the joke was about poorly fitted and made bridesmaid's dresses--not custom-fitted by a genius designer dresses--and then she transformed while wearing it, and it seemed to fit Shulkie, so then I started to wonder if her costumer made that one as well.
posted by sardonyx at 11:13 AM on September 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

I was not prepared for the reveal of Jonathan.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:47 AM on September 24, 2022 [3 favorites]

Sardonyx I thought it was too short for She-Hulk, but definitely too big for Jen, as opposed to the other bridesmaids, whom it seemed to fit. I think it was just a crap dress.

I do think they continually use big baggy costuming to make Jen look wee and vulnerable.

That also ends up making me way more invested in Jen, probably also because you get a lot more Masley face acting so it's easier to connect.
posted by emjaybee at 12:04 PM on September 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

You're right in that it was too short for She-Hulk. Sadly, I have a problem even registering "too short" these days unless it's egregiously short. (Personally, I'm a just-below-the-knee kind of gal, so everything seems too short.) And yes, it's impossible not to feel for Jen.
posted by sardonyx at 12:53 PM on September 25, 2022

I don't know why, but it made me smile how she gushed over having great hair as Shulk.
posted by Marticus at 10:33 PM on September 25, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'd totally walk down the aisle with Jonathan.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:51 PM on September 27, 2022

catching up on this now that the series has concluded and I've been told Seriously You Need to Check This Out and I'm just going to say: I have officially decided in my head that Tony the Knife Guy is absolutely one of Mr. Immortal's secret lives
posted by DoctorFedora at 8:46 PM on October 16, 2022

Just binged this after finishing my Orphan Black re-watch, and Jen dancing at the wedding was fully Helena’s dance moves.
posted by bluloo at 10:22 PM on March 16, 2023 [1 favorite]