Phase 4 movies and series have not been very well received by fans. Recently, we got some of the lowest rated Marvel movies and Disney+ shows. Does this mean Marvel has lost its charm? Will Phase 4 be the end of the cinematic verse? And why does the new Marvel feel so fragmented? Well, here is my opinion on all these questions:
Nostalgia
One of the biggest problems with Phase 4 of the MCU is that we no longer have our favorite heroes or teams to look up to. With the end of the infinity saga in End Game, we also lost most of our favorite heroes who had us hooked on the sci-fi verse. Waiting for the next Avengers movie knowing we won’t see Cap or Tony in it doesn’t feel the same.
Massive expectations
The Infinity Saga took 10 years to produce the masterpieces Infinity War and End Game. When Phase I started, no one expected it to end up becoming such a huge universe. So with each new movie, people had manageable expectations and mostly marveled. However, the last two Avengers movies set the bar too high, and ridiculous fan theories as soon as a movie title drops, doesn’t help either.
too many shows
A year ago, I would have refused to believe that there would ever be something like – too many wonderful projects. However, recently Marvel has pushed a lot of shows into a small window, and that has proven to be more problematic than good. Most of these new shows feel rushed and have less than amazing CGI. She-Hulk is rumored to have a per-episode budget of over $20 million, which matches the HBO series – House of the Dragon.
The latter got much better approval ratings and the Dragon is a sight to behold. Therefore, it seems that the budget is not the problem. On the contrary, Marvel chose quantity over quality.
A newer fanbase.
Now Disney+ shows such as Ms Marvel and She-Hulk have made it clear that Marvel is now trying to expand its fan base. With Phase 4 and the upcoming movies, Marvel seems to cater to a variety of audiences and not just appeal to its traditional viewers. it doesn’t make sense. Marvel has such a rich source to tap into, and not all of these stories are everyone’s cup of tea.
Directionless
Endgame released in 2019 and ever since, we’ve all wondered where the Universe is headed now. While we know Marvel is heading into the Multiverse Saga and Kang is the new Thanos, the MCU still feels fragmented and directionless. Kang was teased a year ago in Loki and hasn’t been mentioned in any other movies or series yet. With so many new heroes and characters, it’s also become overwhelming to think about how it’s all going to connect to each other.
final verdict
With Marvel’s d23 exposure, it’s become clear that the cinematic universe is far from dead. With some great titles on the list as well as the return of Daredevil and the announcement of the Fantastic Four, fans have plenty to be excited about. Upcoming films such as Blade, Secret Invasion, and Wakanda Forever could also bring some much-needed seriousness to this movieverse.
The expectations of movie giants have been very high after the end of the third phase. It won’t be easy to reach the same level again, but after reviewing the future lineup of projects, we’re pretty sure they’ll be up to the task.
With Marvel now trying to expand its fan base, fans need to realize that not every movie and show will be for everyone. We have to be selective about what we want to watch and what we don’t. We just hope Disney doesn’t pull another Thor: Love and Thunder and ruin a fan-favorite hero.