REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney At Law,’ Episode 5 – “Mean, Green, and Straight Poured into These Jeans”

Episode 5 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law features the return of Titania (Jameela Jamil) as she takes on Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) in the courtroom. Titania had previously sued Jen for the use of the She-Hulk name, as she was using it to promote her line of beauty products. At her wits’ end, Jen turns to fellow Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway lawyer Mallory Book (Renée Elise Goldsberry) for help. Meanwhile, Jen’s friend Nikki (Ginger Gonzaga) starts hunting for clothing that will fit both Jen and She-Hulk, stumbling across an underground superhuman fashion boutique in the process.

The mix of legal drama/comedy and superhero elements has been the best part of She-Hulk so far, and She-Hulk Episode 5 lets that mix propel its storyline. Trademarks in the superhero world have been a major point of discussion in comic stories and in the real world, so it only makes sense that it would pop up in the superhero lawyer show. Writer Dana Schwartz uses this setup as a way for Jen to explore her dual identity and how she deals with change. At first, Jen hated the name She-Hulk; she didn’t even come up with it, the media did. But, like it or not, it’s part of her life, and she decides to accept it and define it on her own terms. It’s one step closer to Jen’s characterization in the comics, where she fully embraces her She-Hulk identity.

And it’s thanks to Maslany that this identity crisis takes on a new dimension. The opening of the episode features Jen being bombarded with various ads for Titania-branded products: on the TV, on billboards, and even on her favorite podcast! And it starts to take its toll as Maslany’s face shifts from annoyance to genuine danger. It even shows in her She-Hulk form, as she slowly crushes a stapler while assuring her friend she’s OK. Though the CGI work on this show often ranges from solid to iffy, She-Hulk Episode 5 thankfully falls into the former camp and lets Maslany really emote.

The other standouts include Goldsberry and Jamil. Goldsberry disappears into her role, portraying Book as a no-nonsense and extremely skilled lawyer. From the very first scene, she steals the show, especially when she points out that Jen could have trademarked her She-Hulk identity (and points out that Doctor Strange and Thor don’t have to go through this as they use their real names.) And as a fan of the Dan Slott and Juan Bobillio She-Hulk run, I’m glad Goldsberry and Maslany capture the prickly relationship that was present between Jen and Book. As Titania, Jamil is extremely vapid and callous, more obsessed with her image than with such lowly things as ethics. Simply put, people are going to want to see She-Hulk punch Titania in the face — and the end of the episode hints at that potential conflict happening.

However, the episode stumbles when it comes to the B-plot. Fashion in the superhero world has always been a fun exercise. What kind of suit do you make for someone who can burst into flame or, in this case, grow into a super-strong gamma creature? But it lacks the comedic snap of subplots in previous She-Hulk episodes, despite Gonzaga and Josh Segarra‘s best efforts. And the idea of a flamboyant designer running an underground superhero boutique was done far better in The Incredibles, I’m sorry to say. The episode also lacks Jen’s trademark fourth wall breaks and the funny post-credits tags, which have been another great part of She-Hulk.

She-Hulk Episode 5 brings its best quality to the forefront, exploring Jennifer Walters’ identity crisis while managing to overcome a subpar subplot. However, it’s the end of the episode that will really hook fans — especially since it hints at the upcoming appearance of a fan-favorite character from the promotional trailers.

New episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law premiere Thursdays on Disney+.