TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Go To

Welcome to the main discussion thread for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This pinned post is here to establish some basic guidelines. All of the Media Forum rules still apply.

  • This thread is for talking about the live-action films, TV shows, animated works, and related content that use the Marvel brand, currently owned by Disney.
  • While mild digressions are okay, discussion of the comic books should go in this thread. Extended digressions may be thumped as off-topic.
  • Spoilers for new releases should not be discussed without spoiler tagging for at least two weeks. Rather, each title should have a dedicated thread where that sort of conversation is held. We can mention new releases in a general sense, but please be courteous to people who don't want to be spoiled.

If you're posting tagged spoilers, make sure that the film or series is clearly identified outside the spoiler tagging. People need to know what will be spoiled before they choose to read the post.

    Original post 
Since Thor and now Captain America came out this year, I wanted to get what Tropers thought of the concept and execution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Personally I love the idea and wonder why this idea hasn't been seriously tried before. It sorta seems to me like the DCAU in movie form (And well, ummm, with Marvel), and really 'gets' the comic book feel of a shared universe while not being completely alienating.

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 29th 2024 at 3:09:00 PM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#67426: Mar 21st 2017 at 2:24:18 PM

I like him a lot as a villain, but that's because I think he's the perfect Hate Sink.

My brother is a Dr. Who fan and said the oceanic difference between Tennant's character there and in JJ was super jarring, haha.

Unsung it's a living from a tenement of clay Since: Jun, 2016
it's a living
#67427: Mar 21st 2017 at 2:32:27 PM

They both have certain childlike qualities. For me it's the difference between someone who's very full as a person, someone with a very rich inner life— someone who's compassionate, who cares deeply, who has more ideas than they can put to words, whose emotions are wild and far-ranging— and that same person, but if they had none of that. If they were starkly uncreative and incurious, indifferent to others, unmoved by the world and only out for their own shallow amusement. That's what I liked about seeing Tennant play Kilgrave and Ten. He even uses a similar (possibly the same?) Estuary accent for both.

The Tenth Doctor at his worst was a megalomaniac, while this version of Kilgrave, for all that he could do with his abilities, doesn't even have any ambition. He's just a parasite.

edited 21st Mar '17 2:46:23 PM by Unsung

KingNomarch Since: Oct, 2015
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#67429: Mar 21st 2017 at 2:50:41 PM

Just had a thought: You know how in Suicide Squad there's a scene where all the main characters on the team are in a bar and just kinda talking and crap? They should do that in The Defenders. Like, they crash at a bar, Luke Cage serves them up and they just kinda fuckin' chat for a bit, have character interaction and whatnot.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#67430: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:03:48 PM

I actually thought that a scene like this is a given...also one in which Daredevil and Iron Fist have a sparring session (or a serious fight due to some misunderstanding).

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#67431: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:07:29 PM

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how the four of them interact with one another.

Like, obviously Jessica and Luke are already familiar with each other and obviously Danny and Luke are gonna get along well enough for their dynamic duo, but how about Danny and Jess? How about Matt and any of them? It's making me real curious.

And the supporting casts, too. What if Malcom meets Foggy? Or Colleen meets Misty? Or Trish meets Karen?

...Or Frank Castle meets anybody? tongue

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#67432: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:09:11 PM

I don't think Frank's invited to the Defenders party. tongue

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#67433: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:10:16 PM

Not looking forward to the two love triangles involving Claire, though. Still think it was a mistake to hook her up with Luke.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#67434: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:14:41 PM

[up][up]Punisher doesn't need an invitation. You invite him by not inviting him. tongue

[up]I don't think there's much risk there. Matt's been over Claire for quite a long time (and was never in a formal relationship with her anyway), while Jessica seems to have let go of Luke as a romantic interest ever since the bus driver incident drove a wedge between them. At the very least I doubt she's gonna get pissy about Claire hooking up with him, she's pretty apathetic.

edited 21st Mar '17 3:16:36 PM by Anomalocaris20

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#67435: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:24:42 PM

I see Matt and Jessica not getting along very well, which is a thing in the comics. They do talk and are on good terms, but Jessica seems to be the person on a more standofish relationship with Matt. Here it might be because Matt is so obsessed with justice and fairness and Jessica just doesn't give a fuck about any of that noise about justice. Given his more spartan way of being he might be a bit annoyed at her heavy drinking.

They also have the two strongest temperaments and by far the most mental issues so I'd expect them to clash. Jessica just proposing they kill someone and Matt being outraged at the very thought is something I'm sure will happen at some point. Maybe multiple points.

Matt and Luke will likely bond and clash over the justice system, given Luke Cage is a former convict and victim of a unfair justice system and Matt is a lawyer, a man who explicitly works within the justice system. Since they've both dealt with Miscarriage of Justice they might bond over that, but it's quite likely Matt has more faith in the justice system than Luke.

Luke and Danny are the relatively mentally stable of the bunch (Danny is constantly unraveling in the first season but that's because anything regarding his parents seem to throw him off his game. Whenever the situation does not involve them he seems a lot calmer, like when he's dealing with the Axe Men and the corporate scheming), so they might bond over that. I get the sense Luke will become something of a Big Brother Mentor to Danny from how they're portrayed in the series. On the other hand Luke will likely be at odds with Jessica since the events of Jessica Jones.

Matt and Danny also have a lot of room to converse about martial arts, zen, fighting the Hand and their desires for vengeance that they had to struggle with. I see Matt getting along the most with Danny.

Jessica will likely find Matt a moralizing prick overflowing with Catholic guilt. But she will want to mend over things with Luke, who will be more cold and aloof to her before they patch things up later in the season. She would probably see Danny either as an annoying little brat or as an amusing little brat, like a little brother she never had.

Basically everyone likes Danny Rand is what I'm saying.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#67436: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:32:13 PM

Well, he's a pretty affable dude. I'm curious how his financial status will play into things given the other three are pretty much broke.

Also

like a little brother she never had.

Ouch. She's forgotten all about Philip? tongue

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#67438: Mar 21st 2017 at 3:54:46 PM

Danny's the kind of guy who's some way or another really good at having allies, and is the only one of them who plays well with others, so everyone just sort of liking him no sweat makes sense.

Though one or more of them having a problem with him on moral grounds is possible. Though Danny's getting better, he's still a recovering Knight Templar.

edited 21st Mar '17 3:54:59 PM by KnownUnknown

PincerMove Since: Feb, 2017
#67439: Mar 21st 2017 at 4:00:19 PM

I love just about everything about JJ. It's my favorite of the Netflix shows thus far.
Yeah, I used to give that honor to House Of Cards, but, well, Unintentional Period Piece hit that show like a goddamn nuke.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#67440: Mar 21st 2017 at 4:05:47 PM

I would say JJ is my favorite as well, though I haven't finished DD yet. Jess is a great character and the show tackled some really ambitious subject matter and managed to pull it off with aplomb. I can forgive its structural issues and a few annoying bits simply because that's a very remarkable achievement.

Like most people I loved Luke Cage for the first 6 episodes, but when Diamondback took over things took a bit of a nosedive. Would still say I quite enjoyed the series overall, but yeah.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#67441: Mar 21st 2017 at 4:13:08 PM

Same here, Jessica Jones did the best for me. When it comes to style, Iron Fist did the worst, but narratively, Luke Cage was the worst imho...too many leaps and stuff which wasn't really properly set-up. And since I prefer good characters and narratives over style, I like Iron Fist better than Luke Cage.

SonOfSharknado Love is Love is Love Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Love is Love is Love
#67442: Mar 21st 2017 at 4:40:39 PM

I just want Fisher to talk about how stupid everything is.

My various fanfics.
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#67443: Mar 21st 2017 at 4:42:55 PM

Little late to the Kilgrave argument, but I think the thing I liked most about him is that he had the sense to not always use his powers.

Like hiring those bodyguards legitimately, or buying Jess' old house legally.

I mean, when you have the power to make people do anything, you'd expect someone to use that power all the time, which is what he probably used to do, and exactly why he knows he can't use it all the time too. Because obviously, it would leave too much of a trail.

He's still not perfect, since he leaves a huge trail already, but still.

You know, in regards to Luke and Jess, I'd like to think that time, and his own experience with Kilgrave might soften him on what happened. Plus he learned that Reba...Reva...whatever wasn't exactly what he thought he was. Yeah, he should still be mad, but maybe with time to think he might...

no... that's dumb. Never mind. He should still be angry with her, but I think he'll at least be able to be civil.

One Strip! One Strip!
Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#67444: Mar 21st 2017 at 5:22:00 PM

As I said a few pages ago Daredevil Season 1 is still my favorite thing on Netflix. I can't even find anything to criticize it about personally. In fact, it's the only one to both start and end really well, with a great beginning that draws you in and a satisfying finale. As far as villains go I love Fisk and Gao, though unexpectedly I came to really like Owlsley for being a snarky old man trying to adapt to a world of superheroes.

I'm a bit of an action nut, so Jessica Jones loses some points with me for being less action-oriented (not saying that makes the show bad, just less personally appealing to me). Less specific to my tastes, it has some plot issues (the cat-and-mouse gets repetitive, and there's some plotholes that I just can't ignore), but I can appreciate the show's themes and Jessica herself is a really entertaining character to watch. I wound up really liking Malcolm as a character, and for such a dark subject matter the show tackles it somehow has some of the funniest moments of any of them thus far. Plus Kilgrave is one of Marvel's best villains, maybe even THE best.

Daredevil Season 2 has problems, though Punisher isn't one of them, and while the plot becomes a disoriented jumble toward the end it at least had really great fight choreography. I like watching Matt tragically degrade into everything Stick trained him to be that he rejected, pushing away all his friends and being a general jerkwad. Elektra was also really cool and I look forward to seeing her in Defenders and/or DD season 3. Especially if (Iron Fist spoilers) the reveal that the Hand's method of resurrecting people causes them to psychologically degrade a little each time applies to her.

Luke Cage was cool. Really, really cool. I also happened to watch it with a family member, so it was even more fun. Luke Cage is a bit subdued as a character, which actually works well from the villains' perspective; Cottonmouth and Mariah breaking down and getting increasingly frustrated that their buildings are essentially getting hit by hurricanes drives most of the first half. The second half is where things start to unravel; Diamondback is certainly an entertaining Large Ham, but he kinda clashes with the tone of the show and doesn't come across as nearly as cunning and intelligent as we're expected to believe he is. On the plus side, it draws out more of Luke's character now that he has a personal connection to the villain beyond "they killed Pop". I wound up really liking Misty's character, though, especially after her interrogation breakdown, while Mariah and Shades make for a great villain duo.

Iron Fist has the opposite problem that JJ, DD 2, and LC have; a strong finish but a weak start. My biggest gripe besides that is that the whole show kinda feels like a retread of both seasons of DaredevilGreat Wall of Spoilers . On top of that, the fight choreography isn't as good (at first) and Finn Jones doesn't really sell me on the character's personality (at first). Both those things begin to improve later on, though, with some really spectacular fights (including one that might be my new favorite), and somehow I feel like Jones himself improved toward the end of the season, with Danny becoming a genuinely likeable character. I think he can grow into the role if given a chance. He still needs to be a little more exhuberant and upbeat to help set him apart from the others, but there's narrative reasons to believe that will be fixed next time he appears. Even if Danny himself is somewhat bland, though, his supporting cast is great; Colleen is a great character, Claire puts on a really good showing (maybe her best yet, or at least a close second to her role in Luke Cage), Madame Gao puts on her best showing, the Meachum family drama was unexpectedly engaging, and the villain is an interesting conceptMore spoilers 

TL;DR version: I'm an easy-to-please sap who loved every show.

I think my favorite thing about them all is how it takes some relatively realistic, mundane genres (law procedural, noir detective story, urban gang warfare, and corporate thriller) and asks "what would happen if those stories took place in a world where the supernatural has suddenly started to exist? How would those normal people adapt to their changing reality?"

edited 21st Mar '17 5:34:44 PM by Anomalocaris20

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#67445: Mar 21st 2017 at 7:25:34 PM

I just finished episode six, I might take a bit of a break until tomorrow. I don't think I'll be able to watch the rest of it tonight, that friggin' doctor's appointment got in the way.

Right now though, I will say that Kilgrave is my favorite Netflix villain, but I wish there was a bit more screentime to him. What sells him isn't just his acting, but his pure impact on everyone. At the same time, I just wanna see more David Tennant in general. Of course, I'm only six episodes in so I'll wait to judge the rest.

Also, I know about how that Simpson guy turns out to be Nuke later on, but has anyone else noticed he looks a little bit like Chris Evans in some shots? Like, the jacket, the hairdo, all of it looks a bit like Chris Evans.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
VeryMelon Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Unsung it's a living from a tenement of clay Since: Jun, 2016
it's a living
#67447: Mar 21st 2017 at 8:14:12 PM

Not Quite Captain America. Yeah, I saw that. And I didn't know Nuke was in the show (and I don't think I knew his name was Simpson), so I got to be surprised when a random cop a) became a recurring character and b) turned bad. It was good.

edited 21st Mar '17 8:29:44 PM by Unsung

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#67448: Mar 21st 2017 at 8:15:46 PM

Yeah, since it took me so long to see the Netflix shows (and because I'm a spoiler hound), I already knew some of this stuff.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#67449: Mar 21st 2017 at 9:01:18 PM

The resemblance to Cap is probably intentional.

Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'

Total posts: 186,763
Top