MCU's Evolution Post-Endgame

Common Sentiments Amongst Fans

• Discussions around MCU's decline post-Endgame.
• Criticism of Phase Four and recent movies like Thor: Love and Thunder, Quantumania, Secret Invasion.
• Growing sentiment of dissatisfaction among fans and casual audiences.

Quality and Comparisons

• Criticisms of films not matching the quality of earlier phases.
  • Example: Love and Thunder's comparison to Thor: Ragnarok.
• Some movies like Shang-Chi remain appreciated by specific audience segments.
• Popular shows include WandaVision and Loki.

Oversaturation and Content Growth

• Phase 4 had more content hours than the first three phases combined.
• Abundance of films, TV shows, and special presentations in recent phases.
• Oversaturation is a symptom of a deeper issue.

Time as the MCU's New Challenge

• Time impacts the audience connection to characters.
• Previous phases had recurring appearances of core heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.
• These characters appeared regularly, cementing their roles in the MCU narrative.

Character Appearances and Audience Connection

• Characters like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor had consistent presence.
  • Iron Man (2008-2019): Minimal years missed, crucial appearances.
  • Captain America appeared annually during his tenure.
  • Thor's narrative involved key appearances across early MCU.
• Regular crossovers and character development deepened audience connection.

Comparisons to Post-Endgame

• Introduction of numerous new heroes without consistent reappearances.
• Longer gaps between character appearances.
• More content, but less connection to central narrative.

Impact of Content Scheduling

• Example: Captain Marvel's four-year gap before sequel.
• Doctor Strange’s six-year gap between solo films.
• Other characters like Shang-Chi, Eternals without clear sequel plans.
• Oversaturation leads to characters being forgotten.

Building Legacy and Universe

• MCU initially built strong character connections and ongoing narratives.
• Lack of constant presence impacts emotional attachment.
• New characters introduced rapidly, harder to build the same connection.

Future Prospects and Suggestions

• Need for a new "core trinity" to anchor the MCU.
• Suggestions for possible anchors: Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Shang-Chi.
• Importance of regular appearances and team-ups.

Conclusion

• MCU must balance character introduction with development and narrative continuity.
• Need to focus on fewer projects with more significant character interactions.
• Aim for coherent storytelling and meaningful crossover events.
• Emphasize building relationships and connections akin to earlier phases.

Closing Notes

• Discussion on future anticipated projects, such as Deadpool 3, The Kang Dynasty, Secret Wars.
• Importance of integrating new stories with central MCU narrative.
• Emphasize quality and audience engagement over sheer quantity of content.