There was no way to get through She-Hulk: Attorney at Law 1×08 without smiling like a giddy idiot. Let’s just say there are a lot of emotions at once. Daredevil has finally graced our screens once again! It’s been a long time coming, but a satisfying return indeed.
This week, Jen comes across a vigilante who wants to sue Luke Jacobson for a manufacturer malfunction. Fortunately for Luke, he’s got legal counsel he can call on whenever. Thus, we get the cameo of the century. No, it’s not Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or John Krasinski. The one and only Charlie Cox are back and it’s such a bittersweet reunion. Right, more than that happens in this episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but we know Daredevil is what you were here for.
LEAP FROG LEAPS INTO COURT
Everyone’s favorite vigilante comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe this week! Leap Frog! Yes, that one character that was teased in the trailer? He wears a character-type suit and fights bad guys – no, not the vigilante you were looking for? Well, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law 1×08 gives us two vigilantes and Leap Frog is the reason She-Hulk needs to be in the courtroom. While stopping some thieves from stealing a TV, Leap Frog tries his best to leave with some flair… and burns himself with the jet packs in his boots. He wants to take Luke Jacobson, the designer to court for his injuries. Unfortunately, that’s a conflict of interest because Luke’s the reason Jen has clothes that fit. Her fight with Luke was so hilarious. Here’s to hoping that Luke makes more appearances because superheroes need to be sassed more often.
Leap Frog wasn’t the strongest part of the episode. Most of the cases and clients in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law provide much substance rather than to be comic relief or give a lesson on existing as a woman. This is where the sitcom part of the show would’ve worked as its own series rather than being a part of a wider universe. It’s fun to see that other super-powered people exist, but it feels like this case was simply just a reason to get Matt Murdock in the courtroom. Cheers could be heard around the world when Matt appeared, but the case itself wasn’t the best part of this week’s She-Hulk episode.
DAREDEVIL RETURNS
Matt Murdock’s return to Marvel already happened when he represented Peter Parker during Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since then, fans have waited with bated breath for his return. For some, his appearance was probably the main reason they watched She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. So much so that they desperately called for him to come back as soon as possible. But, a reminder, this is still a She-Hulk show, Daredevil’s just along for the ride. That’s exactly how his appearance felt. Anyone who was concerned about the tonal shift for Daredevil, rest assured, this is the same man we all knew and loved from the Netflix series.
No matter who writes Daredevil now, it seems like Charlie Cox has managed to continue to live and breathe Matt Murdock. There was no doubt that Daredevil would remain the same as he was in his series… but now he’s got Disney money. With that money comes callbacks to original suits and more acrobatics, but essentially Daredevil has remained the same. Therefore, we still love him, and thankfully, Jen takes a liking to him too. With She-Hulk’s identity crisis, there’s a lot she can learn from Daredevil. As the show rounds out who she is, this is the cherry on top to convince her that she needs to be a superhero. Their banter was the best part of the episode and it was so obvious that we were going to end up with that walk of shame. The chemistry between Tatiana Maslany and Charlie Cox was perfect. It felt like being transported back to 2015 when Orphan Black and Daredevil were out at the same time. It was then that producers should’ve known that they would be perfect together.
INTELLIGENCIA TAKEOVER
As we reach the end of the season, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law finally unmasks a villain. We knew Intelligencia wanted She-Hulk’s blood, but exploiting her sex life wasn’t something that was expected. They believe that she “stole her power” from The Hulk. So they want to out her as someone who can’t be trusted. But, who wants to trust a group that clearly exploited her? Her reaction to the news tells us all. Jen, in a fit of anger roars, smashes through walls, and blindly goes after someone in the public eye. So in order to expose her as a monster, they anger her. There’s still a Hulk underneath Jen and when her anger is at its peak, she’s going to roar as loud as she can.
Since the pilot, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has been all about an identity crisis. Does Jen know how to control her Hulk powers? Why does she not have an alter ego? Can she be calm in public? Everything Bruce held in his binder comes back. Bruce had a separate mind to deal with, but Jen simply has to work with a different appearance. For her, the Hulk form is better, sexier, and more fun. What She-Hulk: Attorney at Law 1×08 tells us is that society actually doesn’t see how she sees herself. Yes, they are excited by She-Hulk, but if there’s any chance to minimize her as a “threat,” the better. A threat to whom exactly? I’m not quite sure. But weaponizing her sex life and this sense of liberation she has is how Intelligencia wants to go. To them, The Hulk came first, so why would we need a She-Hulk? Unfortunately, it’s the same mentality that some people out on the internet have on the show overall. Marvel just framed it this week in a Daredevil-shaped box so they would see it.
Pre Credit Thought
Is it enough to just scream with excitement? No? Okay. Thanks for this, Marvel.
