'She-Hulk: Attorney At Law' Episode 4: "Is This Not Real Magic?" Recap and Review
The She-Hulk train keeps on rolling with another Incredibly Magical episode
WARNING: Contains Spoilers
Two weeks in a row we are treated to a funny and complete episode of situational comedy, or sitcom for short. The concept seems so common and mundane that we often forget the effort that has to be put into each episode so that they each have a full story with a satisfying conclusion. Even if the over arching narrative takes a back seat in this episode it doesn’t really matter because the episode’s story is enough to enjoy on it’s own and builds tension for when the narrative continues. Most episodic series do this with their middle of the season episodes. Think about if The Office teased Jim and Pam getting together in the first episode then they were married by episode four, it just wouldn’t hit the same.
Our episode begins at the show of ailing stage magician Donny Blaze (Rhys Corio). He brings out his old tricks; levitation, fire conjuring, rose manifestation, but nothing seems to rouse his obviously bored crowd. Even a trick with a volunteer, Madisynn (Patty Guggenheim) fails to excite the crowd so he breaks out his secret weapon, a sling ring used by practitioners of the mystic arts. He uses the ring to open a portal to an alternate dimension which manages to get a rise out of the crowd, but things go awry. Cut to Nepal where the Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong) prepares to watch a pivotal episode of the hit series The Sopranos when suddenly a lightly intoxicated Madisynn drops from his ceiling. She explains that it was Donny Blaze who sent her to an alternate dimension just before spoiling the end of the episode for Wong. For this, Wong vows revenge on Donny Blaze. We join Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) as she gets ready for work when her father Morris Walters (Mark Linn-Baker) barges in with equipment he intends to use to beef up security after Jenn’s run in with the Wrecking Crew the night before, but Jenn is having none of it and heads out. At her Law firm She-Hulk sets up her dating profile, for Jenn, not She-Hulk when Nikki (Ginger Gonzaga) comes in not a moment passes when Wong arrives via portal unannounced. Wong explains his issues with Donny Blaze to She-Hulk but she points out the holes in his case and promises to look into it as he takes his leave. At the bar, Jennifer and Nikki finish a few legal documents when Nikki pushes Jenn to update her dating profile, but as She-Hulk. The next day She-Hulk and Wong serve Donny with a Cease and Desist to much resistance. As they leave, Jenn gets a hit on her dating profile. At the date, Jenn suffers her way through it to obvious disappointment. Next we see She-Hulk at a hearing for the Wong v Blaze case. To help his case Wong begrudgingly summons Madisynn as a witness. The testimony has mixed results and the judge dismisses the hearing to deliberate. At her home, Jennifer finishes a few documents while talking to Nikki when she points out that it is a Friday and Jenn has no new matches on her dating profile. So, in an act of frustration, Jenn creates a new profile, for She-Hulk. she immediately gets matched and ventures out on her first date. After a few bad matches she finally experiences a decent date. Back at another of Donny Blaze’s magic shows he instantly uses his now go-to trick of portal manipulation but the crowd isn’t as receptive of the trick as they once were. So this time he summons a magical dove that flies around and lays an egg in his new volunteer’s hand. The egg hatches and out pops small demonic creature. Donny summons another portal to get rid of it but dozens of creatures escape the portal and wreak havoc on the show. Donny heads to Wong for assistance, Wong helps but has Donny make a phone call, to his lawyer. Back at Jenn’s place where She-Hulk and her date are having a great time. She ignores a call as things begin to heat up between her and her date. Suddenly Wong shows up in a portal and demands She-Hulks assistance to which she obliges. Together, they banish the demons and get Donny to agree to the terms of the Cease and Desist. Soon, She-Hulk returns to her date and she whisks him off his feet to the bedroom. The next morning, Jenn is enjoying breakfast when Nikki directs her attention to the news that Titania (Jameela Jamil) has been released. In walks her date from the night before who doesn’t recognize Jenn in the slightest, he leaves without much ceremony. A quick knock at the door and a process server informs Jenn that she is being sued over the use of the name She-Hulk, which Titania trade marked.
This week’s case is Wong v Donny Blaze who is nowhere near the motorcycle riding, spirit of vengeance, Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze. It can’t be helped to think this is a missed opportunity here for a small tease of the impending return of the Ghost Rider given how obviously similar the name is. This episode highlights another great use of established MCU characters. Wong is inexplicably a massively popular character and is best used as the straight man to the more quippy Marvel heroes. His dry humor works well against Jenn’s sarcasm and his mild exasperation when around Madisynn is comedy gold. For Jenn, her internal conflict between She-Hulk’s popularity and Jenn’s mundane life is beginning to shape up. The stark difference in her love life before and after creating a She-Hulk specific dating profile is staggering. It also highlights the flaw that plagues Jenn: she is dull. This didn’t necessarily come out during the first episode which completely threw off her characterization and underlined the importance of the first impression when introducing new characters.
The difference between the series’ first two episodes and its latest two is jarring but welcomed. The first two struggle to tell any story at all and are used to set up the rest of season. IT remains obvious that the first two episodes should have been either smashed together into a single episode or released at the same time. Regardless, the last two episodes have been absolutely incredible, pun intended, and have completely renewed interest in the series. Admittedly, the CGI is spotty at times when paid attention to but when the episode is as funny and fun as these last two there is less importance placed upon it. So now that the She-Hulk express is in full gear it’s time to just sit back and watch as she shakes her Caboose at the haters alongside Megan Thee Stallion. Also… Wong and Madisynn for ever.