TheMarvel Cinematic Universeoften gets cold feet when it comes to making big changes to its world, constantly going back on the promise of major developments. As such a long-running franchise, it’s no secret that the franchise has had to make certain compromises with its narrative in order to keep going, with no end in sight after34 MCU movies. Every now and then, the series shocks audiences with a huge, exciting plot point only to quickly double back or make it irrelevant.
In many cases,the Marvel Cinematic Universe will end movies with a grand reveal that has dire implications for the story and its characters as a whole. Sadly, more often than not, these last-minute changes are quickly undone in the very next movie or episode,keeping the MCU going far into the futureby not upheaving its status quo too much. It’s easy to see why the MCU is hesitant to rock the boat, no matter how much the creatives behind the series may want to.
10Spider-Man’s Secret Identity Reveal Was Immediately Undone
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Secret identities have never been a huge focus of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to Robert Downey Jr.‘sfamous “I am Iron Man” lineat the end of the very first film.One prominent exception has always been Spider-Man, whose secret identity is a far more integral part of his struggle as superhero and normal life compared to the celebrity status of other heroes. That’s why it was so shocking when Mysterio revealed to the entire world that Spider-Man was Peter Parker at the end ofSpider-Man: Far From Home.
Did Spider-Man: No Way Home give the necessary closure to Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man?
Andrew Garfield recently commented on how his time as Spider-Man “felt undone” due to The Amazing Spider-Man 3’s cancellation. I believe that Spider-Man: No Way Home perfectly allowed Garfield to close that chapter. While I still want to see him return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a new solo film, if Garfield were never to suit up again, he would now have a fitting ending as the character. Garfield’s Spider-Man managed to save Zendaya’s MJ from suffering the same tragic fate as Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, which made things right for me.
It was interesting to see the fallout from such a reveal in the opening scenes ofSpider-Man: No Way Home,as Spider-Man having to survive as an open secret isn’t a traditional arc for the character in other movies or even the comics. Sadly, the potential storylines that could’ve been wrung from this idea are cut short when Spider-Man commissions Doctor Strange to concoct a spell that will make the whole world forget him.At least the leaking of his secret identity certainly did have consequences for Peter Parker in the MCU.
9Thor’s One Eye Was Way More Temporary Than You Might Think
Avengers: Infinity War
Thor: Ragnarokis mostly remembered for being a jokey film that didn’t take itself too seriously, from its far-out sci-fi setting to Thor’s increasingly comedic persona.However, the film at least progressed his character arc quite intricately, as represented physically by the loss of his right eye to Hela. This not only left a permanent physical scar on Thor, but caused him to resemble his father even more, hinting at the possibility that Thor could become the next Norse All-Father.
The fact that Thor is technically missing an eye is not even mentioned in future films, andThor: Love and Thunderdoesn’t even commit to giving Chris Hemsworth heterochromia to draw attention to the fake eye.
Yet the narrative implications of such a striking physical change for Thor are undone quickly by the events ofAvengers: Infinity War, which gave Thor a brand-new cybernetic eye courtesy of Rocket Raccoon.The fact that Thor is technically missing an eye is not even mentioned in future films, andThor: Love and Thunderdoesn’t even commit to giving Chris Hemsworth heterochromia to draw attention to the fake eye. As stunning as a change to Thor’s character growth as the loss of his eye may have been, Hemsworth apparently couldn’t be bothered to wear contacts.
8Iron Man’s Two Retirements Didn’t Last Long
Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Endgame
Iron Man was allegedly supposed to retire from the hero business not once, but twice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before his untimely demise in-costume. Admittedly, his return to the superhero life makes a lot of sense inAvengers: Endgame,having demonstrated to be a family man of five years that reluctantly suits up once again in order to serve the greater good. But it’s his climactic retirement inIron Man 3that may as well have not happened.
At the end of Iron Man’s third solo film, he promises to Pepper Potts to take a huge step back from hero work, even going as far as to destroy hishorde of autonomous Iron Man suits.Yet by the time of his next appearance inAvengers: Age of Ultron,Tony Stark is not only a very active member of the Avengers, but he has more Iron Legion drones than ever, which end up getting used against him by Ultron.It’s puzzling as to why the MCU would propose this retirement at all knowing Iron Man would be back so soon.
7Loki’s Many Fakeout Deaths Kept Him Narratively Immortal
The Avengers, Thor: Ragnarok, Loki
Tony Stark may have lied about retiring multiple lines, but he can’t hold a candle to Loki’s many, many fakeout deaths that ultimately cheapened the impact of a narrative demise in the MCU.At first, Loki falls from the Bifrost Bridge at the end ofThor, seemingly perishing in an endless cosmic abyss. But the trickster god comes back without much fanfare inThe Avengersjust in time to become a large enough threat to necessitate the first official formation of the titular superhero group.
Loki then goes on to fake his death once more inThor: The Dark World,living a cushy secret existence pretending to be Odin before he is outed by his temperamental brother inThor: Ragnarok.
Though he technically dies for real inAvengers: Infinity War,the variant of Loki that escapes and goes on to become the God of Stories in theLokiseries keeps him an immovable force in the greater overarching plot.The MCU just can’t seem to live without Loki no matter how many times he’s supposed to die for emotional impact.
6The Bifrost’s Destruction Didn’t Matter At All
Thor: The Dark World
Speaking of the Bifrost Bridge, the mythical structure that allows for travel between worlds is also broken at the end ofThor,being cracked by the God of Thunder himself as a heroic sacrifice. Giving up his love and newfound friendship by forsaking the ability to ever travel to Earth again, Thor is finally able to demonstrate his increased responsibility and level-headed decision-making.Yet the consequence of the Bifrost’s destruction inThoris basically nonexistent in future movies.
The Bifrost Bridge is quickly repaired inThor: The Dark World,allowing for easy transit to and from thevarious realms of Asgardonce more. But it seems as though Thor and Loki didn’t even need it in the first place, somehow able to show up on Earth inThe Avengerswithout use of the Rainbow Bridge at all. The supposed consequences of Thor’s actions at the end of his debut MCU film were certainly never followed up on.
5James Gunn Walked Back Past Gamora Getting Back With Quill
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Loki isn’t the only character who got to be resurrected in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to the time travel shenanigans ofAvengers: Endgame.Gamora is also another big player who gets another shot at staying in the story after her primary self dies, somehow able to permanently hop back over into the main timeline. Though she seems hesitant to do so, the film heavily implies that this new Gamora will rejoin the Guardians of the Galaxy and perhaps even rekindle her other self’s romantic relationship with Peter Quill.
The moment where he laments his situation in the elevator almost feels like a mouthpiece for Gunn’s frustration forAvengers: Infinity War’s use of Gamora.
James Gunn evidently didn’t find this hunky-dory solution to Gamora’s traumatic death to be a good fit for the Guardians’ final arc.Despite the puppy-dog eyes she makes at Quill through a viel of disgust at the end ofAvengers: Endgame,the new Gamora ends up wanting nothing to do with him inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,despite how desperately Star-Lord may want to make things work. The moment where he laments his situation in the elevator almost feels like a mouthpiece for Gunn’s frustration forAvengers: Infinity War’s use of Gamora.
4Evan Peters' Quicksilver Is Quickly Walked Back
WandaVision
It’s one thing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to walk back big changes over the course of two back-to-back movies directed and written by different people. But the Disney+ series have allowed for massive plot developments to be scrapped as quickly as the next episode. Enter Evan Peters' return as Quicksilver inWandaVision,an event which initially excited fans as an avenue for the X-Men to finally join the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Frustratingly, it’s soon revealed that this new version of Quicksilver is little more than an actor hired by Agatha Harkness as part of her nefarious schemes to capture the Scarlet Witch’s power.Even more insultingly, his presence in the series ends up amounting to little more than a cheap, juvenile joker aimed at his name. Even if Evan Peters' Quicksilver wasn’t technically confirmed to be the same one from theFox X-Men movie timeline, the betrayal of missed opportunity still stings.
3Bruce Banner’s Control Of The Hulk Is Constantly In Flux
The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Despite the re-cast from Edward Norton to Mark Ruffalo, it’s important to remember that Bruce Banner is technically the same character fromThe Incredible Hulkto the rest of the mainline movies.This makes it all the more confusing that his relationship with the Hulk never seems to end on a consistent note. The final moments ofThe Incredible Hulkimplies that Bruce has finally gained a handle on his transformations, and the famous “I’m always angry” line inThe Avengersseems to further support this.
Yet inAvengers: Age of Ultron,The Hulk is back to being a dangerous weapon of mass destruction that has to be very carefully aimed by the Avengers at distinct threats, necessitating an entire specialized armor suit to take him down on an off-the-books rampage.It can’t help but seem like all of Banner’s work to ensure some level of control over his monstrous persona was all for naught.That’s not even to mention the way Hulk totally takes over for an extended period of time at the end of the film, leading toThor: Ragnarok.
2Sam Wilson Drags His Feet In Becoming Captain America
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
One of the most poignant and touching moments inAvengers: Endgameis when Steve Rogers passes the mantle of Captain America on to Sam Wilson after taking his chance to live a normal life with his beloved.Sam hesitantly accepts the weighty burden, saying the shield feels like “someone else’s”, but seems to ultimately accept the honor of becoming the next Captain America. It isn’t untilThe Falcon and The Winter Soldierthat we learn that Sam was apparently only being polite to old man Rogers in the moment.
It turns out that Sam donates the legendary shield to the Smithsonian Institution shortly after receiving it, going back on his supposed promise to Steve inAvengers: Endgame.As if that weren’t bad enough, the morally underqualified John Walker is quick to pick up the legacy while backed by the U.S. government, only to soil it soon after with a bloody public display of aggression.At least Sam will finally get his time to shine as Captain America inthe upcomingCaptain America: Brave New World.
1The Snap Immediately Gets Undone In The Next Movie
Avengers: Endgame
The single biggest loss the Avengers have ever taken and perhaps the most defining development to ever occur in the MCU is Thanos' Snap. Wiping out half of all organic life with the mere snap of his fingers,Thanos irrevocably changes the universe with his victory, leaving the heroes stunned and in despair. But it’s only in the very next chronological movie that this damage is undone in an instant.
Granted, the five-year timeskip that is the Blip allowed for the effects of Thanos' victory to linger for a little bit. But it isn’t long from a viewer’s perspective before everything is back the way it was, even if the sudden reappearance of the dead and their halted ages may have complicated things. It would’ve been nice to see theMCUlinger on the Snap for another movie or two before fixing things.
