Sweet, Sweet Subtext

Sweet, Sweet Subtext is the second episode of the second season of Pork and Konjac, written by Elliot Strange and Sajeet Convoy. Seeking time away from their respective groups, Colleen, Fiona, Rhonda, Kate, Alison and Donna team up to write a fan-made comic based on Marvel Comics' She-Hulk. However, they would soon face pushback from a smut obsessed publisher who tries to steer them toward his preferred direction. Meanwhile, Alex takes part in a stage play with an actress seeking to return to the fold, but her past resurfaces.

Plot

Alex is doing a line-read for a stage play she is taking part in, said play involving a former prominent actress seeking to return to the field. A guessing game relating to who the actresses is runs Colleen ragged, compounded with a lack of personal time, Colleen wants to take a personal vacation to recharge. Elsewhere, members of Alyson's group had previously left due to in-fighting and Alyson's then over-persistence and are trying to find something new to do. They and Colleen would overhear each other at a secondhand store, with Colleen confronting a clerk relating to political allegories in X-Men, something the group resonates with. Both would meet in a diner and go over their shared love of comic books, with Colleen entertaining the idea of making their own comic based on one of their favorite superheroes, each agreeing to meet up the next day to plan it out.

They would meet back up and plan out the story, but are almost deterred by how derivative their concept turns out to be. Colleen reassures them by suggesting they attempt a direction nobody has tried, settling with a psychological thriller story with feminist themes. The group would write the first issue, and in looking for a publisher find promotions for an outfit called 2D Publishing, After presenting their story, the head publisher Cunningham would provide them notes to incorporate for the final draft. They would be dismayed to learn the publisher wants them to take their story in a more sexual direction, owed to the general perception of the character by a dedicated community. However, fearing dismissal from the project they would attempt to compromise by incorporating the suggestions but in their own way. Cunningham would take issue with the dialog in the story. The girls would accuse Cunningham of having a backward view of women due to the sexual nature of his dialog suggestions, and he would threaten to take the rights to their story if they walk out, per the terms of their contract. The girls would reluctantly incorporate his suggestions before departing.

Alex would go to a local playhouse to rehearse for the play, meeting her co-star Lisa Zane. The play had been co-written by Zane relating to personal experiences, those of which she is reluctant to go into. Both do a line-read which goes well, though things sour when a compliment Alex makes on Zane's voice triggers a bad memory. Both would make peace and opt to go to a cafe for lunch. As Alex excuses herself to look for a table, Zane is confronted by a patron and Alex intervenes. Zane claims that the patron was sexually assaulting her and Alex forces him out. In spite of Alex insisting they call the cops, Zane claims she doesn't want to press any charges as Alex got involved before it could get severe. Both would return to the playhouse to finish out their rehearsals, before leaving at night.

Alex returns home, finding Colleen and company standing by the front of the house drunk. None are willing to talk about what happened, and Alex would leave them before they pass out. Alex would return to the playhouse for a final line-read. As she and Zane get to know each other more, Zane would reveal more about her career and where it led her. Zane claims that because of one particular role she took it had cast a shadow over her and she is unable to escape it. Looking more into the script Alex realizes it serves to allow Zane to vent about her frustrations, and Alex is willing to let her do what she feels can help her. The play would go on, but Zane finds herself subject to cat calls from those who recognize her voice, that from the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon. Overwhelmed, Zane would leave the playhouse with Alex following behind.

Cast

Starring

• Julie Rei Goldstein: Alex
• Stephanie Hsu: Mace
• Julia Wolov: Colleen
• Lombardo Boyar: Anthony
• Olivia Thirlby: Alyson
• Charlie Day: Drew

Also Starring

• Olivia d'Abo: Rhonda
• Joy Osmanski: Kate
• Olivia Hack: Fiona
• Sarah Silverman: Alison
• Elizabeth Gillies: Donna
• Neal McDonough: Cunningham

Special Guest Star

• Lisa Zane: Herself

Trivia

• Strange claimed to have written this episode to take advantage of Disney backing the series; Disney produced the series under their 20th Television Animation division and own the rights to Marvel Comics' roster of characters as well as their animated catalog via the acquisition of Marvel's defunct animation division.
• The episode pokes fun at a fandom dedicated to sexual depictions of the She-Hulk, one spurred by an episode of the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon "Doomed" that introduced the character She-Hulk that also serves as a basis for fetish art pieces.