She-Hulk Season Finale Review + Those Post-Credit Scenes!
She-Hulk‘s season finale is easily its best episode, and that’s not hyperbole. Not only do the writers deliver an abundance of MCU Easter eggs and nods (plus some pretty cool Marvel collectibles), but we get a dose of Jennifer Walters breaking the fourth wall to confront the writers of her own show and rewrite the episode’s big showdown. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen on TV, and it’s hilarious.
She-Hulk as a series has always been self-aware, doling out clever meta-humor and quick-witted references at every turn. Inexplicably, it hasn’t always resonated with audiences. The show itself endeavors to subvert Marvel tropes and its reliance on tired, formulaic writing. “Whose Show is This?” comments on this in a way that couldn’t be clearer — the show’s lead demands that a Kevin Feige-type robot give her the ending she wants.
Jennifer Walters smashes those tropes, baby!
“You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
We open with an homage to the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (1977), featuring Jen instead of Dr. David Banner. The intro maintains the same ’70s feel as the aforementioned series. Bruce even pops up at the end! The title card to cap off the sequence says, “The Savage She-Hulk,” the first comic featuring the character released in 1980.
Next, Jen wakes in the same cell that held Emil Blonsky earlier in the season. Nikki, Pug, and Mallory Book visit Jen after her rampage in the previous episode.
Jen believes they need to track down the Intelligencia and take them to court. However, Mallory has a different plan: They need to discuss Jen’s case. Why? Because she Hulked out in public. Jen defends herself, citing that those Intelligencia nerds hacked her private files, hijacked her identity, and uploaded a sex tape for all to see. Who wouldn’t be angry about that?
Then, we learn the opposition won’t press charges as long as Jen wears the same power inhibitor on her ankle that Emil wore as part of his plea deal. Jen is released from custody, and her parents wait for her outside the DODC (Department of Damage Control) facility.
Going Home
Later, Jen packs up her office while Nikki and Pug vow to support her no matter what happens. She moves out of her apartment and back home with her parents. Unfortunately, the paparazzi are like Jen’s shadow, following her wherever she goes. Thankfully, Papa Walters staves off the prowling paparazzi with a garden hose — perpetual drought be damned!
Nikki and Jen set up shop in the living room. Jen wants to sue the pants off the Intelligencia hackers, going full Jennifer Walters on them instead of Hulk-smashing. Jen’s mom shows Nikki an embarrassing video of Jen dancing in college. Her long hair and glasses resemble her character Cosima Niehaus from Orphan Black. (Or maybe I’m reaching and missing this gem of a show.)
Then, Jen watches news footage featuring the human version of feces, Dennis Bukowski, who claims he was in a serious relationship with Jen and blames her grandmother for her behavior.
No More Girl-Hulk
While in her room, Jen breaks the fourth wall, asking us if this is the finale we want. She texts her cousin Bruce, but her message isn’t delivered. Jen tries reaching out to Emil with the same result. Finally, she throws caution to the wind and crashes Emil’s sprawling estate/yogic retreat. Meanwhile, Nikki uploads the video of Jen dancing in college to the Intelligencia page. She scores an exclusive invite to an Intelligencia get-together but needs Pug to step in for her since it’s an all-dude thing. Of course it is.
“What does that make you?”
Jen reunites with Wrecker at Emil’s estate, making herself at home. Nikki and Pug arrive at the Intelligencia gathering. The gate they pull up to looks awfully familiar…
Pug infiltrates the fragile masculinity-fueled assembly, which consists of many dudebros whinging and male tears flowing about women super heroes. Here’s the bit that made me laugh out loud:
Why does there even need to be a She-Hulk? It’s not like there’s a He-Hulk. And Lady Thor? Hey, guys, she just sucks, okay? I’m not saying that because she’s a female. I would have the same criticisms if she was a man.
If you’ve been following recent MCU Twitter discourse, you’ll know why the above is so damn funny. Anyway, Pug tries on misogyny for size at the behest of Nikki, who’s instructing him on what to say in his ear. Unfortunately, their tech craps out, so Pug must improvise.
HulkKing Would Smash Pug
It’s plot twist time! Todd Phelps, AKA Jen’s annoying date that one time, approaches Pug, recognizing the latter. As it turns out, Todd founded Intelligencia. He’s the HulkKing who “exposed” Jen. Was this because she rejected him? Probably.
While Todd rallies the Intelligencia members together for the meeting, Jen sets out to track down Emil. He endured almost a carbon copy of the very public situation she’s going through, so Jen trusts him to impart sage wisdom. Wrecker informs her that Emil’s at an event down at the lodge. Uh-oh.
We see Todd introduce Abomination, the guest speaker for the festivities. Emil strolls out in his Abomination form, which directly violates his plea deal. He begins his speech by encouraging the men in the room to step into their power.
What Is Even Happening Here?
Jen discovers Emil/Abomination at the Intelligencia gathering, that Todd is its founder, and that Nikki and Pug are there to collect intel. It’s a lot. Todd explains that Intelligencia doesn’t believe women should have powers just because. They must be earned! Todd reveals they stole a sample of Jen’s blood and tinkered with it, so it’ll now give him Hulk abilities. Todd takes a swig. Then, he transforms into a Hulk.
Abomination scoops up Jen in a bid to save her from HulkKing. To make matters more confusing, Titania inexplicably bursts through a wall. But that’s not all. Bruce Banner adds to the bedlam by dropping through the ceiling. He orders Abomination to release Jen, not realizing that Emil’s protecting her. Abomination and Hulk briefly battle it out before the scene screeches to a halt courtesy of Jen.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Thus, Jen decides to confront the team of writers behind her show. We see the screen change to the Disney+ home page. Jen, as She-Hulk, bursts through the panel with her face on it. She swings down from her perch, bypassing a few rows of Marvel content until she lands on Marvel Studios: Assembled. She hops through that panel and lands at Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
She-Hulk walks through some studio lots until she spots a door bearing a sign that says, “She-Hulk Productions.” If you look closely, you’ll see another QR code on said door. When you scan it, it takes you to a free issue of The Sensational She-Hulk #50.
Easter Eggs!
She-Hulk barges into the writers’ room for her series. Jessica Gao, creator and head writer of She-Hulk, is in this scene. If you look at the walls behind the writers, you’ll find not only episode breakdowns but Marvel posters featuring Captain America and Hulk. The Hulk one says, “Smash & Shred Sensitive Documents,” while the Cap one imitates the “I Want YOU” Uncle Sam posters that gained popularity during WWII.
Additionally, you’ll find ideas for the season finale written on the dry-erase board behind the writers. My favorite ones are: “In-CHED-ible Hulk,” “Gamma Goo,” “There’s something attractive about a man’s knees,” and “Nanobots!” In reference to the first one — does this mean we were close to turning Jen’s cousin Ched into a Hulk?
We Need to Talk About K.E.V.I.N.
So, She-Hulk confronts the writers, asking them why this finale stinks on ice. The villain takes on She-Hulk’s powers because of her blood? It’s a tired trope, y’all. The writers claim they can’t deviate from K.E.V.I.N.’s storylines. Obviously, this is a nod to Kevin Feige. She-Hulk demands to speak with K.E.V.I.N.
Next, we see her walking through the real Marvel Studios offices. She signs an NDA with the receptionist at the front desk. Considering how many hoops you have to jump through to obtain screeners, having She-Hulk sign pages of documents doesn’t seem implausible.
Suddenly, security tries to kick her out, but they seem to forget she’s a Hulk, so there’s that. After shaking off the guards, She-Hulk arrives in a room wherein footage from Marvel movies plays out on multiple screens. Our girl finally meets K.E.V.I.N. — Knowledge Enhanced Visual Interconnectivity Nexus. “Nexus” is probably a word you’ve heard a few times in Marvel’s live-action programming, like WandaVision and Loki.
Side note: I love how even though K.E.V.I.N. is essentially an AI brain, it looks like it’s wearing a black cap à la the real Kevin Feige.
Changing the Story
Before K.E.V.I.N. discusses the She-Hulk finale with our heroine, it asks her to transform back into Jen. Creating the effects for She-Hulk is expensive, and the VFX team has supposedly moved on to another project. We hear a few seconds of the Black Panther theme when it mentions this. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releases in theaters next month. Brilliant.
Jen asks K.E.V.I.N. to create a new story for her. One where Todd doesn’t Hulk out, Bruce doesn’t magically appear to save the day (even though K.E.V.I.N. insists Bruce must explain what happened on Sakaar), it’s daylight for the climax, and Matt Murdock needs a cameo.
Jen vents about Marvel’s penchant for utilizing “daddy issues” as a narrative crutch. Tony Stark, Thor, Loki, Star-Lord — all have father problems. Then, Jen does us viewers a solid by asking K.E.V.I.N. about the X-Men. Of course, K.E.V.I.N. remains mum on that subject and bars her from re-accessing K.E.V.I.N. But what about She-Hulk season 2?
K.E.V.I.N. obliges to Jen’s desired changes, even though she “obliterated” its storytelling formula. Jen smashes fourth walls, bad endings, and, sometimes, Matt Murdock. Up top!
Back to the Story
Jen arrives home to Todd’s arrest and Emil getting punished for violating his parole. He’ll be spending a decade in prison for that. Titania is pushed to the sidelines as she records the scene for her followers while Pug and Nikki watch in an amalgam of shock and admiration when Jen flirts with none other than Daredevil, who seems confused about why he’s there.
Then, we see Jen and Matt Murdock sitting with her family in what’s ostensibly parodying a Fast & Furious family dinner scene. The MCU version of Matt is the day to Netflix Matt’s night. I’m glad we’re seeing a lighter side of this character.
Bruce shows up out of the blue while wearing blue with a newcomer in tow. He introduces his family to his son, Skaar, who hails from Sakaar. In the comics, Skaar’s the son of Hulk and Caiera the Oldstrong. Hulk marries Caeira, but she, unfortunately, perishes on Sakaar.
Later, we learn Jen’s record is cleared in light of Intelligencia and its dealings. A reporter interviews her as she heads inside the courthouse, in She-Hulk form, for her trial against Todd Phelps.
It’s Post-Credits Time!
Over in Post-Credits Land, Emil receives a visitor while stuck in his cell. Wong helps Emil escape to Kamar-Taj. Before Emil leaves, he asks Wong if they have wifi, which references Doctor Strange when Mordo gives Stephen the wifi password.
“Whose Show is This?” seems to hint at the possibility of a Hulk-centric film, notably with the introduction of Skaar, who ties in with the World War Hulk comics arc. That and Jen telling K.E.V.I.N. that Bruce can save his explanation for his disappearance “for the movie.”
Will we get a second season? I sure hope so. She-Hulk is so damn fun, and it’s a shame that it’s become fodder for vitriolic manbaby social media attacks. I love that this episode references the undeserved hate levied against female comic book characters like Jen and The Mighty Thor for no reason other than their gender.
If anything, She-Hulk feels the most comic book-accurate out of the Marvel live-action shows. It’s silly, fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. We see a woman with powers who just wants to get through her day without resorting to them. She wants to live a normal life! Plus, the writers ingeniously sprinkle in a ton of Marvel Easter eggs in each episode while revealing characters like Luke Jacobson, Mr. Immortal, and Leap-Frog. The show adheres to Jen’s personality and the tone of her comics with the fourth-wall breaks. What’s not to love?
Above all else, this show is a sitcom. It never tried to be anything else but that. If I had a say, I’d ask for an infinite number of She-Hulk seasons.
On another note, if we’re going the Intelligencia route, Marvel should reintroduce M.O.D.O.K. in live-action form. Please, and thank you.
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