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

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#84526: Apr 11th 2018 at 11:56:31 PM

I saw a clip of Legends of Tomorrow recently.

A giant blue teddy bear named Beebo killed a giant fire breathing demon.

Somehow this was the greatest four minutes of my life.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#84527: Apr 11th 2018 at 11:57:24 PM

Yeah I think people are more frustrated with DC's shows.

They are plagued with CW melodrama & Felicity has single-handily ruined Arrow.

I mean I am way far behind on literally every show but even I know the wedding fiasco of the Earth X crossover.

[up] That sounds awesome. [tup] [awesome]

edited 11th Apr '18 11:57:53 PM by slimcoder

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#84528: Apr 12th 2018 at 12:51:22 AM

Here is the thing about the CW shows: Show has lower expectations that ABC, so they can exist with relatively low ratings, while a show like Ao S struggles to get renewed despite having better ratings than most of them. The most successful show ratingwise is actually Gotham (yes, Gotham).

Otherwise I am not so sure...for years the prevailing narrative was that the CW shows are awesome while Marvel's offers are kind of weak outside of the Netflix shows which were in a category of its own. My personal experience with them (excluding the shows which are based on some sort of comic, but not a superhero one) were:

CW:

Arrow: Really liked the first season (once the voice-over vanished), and was all into it at the start of season 2, but I already saw the problems cropping up which most fans only noticed in season 3. Of which I watched the first episode and then left and never looked back. Worst decision ever how they handled Sara.

Flash: Watched the first season, but I saw the same problems there I saw in Arrow, so I dropped the show.

Supergirl: Gave it a try TRICE, but I just couldn't make it past episode three. I just...can't with this show. I would love to, but I can't.

Gotham: Call me crazy, but I actually liked a lot about the show. I binge watched the first season and the various characters were interesting but, well, let's just say the show explained away Gordon acting unethically a few time too often for me to be comfortable with it. I kind of tried season 2, but honestly I didn't really pay attention all that much.

Black Lighting: Liked the first episodes (a few things which bothered me, though) but I have put it on the backburner for now nevertheless. I guess I just failed to connect.

Lo T: Never watched it. Originally because I didn't expect the show to run that long and later on I just never got around to it...I keep hoping that it will turn up in Netflix eventually.

Marvel:

Ao S: Started it, dropped it, tried again after The Winter Soldier (because I wanted to see its impact), got hooked and now I am a proud Ao S addict.

Agent Carter: Adored the first season, was disappointed by the second one, but I would have still loved to see where all the stuff they set up was supposed to lead to. (still sore that they didn't went for a show which could work as stand alone from a totally different part of Peggy's life).

Netflix shows: Actually not really the kind of show I like to watch - never got a lot out of graphic violence, I always felt that what I can't see is more terrifying than what is shown - but I mostly enjoyed them. Defenders and the back half of Daredevil and Jessica Jones season 2 frustrated me the most.

Inhumans: Just terrible, I finally gave up after episode 5 or so. Yes, really, I thought that the show was so bad, I felt unable to inflict even three more episodes on myself.

Runaways: Disappointment for me. The premise sounded so interesting, and then they spend the whole season stalling before even getting to the runaway part. Will still give the second season a shot, but imho they dropped the ball there and really, really need to do better.

So, all in all, the Marvel shows do it more for me personally, but I think the main issue here is that DC addresses exactly one subset of audience with their show - the one which likes the CW style stuff - and ignores everyone else, while Marvel offers way more variety. Even within their Netflix shows. From film noir to the sometimes silly but also serious spy show, there is something for nearly everyone. With DC, you either like this one thing or you don't.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#84529: Apr 12th 2018 at 12:55:14 AM

I think I'm maybe one of three or so tropers who even finished Inhumans.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#84530: Apr 12th 2018 at 12:57:21 AM

I can't help but laugh at the people who genuinely think Inhumans is a great show & believe it can be renewed.

Man I wish I could tell them all that the Inhumans are fucking dead forever & no tiny minority of fans can ever, ever bring it back because it was a terrible, terrible show.

edited 12th Apr '18 12:58:24 AM by slimcoder

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#84531: Apr 12th 2018 at 1:17:50 AM

Iwan Rheon could have saved the show.

The problem he was the villain and written like a hero.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#84532: Apr 12th 2018 at 1:46:59 AM

Are we still talking about the Young Avengers?

I feel like there's already been some seeds planted for that. That kid from Iron Man 3 IIRC is part of the cast of Infinity War, and could reasonably be set up to be Iron Lad; Scott Lang's daughter Cassie becomes a Young Avenger in the comics; Finally, The kid at the end of Black Panther could be set up to become Patriot

XJTordecai Watch the seventh wave Since: Jun, 2013
Watch the seventh wave
#84533: Apr 12th 2018 at 2:09:40 AM

Probably the best thing about/most scathing condemnation I could give to Inhumans is that it makes other Marvel works and even plenty of DC works look better.

edited 12th Apr '18 2:10:26 AM by XJTordecai

On my wave, passing oooooooon
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#84534: Apr 12th 2018 at 2:23:05 AM

[up][up] I would like the kid to become Iron lad (or whatever), but I bet there would be a lot of complains about the white male hero being replaced with a white male hero. There is a desire for more diversity moving forward.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#84535: Apr 12th 2018 at 3:49:32 AM

We've discussed Iron Man 3 probably more than any other subject over the last few years, but the consensus if there is one is usually that it's a film with some good ideas and compelling moments, but that ultimately shits the bed in favor of an awful, bland and uninteresting villain and completely drops the ball on all the interesting things it was setting up in the first half in favor of a generic superhero climax at the end devoid of any real emotional weight.
Yeah, that's pretty much my take on it. It seriously comes off as scripts for two separate movies that got welded together for some reason instead of developed into their own movies.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
TargetmasterJoe from Velocitron Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
#84536: Apr 12th 2018 at 5:43:51 AM

Heh, rewatching Captain America: Civil War on Netflix the other day reaffirmed my stance that Zemo's an unhinged douche.

I mean yeah, it sucks how he lost his family in Sokovia, but dude, forcing the Avengers to fall apart from within won't do anyone any favors. Especially when said falling apart leaves the Earth wide open for a big purple alien dictator who wants to wipe out half of the universe.

I seriously wonder if Zemo will be in Infinity War if only to be like: "All I ever wanted was to destroy the Avengers! I never asked for Earth to get screwed over later down the line..."

(But he's probably too far gone to have a "My God, What Have I Done?" moment...tongue)

edited 12th Apr '18 5:44:20 AM by TargetmasterJoe

Punisher286 Since: Jan, 2016
#84537: Apr 12th 2018 at 5:57:05 AM

Well that's where Zemo becomes the villain now isn't it? I mean it really sucks that his family died, he didn't deserve that nor did they. But he's blaming the wrong people (I mean if he just blamed Tony then I could kind of get it, but the rest of the Avengers, besides Banner, didn't even know about Ultron until AFTER it was too late).

And that doesn't justify him flat-out murdering innocent people for the sake of his petty revenge. T'Chaka had nothing to do with his family's deaths, nor did the other people that he blew up in that bombing. And the people were likely died/were injured when he intentionally set Bucky lose with the trigger words, they had nothing to do with it either, nor did the psychologist that he murdered and impersonated before that.

And the difference between him and The Avengers, he's doing it INTENTIONALLY. So in your quest to avenge your family's deaths, you have done to potentially dozens of families what you claim the Avengers did to you. Great job there A-hole.

edited 12th Apr '18 5:57:48 AM by Punisher286

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#84538: Apr 12th 2018 at 6:02:44 AM

Honestly, I always felt that his hatred is mostly projection. He feels guilty because he was never there for his family, including the day they died, and because he doesn't want to deal with that knowledge that he wasn't there and couldn't even try to safe them (even told them not to worry and stay put), he is looking for someone to blame. And with Ultron gone, well, that leaves the Avengers.

HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#84539: Apr 12th 2018 at 6:46:41 AM

And it helps that at least one Avenger was responsible. I imagine that if Zemo had come after Tony, Tony would have accepted his judgement all too easily.

But that wasn't enough for Zemo. He could have rid the world of its greatest villain (tongue), but instead he destroyed Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

One Strip! One Strip!
LordVatek Not really a lord of anything Since: Sep, 2014
Not really a lord of anything
#84540: Apr 12th 2018 at 8:59:20 AM

Jessica Jones Season 2 was disappointing? I haven't been keeping up with the Netflix shows, what was wrong with it?

This song needs more love.
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#84541: Apr 12th 2018 at 9:09:02 AM

Some people didn't like how it handled the characters or how dark it was. Personally, I loved it just as much as Season 1.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#84542: Apr 12th 2018 at 9:15:43 AM

[up][up] In a broader sense, it hit too many plot points which were already in the first season again, but worse, didn't really handle the few new topics all that well (honestly, I would have preferred if they hadn't addressed the "me too" movement at all instead of doing it the way they did), I really can't get behind the soup opera like origin of the villain and I especially HATED what they did with Trish, above all how they apparently reconned that she has a psychological degree (which was implied in the first season) and her relationship with her mother...but in order to discuss this in detail, we should maybe go to the TV discussion, I guess a lot of people haven't seen it completely yet. Oh, and too much contrived writing in it on top of it.

Honestly, the only thing I enjoyed from start to finish was Hogarth's story, and that one was utterly disconnected from the main plot.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#84543: Apr 12th 2018 at 9:34:00 AM

Basically lack of tension, issues pertaining to the white feminism and issues pertaining to non-white characters in the first season being dialed up, Trish's arc, and the darkness of the entire thing, plus pacing.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#84544: Apr 12th 2018 at 9:44:42 AM

I saw a clip of Legends of Tomorrow recently.

A giant blue teddy bear named Beebo killed a giant fire breathing demon.

Somehow this was the greatest four minutes of my life.

Stuff like this is why, while I've never really been into the other recent CW superhero shows, I absolutely adore Legends of Tomorrow. It's allowed to be unabashedly over the top ridiculous in a way that not a lot of speculative fiction TV today wants to touch, and it's so much fun. note 

There's nothing wrong with wanting more serious stories, but sometimes you just want to watch a bunch of time travelling bisexual weirdos rescue a young Obama and then crash the Return of the King film set in order to convince someone that a demon is taking to them.

Honestly, while I want to get to Jessica Jones season 2 at some point, I just feel like it's going to be kind of exhausting to watch.

edited 12th Apr '18 9:45:42 AM by Pseudopartition

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#84545: Apr 12th 2018 at 10:01:27 AM

Yeah, that is part of the reason why I love Ao S so much. There is just something amazing about a world in which "don't allow the robot to read the magic book and stay away from strange monoliths" makes perfect sense.

Well, that and the fact that the writers actually trust the audience to pay attention. Most shows nowadays don't give the audience just a little bit credit. But Ao S....we are currently in season 5 and they brought back characters from season 3 and are going back to plot points from season 1. Everything which happens in the show has consequences.

And ironically, for all the attempts of the Netflix shows to hit in my feels with their brand of drama, it is actually Ao S which breaks my heart again and again and again and then goes and crushes my soul.

edited 12th Apr '18 10:02:32 AM by Swanpride

DeathsApprentice The Ultimate Lifeform from The Ark Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
The Ultimate Lifeform
#84546: Apr 12th 2018 at 10:01:55 AM

I really gotta start watching Legends of Tomorrow. I saw the fight with giant Beebo and Mallus and I just died laughing. Currently I'm only really caught up with Supergirl of all the DCTV shows (Arrow never interested me, the Flash I just kinda fell behind on and also it's not fantastic with its female characters... Supergirl's season 2 was... bad, but this season seems to be fixing most of its missteps from that season).

I enjoyed Jessica Jones' season 2 but I can see why people didn't. It was even darker than the first season somehow. And I was fine with Trish's arc, but I get why people weren't happy with it.

edited 12th Apr '18 10:02:44 AM by DeathsApprentice

When we're done, there won't be anything left.
Whowho Since: May, 2012
#84547: Apr 12th 2018 at 10:13:58 AM

Weird question: Was The Other from Avengers and Got G one of Thanos' adoptive children?

Or was he just some chitari higher up?

edited 12th Apr '18 10:14:46 AM by Whowho

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#84549: Apr 12th 2018 at 10:21:07 AM

It hasn't been explained so I choose to believe that the Other was a middle manager that Thanos hired because he was tired of dealing with Ronan himself.

Specifically because of that specific situation.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#84550: Apr 12th 2018 at 10:40:40 AM

Now I'm picturing Thanos in a business suit in his office

have a listen and have a link to my discord server

Total posts: 186,763
Top