The MCU and it's Future...in my Eyes.

 The MCU and the Future.

Likes and dislikes of the D+ shows and films. Before and upcoming.

From 2008 and Iron Man’s debut, I have been astounded at what Kevin Fiege and his crew have built. After Iron Man came Incredible Hulk, which I bought was fantastic and only with one small flaw(the initial look of Hulk at the school). The acting was spot on and was the second step. Then came Iron Man 2, which some criticized, but I liked it. Then came Thor. I had a feeling it was going to be great when I found out it was directed by Kenneth Branagh. Nailed it. And I said after that, if they nail Captain America they can do anything. And they did. 

  Knockout after knockout, from Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 And the best MCU in my opinion, Captain America and the Winter Soldier. Captain America Civil War seemed like another Avengers film, and not glossing over Age of Ultron. 

  The surprise of the first group or phase, was Guardians of the Galaxy. The blending of music on film was perfection and new. Ant-Man and Guardians vol 2 came along and I was pleased. Doctor Strange brought wizards tot he MCU and the addition of Spiderman was wonderfully done. Thor-Ragnarok was fresh, Far From Home was a great sequel to Homecoming. Ant-Man and the Wasp was good and had so much potential, but was left hanging. Captain Marvel and Black Panther were, lackluster to say the least. Like Cars 2, when Pixar hit it’s first bump, these two showed some of the tarnish was coming off. The pair of Avengers film to finish off Phase Three(Infinity War and Endgame) polished off the best of what had come. 

  Phase Four began with an underrated Black Widow(a film far too late in coming), and Shang-Chi, which was okay. No Way Home was the best fan service Spiderman fans could ask for, and the best MCU since Endgame. Then the ball is dropped. Doctor Strange 2 takes a fan favorite Scarlett Witch and makes her a villain, not good. Black Panther 2 suffered with eh death of Chadwick Boseman, and Thor-Love and Thunder was the biggest mess I have ever seen. What a terrible film with very little to make it even decent. 

 Before digging into Phase Five and the future, the television shows have to be addressed. Agents of SHIELD was a show with a few standout shows(Ghost RIder’s being the best), but overall were confusing. Agent Carter was a great period piece show, but the whole Steve is alive aspect is never even mentioned. And the Inhumans…well, sucked. Period.

  The there was Netflix. Daredevil was great in all 3 seasons, Jessica Jones’s first was great, but the second lacked punch. Luke Cage was second best to Daredevil’s 2nd outing. Iron Fist was outright terrible. The Defenders was a good show and thankfully only one season was made. The addition of The Punisher was fitting and placed well. 

 Disney+ arrives. WandaVision was the first and the best. Entirely new and creative and, WOW. I was looking forward to Falcon and Winter Soldier, but was disappointed. Baron Zero was the standout character and Bucky a close second. Just didn’t grip me as I thought it would. Loki was, in my opinion, bit as good as everyone praised. It was good, just not great. Hawkeye was next and I loved this series. Then came Moon Knight and it was fresh and different and not much else. Ms Marvel was the one show that surprised me more than any other! And She-Hulk finished out the Disney+ series. And to all the critics, I loved it. It was like watching a comic book and that is what it IS. I didn’t mention What If?, because I honestly didn’t like it. At all. So many things wrong with it(i.e. T’Challa being called Star Lord…????)

 As far as the series future, Secret Invasion is a meh, as is season 2 of Loki. I am still not sure why Echo is getting a show and What if 2…well. Ironheart, no. Agatha might be ok, and I am curious on how Daredevil Born Again will add to the Netflix series. So many other shows are on the slate, and the only one I wanted to see is Wonder Man, but they are going in a different route than the comics I read as a kid, so that’s out.

 Now back to the films of Phase Five. Ant Man and the Wasp: QuantumMania was a confusing all CGI fest of ‘what?’. It was made to build a bad guy and nothing more. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol3 is the best MCU film since No Way Home and Endgame. Preceding it was the GotG Holiday Special, which had some decent parts, but wasn’t doing it for me. Coming up on the slate is The Marvels which takes Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel and Photon(from WandaVision) and screws Brie Larson out of a Captain Marvel stand-alone sequel. Following will be Captain America: New World Order, and the delayed Thunderbolts and Blade. I honestly have zero desire to see CA:NWO at all. Nothing there is really pulling me in. I will want to see the new take on Blade though.

 Phase Six, I think, will be a hodgepodge of mediocrity with he only real money-maker being Deadpool 3 with Reynolds and Jackman finally getting equal screen time. And unless the casting for Fantastic Four is REALLY good, I don’t think it will draw people in. Avengers: Kang Dynasty will falter and be compared to Thanos’s films, as will Secret Wars(or is that a TV show…???). 

 So after all this, will Marvel continue to be a powerhouse? Hard to say. Super Hero fatigue may have set in, but don’t tell DC that. With Joker 2, The Batman’s sequel and the Gunn reboots(don’t get me started), they will outperform the MCU for once. The only MCU film I see making a lot of money in the next 5 years is Deadpool 3. 

PS I didn’t cover Hulu’s Runaways or Clank and Dagger or Hailstorm because I have never seen them. And The Eternals was doomed from the start with me. I have seen it and disliked all of it. And the post credit scene was a utter fail. 

PS 2: I am Groot was the finest and most wholesome show Marvel has made. Fun and cute.