She-Hulk Episode 9 MCU Easter Eggs & References

This article contains spoilers for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9.The finale of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is absolutely packed with MCU and Marvel Easter eggs, including some surprisingly pointed ones directed at Marvel Studios. The MCU's latest Disney+ TV show has had something of an identity problem, unable to decide whether it's really content being a superhero TV series or whether it wants to fully commit to Jennifer Walters. All this built to an unexpected climax in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9, a dramatic finale that saw She-Hulk break the fourth wall in style.

Dissatisfied with the way her story was ending, She-Hulk chose to break out of the show and storm Marvel Studios, demanding a rewrite. This allowed Marvel the opportunity to directly address their critics, with She-Hulk herself giving voice to common complaints the MCU has become formulaic, and challenging those, insisting on a very different ending. One of Marvel's boldest twists to date, demonstrating a surprising degree of self-awareness, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 drew most of the threads together while discarding a few that were superfluous. It also featured a stunning number of Easter eggs and cameos.

She-Hulk Episode 9 Opens With A Riff On The Incredible Hulk

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 opens with a riff on the classic Incredible Hulk TV series, complete with a narrative voice-over and a new title card in the same font. This is particularly ironic given Marvel Comics only created She-Hulk because of the CBS TV series, fearing the network would create a She-Hulk first and thus acquire the rights to the concept. The use of this opening serves to cleverly reinforce the themes of confused identity that lie at the heart of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, because it really does feel as though the Disney+ TV show has been swallowed up in something else.

She-Hulk's Finale Even Uses The Incredible Hulk's Catchphrase

She-Hulk You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry

There's even an amusing shot in which Jennifer Walters uses Bruce Banner's old catchphrase from The Incredible Hulk TV series; "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Coming immediately after mention of the Intelligencia, this implies the online trolls who have bedeviled the show are simply trying to create a nostalgia buzz by trying to force She-Hulk to conform to their established patterns. It's fascinating to see Marvel acknowledge the CBS Incredible Hulk show in such a manner.

Enter The Savage She-Hulk

All this culminates in a title card reading "The Savage She-Hulk." This was indeed the title of She-Hulk's debut comic book series, originally written by Stan Lee and featuring art by John Buscema. In truth, it always seemed a little odd given that, unlike her cousin Bruce Banner, Jennifer Walters retains her own consciousness when in her Hulk form. Recent Avengers comics have toyed with the idea of turning She-Hulk into a more "savage" form, but they haven't been well-received, instead being seen as something of an insult to the character.

The Return Of She-Hulk's Inhibitor Technology

Bruce Banner developed inhibitor technology to allow himself to return to human form, and the Department of Damage Control seem to be using that tech to control any potential Hulks. Jennifer Walters suffers the same fate as her former client the Abomination, with an inhibitor attached to her leg. The inhibitors are especially concerning given there have been hints Jennifer and her cousin could be mutants; in the comics, mutant inhibitors were used by the fictional country called Genosha to imprison mutants and force them to use their powers on behalf of the state.

She-Hulk Episode 9's News Companies Are MCU Easter Eggs

The She-Hulk finale features deliberate callbacks to the season's beginning, with a series of clips from fictional news agencies. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 2 had already referenced KPVK news, which was introduced in Ant-Man & the Wasp covering Scott Lang's Giant-Man. There's also a glimpse of Los Angeles Now, which has only ever appeared in this particular Disney+ TV show.

The Intelligencia Includes A Nod To A Classic Marvel Villain

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 features an amusing Easter egg to a classic Marvel villain. One of the images shows the distinctive pattern of a Mandrill, which seems very appropriate; in the comics, the Mandrill is a mutant who possesses the power of mind control via pheromones. The Mandrill is noted for a deeply misogynistic attitude, and he has indeed clashed with She-Hulk in the comics.

She-Hulk Episode 9 Features A "Lady Thor" Easter Egg

Speaking of misogyny, the Intelligencia event sees members of the group complain about Jane Foster's Mighty Thor (who, of course, they insist on referring to as "Lady Thor"). The precise placement of Thor: Love & Thunder in the MCU is highly debatable, but this Easter egg confirms She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 must take place around the same time, because Jane only seemed to be a Thor for a few weeks in the MCU. It's an unexpected MCU reference, but helpful for the timeline.

She-Hulk Episode 9 Brings Back All Its Major Cameos & Recurring Villains

The She-Hulk TV series has depended a little too much on cameos, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 decides to bring back all the major ones including:

The Abomination, whose portrayal is actually rather more complex than many had expected. While Emil Blonsky is certainly breaking the terms of his parole, he still steps in to defend Jennifer Walters from the Intelligencia.
The Hulk, who crashes the party (twice).
Titania, who turns up as part of the chaos.
Matt Murdock's Daredevil, summoned by Jennifer Walters because she wouldn't mind having Matt Murdock back in her life again.
Wong, who drops in for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9's post-credits scene to tie things up.

She-Hulk Episode 9 Creates Another Super-Soldier Serum (And Erases It)

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 subverts what's now become an MCU tradition for its Disney+ shows; while the main villain is indeed revealed in the finale, he isn't the Leader or Doctor Doom at all. Rather, he is simply Todd, a man Jennifer Walters unwisely went on a date with and who repulsed her. Todd's team has synthesized a sample of She-Hulk's blood to create a serum granting him super-powers; this idea is an odd one, contradicting episode 1's revelation that Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters were only able to absorb Gamma radiation because of unidentified genetic anomalies. She-Hulk notes that this plot is a little too like a super-soldier serum, and it's dropped from the story.

She-Hulk Breaks The Fourth Wall In Style

She-Hulk has always been known for breaking the fourth wall in comics, and famously dealt with one villain by tearing out of one panel and into another. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 riffs on this, with Jennifer objecting to the direction the finale is taking. She breaks out of the Disney+ menu, and then into one of the Marvel Studios Assembled videos, finding her way to her own writer's room (Jessica Gao, head writer, is seated at the table). This leads to a delightful critique of Marvel's overdependence on formulaic narratives, as She-Hulk heads to see "Kevin."

She-Hulk Is Forced To Sign A Non-Disclosure Agreement

Before she can see "Kevin," She-Hulk is forced to sign a lengthy non-disclosure agreement. This isn't the first time She-Hulk has joked about Marvel's contracts, which have long been notorious across the industry. There are signs this may be beginning to change, however, with Oscar Isaac only signed up for a single season of Moon Knight rather than signing away a decade of his life or more.

She-Hulk's Encounter With Kevin Is A Delightful Joke - With Disturbing Undertones

Viewers understandably assumed She-Hulk's quest to see Kevin would result in an unexpected cameo by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, but instead She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 sees her discover a supercomputer at the heart of Marvel Studios. KEVIN stands for "Knowledge Enhanced Visual Interconnectivity Nexus," and the AI describes itself as possessing the most advanced entertainment algorithm in the world.

Some aspects of She-Hulk's conversation with KEVIN feel distinctly uncomfortable; the comments about the visual effects team seem rather tasteless given the scale of Marvel's VFX problems of late. Still, there are rather more amusing, and self-effacing, gags about Marvel movies being rather sexless and an over-dependence on "daddy issues." It's pleasantly surprising to see Marvel openly acknowledge the storytelling patterns they've slipped into. Jennifer then asks the question on everybody's minds, "Oh, and when are we getting the X-Men?"

She-Hulk Episode 9 Introduces Hulk's Son, Skaar

KEVIN does get his own way in the end, however, ensuring there's the obligatory Marvel setup for the next project. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 9 ends with Hulk returning from the planet Sakaar, and he introduces his son, Skaar (played by Will Deusner). This ties up the Planet Hulk subplot that's been running in the background for the whole season, explaining why Sakaaran ships had been seeking the Hulk. Presumably Skaar was conceived when Hulk spent two years on Sakaar; time works differently on that planet, explaining how he seems older than he should. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law doesn't tell Skaar's story, saving that for the next film or TV show, but he'll potentially fit in well with Marvel's clear push towards a Young Avengers production.

All episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are now streaming on Disney+.

Next: Who Is Skaar? Hulk's Sakaaran Son Explained