This week’s episode ofShe-Hulktook Jennifer Walters on an unconventional journey towards finding a work-life balance, as she finally united her job with her new superhuman abilities. Despite finding a way to be both a Hulk and a lawyer, Jen’s first case called back to the early 2000s, when the Hulk made his live-action, big screen debut.
Episode 2set the stage for chaos in the future, which Jen will surely have to work hard to overcome. Beyond highlighting her personal journey asShe-Hulk,the show cleverly connected Marvel’s current Phase with tales of the past.
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Abomination Returns
After years of sweeping the 2008 movieThe Incredible Hulkto the side, the MCU finally acknowledged the film’s existence head-on inShe-Hulk’ssophomore episode. Jen’s first client as She-Hulk is none other than Emil Blonsky, best known as the big, bad Abomination.
Blonsky claims to have turned over a new page, expressing his feelings through poetry rather than rage, but his presence certainly shakes things up for the future of Marvel. Not only does he connect the MCU fully withThe Incredible Hulk, but Abomination’s more significant role in the franchise also opens the door to a wide number of untapped storylines.
As it turns out, he’s also been at the same prison as the Clandestines fromMs. Marvel.
Shang-Chi Fight Club
Episode 2 also acknowledged the scene fromShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,where Abomination battled it out with Wong in an underground fight club. This particular reference will prove to be a tricky point for Jen’s case, since she’ll have to explain how and why Blonsky left prison to exchange blows with the Sorcerer Supreme.
Jen’s Cap Obsession Continues
She-Hulkis still running with the best joke from episode 1, and Jen’s Captain America obsession is burning strong. When she turns on her phone, fans can see that her lock screen is a photo of America’s ass in all its glory, proving yet again that she’s a major Steve Rogers fan.
Hawkeye’s Arrows
While being forced to suffer through an uncomfortable family dinner, Jen’s dad asks her about Clint Barton, and his methods of arrow-retrieval. This particular question is something that stirred up conversation amongst fans online, who questioned the practicality of it all. Not to mention, the thought of Hawkeye running around picking up arrows both during and after battle is a rather humorous mental image.
A Completely Different Person
Abomination wasn’t the only thing connectingShe-HulktoThe Incredible Hulkthis week, as fans were given a short, but clever, fourth-wall break. Adding to Jen’s colorful audience-directed commentary, Bruce explains he’s moved past his quarrel with Abomination, since it happened so long ago.
He even goes as far as to say he’s a “completely different person,” acknowledging the change in casting from Edward Norton toMark Ruffalo. Jen then looks at the camera and gives off a coy “ha ha,” sharing in the realization MCU fans were having at the same time.
Jen’s Hero Name
During the same phone conversation, Bruce asks Jen what her official superhero name is. As established during the premiere, MCU heroes rarely get to choose their own names, since the public typically does that for them. Jen begrudgingly admits to being dubbed She-Hulk, and Bruce officially becomes the first person ever to refer to her asShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawand reference the show’s title.
Thor: Ragnarok Strikes Again
Widely regarded as the bestThormovie in the series, the events ofThor: Ragnarokare still impacting the Marvel franchise. The reason Jennifer became a Hulk was due to the sudden appearance of a Sakaaran spaceship in the middle of the road, as seen in episode 1.
Sakaar was the planet Bruce landed on when he disappeared afterAvengers: Age of Ultronand spent years as a lean, green, fighting machine. Clearly, the people of Sakaar refuse to let go of their former champion, and have hunted him across the galaxy.
Bruce told Jen he had business to take care of before he could visit her in Los Angeles, then showed him traveling through space on the same Sakaaran ship that found him on Earth.
Avengers Online
The first article title is likely a Wolverine reference, which reads “Man fights with metal claws in bar brawl.” The second article finally acknowledges the life-changing events ofEternals, titled “Why there is a giant statue of a man sticking out of the ocean.” This tiny Easter egg integratesEternalswith the rest of the MCU, which the franchise hasn’t really done until now.
