10 shocking things I learned rewatching the MCU movies

8. Avengers: Age of Ultron was actually good

The history books will tell you that Avengers: Age of Ultron wasn't very good. The history books are wrong.

I was guilty of this, too. I remember viewing the movie as an inferior and rather unnecessary action flick that didn't offer much to the MCU, but the truth is that it has aged remarkably well. Ultron's potential wasn't fully realized but he was still a great villain that forced the Avengers to reunite; it's hard to take on a team of virtually unstoppable superheroes, so being a super-computer capable of outthinking and outmanoeuvring attacks before they are even made has its advantages.

It also raises some important questions about the dangers of relying on technology too much, which also feeds nicely into Tony's central arc in the MCU. Iron Man's greatest fear is that all of his friends will die and he won't be able to save them, and that ends up playing into future movies, particularly Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, making Age of Ultron that much more important to the MCU in hindsight.

That's not even taking into account the fact that this movie introduces Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, Hawkeye's family, and Vision - all of whom go on to play pretty pivotal roles in the MCU.

One of my favorite things about my rewatch of the MCU was rediscovering Avengers: Age of Ultron. It honestly deserves more love.