Things became very sexy when She-Hulk and Daredevil crossed paths (and then some). But did the tacked-on last scene undermine the heroes’ stirring alliance, as Jen herself thought it did?
Leap-Frog, also known as Eugene Patilio, was first introduced in the episode “Ribbit and Rip It,” which served as a prelude to the season’s conclusion the following week. He is a low-tier hero who wants Jen to defend him in a lawsuit against the creator of his ostensibly broken supersuit. Jen faced personal and professional problems because the defendant in this case would be the one and only Luke Jacobson, but her boss requested her handle the case.
Leap-case Frog’s was swiftly shown to be without merit (snicker), as he had utilised the incorrect type of jet fuel in his boosters, causing the flame-out. The attorney for Luke, a man named Matt Murdock from New York, was quick to notice this (played again by Marvel vet Charlie Cox). After that, Matt bought Jen a drink at the Legal Ease and encouraged her to consider the special chance she has to uphold the law as a lawyer and then seek justice in other ways as a superpowered hero. The two have a lot of chemistry despite Jen not knowing who Matt’s secret identity is; nonetheless, a “business” call for Matt ends their flirtation.
Soon after Jen comes home, Leap-Frog calls to tell he is being attacked while operating his car. When Jen meets Eugene in a parking garage, she dons her new She-Hulk attire and engages in combat with his “attacker” Daredevil. She-smashy Hulk’s methods cause considerable damage to the garage, but ultimately She-Hulk prevails. At that time, She-Hulk reveals her opponent to be Matt after each hero gives everything they have.
No, Matt was not pretending to be blind, and Leap-Frog is holding Luke hostage in order to force him to upgrade his suit, according to Matt. There is some discussion regarding the attack strategy as the two make their way to Leap-not-at-all-secret Frog’s hideout. Since hallways are his thing, Daredevil is more likely to take on the thugs/henchmen one at a time, whereas She-Hulk is content to simply smash.
She-Hulk descends through (and I do mean through) the roof to shatter the second group of villains that Daredevil faces after their back-and-forth between them reaches a certain… intensity… Then, after exchanging legal ruses along the way, enter the actual lair and join forces against a last flurry of goons. After finishing their task and Jen having made amends with Luke, Jen and Matt lean on a billboard to relax. Jen recommends that hook up right away rather than waiting for Matt’s next trip to L.A., which Matt bemoans the fact that he is leaving for New York in the morning. Which they do, after carefully taking off their supersuits, back at her house.
Jen comments upon Nikki’s arrival for Female Lawyer of the Year gala beautification the morning after that the episode sure seemed to have reached a (ahem) satisfying conclusion, so she is perplexed as to what is happening now as Daredevil performs a hilarious, supersuited-yet-barefoot “walk of shame” through the neighbourhood. Jen is also perplexed as to what is going on now. (She has to worry whether the “red” Hulk” is going to be unveiled.) The scene abruptly shifts to that evening’s event, when She-Hulk strides the carpet in her Luke Jacobson creation. But the Intelligencia’s takeover of the video screen backdrop, where they project anti-She-Hulk rhetoric, interrupts Jen’s speech when she is later called up on stage (along with a number of other FLOTY “winners”) and shows a “slut”-shaming, hidden camera video of Jen’s hook-up with (an unseen) Matt Josh.
She-Hulk attacks the television screen and smashes it after being prompted by this vicious attack, going despite neighbouring Mallory’s advice to “don’t do it,” which causes all of the attendees to flee in fear. She is then left to stand there, handing herself over to the police, looking sheepish and understandably embarrassed.
What did you think of the incredibly strange, depressing conclusion to the otherwise upbeat premiere of Daredevil? What do you think will happen at the conclusion?
