In the seemingly endless multiverse of negative opinions that is the internet, one anonymous Multiversity staffer felt alone in their appreciation of the MCU’s Phase 4, specifically the utility and connectivity of the films and television shows that made it up. This is their story
If you have talked about Phase 4 of the MCU anywhere — internet forums, over dinner with friends, to yourself in a mirror — you’ve either made or heard someone make the following argument: “The MCU is over! Nothing in Phase 4 even mattered!” It’s almost become a mantra for aggravated redditor’s or comments under an Honest Trailers video on YouTube, but after the colossal feat of storytelling that Kevin Feige pulled off with the Infinity Saga, the expectations for what was to come next was seemingly too high to be met … and as a result, a certain response was born in order to encapsulate a broad fan frustration against a cloudy future.
But is that actually true? Did nothing in Phase 4 matter? We’re not so sure. After all, when audiences first went to see Iron Man in theaters, there was no obvious indication that this film was leading to a grander Infinity Saga.
With that in mind, we contacted one intrepid reporter from an alternate timeline to come and breakdown MCU Phase Four. While this won’t go into the quality of different movies or shows (we’ll leave that for folks to host amongst themselves in the comments), this article will show how (for the majority of content) MCU’s Phase 4 both followed through on existing storylines while teeing up new ones for the rest of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga — much in the same way that Phase 1 of the Infinity Saga was about planting seeds for a decade’s worth of cinematic storytelling.
Please note: this article does technically contain Spoilers for each of its films, by making references not just to the main plot but also post-credits scenes and cameos, and referencing things that have been officially shared about what’s coming next (save your MCU Leaks for Reddit, please!).
WandaVision
Infinity Saga Closure
What was the deal with Wanda / Vision’s relationship?
How does someone like the Vision … die?
How did Wanda / Pietro get involved with Hydra and Ultron in the first place? (WandaVision specifically retcons Wanda’s powerset as ostensibly coming from experimentations from the Mind Stone)
Who did Monica Rambeau grow up to be?
Brings Back…
Wanda, Vision, Jimmy Woo, Darcy
Introduces…
Billy, Tommy, Agatha, Monica*, SWORD, White Vision
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Evan Peters / Quicksilver misdirect, retreives the Darkhold from Agents of SHIELD / Runaways, and sets up Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Tees up…
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Agatha: Coven of Chaos
VisionQuest
The Falcon and Winter Solider
Infinity Saga Closure
What’s the fallout of Steve / Cap’s retirement?
How did the world deal with the Blip?
What happened to Sharon Carter after she committed treason?
Brings Back…
Bucky, Sam, Zemo, Sharon Carter, Ayo, Batroc
Introduces…
Isaiah (Black Cap) and Elijah, the Flagsmashers, Joaquin Torres, US Agent, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Officially cements Sam Wilson as Captain America and is the first official legacy transition in the MCU, and is the first appearance of Julia Louis Dreyfus’ character, who has appeared several times / is now clearly assembling the Thunderbolts. Also ostensibly introduces the first potential Young Avenger (ie Elijah).
Tees up…
Captain America: New World Order
Thunderbolts
Rumored Wakanda TV Series
Loki Season 1
Infinity Saga Closure
What happened to that Loki who got the Tesseract during Endgame?
What’s the “sacred timeline” that the Ancient One introduces in Endgame?
Brings Back…
Loki
Introduces…
Renslayer, Kang, Sylvie (and other Loki variants), Mobius, Hunter
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Introduces Kang and the TVA, breaks the timeline / opens up the multiverse, also showcases the Void which is full of Multiverse Easter Eggs (like Throg and severed head of the Living Tribunal)
Tees up…
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Continued below
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Loki Season 2
Any appearance of Kang from here
Black Widow
Infinity Saga Closure
What was the “Budapest Incident”?
Who was Natasha Romanoff? What was the Red Room?
What did the Black Widow do when she went on the run at the end of Civil War, before linking up with Cap in Infinity War?
Brings Back…
Black Widow (Natasha), Valentina, Thunderbolt Ross
Introduces…
Black Widow (Yelena), Red Guardian, Taskmaster, Melina
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Primarily introduces Yelena, the first new legacy character, taking over the mantle of Black Widow — as well as tees up Yelena’s addition to the Thunderbolts / whatever Valentina is up to.
Tees up…
Shang Chi (it’s a blink and you miss it moment, but one of the Widows returns in Shang Chi — so one can assume there may be more)
Hawkeye
Thunderbolts
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Infinity Saga Closure
Who / what was “the Real Mandarin”?
What are the Ten Rings? (The organization, not the item)
Whatever happened to the Abomination?
Brings Back…
Trevor Slattery, Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner, Wong, the Abomination
Introduces…
Shang-Chi, Katy, Xialing, the “Real” Mandarin Wenwu
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Introduces the existence / relevance of separate dimensions (Ta Lo), and heavily teases that the Ten Rings (the bangles) themselves might have some relevance in the post-credit scene (based on Ms. Marvel, perhaps some multiversal relevance — though similarly a tease for the appearance of Fin Fang Foom, based on comic book history)
Tees up…
Ms. Marvel Season 1
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1
The Marvels
Shang Chi 2
What If… Season 1
Infinity Saga Closure
Nothing really. It’s a “What if X happened instead of Y” series, so it just explores certain characters a bit more — like Peggy Carter, Killmonger or even Ultron
Brings Back…
Like, literally almost everyone
Introduces…
Uatu the Watcher
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Actively explores different stories from the Mutliverse and plays around with the concept, and shows a scenario where different characters from different universes find reason to meet / unite (which almost assuredly will be something we see in live action at some point)
Tees up…
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (Peggy Carter as Cap, plus an “Evil” Dr Strange)
What If… Season 2
Marvel Zombies
Just the general concept of “Different Universe, Different Character Iteration” which the MCU is a little inconsistent on
Eternals
Infinity Saga Closure
What’s the deal with the Celestials? (First seen back in Guardians of the Galaxy)
Are there any other survivors of the fall of Titan?
Brings Back…
n/a
Introduces…
The Eternals and the Deviants, the Black Knight, Blade, Arishem, Pip the Troll, Starfox
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Nothing obvious yet, unless the Celestials or the Emergence start to become more generally relevant (in the comics, the Avengers set up shop in a dead Celestial at one point)
Tees up…
Eternals 2 (Rumored)
Blade
Various background Kingo jokes (like the Guardians Christmas Special)
Hawkeye
Infinity Saga Closure
What’s the deal with Clint’s stint as Ronin in Endgame?
What social or cultural impact did the Battle of New York have?
Why is everyone in the MCU not constantly singing songs from Hamilton like everyone else was 2015?
Brings Back…
Hawkeye (Clint), Yelena, Laura Barton, Lucky the Pizza Dog
Introduces…
Hawkeye (Kate), Swordmaster, Echo, the Clown, Kingpin*
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Primarily introduces Kate, the first official Young Avenger, and ostensibly sets up the new “street level” superhero setting with Echo and the “return” of Kingpin.
Tees up…
Echo Season 1
Daredevil: Born Again
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Infinity Saga Closure
What happened after Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s identity to the world?
What has Doctor Strange been up to since he’s no longer Sorcerer Supreme?
Continued below
How has Damage Control evolved since first introduced?
Brings Back…
Spider-Man, MJ, Ned, J Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, Happy, DODC
Introduces…
The Tobey / Andrew Spider-Men and Villains
Multiverse Saga Relevance
First “official” break point for the Multiverse following the events of Loki, and showcases that in different universes sometimes characters are different actors (as opposed to Dr Strange where it’s all Benedict all the time always)
Tees up…
Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Morbius (sigh)
Ms. Marvel Season 1
Spider-Man 4 (more or less confirmed at this point)
Marvel getting the rights to Venom but not wanting to use Tom Hardy
Moon Knight
Infinity Saga Closure
Nothing. Brand new character, with no ties to anything else.
Brings Back…
n/a
Introduces…
Moon Knight, Khonshu, Harrow, Scarlet Scarab, Egyptian pantheon
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Literally nothing. You could argue that this confirmed there is more than one pantheon of gods (confirmation of the Egyptian pantheon alongside the Norse, teeing up one scene in Love and Thunder), but every reported planned connection (specifically to the Eternals) was removed. They wasted Moon Knight.
Tees up…
Nothing, because there is no confirmation of a Moon Knight Season 2 and they don’t even include him in the Logo Animation anymore. Now where am I going to go to hear Oscar Isaac do a weird Italian accent?
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Infinity Saga Closure
What happened to Wanda after WandaVision? (Technically not Infinity Saga Closure)
Did Strange and Christine ever repair their relationship?
What does Strange do now that he’s not Sorcerer Supreme?
Brings Back…
Doctor Strange, Wong, Christine Palmer, Wanda, Billy and Tommy, Mordo, Peggy Carter Cap, Black Bolt*, Ultron*
Introduces…
America, Captain Marvel (Maria), Mr Fantastic, Xavier*, Clea
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Introduces the Incursions, which are a big piece of the Secret Wars plotline (the end of this saga is Avengers: Secret Wars). Also, in some universes pizza comes in ball form. Has a brief Living Tribunal cameo.
Tees up…
Doctor Strange 3 (rumored / assumed)
Avengers: Secret Wars
Ms. Marvel Season 1
Infinity Saga Closure
What role does the DODC play in the MCU now?
How has the existence of Actual Real Life Superheroes impacted Stan culture?
Brings Back…
Captain Marvel, the Ten Rings, the Kree, the DODC
Introduces…
Ms. Marvel, Bruno, The Clandestine (the Djinn / Noor), Red Dagger(s)
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Primary note is that the bangle allows for multi-dimensional travel (the Djinn / Noor dimension) as well as time travel (Kamala going through Partition), and potentially space travel (post-credits sequence with Captain Marvel) — but also officially confirms that mutants have arrived in the MCU and don’t just exist in some other alternate reality
Tees up…
She-Hulk Attorney at Law Season 1 (background cameos)
The Marvels
Ms. Marvel Season 2 (if we’re lucky)
The introduction of the mutha fuckin X-MEN BABYYYYY
Thor: Love and Thunder
Infinity Saga Closure
What happened to the cast of Thor / Thor 2 when Taika Waititi decided he didn’t want to use any of them during Ragnarok?
Where did Thor and the Guardians end up after Endgame?
Will Thor shred the dad bod and get back the god bod?
Brings Back…
Thor, Valkyrie, Sif, Korg and Meek, Jane Foster, the Guardians, Darcy and Erik, Heimdall
Introduces…
Gorr, Zeus, Love, Hercules, Eternity
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Mostly just introduces big sci-fi concepts, like the existence of Eternity (notable alongside the two appearances of the Living Tribunal and return of the Celestials) and confirmation of Valhalla’s existence as anotehr realm
Tees up…
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
More Thor (teased in the “Thor will Return” bit)
I Am Groot
Infinity Saga Closure
What was Baby Groot up to before the Guardians 2 credits time jump / Infinity War?
Brings Back…
Groot, Rocket
Introduces…
Random weird aliens
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Nothing. Was just a) fun little shorts, b) part of a Wonderful Pistachio marketing campaign
Tees up…
Guardians of the Galaxy 3, I guess?
Buying, eating and enjoying Wonderful Pistachios?
She-Hulk Attorney at Law Season 1
Infinity Saga Closure
How did Hulk become “Smart Hulk”?
What happened on Sakaar after Ragnarok?
Why did Wong break Abomination out of jail? (Technically not Infinity Saga Closure)
How is any of this (gestures broadly) legal?
How do superheroes do merchandising, or get their costumes?
Brings Back…
Hulk, Abomination, Wong
Introduces…
She-Hulk, Titania, Daredevil*, HulkKing, the Wrecking Crew, Porcupine, Skaar, K.E.V.I.N.
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Breaks the fourth wall and introduces K.E.V.I.N., and then addresses the audience and some of what’s going on in Phase 4 as a fun joke (“Where are the X-Men?” winks). Also brings back Daredevil.
Tees up…
She-Hulk Attorney at Law Season 2 (if we’re lucky)
Daredevil: Born Again
The X-Men
Something with He-Hulk (Planet Hulk film rumor)
Werewolf By Night
Infinity Saga Closure
There have been light teases about monsters previously (mentions of werewolves and vampires), so why don’t we ever see anything monsters in the MCU?
Brings Back…
n/a
Introduces…
Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Elsa Bloodstone
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Nothing apparent, depending on how much you want to read into the Man-Thing introduction (in the comics his power is that he’s a conduit to the the Nexus of All Realities). There’s also a weird reference to the comic version of Gorr that’s seemingly nothing, but you never know.
Tees up…
Most likely Blade (monsters + monster hunters)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Infinity Saga Closure
What happened when Wakanda went public?
What happened to T’challa?
What was the impact of Killmonger burning the heart-shaped herb?
Brings Back…
Shuri, Ramonda, Nakia, Okoye, Killmonger, M’baku, Everett Ross, Valentina
Introduces…
Ironheart, Aneka, Namor and Friends
Multiverse Saga Relevance
Introduces Ironheart and teases that we should be expecting more stuff with the Thunderbolts, alongside a tease that a larger confrontation with Namor is coming,
Tees up…
Ironheart
Thunderbolts
Rumored Wakanda TV Series
Black Panther 3 / more Namor
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Infinity Saga Closure
Is Mantis ever going to tell Peter about their shared daddy issues?
Was Peter’s obsession with Kevin Bacon in Footloose worth it?
Where’s Cosmo? Is she safe? Is she alright?
Brings Back…
The Guardians, Cosmo
Introduces…
Kevin Bacon
Multiverse Saga Relevance
The Guardians now own / operate out of Knowhere, and Teen Groot has grown into an ugly adult. Also, I don’t know what Christmas is, but Christmas Time is weird!
Tees up…
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
There you have it, everyone — a full breakdown of why everything had some form of discernible meaning, outside of Moon Knight, which they wasted. Now the next time your friend tells you about how middling Phase 4 was, you can push your glasses up your nose and “um, actually” them with confidence!
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
