The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Multiverse Saga was a time of change for Hollywood's most famous franchise. It took the ongoing MCU story into new territory, introduced new characters, and even saw the Marvel Studios film series turn to television, using Disney Plus to offer up new types of storytelling.
But the Multiverse Saga encompassed more than just movies and shows centred around the multiverse. There was The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Moon Knight, and so many more film and TV projects. Sadly, many people have called this phase a dud and a failure. This writer thinks this is due to everyone comparing the projects in this phase to Avengers: Endgame, and if we're being honest, nothing will be like that ever again; it was a first for the MCU and for Hollywood, marking the culmination of an 11-year story.
Speaking of being honest, this article is going to highlight seven things that people get wrong about Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga. Let’s begin with one of my favorite projects.
7. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law was brilliant
Many comic book fans complained that Marvel Studios continuously followed the same formula in all of its projects and that they needed to do something different. Those complaints were fair and the introduction of the Disney Plus shows allowed them to experiment with that. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was one of the strongest examples of that.
It did everything that people had asked for, and there were still complaints. But it was rarely about the quality of the show. A lot of it those complaints were directed at the "goofiness" of the show (it was essentially a sitcom) and that it "wasn’t like" the She-Hulk comics. However, writer Dan Slott (who’s written the character more than anyone) said that it was a great representation. And he's right!
6. WandaVision was better than Endgame
Avengers: Endgame is one of the crown jewels of the MCU, and it's still held up as one of the franchise's biggest and best moments. But the truth is that WandaVision is better and it’s not even close.
The Disney Plus series that opened the Multiverse Saga had more depth and better acting with less of a budget and star power. It also didn’t need nostalgic moments to be memorable. It relied on superior storytelling and a cast that consistently blew people away. It's no surprise that the show earned Marvel Studios its first Emmys.
5. Everything about Doctor Strange 2 is underrated
Staying on Wanda Maximoff projects, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Yes, everyone loved the Elizabeth Olsen's performance as the Scarlet Witch and seeing Wanda front and center was awesome, but it’s more than that. The action scene with the two Doctor Stranges (Doctors Stragen?) was extremely creative and beautiful. The story perfectly paced with a healthy mix of both comedy with seriousness. And there was even redemption for Anson Mount’s Black Bolt.
Go back and watch this movie. You’ll appreciate it more!
4. Echo was better than you think
The final fight in the season finale of Echo may have been somewhat disappointing, but everything else about Marvel's first TV-MA series was very good. The action was above average, the story did a good job of representing indigenous culture, and Alaqua Cox did a masterful job as Maya Lopez.
Promoting it as a TV-MA project may have been a tad misleading because it wasn’t nearly as bloody as suggested. But that’s a small part of a good series. And that aside, it worked well as Marvel's first binge-drop.
3. Marvel dropped the ball with America Chavez
America Chavez is one of the strongest and most confident characters in Marvel Comics. Sadly, you wouldn’t know that from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Sure, there the character needed to be developed, and this isn't the comic book universe. Nevertheless, it didn't capitalize on much of what made the character so compelling in the comics, and much of the storytelling made her look weak. The end of the movie didn't help her case either.
Furthermore, this was also an opportunity to showcase Xochitl Gomez. If the script had portrayed an America Chavez closer to the comic, the character would have stood out more. We're excited to see where she goes in the MCU's future but she deserved a stronger debut.
2. Eternals deserves more respect
A lot of people look at Eternals as a failure, and this writer thinks that’s wrong. The creative team for this Multiverse Saga's third film took a plethora of Marvel characters and made a movie where they all shine.
Would this project have worked better as Disney Plus a show? It certainly would have. However, you knew each of the Eternals' personalities and their motivations. That should count for something. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful you’ll ever see them again... in their own project at least.
1. The Marvels deserved better
After The Marvels was released on Disney Plus, there was one common trend: Everyone who saw it wished they’d supported it while it was in theaters. And they should have - the movie was fantastic. Sure, the main villain wasn’t all that memorable, but everything else was. I also don’t agree about the music planet being out of place. The creative team made a fun alien planet and should be commended for trying something different.
And then there’s the review bombs. People who didn’t like the movie because it was led by multiple women tore the movie apart because of their bias. Had that not happened, The Marvels would have had a much better chance of being a hit.
The Marvels is one of the Multiverse Saga's most underrated projects and it certainly didn't deserve its fate of being the franchise's only outright box-office failure. Simply put: It deserved better.
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