She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1 Episode 3 Review: The People vs. Emil Blonsky

It doesn’t matter what I say in this She-Hulk review. I will never top the quote, “You think Megan Thee Stallion drives a Passat?”

Thankfully, there is not much to stay pressed about with TV as carefree and amusing as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1 Episode 3, “The People vs. Emil Blonsky.” This comedy is good times on super-soldier serum, and I’m not about to kill the vibe.

This episode throws caution to the wind, leaning generously into its cameos and chaos comedy formula — which, if you enjoy Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Ghosts, you know is the superior comedy.

I have a theory. Marvel Studios, believing She-Hulk was harmless summer filler, just let it do whatever the hell it wanted for the sake of seeing what worked. The result is pure un-franchised chaos that has no place in the MCU, so it’s forcing itself through a window.

This unpolished series has free reign to be the uncaring, pop-culture-obsessed comedy I never believed this franchise was ballsy enough to try on for size.

So, I’m glad we’re letting Jen Walters get experimental with the hulk persona, even if it means tarnishing the stuffy superhero archetype, even if it means failing.

After all, we didn’t invest time in the Defenders eras because it was perfect. We invested because it pushed the limitations of what these shows could be. She-Hulk is steamrolling its way through this concept and, in that haste, destroying the rigid framework that has hindered the MCU’s growth.

It’s fun and campy without costing the heroine an ounce of her comic-book credibility, so I am willing to humor it.

The Beauty of a Good Cameo

She-Hulk is honing in on its cameo budget, which may be the most innovative tool at this sitcom’s disposal.

Marvel has become so well known for its cameos that they become more important to fans than the projects. She-Hulk addresses this by incorporating its cameo clout into the show as a running joke.

This episode brilliantly reframes the cameo as something sillier and more frequent. Jen not only acknowledges viewers are here strictly for the cameos, but she also inserts herself into the conversation. So Wong, the Hulk, and even Megan Thee Stallion can take up space and not take it away from her.

Wong is the perfect guest star, too, because he is so aloof. Every tidbit about his job at Target, what thirst traps work for him, and his views of the legal system build a hilarious existence. Yet none of this tarnishes the film version of Wong.

If anything, it gives him the depth he deserves, as it has done for Abomination and his seven soulmates.

Pulling Megan Thee Stallion

She-Hulk is getting creative with its cameos, using them as cannon fodder and clout spontaneously. But waving Daredevil in front of our faces just to throw Megan Thee Stallion at us? That is innovative.

Megan is the perfect combo of natural comedic talent and pop-culture phenomenon. Most people know who she is, so the jokes about Dennis being delusional enough to buy her a Passat land and her music lends itself beautifully to the chaos of this episode.

And Megan Thee Stallion holds her own against Tatiana Maslany, bringing a needed physical comedy element to the episode. Her perfectly timed “ah” when Pug makes eye contact with her is enough to bring the whole house down.

Dennis may have lost his dignity, but we stand to gain everything from Megan Thee Stallion becoming canon in the MCU.

She-Hulk’s Himbo Era

In the great words of Rosa Diaz, we have only had Pug for one day, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself.

Pug is the archetypical himbo and a trusted ally of the women — he is the only blueprint for the token male character She-Hulk needs to concern itself with.

Josh Segarra is the perfect actor to uphold this duty. Sure, he played a villain on Arrow for a hot second and left us with a rather bone-chilling impression of his acting caliber. But if you are familiar with the actor’s earlier comedy work on Sirens, you know Pug is smack dab in the center of his wheelhouse.

That softer, goofy side comes clutch when carrying the episode’s B-plot on his effortless shoulders.

He is a beautiful contrast from trash-man Dennis, and he all but jeopardizes my ability to review this episode when he whispers, “You guys know me,” with such soft, quiet frustration. I will take all the softie Pug scenes, your honor!

Lawyer Show!

Jen’s time in the courtroom could not have come quicker.

It’s imperative to the success of this show that we see Jen’s job separate from the She-Hulk drama and that we see her do it well.

While we could still use more courtroom scenes, I appreciate this show doesn’t attempt to be another legal drama copy. It knows it cannot be a factual representation of the court, so it goes the route of sleek, straightforward court cases that flow together quite effortlessly.

That simple approach lets Jen poke fun at the storytelling when it pays off. For example, when she hilariously points out the A and B storylines merging.

“The People vs. Emil Blonsky” feels like She-Hulk shedding its last safety net. It’s thrilling to see this show shake off the remaining Incredible Hulk packaging and courtroom setup with an unceremonious twerking session.

—

What did you think of this episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

New episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are streaming Thursdays on Disney+.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Scott Patterson Reflects on ‘Gilmore Girls,’ Discusses Upcoming Series ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ [Interview]