Marvel Cinematic Universe 2021 Year in Review and 2022 Preview

*WARNING- THERE ARE A LOT OF SPOILERS AHEAD FOR EACH MCU RELEASE IN 2021. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.*

The end of the Infinity Sage with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home brought the end of an era in 2019. Endgame did spectacularly at the box office and the second installment of Tom Holland's Spider-Man films wrapped up the events of Phase Three. The end of Phase Three also brought about Disney+ in November 2019, which would bring all sorts of possibilities to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What was being hyped for Phase Four had everyone buzzing. Then, COVID hit and shut down the world. With the pandemic, came the closing of movie theaters, making it impossible for patrons to see films on the big screen. Projects for Phase Four were moved back, leaving fans waiting. 2020 would be the first year in over a decade with no Marvel releases. The news would come out over time, giving fans an idea as to when they'd be seeing their favorites return to the screen, while also introducing new heroes and villains to the mix. 902 days after Spider-Man's identity was revealed at the end of No Way Home, Disney+ released the first MCU TV show, WandaVision, in January. In total, 2021 saw the release of five television shows and four films, the most film releases for any year since the beginning of the MCU. With the return to the theater, each of the four films is currently in the top six at the domestic box office for the year. 

I want to give my honest opinion about each of this year's releases and rank them head-to-head. I've separated the television shows and movies, which is not what I was going to do originally. I wanted to rank all nine releases the same way, but I opted against it since it's easier to compare shows to shows and movies to movies. The biggest factors when considering each of these entries are what did it do to improve the existing characters, what are some of the new elements it brought to the MCU to look forward to, and, most importantly, how much did I enjoy it. I want to make it very clear, I'm not someone who overanalyzes every frame of a show. I don't try to take these things too seriously. I will also never claim to know everything about the backstory and comic book origins of every character or every storyline. They're meant to be entertaining. I don't think any of these releases are bad, there are just some that I liked a lot more than others. 

2021 Rankings

TV Shows

5. WandaVision (Jan-Mar)

Marvel's first foray into television on Disney+ welcomed Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Vision back to the screen. The longest of the year's live-action series, each episode evolves and parodies a sit-com from that generation, everything from "I Love Lucy" to "Modern Family". The first two episodes don't reveal much, but the action picks up once we're introduced to Monica Rambeau and the re-introductions to Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis. The evolution of Wanda's character was paramount to the show and that is one of its strongest aspects, tracing her journey all the way back in the penultimate episode through the end of Endgame and the struggles she's facing. The slow burn for Vision realizing he's not real and the reveal that it was Agatha all along were also great. Where this series struggled is its secondary antagonist from S.W.O.R.D., Director Hayward. His character feels like it disappears for long periods and his final moments in the show's climax were forgettable. He's for sure in the lower tier of antagonists in all of Marvel. The Evan Peters saga where the final reveal is not that he's Quicksilver, but just some random character that Agatha's controlling fell flat. This felt more like a series that means something than a prelude for the next Doctor Strange movie, which we're given a hint at in the post-credit scene in the finale. It's not a bad show by any means, but it's not among my favorite Marvel efforts. 6.5/10

4. What If (Aug-Oct)

This is easily one of the most unique projects Marvel has undertaken. The concept stretched what we thought we knew about the MCU and gave us scenarios we never thought possible. Each episode asks a question that changes the way we look at the MCU in some way and some of these episodes culminated in the finale episode with the "Guardians of the Multiverse". They all provided their own interesting stories and re-wrote history. I really liked the art style, though it admittedly took me an episode or two to get used to. The introductions of Captain Carter and Doctor Strange Supreme are two that I hope we see more of in the future and I'd love a "Guardians of the Multiverse" appearance in the future as well. My favorite episodes were the Captain Carter episode and the episode where Hank Pym is revealed to have killed all of the Avengers.  Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher tied the entire series together perfectly as was a great narrator. Some of my problems with the series are issues that frankly stem from the believability of a show that is supposed to be a bit exaggerated and unrealistic. It might be just how much we've seen of these characters in the last decade-plus, like seeing a nice Thanos or T'Challa as Star-Lord felt really weird I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. The show also killed Tony Stark in almost every episode, which felt weird given how important the character has been. They could've treated him a little differently, but then again it seemed to drive a lot of the stories along. I'm sure we'll see a lot more of this show in the future and the scenarios seem endless. 7/10

3. Loki (Jun-Jul)

The margin between the top three shows from this year is very thin. I've placed Loki here because this is another that felt more like a vehicle for something bigger down the line than something big at the moment. What sets this apart from "WandaVision" is the world it created and what it did to set up future projects. Seeing Tom Hiddleston back on the screen as Loki was fun because he always brings this semi-serious and extremely funny character to life. Riding off the events of Endgame where Loki escapes with the Tessaract while the Avengers are conducting their "Time Heist", we're introduced to the Time Variance Authority and its various workers. Owen Wilson as Mobius was a surprisingly good addition to the MCU. I also really liked Ravonna Renslayer, who serves as the main antagonist for the series. We get to meet several variants of Loki throughout the series, the most important of them being Sylvie, the variant looking to destroy the "Sacred Timeline" that the TVA is sworn to protect. My chief complaint with the show is the relationship between Loki and Sylvie, especially the romantic undertones of their relationship. They have clear chemistry, but I don't see them as a great match. My other big note is that, despite my calling Renslayer the antagonist, I didn't think the show had a clear "big bad" and decided to have a character that does things that feel bad without making them feel like a true villain. Jonathan Majors in the season finale really captivated me and makes me excited to see him become Kang the Conqueror in subsequent movies. Like I said, this felt like something to set up the future of the MCU, not its own series. I'm very excited to see where some of these things go in the greater MCU, as well as the second season of the show. 8.5/10

2. Hawkeye (Nov-Dec)

The final television release of the year, this show made the most overlooked member of the original six Avengers and made a great series. This time around Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton/Hawkeye must deal with his demons from Endgame as Ronin while also trying to keep his new protege Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld, safe with the Track Suit Mafia coming after her. The chemistry between the two is amazing and clicked almost instantly. The Russian team is led by Maya Lopez/Echo, who might be my favorite character introduced for the first time in one of these series and one of the best in all forms this year. She's deaf, but her mannerisms and expressions paired with her fighting ability make her a great addition to the MCU. Several characters grew on me during the six-episode run, most notably Jack Duquesne, who I wasn't a huge fan of when the show began. The show blends comedy and action very well and the action sequences are well shot. Yelena Belova made her return to go after Hawkeye at the end of episode four and the entirety of episodes five and six, stealing the show at the end of the season. Much like with Barton, her comedic chemistry with Bishop was brilliantly written. The only thing that keeps it from being in my top spot was their handling of Wilson Fisk/Kingpen in the season finale. Kingpin's introduction as the cliffhanger at the end of episode five was a huge moment in itself, even if I haven't watched Daredevil, and was a major deal for the future of the MCU. Towards the end of the final episode, he's shot by Echo in an alley after getting into a fight with Kate Bishop and seemingly is killed. I know he likely will show up again, probably in the spin-off series centered around Echo, but it felt like an odd choice for a character that was just introduced. Other than this small thing, this was a great series for Marvel to end the year with, especially with it being Christmas-themed. 9/10

1. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Mar-Apr)

The Captain America trilogy is my favorite non-Avengers trilogy and arguably the strongest set of films in the MCU. Winter Soldier is my favorite MCU film, so getting a series with Bucky Barnes and adding onto it the evolution of Sam Wilson/Falcon from being reluctant and giving the shield back to embracing what was given to him and becoming the hero we all knew he was made this a series I was very excited for. I don't think this is a perfect series by any means, but it's my favorite from this year. The way it was shot is very reminiscent of how the Captain America movies were shot, with a very surreal and brooding feeling. It's the most grounded in reality alongside Hawkeye. Some of the scenes at Sam's sisters and on the boat seem to drag a little and I didn't care about the Flagsmashers outside of Karli. With these negatives out of the way, it allows me to talk about everything this show did great. The chemistry between the two titular characters is amazing. We got some small bits in "Civil War" during the airport scene, but this was on a whole new level. Sharon Carter comes back and it feels like she's being set up to be a new villain since it was revealed she's the Power Broker. Wyatt Russell makes it so each to hate the new Captain America, John Walker, and his performance is a definite highlight. The scene at the end of the fourth episode where he uses the shield to kill a Flagsmasher is iconic. The story with Isaiah Bradley and the overall arc for him was great. The introduction of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine sets up a great future for the MCU. But, most importantly, this series was the return of my favorite MCU antagonist, Baron Zemo. His performance in "Civil War" is amazing and it was nice to see him back for a few episodes. Killing off Karli in the finale was a bold decision, but it'll be good to see the duo fight a new foe in the upcoming film. 9.5/10

Movies

4. Eternals (November)

Let me start with the obvious statement, this is not the worst MCU movie that has ever been made. I don't think it was anything ground-breaking, but this isn't as bad as everyone said it was. I also don't think it was "so bad it was good". It's a middle-of-the-road film and that's about it. My biggest problem is that they tried to do too much with way too many characters. This is ten new characters in a single team that we've never been introduced to on the big screen that we now have to care about. Some of the Eternals are on the screen a lot more than others and several of them are killed midway through the film. It's hard to invest in them as a team because they don't act like a team very much in the film. I also felt the backstory and reasoning for their being on Earth this whole time was way too convoluted. They also just seemed to kill the Deviant way too easily at the end after so much buildup after he'd killed a few of the Eternals. As for the positives, some of the individual Eternals were good. We're supposed to really care about Sersi and I thought she was a good protagonist. Each of the members had their moments to shine, but I liked Phastos, Gilgamesh, Makkari the most among the team. This is a weird thing, but I really liked the design of the Celestials. Some of my favorite scenes were the scenes where Arishem confronted the Eternals. The teases in the end credit, especially hearing Mahershala Ali's Blade confront Kit Harrington's Dane Whitman/Black Knight and Harry Styles showing up as Eros, was a good prelude to what could be on the horizon. Much like with some of the other releases this year, this felt like a set-up to things down the line. I'm can't touch everything with this film, like my feelings about Sprite (not a fan) or Ikaris' turn (admittedly surprising) and possible death (confusing). Like I said, I don't hate this film, I just didn't think it was great. That's no putdown on how brilliant Chloe Zhao is as a director but this was different from the typical MCU formula. Sometimes different is good, but this might've been a little too out there for the MCU. 4.5/10

3. Black Widow (July)

This felt like a movie that was equal part "ending for a character" and "birth of a new character" for the MCU. Scarlett Johansson has been a major part of the MCU since "Iron Man 2" and is an original Avenger. Her importance to the MCU makes this movie feel like it was long overdue, especially since she died midway through "Endgame". I don't understand why we had to wait this long for a solo film, especially when it goes back in time to fill in some holes between "Civil War" and "Infinity War", but we got it. This also marked the MCU's return to the big screen after almost two years. As for the film itself, it had a good story, some good comedy, and decent action in it. I'm not sure this is the film that she deserved, but it's the film we got. My biggest problem with the movie is the villains and the twist at the end. We are introduced to Taskmaster early in the movie and I have to admit, being able to see someone fight and then mimic their move set is awesome. There are plenty of nods to other characters in the MCU in the way Taskmaster fights that are fun to catch. Taskmaster doesn't speak at all until the very end, which is really just to set up the ending twist. Outside of the cold open, we don't get much of Dreykov until the Red Room climax, but I don't see him as being a great villain within the MCU. He's a scum bag for sure, but he doesn't come across as being overly intimidating. The reveal that Taskmaster is his daughter that Black Widow supposedly killed before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. fell flat for me. I didn't find it that exciting for shocking, at least not as shocking as it had been built to be, so it was a little disappointing. As for the good, Natasha's family are all wins for me. Some of Rachael Weisz's comedic timing was brilliant. David Harbour is always funny to me, so seeing him as a washed-up superhero reconnecting with his family was right in his wheelhouse. They're both great, but the undisputed rookie of the year in the MCU in 2021 was Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. She's the best part of this movie without a doubt. She has a couple badass moments, she has some sad moments, and she has a ton of hilarious moments. Her chemistry with whoever she's on-screen with was perfect. Combine this with her performance in "Hawkeye" and she's easily the best new character in any Marvel project this year. I'm not sure if we'll ever see Scarlett Johansson in the MCU as Black Widow ever again, but I wouldn't be opposed to Yelena becoming the new Black Widow in the MCU. I don't think this was a perfect send-off for such a beloved character, but I don't think it was bad either. 6.5/10

2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September)

I was familiar with Simu Liu before he was cast as the titular character through the show "Kim's Convenience". When he was cast to play Shang-Chi, I was excited but also had to ask who exactly that was since Shang-Chi isn't someone I was very familiar with. On the surface, it was obvious that he was a martial arts master, but that was about all I knew. Overall, this felt more like a martial arts film than an MCU film. With that being said, I don't think that's a bad thing at all. We got some easter eggs with both Wong and Abomination making appearances at the fight club in Macau and then with the return of Travis Slattery from "Iron Man 3". Other than that, there weren't many other appearances until the end credit scene setting up future projects. It felt like they were trying to keep this as separate from the rest of the MCU as they could. I can appreciate that too. It doesn't require much background within the canon to understand what's going on, which is great. As for the film, I really liked it. I thought everyone's performances were great, especially Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, and Tony Leung. Leung as Wenwu was not an antagonist we see very often in the MCU. There were some elements to his story that make you feel really bad for him, but he's also ruthless towards everyone, including his own kids. The action sequences were all very well choreographed and epic. There are moments of comedy that land very well, especially from Awkwafina's Katy. The climactic fight against the Dweller-in-Darkness fell a little short for me, especially since it felt like it ended very quickly after just one perfectly placed shot. Another great thing this film had was the beautiful scenery. Ta Lo looked amazing and serene. Even the Ten Rings' compound amongst the rocky mountainscape was cool. They really did their homework when it came to history and mythology. The hundun Morris was a cute addition and the other creatures in Ta Lo were all spectacular. I'm interested to see how the mid-credit and post-credit scenes will lead to future films and shows. We got to see a little Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner in one scene that felt like it could lead to a team-up, while Xialing continued the legacy of the Ten Rings despite stating she was closing it down. If it leads to more Meng'er Zhang in the MCU, I'm more than excited about it. I thought this was truly great as a film alone, but it'll be even better in the grand scheme of the MCU. 8.5/10

1. Spider-Man: No Way Home (December)

I'm not sure I've ever been more excited for an MCU project, including "Endgame" than I was for this one. This film was near perfection in my eyes. I had a smile on my face from beginning to end that would grow even bigger at certain points. Let me address the most obvious points first. Seeing Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Macguire on the screen together fighting side-by-side was one of the most amazing moments in cinematic history. Seeing five villains from non-MCU films joining an MCU film was awesome. Alfred Molina's Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus got most of the screentime during the trailers, but it's the return of Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin that stole the show. He plays both insane and normal so well and the switch is impeccable. I felt that each of the five villains, while not equally on-screen throughout the film, all put in great performances. Jamie Foxx as Electro is probably the most improved amongst the villains compared to their original appearance. Aunt May's death is one of the saddest and most sudden in the entire MCU. It felt inevitable, but I was not ready for it once it happened. Doctor Strange had some good moments in here. Benedict Cumberbatch's dry delivery of the character is something that has grown on me across his appearances. We also got to see Charlie Cox return as Matt Murdock/Daredevil in a cameo that surprised everyone in the theater almost as much as the other two Spider-Men. The fights are all great. The logic in the film is questionable at times, but I'm willing to overlook that because of how awesome this entire experience was. With this being the end of the trilogy and everyone's memory of Peter Parker being wiped out. it begs a lot of questions about the future of Spider-Man in the MCU. The public's memory of Spider-Man is still present since J. Jonah Jameson talks about Spider-Man at the end of the film, which also means I need to mention that I loved J.K. Simmons' return in a larger capacity. He can still find his way back to the Avengers, but I don't think he necessarily needs to. There's a new trilogy in the works for Tom Holland as Spider-Man, so the possibilities are endless. I hope this leads to the introduction of Gwen Stacy since MJ no longer remembers him either to bring a new romantic interest into the fray. This is going to go down as one of the most ambitious projects the MCU has ever attempted, but also one of the most exciting and best payoffs the MCU has ever provided. 9.75/10

2022 Preview- What Do We Know So Far and Why We Should Be Excited?

Movies

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May)

We were treated to a trailer following the credits of "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and it was very captivating. We already knew Scarlet Witch was going to return for this movie after the ending of "WandaVision", but the trailer showed a lot of shots with her in a more comic-accurate outfit and presents her as a major part of this movie. We're getting a lot of the same people from the first film, including Chiwetel Ejiofor returning as Karl Mordo after he turned at the end of the last movie. We're also going to be introduced to America Chavez, known in the comics as Miss America, and the only Latin American LGBTQ+ Marvel character, who was supposed to be introduced in "No Way Home". We were also teased with Doctor Strange Supreme, an alternate version of Doctor Strange we saw in "What If...?" a couple of times. He's one of the most powerful beings to ever exist, which will make him a very interesting addition to the MCU. It's the only film we have a trailer for right now and there are a lot of things to look forward to with this one. Excitement- 8/10

Thor: Love and Thunder (July)

At the end of "Endgame", there was a lot up in the air about the future of Thor. Valkyrie is the new leader of New Asgard and Thor has taken off with the Guardians of the Galaxy, the "Asgardians of the Galaxy" as Thor put it. This also means Peter Quill and company will also be featured in the fourth Thor installment. We know we're getting the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and she'll be getting powers similar to Thor's as she fights cancer. Christian Bale is joining the MCU as the supervillain Gorr the God Butcher, but we don't know much about what exactly his role will entail. Taika Waititi being at the helm means we're going to get some good comedy and some good action. There'll be some elements of a romance film in there as well, with it being reported we'll get a look into the bisexuality of Valkyrie. I'm not sure what we're getting with this film since we haven't gotten a look at it yet, but this should be something good. Excitement- 7.5/10

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November)

With the death of Chadwick Boseman in August, there's a giant hole in the MCU. While the MCU lost one of its most important heroes, the world lost an incredible actor and person. Kevin Fiege has stated on multiple occasions that T'Challa won't be recast and it's a decision I tend to agree with. While the Black Panther's legacy needs to continue, that doesn't mean the MCU needs a new T'Challa, just someone to become the next Black Panther like in the comics. We don't know much of anything about the film and its plot other than a lot of people are returning. Shuri is likely to get a larger role and in the comics, she takes over the mantle of Black Panther. I think this would be controversial for more real-world reasons than story reasons. If they were to have someone take over as the hero, my vote is for either M'Baku or Nakia. We'll be introduced to Riri Williams/Ironheart in this film as well before she gets her own series. Nothing much has been said about who will be the villain of the film. Namor the Sub-mariner has been mentioned as well as White Tiger, but nothing has been made official. I'm excited about the movie, but will likely be more excited when more details are revealed. Excitement- 7/10

TV Shows

Moon Knight (March)

It's the only show we have a trailer for and it looks awesome. Oscar Isaac taking over the character with multiple personalities looked really good in the initial look at the show. The brooding intensity that was present in the trailer makes me think this is going to be a super-violent series, which is another check in the good column for me. The suit looked really good too. I'm also intrigued by Ethan Hawke's character, Arthur Harrow. He gives off cult leader vibes and they always make for the best villains. I'm not super familiar with the story of Moon Knight, but I'll be doing my homework in the lead-up to the premiere in late March. Of all the shows that are being released this year, this is close to the top of my list. I'm ready for some blood to be spilled. Excitement- 8/10

She-Hulk (TBD)

Much like the other projects in Phase Four, this series will star a hero that I don't know much about. I'm also not very familiar with Tatiana Maslany, mostly because I've never watched "Orphan Black". She'll take over the mantle of Jessica Walters/She-Hulk and will be alongside Mark Ruffalo as he returns as Bruce Banner/Hulk in another effort where an original Avenger will be the mentor of a newcomer. Tim Roth, who we last saw make a brief appearance in "Shang-Chi", will also be making his return as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, which will be interesting because he's never shared the screen with Ruffalo's Hulk. Outside of these big players, we don't know much else about the cast list outside of Jameela Jamil portraying Titania. This is another character I need to do my homework on to get prepared for this series. I'm not over the moon excited, but it has piqued my interest. Excitement- 6/10

Ms. Marvel (TBD)

This might be an obscure sentence but Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite characters from Marvel. I've been looking forward to this series since it was first announced. I'm not sure why I like the comics so much, but it's my life and I'll like what I want. Iman Vellani will take over the titular role of the Pakistani-American high school kid struggling to understand her powers while obsessing over Captain Marvel. Nothing much has been released about the story itself, but we do know this will eventually lead to "The Marvels" in 2023 with Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau. I don't think will be anything ground-breaking and will likely be similar to "WandaVision" in that it's priming us from something bigger. The release date continues to move with this one, but it's coming this year and I'm kind of hyped for it. Excitement- 9/10

Secret Invasion (TBD)

A series based on the famous story of the same name, Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury as a sect of the Skrulls have infiltrated Earth. The cast for this is one of the most star-studded for any of the shows thus far. As well as Ben Mendelsohn and Cobie Smulders reprising their roles as Talos and Maria Hill respectively, Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, Christopher McDonald will be entering the MCU, as well as Kingsley Ben-Adir as the main villain of the show. I don't know much about the story itself and I haven't particularly cared about the Skrulls in their appearances in "Captain Marvel" and "Spider-Man: Far From Home", but I do really like Samuel L. Jackson's performances as Fury, so that's something the series has going for it. I'm sure once we get a trailer, I'll know more about what I'm getting myself into, but not as much until then. Excitement- 5/10

Untitled Halloween Special (TBD)

While the title isn't likely to stick, we haven't gotten much about this special other than it won't be a full series. What we know right now is that Gael Garcia Bernal will star in the show and will likely be portraying the Jack Russell version of Werewolf at Night with Laura Donnelly playing Nina Price/Vampire By Night, the niece of Russell. I know absolutely nothing about either of these characters or any of their stories. We don't have a name for the show and we don't have a release date, though I would speculate it'll be around Halloween given the characters and the fact it's being called an untitled Halloween special. There isn't much to be excited about yet since I'm unfamiliar with everything surrounding it, but that might add a little to the intrigue.  Excitement- 4/10

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (December)

Another special as opposed to series, I expect this to be hilarious. We don't know much in terms of the story, but we do know we're getting all the Guardians we've come to love. It'll take place before "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" while they are in production for the third film of the trilogy. Just given who is involved, this has the potential to be so much fun. This is one of the best teams within the MCU with some of the best comedic characters. The dynamic of Drax and Mantis would be worth it even if that was the entire special. I don't really know what to expect, but it'll be a nice Christmas present from the MCU. Excitement- 7/10

Possibly What If...? Season 2 (Rumored)

There was a leak that suggested we could be getting a second season of the animated series that debuted in 2021 but until Kevin Fiege confirms it, I'm not going to say it's happening for sure. The leak set an estimated release date for this summer, which feels a little too soon and would only add to a seemingly crowded summer for the MCU The only thing we know for sure is that we'll be getting an episode with Iron Man and Gamora that was supposed to be in Season One, though we got a little tease in the finale of the first season with Gamora joining the Guardians of the Multiverse. I'm curious what we'll get when the second season does happen, I'm just not sure when it'll be, but I'd suspect it'll happen in the next 12 months. Excitement- 6/10