In all hopes of minting green, Marvel has released its latest Disney+ TV series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. On the agenda, we have meeting a new superhero, passing the Hulk’s legacy baton from Bruce Banner to Jennifer Walters, and piecing together how this will shape the future of the MCU and the new Avengers.
Of course, this also means that the show was the latest victim of review-bombing. Let’s dig into what it was all about!
The review bombs criticize She-Hulk’s character, social commentary, and CGI. But the real problem lies in the show’s writing and pacing which may ultimately make it one of MCU’s most substandard projects.
MCU’s History of Review-Bombing
At this point, it has almost become a ritual for a big-name film or TV series to get review-bombed. On top of that, it has been observed that a lot of projects with female leads also tend to get review-bombed.
After She-Hulk’s Ep 1, 31.9% of its reviews were 1-stars on IMDb. This is similar to the other new MCU shows like Ms. Marvel (28.7%) and Moon Knight (13.7%). Over time, the percentage of 1-star reviews of both these projects lowered.
So, not only is review-bombing in the realm of being normal, She-Hulk’s reviews may even improve.
But… Does She-Hulk deserve such harsh criticism?
Well, there are two sides to this. The thing is, you can’t dismiss all of the review bombs as baseless. As an unbiased viewer, there were some things I picked up on that definitely disappointed me. So, let’s dive into the good, bad, and everything else we can cross our fingers for!
I. Pros
The best part about She-Hulk is Jennifer Walters herself. I cannot stress how well Tatiana Maslany has assumed this role and made it her own. When it comes to breaking the fourth wall, I sometimes feel she may give Deadpool a run for his money. Get them together in a project, stat!
Here is also where we see the show being very self-aware. Right from justified social commentary to holding up a mirror to aggressive fans and trolls, the show feels like it’s made by someone who enjoys internet culture well and knows how the show may be received once it premiers.
Plus, I have to say I’m enjoying how She-Hulk dabbles a little bit into mature content and teases crossing that PG-13 line. It does give the show an extra kick!
II. Cons
Now, all of the above are integral to making a show great. But without a well-written plot, all of these aspects just float around wasting potential.
With three episodes out so far, the audience is none the wiser about the crux of the show. Who is the villain and what do they want? How does this tie in with Jennifer? What is Jen’s crisis? Will it pay off to the larger MCU universe?
The episodes simply feel like a three-part introduction that we’ve already had enough of. In my opinion, all of these tiny arcs could’ve been wrapped up in a single one-hour episode.
It’s high time to bring in a plot point that adds tension, anticipation, and character development to the story. If not, we might as well be watching an alleged superhero’s bland vlog.
Another tiny point of contention is She-Hulk’s CGI. It still veers into the uncertain valley and comes off as unpolished. But I’m willing to overlook it if the plot picks up the pace.
III. Conclusion
Pay no heed to the trolls who are review-bombing She-Hulk simply because this is yet another Marvel endeavor with a female lead. There is enough potential in this character to appear in other MCU projects or even star in a standalone movie of her own.
What certainly is disappointing is the show’s writing. It seems to be subpar in comparison to other Marvel projects and equally directionless. To look at the bright side of things, there are still five more episodes left to remedy this. Let’s hope the show revives itself, and so do the reviews.
About She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is an American superhero television series created by Jessica Gao for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, the show is a part of Phase Four of the MCU.
Jennifer Walters, Attorney to superhumans, must balance her job and identity as She-Hulk and decide which path is for her. Her journey is hurdled by dangerous enemies like The Abomination and Titania. Her cousin Bruce Banner trains her to live life as a green-skinned superhero.
The comedy-legal drama premiered on Disney+ on August 17, 2022, with weekly episodes every Wednesday. The show stars Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Jameela Jamil, Benedict Wong, and Charlie Cox.
No Comments on Why are fans review-bombing She-Hulk? Is it really bad?