Charlie Cox’s second appearance as Daredevil in the MCU was long awaited. The stoic character is often shelved into Marvel’s darker and more grim tones. So, nothing could prepare fans for a version of Matt Murdock who charmed Jennifer Walters (and all of us) with an appletini and one flirty smirk after another.
(I mean, who else could work “I’m wearing pants, right?” as a pick-up line other than Matt?)
Matt Murdock/Daredevil appears in She-Hulk Ep 8, where he plays Jen’s opposing counsel in court. As the story progresses, the two kindle a delightful romance, where Matt helps Jen accept her life’s new superhero chapter.
Like most She-Hulk cameos, I expected Daredevil’s presence to simply be low-stakes fan service, akin to his scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But it all changes when the two meet once again at the bar after the court hearing.
1. Daredevil Truly Empathizes with She-Hulk
As with a lot of heroes during their early days, Jen has been struggling to grapple with her identity. The show has spent several episodes exploring the different ways it affects her, and while the pep talk from the Hulk was great, it wasn’t really a breakthrough.
In the bar scene, Matt invokes his Hell Kitchen’s “one for them, one for us” philosophy—a practice that fans who have watched his Netflix counterpart are well acquainted with.
Unlike Bruce, who sort of thrusts the great superhero responsibility on Jen (as something she has no choice in), Matt simply highlights the unique stance she has as a superhero who is also a lawyer.
Later, Jen will figure out that this point of view comes from the fact that he’s in a very similar position as her. Perhaps it’s because their situations are so alike that she can take more comfort in his advice. This connection on an emotional level makes my heart soar!
2. They Ace Enemies to Lovers
I love that Jen and Matt’s initial dynamics hinge on the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Not only was he her opponent in court, but they initially also have a showdown when Jen is unaware that it was Matt behind Daredevil’s mask.
From there, their flirty quips are quite palpable—from arguing over what is the best way to take out the henchmen (goons?) to Matt teasing Jen over her accelerated heart rate. Not only is their back-and-forth entertaining, but it’s also undeniably sexy.
I’m Daredevil.
Matt
It is very daring to use ketchup and mustard as your color scheme.
Jennifer
As much as the banter is one of my favorite parts of their relationship, it is only fitting to cut this tension with some bedroom action. Even Jen comically trying to take off Matt’s tough Daredevil suit adds to their hot foreplay.
For Jen who has been longing for someone who can romantically and sexually accept both her human and Hulk forms, this is just the “satisfying” conclusion she needs.
Another aspect that I appreciate is that through She-Hulk’s more “quirky” delivery, we get a Daredevil persona that is slightly more accurate to his comic book version.
Matt is not a holier-than-thou catholic. His brooding nature is often complemented by his playfulness. Each time he smiles at Jen, it literally feels like a shot of serotonin. This is something I truly missed in Netflix’s Daredevil, even with the superhero’s steamy sex scenes with Karen, Claire, and Electra.
3. She-Devil Is a Win for MCU’s Gaping Romance Hole
(It’s She-Devil till the internet comes up with a better ship name.)
If I ask you to name some canon couples in the MCU, you might come up with Tony-Pepper, Steve-Peggy, Peter-MJ, or even Wanda-Vision. But how many of these do you ardently ship?
While the MCU does have a good score of couples (married, dating, or otherwise), the truth is that the MCU has not really invested that much in exploring romance that fans can truly enjoy. (Sorry, even Thor: Love and Thunder does not make the cut.)
Romance in the MCU has been strapped down by Disney’s family-friendly restraints, which in healthy proportions is not a bad thing. But when it’s all you get, it really makes you hungry for the chemistry that characters like She-Hulk and Daredevil have.
Five seconds of their make-out session had a lot more impact than Sersi and Icaris’, which was notably MCU’s first explicit sex scene.
This isn’t to say that all that MCU fans want is to see more superheroes smash, but give us more superhero chemistry that feels real and worth rooting for, that makes you blush and feel strongly enough to write an article about them.
I think fans praising the She-Devil pairing (who were never romantically involved in the comics) is testament enough that the MCU can push the envelope a tiny bit further with the right moves. MCU projects down the line should take note of these two.
4. The Future of She-Hulk and Daredevil
Charlie Cox has been quite open about hoping that Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk makes an appearance in Daredevil: Born Again (2024). Although there’s nothing more that fans would want, whether She-Hulk and her moxie will fit into Hell’s Kitchen is a very valid question.
Between then and now, there is also quite a dearth of projects in which the two have a chance of appearing together. Maslany too pacifies viewers about the two’s relationship by saying Jen is still at the beginning of a new and exciting chapter as She-Hulk and she doesn’t want the character to settle down this soon. (Then why would the show leave us with such an endearing ending of Matt meeting Jen’s family and having them discuss their future?!)
Even if it might take some time, I don’t think fans would mind playing the long game as long as they get to see She-Devil’s stunning chemistry once again on screen.
Better yet, which petition do we have to sign for Jen and Matt to get a TV show of their own? Come on K.E.V.I.N., don’t be shy!
5. About She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is an American superhero television series created by Jessica Gao for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, the show is a part of Phase Four of the MCU.
Jennifer Walters, Attorney to superhumans, must balance her job and identity as She-Hulk and decide which path is for her. Her journey is hurdled by dangerous enemies like The Abomination and Titania. Her cousin Bruce Banner trains her to live life as a green-skinned superhero.
The comedy-legal drama premiered on Disney+ on August 17, 2022, with weekly episodes every Wednesday. The show stars Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Jameela Jamil, Benedict Wong, and Charlie Cox.
No Comments on MCU’s Latest Ship She-Hulk & Daredevil Is Going Strong, and I’m Fully Behind It!