She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: The Retreat

September 29, 2022 3:32 PM - Season 1, Episode 7

Jen visits Blonsky's wellness retreat, meets new friends and gets in touch with her inner She-Hulk.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (46 comments total)

After this episode, featuring Man-Bull and El Aguilar, I now nourish hope that, in the event of a She-Hulk/Daredevil crossover, Jen's client will be Stilt-Man.
posted by SPrintF at 3:39 PM on September 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

The first part of the episode was a bit slow, but once the scene shifted to the retreat, things picked up considerably. It was hilarious, introduced several new characters who were fun in and of themselves, and added more depth to Jen's character. Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky was quietly fantastic with his dry wit and made a good case for the retreat becoming its own spinoff.

The portrayal of Jen/She-Hulk continues to be rocked out by Tatiana Maslany, but that's no surprise. It's backed by the great writing of the staff, as Jen comes off as great take on modern woman, someone who's pretty well adjusted, yet has very human and relatable vulnerabilities that just make the show a joy to watch.

Kudos to the creators for keeping things light and fun. I had thought that She Hulk and the Abomination would clash in classic CGI fighting style, but nope, it was a peaceful encounter that turned out to be funny and propelled the main character forward.

The show continued to be what it promised from the beginning: a fun time in the superhero genre.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:43 PM on September 29, 2022 [8 favorites]

I'm a little confused as to how Josh got a blood sample?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:46 PM on September 29, 2022 [5 favorites]

I kinda wish bad hook up guy had just been bad hook up guy. 'Cause that's real and happens. I know the season plot has to move along, but I would have just been happy to see Jen get some validation from the retreat and the dude be just a dude.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 3:46 PM on September 29, 2022 [4 favorites]

Also, Man-bull is played by comedian Nathan Hurd, who has a hilarious TikTok.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:53 PM on September 29, 2022

I still think Jen is adorable as all get out. I really did feel like Tim Roth shined in this. He's like every Malibu new agey goofus I've met.
posted by drewbage1847 at 4:25 PM on September 29, 2022 [6 favorites]

I'm a little confused as to how Josh got a blood sample?

Presumably, he got it while she was sleeping, since her skin isn’t impenetrable when she’s not hulked out.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:46 PM on September 29, 2022

Mind you, taking a blood sample from someone while they’re sleeping without waking them up can’t be an easy feat. To say nothing of the fact that it’s been established that Hulk blood carries a lethal dose of gamma radiation for most people. And like, to be as delicate as I can with this, if the blood is radioactive, wouldn’t the saliva be as well? Or other bodily fluids? Probably overthinking it.
posted by wabbittwax at 5:00 PM on September 29, 2022 [4 favorites]

Presumably, he got it while she was sleeping, since her skin isn’t impenetrable when she’s not hulked out.

I would have thought that getting jabbed with a needle of some sort would have woken her up.
posted by synecdoche at 5:05 PM on September 29, 2022

Josh seemed pleased with himself but I thought the writers left room for the idea that he didn't get a sample. 🤔
posted by kingless at 5:15 PM on September 29, 2022 [5 favorites]

This show is the tumblrina/me_irl/Marvel mashup that I kinda always knew I needed.

I genuinely thought that as soon as she turned into Jen, Wrecking Crew guy was going to stab her with the giant syringe from last week. I'm glad they did not do that.

Also, WTF, Josh?!
posted by Horkus at 6:31 PM on September 29, 2022 [6 favorites]

I knew Josh was bad news because I have seen a TV show before. But poor Jen. She finally thought someone liked her for her!

And it's like ... Jen is great! She's gorgeous and fun and smart and successful! But I also get that's not enough for someone to feel like they're enough. And yeah, She-Hulk is great but that doesn't feel like who she is. Such nuance in a goofy superhero lawyer show! I am in love.

This was so sweet. I loved the group therapy and how much everyone rallied around her. I saw some complaints that it was all men that supported her but that also felt right. She needed men -- however weird they were -- to be on her side.

(I still am hoping that she and Titania team up in the end to fight misogynists. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what this show is leading to.)

I do think we need more superhero comedies. Let's just give this show 6 seasons. I'm on board for that.
posted by edencosmic at 7:05 PM on September 29, 2022 [8 favorites]

Jen taking that shot of vodka before her first date is possibly the hardest I've related to a MCU character ever.
posted by absalom at 7:28 PM on September 29, 2022 [10 favorites]

The pre-date montage was a fabulous sly tribute to all the years Tatiana Maslany spent working with a Technodolly* on Orphan Black.

* a robotic camera crane that reproduces its movement exactly for “multiple exposures”
posted by sixswitch at 7:35 PM on September 29, 2022 [14 favorites]

There was also that moment where she wiped off the mirror, which was absolutely an Orphan Black reference.

I love her and I love this show.
posted by edencosmic at 7:55 PM on September 29, 2022 [5 favorites]

I knew Josh was bad news because I have seen a TV show before.

I knew Josh was bad news because I've dated men before.

The montage of her getting ready for the date was too real - as was the sequence of her checking her phone constantly after he's ghosted her. It wasn't just that she was checking it every so often - it's that she'd check the phone, put the phone down and then immediately pick it up again just in case! Now THAT felt like real life.

Josh seemed pleased with himself but I thought the writers left room for the idea that he didn't get a sample.

This is what puzzled me. The end of the previous episode was a GIANT NEEDLE. Now we know someone needs that for Shulkie, but not for Jen. Seems weird to end an episode suggesting they will use a giant needle, only for Josh to get it another way.

Plus, we saw him clone her phone and take the hella creepy sleeping photo, but no sign of a syringe. Just some emojis - which would be a fitting way to exposit this info to the audience (given all the texts we saw in this episode/series) but it also could be a lie. Josh could use what he has to convince HulkKing that he has her blood without actually having her blood?

Blonksy's retreat was excellent. This was a solid episode. One of my favourites.
posted by crossoverman at 7:57 PM on September 29, 2022 [7 favorites]

Also, as I've discussed with others, I like how much all the MCU people are "where's Daredevil?????" and this show is "Here is Man-Bull and Porcupine and El Águila!" Like ... this is actually the nerdiest MCU show and I love it.
posted by edencosmic at 7:58 PM on September 29, 2022 [16 favorites]

Hey, no texting while driving!

You'll crash your Prius Prime(tm) which has a 5 Star safety rating even when landed on by supervillains.
posted by madajb at 12:30 AM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

so i'm getting the sense that one of the (obvious) narrative themes of the show is that it's the freaks and geeks that you can depend on. unless there's another twist incoming but it seems like the purpose of lifting comics canon heavies is just to do a headfake on the audience. plus very normal looking Josh as the counterpoint of course.

Please don't twist on the twist, I like Jen's new bro group!!
posted by cendawanita at 12:53 AM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

I was on edge because of the giant needle last ep (and have a needle phobia) so when Jen found herself in a room with a man with a sword (giant needle), a vampire (teeth needles) and a porcupine (ball of needles) I was so very, very nervous.

Which made the support group *really* satisfying when it turned out not to be a trap.
posted by Molesome at 1:52 AM on September 30, 2022 [10 favorites]

Prius Prime(tm)

As much as I am enjoying this show, that bit of product endorsement was super cringey.
posted by Fleebnork at 4:54 AM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

Damn it, I wanted to be wrong about Josh. I kept saying "He had better be kidnapped or in another dimension or something", because anyone who would ghost Tatiana-Maslany-as-Jen-Walters is either evil or dangerously out of control of their faculties.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 4:59 AM on September 30, 2022 [3 favorites]

This is turning out to be my most favorite Marvel thing of all. Kinda hoping there is no Massive Battle at the end, just Jen deaing with shitty men and coming to terms with herself. And there had damn well better be a Season 2.
posted by briank at 5:46 AM on September 30, 2022 [8 favorites]

I loved the retreat so much. I was on edge the whole time because I was worried she had been suckered into going there (and conveniently having her car crushed by a couple of supers) and they were going to take her blood. What a great idea to have her surrounded by people with sharp implements (and a vampire)! I was thrilled when it turned out to be a fabulous bonding experience. I loved every second of the retreat scenes.

I also wonder if Josh actually took any blood. They didn't show that--just the cloning of her phone and the creepy photo. I mean, I guess he could have used a topical med to numb her skin before taking the blood so she wouldn't wake up, but why not show us that if he actually did it? Maybe Josh likes Jen after all?
posted by ceejaytee at 5:54 AM on September 30, 2022

Turns out vampire guy was right -- Josh just wanted Jen for her blood.
posted by autopilot at 6:52 AM on September 30, 2022 [12 favorites]

My spouse says that this show is now the unofficial sequel to The Tick we always wanted.
posted by kyrademon at 6:59 AM on September 30, 2022 [24 favorites]

So uhm, not to be icky, but if they need a sample of her blood (as opposed to a pint of the stuff).. then hiring a private detective to steal her trash for a few months should suffice..

No ?

(I am assuming Jen has Periods thought there are various reasons why she might not )..

But I conceed that wouldn't be as fun a drama setup.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:50 AM on September 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

Or maybe Jen already thought about that and rather than disposing of radioactive blood every month she took advantage of the Depo shot or one of the IUDs that help take away bleeding for some people with a uterus. Or maybe she tried that but she’s one of the unlucky types that just end up spotting all the time. Maybe she has a lead lined box that she brings over to cousin Bruce for super blood disposal as needed. Was any of this in the comics?
posted by Emmy Noether at 9:09 AM on September 30, 2022

As a cute as I found the retreat-gang I'm not quite sure how to feel about them getting Jen to delete Josh's number. I have to wonder whether Jen's peace of mind was really the chief concern here. A Jen who's still obsessing over Josh would certainly be quicker to find out what he actually did to her and track him down.
posted by sohalt at 12:42 PM on September 30, 2022

I did say there are various reasons why Jen not need to have to consider how best to dispose of Period blood !

I have no idea if it was ever covered in the comics but I'd guess... It wasnt ?

Do we know how (canonically) Titania got her Super strength?
posted by Faintdreams at 1:03 PM on September 30, 2022

If you enjoyed this episode I recommend you check out M.O.D.O.K. on Hulu, which also unearthed obscure and D-list Marvel characters and made them hilarious and lovable losers. (Or relentless partners in the case of the alien snail people)
posted by ejs at 4:31 PM on September 30, 2022 [3 favorites]

Enjoyed the episode but felt Jen might have asked crowbar guy about who gave him and his friends the weapons and set them after her blood.
posted by mikepop at 5:49 PM on September 30, 2022 [6 favorites]

Well, this remains smart and funny and delightful. I'm hoping it'll stick the landing (at the end of the season), and also have another four or five after.
posted by johnofjack at 6:21 PM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

My new head canon is that Hulk powers give you complete control over menstruation. It makes her tall and buff, why not menstrual freedom?
posted by fiercekitten at 6:24 PM on September 30, 2022 [4 favorites]

"Do we know how (canonically) Titania got her Super strength?" - Faintdreams
A wizard did it. (Doctor Doom is, technically, a wizard, as well as an engineer, a scientist, and a despot.)
Wikipedia
I never want to discuss Secret Wars in depth, but "Doctor Doom gets the power to reshape the universe" was a main piece of it, and Doctor Doom makes the normal high school student Mary MacPherran a metahuman to fill out his goon squad.
"Using the highly advanced alien technologies found in Doombase, the villain headquarters, powered by immense energies from the ferocious alien storm outside, Doom recreates both girls by inducing high-level metahuman abilities of specific and particular design."
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 6:38 PM on September 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

Enjoyed the episode but felt Jen might have asked crowbar guy about who gave him and his friends the weapons and set them after her blood.

They already admitted to robbing an Asguardian construction worker when they attacked her in the street.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:16 PM on September 30, 2022

Slott Towing at the end there was clearly a reference to She-Hulk writer Dan Slott. Was that him playing the truck driver? (Edit: IMDB says no.)
posted by whir at 10:17 PM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead, so, yes, in the comics; we haven't gotten a Titania origin story in the MCU yet.
posted by Pronoiac at 10:57 PM on September 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

I am really interested in seeing if (and if so, how much) the show draws from Slott's backstory for Titania, which goes way beyond the Secret Wars origin of her powers. If she appears in this season again, I suspect that she'll play a very different role than the one that she did in the comics.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:13 AM on October 1, 2022

There's so much drinking in this show. I guess that's accurate for a single woman in her thirties in LA?
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:49 AM on October 1, 2022

The whole backstory of the series is "wow lots of people popping up with weird powers, we need a law division for that." Titania is clearly one, as is Mr. Eternal, etc. They already name-checked Ms. Marvel as a mutant. In Wandavision, going through a magic forcefield multiple times gave a regular woman magic powers. The whole world was washed in magic power by the Blip and return.

No Dr. Doom needed. Though he's fun and I wouldn't mind him turning up eventually to do his thing.
posted by emjaybee at 12:27 PM on October 1, 2022

This show was very good and totally triggered a lot of shit for me in the therapy group and made me cry and cry and cry. This was probably not the effect this show was going for, but there you go. (And now I'm doing it again. Ugh.)

"But poor Jen. She finally thought someone liked her for her!
And it's like ... Jen is great! She's gorgeous and fun and smart and successful! But I also get that's not enough for someone to feel like they're enough.

Yeah, that. It feels like no matter how great you may be as a (sadly hetero) woman, most guys are awful and nobody wants you and anything good about you just doesn't matter. (And then you look at other random people, including some people who are boring or are just plain awful, and THEY can find someone to love them...but you can't?) It really does seem like it would take an act of God/miracle for you to find someone even bare minimum decent, much less someone who would make a great life partner. It does kind of help when even this very weird bunch of guys validated that.

Great lines though:
“You know what? Apologize to my Prius Prime. WITH MONEY.” (Damn right.)
"This is Porcupine, he's a porcupine."
"You've never heard of ... SPAIN?"
"I did do some light matadoring in college."
"JOSH HAS MADE AN ENEMY OF THIS ENTIRE GROUP!"

I'm amused that blood disposal/Depo has come up in this conversation. I can say as someone ON Depo that it seems like very few people are aware of the "gets rid of your periods" property of that particular drug. That said, I doubt any guy would um...try to get blood in that particular manner...Like I doubt she had her first date bang at that time of the month? Maybe they want fresh-from-the-body blood and not just pad-covered blood anyway? Like, what the heck does one exactly need for that level of crazy medical experimentation anyway?! I would assume test tubes of fresh for that sort of thing?
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:05 PM on October 1, 2022 [4 favorites]

Oh, I saw an explanation in the comments on AV Club about the blood-getting: "I noticed when she was asleep there were two tiny holes in her back and I think that is what Josh was taking a picture of as proof he got the blood."
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:15 PM on October 1, 2022

Oh, I saw an explanation in the comments on AV Club about the blood-getting: "I noticed when she was asleep there were two tiny holes in her back and I think that is what Josh was taking a picture of as proof he got the blood."

On New Rockstars, Erik Voss did an unsettlingly deep dive into... looking at pictures of Tatiana Maslany’s shoulders to try to determine if those were moles or puncture marks.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:37 PM on October 1, 2022

Boy, they're really in our heads now!
posted by kingless at 3:43 PM on October 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

On New Rockstars, Erik Voss did an unsettlingly deep dive into... looking at pictures of Tatiana Maslany’s shoulders to try to determine if those were moles or puncture marks.

Fanboys, truly the supervillains all along.
posted by crossoverman at 6:47 PM on October 1, 2022 [5 favorites]