So She-Hulk twerked with Megan Thee Stallion and people are mad about it?

Before we get into somehow the most controversial part of the entire episode and frankly, the whole episode at all, make sure you listen to our entire podcast episode which is linked below. There we explain everything in the most in-depth way and listening ensures that you aren’t missing out on a thing. Listen in real-time by clicking the play button on the link or find your listening platform of choice by hitting the button below. For now, let’s get into this mega-controversy over an extremely unproblematic end-credit scene.

I don’t think it is going to come as any surprise to you that I can confidently say Taylor and I loved the She-Hulk twerking scene. It was fun, lighthearted, and honestly took the edge off even more from some of the really serious things we have gotten lately. The narrative we’ve discussed a lot with this show is that Jen is being portrayed truly like us as working women. And I say this in the way that we see her working life and her balancing all this, along with just being a woman in this world. So yes, sometimes we blast Megan Thee Stallion and get down, just like She-Hulk, so why the backlash? Something that has been coming up a lot in these ongoing conversations is that if a character like Deadpool twerked on screen, everyone would be memeing it up and would love it. Additionally, keep in mind that characters like Starlord, who literally had a dance battle with Ronin, Zemo, who fist-pumped in the club, and even Groot, who danced in his little pot, were never questioned for their actions or being called cringe. If people have a problem with two amazing, powerful, and beautiful women throwing it back because their women, well, just say that.

One more thing I will say on this topic, and it’s something I mentioned in the predictions episode as well, is that She-Hulk is known for being exactly as she is, if not even more sexualized. And I don’t mean sexualized in general, although that is also true, I mean in the comics she was sexualized and chose to embrace it. She can be extremely erotic and while I never imagined for once Disney would allow some of the things she says or does in the comics, throwing in a clip of her twerking is definitely their way of making a nod to how the character is. I’ll say it again, She-Hulk is known for embracing the sexualization she was receiving and running with it, so let the show breathe a little on that end as they are holding as true as they can to her actual character without making the show an MA rating.

As many of you know, we figured we were getting our buddy Wong this episode and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Wong entering the chat was one of my favorite parts of the episode, just because of how funny the man is without even trying. The fact he admits to a federal crime and hits them with that ‘bye’ was just perfect. It also once again enforces that Wong has been pretty busy since becoming Sorcerer Supreme and is happy to show up anywhere. However, there is one thing that Wong’s appearance, and I should say, his dialogue, creates that now doesn’t quite sit right for either of us.

When Wong is explaining why Abomination was with him, out of prison, he says he needed a worthy opponent for his trials for becoming Sorcerer Supreme. Now you all know this whole narrative from Shang-Chi has haunted me for a year now because I just wanted to know why Wong and Abomination were fighting each other but then lowkey buddies afterward. Naturally, you should all be thinking that I have to be happy to have finally gotten my answer and you don’t know why I’m currently complaining. Let me get you all there. In No Way Home, Strange makes the comment that Wong got the title of Sorcerer Supreme on a technicality, which was that Strange had been “dead” for five years. Okay cool. But that implies Wong was not dusted and therefore took the title after the battle with Thanos in Infinity War. But then why would he have been just now, in Shang-Chi, going through some of his trials? One theory is that maybe there weren’t any worthy foes out there for him to fight, but that just feels really loose to throw this whole thing back on. Personally, something just isn’t quite adding up, since we were also told all of Phase 4 was post-Endgame and this is confirmed by Bruce being in a sling in the end credit of Shang-Chi. Food for thought.

We did get some confirmation from this episode, however, on the front of the timeline. We have now learned that She-Hulk is 100% after No Way Home and definitely before MoM, which also means we now know that it is confirmed those movies will not be switched on the timeline. I know this is something we discussed greatly around MoM and how the film felt like it should’ve been before NWH, minus the one Spidey reference made in it. She-Hulk has confirmed that NWH is before it, as Wong makes reference to wiping memory again, but he talks about Kamar-Taj and how beautiful it is this time of year. A reminder that my girl Wanda left Kamar-Taj in ruins, so it definitely wouldn’t be beautiful unless this show was prior to its destruction. We’re getting somewhere with this timeline, slowly.

Speaking of Abomination, look at this man getting himself out on parole. This 100% is setting him up for Thunderbolts, no doubt in my mind. But one thing I want to quickly address is how Emil was able to merge his two halves the same way that Bruce did and how this might affect him during the Thunderbolts. It’s no secret many people don’t love the way Hulk has been watered down, so doing the same with Abomination is going to give the same effect as well. I’m not saying to make him a full rampaging monster, but at least giving him Age of Ultrons Hulk’s ability to calm down would at least give us both sides. It’ll be really interesting to see if Marvel replicates the Hulk here, even though many fans are calling for the exact opposite. As for She-Hulk, I think Abomination still has some room in this show, although I’m not so sure he will continue to be the main plot either. She-Hulk definitely plays as the catalyst for his character to be re-exposed to the outside world and put him back on the map as a playable character.

If you were like me, when She-Hulk was attacked by the random construction crew, you were like okay who are these random dudes. But luckily we have a Taylor, who did some great research for us. The construction group is actually given the name the Wrecking Crew and they play some interesting roles in the comics with groups like the Midnight Sons and Thunderbolts (here we gooo). I won’t get too in-depth as Taylor explains them pretty well in the full episode, but in this show, they are likely to play the role of big bad’s cronies. I really want to get into actually what they wanted with her blood. I think the obvious answer is 100% that they want to make more Hulks, now that it seems so possible. Of course, we know that Jen is a Hulk due to certain genes she has that make her predisposed, just like Bruce. Not everyone will have this and so I think it’s safe to say that if they are successful, then we will have Abomination style science experiments running around.

The final thing I want to bring up in reference to this group is: who is their boss? I’m putting this here right now and going to say that it solidly is Kingpin. I’m sure you would make a lot of money selling Hulk blood or by creating your own monsters. Not to mention, I think that will be the thing that brings in Daredevil. Do I think we will get a Kingpin sighting? Not sure, since we left off on a cliffhanger with him in Hawkeye, so I feel like they might wait until Echo or even the Daredevil show to show him fully. Remember what I said about the timeline, especially when remembering that this show seemingly takes place closer to the Endgame cut-off than we may have thought. I say this to remind you that She-Hulk may be prior to Hawkeye, which would really solidify this theory.

Personally, this was another out-of-the-park hit for She-Hulk. The only complaint I have, which I saw no reason to dwell on before but don’t exactly feel right not mentioning is the CGI, but honestly, we all see it isn’t great and it isn’t worth wasting too much breath on. Hopefully, when She-Hulk hits the big screen these kinks can be worked out. Episode 4 comes out in two days so be prepared for some new chaos in the life of Jennifer Walters, as Marvel just blew your mind, so let’s talk about it.

Image: “She-Hulk Episode 3”, Spencer Baculi, Bounding into Comics