After watching the Marvel movies countless times, you begin to realize certain moments you missed: easter eggs, fun facts, and more. But the best part is when certain characters you become familiar with play a much larger role than you realize
SPOILERS AHEAD (I mean at this point the masses have seen these films so many times over, but I must respect the newbies).
Part of the fun with these films is the enjoyment factor, but also discovering the deeper meaning in the development of the characters. The icing on top of the cake is how certain elements are not only a love letter to past Marvel films, but to other films in the cinematic pantheon and real-life people who shaped these characters.
There Would Be No Endgame Without Janet Van Dyne
Michelle Pfeiffer played Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp was a great addition to the cast. In the first film, she and her husband Hank go on a mission to save the world. She is presumed lost forever. It is heartbreaking. Hank spends years trying to figure out what happened until an unlikely hero Scott Lang, nearly dies and comes back from the brink of death. That near-death experience ignites an idea that gives Hank Pym hope. He and his daughter work to find his wife. Scott Lang aka Ant-Man helps with the experiment and something goes wrong, thus leading Scott to accidentally time travel during the Avengers’ lowest point. Scott arrives and they harness this new power to save the universe once more.
Now I will never discredit many of the heroes and the part they played in saving the universe. But there is one thing you can’t deny. Without the heroics of Janet, there is no need for Ant-Man, no Ant-Man, no near death. No near-death, no search for Janet.. no quantum realm.. no time travel. no endgame…
The Rippling Effect of Crossbones’ Death
Frank Grillo made quite the impression as Brock Rumlow aka Crossbones… He was loyal to the Hydra slash mercenary cause. He did lose in the end but in a way, he kind of won.. look at what his death caused: a horrible terrorist attack to the Sokovia Accords, a reason for Zemo to fight back after Age of Ultron, the Avengers broke up like the Beatles, a huge defeat in Infinity War changing the course of the heroes and the world. This is not what Rumlow intended but incurred lasting damage.
Bittersweet Reunion
There is a tiny tiny chance Tony Stark and Jarvis/ Vision reunited after the events of Civil War but we never saw that reunion again in live-action….
if you feel the need to cry… yeah… friendship lost.
Ronan’s Revenge
Some wonderful Marvel fan mentioned at a panel to actor Lee Pace who played Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy, that in the timeline where 2014 Thanos time jumped to the present day to kill the Avengers, he left behind a power-hungry Ronan. Ronan will eventually get the power stone and when he does, it would make for a great story.
Valkyrie on Top of the World
Tessa Thompson rocked the Thor franchise as Valkyrie. Her character spent years serving the Asgardian throne. But due to witnessing poor ambition and leadership, she saw her friends and family and maybe her love die. She left it all and sought out obscurity. She gets called back into action and as fate would have it, there is a need for another ruler of Asgard and the hero wants out. It is nice to see someone who served the throne and saw years of corruption get a chance to forge a new path for her people.
What Heimdall Knew
However Idris Elba may feel about his part as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his role is more important despite the lack of screen time. In Thor, he is tasked with keeping the Bifrost in check while keeping watch over souls throughout the universe. He senses Loki’s deception early on. In Avengers: Age of Ultron we see a weary Heimdall warning Thor of a horrible future. In Thor Ragnorok, he knew of Loki’s deception and knew of the coming disaster as mentioned in Ultron and Odin as well. We are told of Heimdall’s negligence of the throne and being charged and forced to run away…
In truth, he knew of what was to come. He took steps to keep the future of Asgard safe and make sure the villain stayed put in one realm.. He made sure the Avengers had a fighting chance and NEW ASGARD is a product of Thor AND Heimdall. I hope we get a proper tribute to him and the Warriors Three.
Warriors One: The Return of Lady Sif
The Thor Love and Thunder trailer was humorously epic and heartfelt thanks to Taika Waititi. I am looking forward to Lady Sif returning. Jamie Alexander brought so much life to the role and her cameo in Loki was delightful. Lady Sif managed to avoid death at the hands of Hela due to maybe her banishment by fake Odin after Thor The Dark World. It was clear she had little trust in Loki and her instincts served her well. I wonder what life was like for her throughout the MCU. I feel for her having to deal with the Snap, losing her Warriors Three family and her home. I hope they address that. She missed the battle of Thanos in Endgame. But that might have to do with Alexander’s commitments to her time on another project. Anyway, I hope Marvel does her justice
Final Thoughts and Musings
I want to end this with two more thoughts. The first is that from a certain point of view, Thor and Star Lord played a part in Thanos’s victory. We saw the aftermath from Thor’s point of view. I wonder how Star Lord is going to deal with the aftermath across the universe. Thankfully, we have three more opportunities to explore that.
The final thought is that I hope that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman. His final role before his death in 2020.
(That still hurts to admit that)
was lending his voice for T’Challa in the Disney Plus animated show What If. He played Star Lord in an alternate timeline and I would not object to an easter egg. My heart stopped after reading a Facebook comment back in 2020.
What if the plot of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took place during the Snap?
For those new to Marvel, feel free to google Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, and Thanos Snap. Feel free to lose your mind. This is going to be quite the sequel I am sure Ryan Coogler will deliver.
Mack's Musings 