The Incredible Hulk: Married (AKA Bride of the Incredible Hulk)

Dir: Kenneth Johnson

1978

***

As the first series progressed, Banner's character and the animalistic nature of the Hulk were explored, with each episode explaining more about the psychology of each identity. The Hulk, as full of anger and rage as he was, would still reflect Banner's good nature. He would kick the bottoms of the bad guys but had a soft spot of children, animals and of course, the ladies. However, while the Hulk may regain much of Banner's personality, he is dormant in the mind and body of Banner. So after each angry green episode, Banner is left without memory of the event, wondering if he may have done something terrible. So in order to restart the program with series two, another feature length episode was made whereby Banner would seek out a leading psychologist, who specializes in hypnosis, to try and find where the two characters meet, in order to understand and ultimately control Banner's rage, and in turn, control the Hulk. The Hulk was always a cross between Frankenstein's monster and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and generally after the initial success of each of those came the 'Bride of' stories. Hulk: Married is essentially that. There is a really cringe-worthy moment of oriental-based racism that is shockingly repeated later on in the film that is fairly inexcusable, I'm sure it wasn't meant to be offensive but it's really not funny either. Humour and this particular incarnation of the Hulk never went well. The really winning scene in this made for TV feature is the existential hypnotherapy scenes that see Banner and the Hulk face off in the desert (in Banner's mind). Banner plays a giant game of what is essentially scissors paper stone while Hulk watches rather helplessly and uninterested. Banner imagines various different methods of containing the Hulk that get more and more elaborate until he finally keeps him controlled, although this is probably more down to the Hulks bored rather than lack of strength. It's all rather ridiculous but also strangely brilliant. I'm not sure the series ever looked as good, with some really striking imagery and ideas.