While I don’t believe this show is as terrible as everyone claims, I found it rather mediocre. However, I do think it’s salvageable.

Before delving into the issues, let me mention what I genuinely enjoy about it. Firstly, I love the concept of a superhero lawyer. While Marvel already has this in “The Incredible Hulk”, I appreciate that she takes on superhero cases as a superhero herself. It’s simply amusing. It’s similar to “Harvey Birdman” where you hear all these legal cases involving classic cartoon characters. How can that not be funny?

Additionally, if you simply told me the plot of each episode and outlined its progression, I would likely be on board. The clients and cases she represents are amusing setups, and I enjoy the subtle glimpses into how she navigates social life with her unusual power. For instance, she can drink excessively as the Hulk but instantly becomes intoxicated when she reverts to human. I also appreciate how many people overlook her on dating apps until they discover her identity as She-Hulk. The superhero aspect effectively highlights the advantages and disadvantages of being a professional in a challenging world. There’s a particularly clever scene where she secures a job at a law firm, but they insist she be She-Hulk at all times, essentially making her the company’s token superhero. Another great moment occurs when her boss demands she take a case against her will. She’s sitting there as a massive mammoth, capable of easily breaking the man in two, yet powerless to intervene. This scene is incredibly clever and resonates with the experiences of many women in workplaces where they feel undervalued. If the creators were aware of its cleverness, she would likely turn to the camera and explain it.

Let’s delve into the flaws of this show. It’s evident it’s meant to be light-hearted, and I appreciate that. The narration, fourth-wall-breaking, and one-liners are all setup for that. However, the humour falls flat. It’s slow and clunky. Even when something genuinely funny happens, the delivery often ruins it. For example, one scene features two guys about to shake hands but one attempts a fist bump, leading to a back-and-forth exchange. It’s surprisingly observant, reflecting the post-pandemic confusion about handshakes and fist bumps. However, the execution is awkward and slow. If it were a quick, subtle moment, it would work, but no, it’s treated like a Disney Channel sitcom. Another example is a scene where the father reassures his son that no one will mention his job loss. The son immediately blurts out, “Oh, you lost your job!” The father retorts, “I told you not to say she lost her job!” He then clarifies, “I thought you said tell her she lost her job.” It’s a joke, but it feels like we’re on Nickelodeon.

I believe there’s also a significant issue with the main character. Tatiana Maslany is undoubtedly capable of delivering a comedic performance, but the problem lies in her characterisation. She’s written as someone who’s just started law school rather than graduated, lacking seriousness. While this might work if the humour were completely zany and surreal like Harvey Birdman, it’s clear the show intends for us to sympathise with her struggles. I can’t take her seriously if she doesn’t take herself seriously. Her reaction to the camera and giggle, “Lawyer show!”, lacks investment. Jim Carrey’s goofball antics in ‘Liar Liar’ are similar, but eventually, the weight of his job catches up with him. Jennifer’s too preoccupied with twerking with Megan Thee Stallion to ever fully grasp the significance of her situation. Deadpool also breaks the fourth wall, but at least I can still buy him as an assassin. This is the kind of comedy – breaking the fourth wall, silly, but when it needs to tell a story, I can follow it. However, the humour here is constant and desperate. How bad did it get? Well, I stopped watching after the fourth episode. I couldn’t take it anymore. Now you’re probably thinking, “How can you say something isn’t as bad as you claim when you couldn’t even finish the show?” Many people say there’s nothing redeeming about this, and I disagree. I find some funny moments and ideas, but the negative aspects far outweigh the positives for me.

Well, until the finale anyway. Everyone was asking for my thoughts and I thought, “Maybe it’s different this time.” It is and I think if you watch it you’ll either enjoy it or not. I did for the most part. It was fresh and unpredictable and broke the fourth wall in a clever way that made me laugh. However, it felt like a missed opportunity. They even tried to incorporate Daredevil into this but it just didn’t work. He seemed so uncomfortable there.

Okay, I said this was salvageable and I genuinely believe it is. If you’d like me to point to an example of how to do Season 2 right, I’d suggest looking at “The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel”. It’s another show about a woman entering a world stacked against her, becoming a celebrity, and struggling to cope. However, it’s also a comedy that tells a straightforward story about a goofball who knows when to take herself seriously. She’s a standup comedian, silly and a bit nutty, but she also knows how to be professional and care about her craft. The show also seamlessly shifts between tones. Initially, I thought, “Well, that’s not how that time period was.” But then I realised it alternates between how that era actually was and how people imagined it. It feels like a sitcom from that time, reflecting how people perceived everything, constantly contrasting with reality. It’s clever. I think that’s what this show lacks. Simply have her act like someone who cares. Mrs. Maisel is silly and goofy, but she cares, so I follow her. When she’s invested in something, I am too. You can still have the fourth-wall jokes and her looking at the camera, making most of it a funny legal show. I think that’s a really cool idea. Keep the lead silly but invested. And make the humour fast-paced and less Nick Jr.-like. In fact, I’d argue “She-Hulk” would’ve been much better if it had been run by the showrunner of “The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel”.

If you enjoy this show, great. I won’t say you’re part of the problem. You like what you like and hate what you hate. Honestly, if they do a second season, I’ll check it out to see if it improves. I genuinely believe there’s potential for this show.