With the interconnected nature of the MCU, there are endless story arcs stretching across multiple movies. Inevitably, there will be some storylines that are dropped while others reach a conclusion that disappoints fans. However, some of these storylines have made for very satisfying journeys.
Whether it is the reveal of some teased aspect of the universe, a character's development over time, or a moment that becomes more impactful than it seemed, these arcs are among the best in the MCU. From beginning to end, they delivered what fans were looking for.
Peter Quill's Secret Father
The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie opened with the emotional death scene of Peter Quill's mother, but it also introduced the idea of his mysterious father. By the end of the movie, it was revealed that Quill's father was some unknown cosmic being of tremendous power.
Instead of making this a big drawn-out mystery, it was revealed in the first scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that Ego was his father. The storyline then evolved into a story of Ego using Peter to conquer the universe, making for a big cosmic adventure with a personal story at its center.
The Truth About 'The Mandarin'
Though fans were very excited about seeing the classic Marvel villain The Mandarin in Iron Man 3, the reveal that it was really a drunken actor named Trevor Slattery disappointed many. However, it turns out that was not the end of this story.
After the existence of the real Mandarin was teased, Shang-Chi introduced the character as Wenwu, the leader of the Ten Rings and father of Shang-Chi. This new take on the character ended up being a better villain than his comic book counterpart and one of the MCU's best bad guys.
Peter And Tony's Mentor Relationship
From the moment Tony Stark came to recruit Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War, the chemistry between these two characters was undeniable. Peter looked up to Tony as a hero while Tony saw a lot of potential in Peter.
The relationship grew over the course of a couple of movies, but it was Avengers: Infinity War that made it a fan-favorite duo. Seeing Peter's emotional death and Tony's reaction to it cemented their deeper bond which then paid off with Tony's death and Peter carrying on his legacy.
The Truth Of The Time-Keepers Revealed
Despite many fan theories in WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier failing to materialize, fans had plenty of ideas about the mysteries of Loki. The biggest question to be answered was about who was really behind the TVA.
But instead of another anti-climactic answer, the answers were even more impactful than fans had anticipated. Not only did He Who Remains tease the appearance of Kang the Conqueror, but the multiverse was split open, changing the MCU forever.
Wanda And Vision
Despite it happening in the comics, few fans thought that the MCU would pursue the romantic relationship between Wanda Maximoff and Vision. But then their flirting in Captain America: Civil War was charming and their sacrifice in Avengers: Infinity War was heartbreaking.
However, that failed to prepare fans for the emotional final chapter of their romance with WandaVision. This ambitious and wonderfully strange show put two supporting Marvel characters front and center while giving their relationship a fitting end.
Assembling The Avengers
As soon as Nick Fury emerged from the shadows at the end of Iron Man, the idea of an Avengers movie was planted in the minds of fans. From there, the MCU grew with each new solo chapter serving as a building block towards something bigger.
While fans were still not sure such a crossover event could succeed, The Avengers pulled it off. Seeing these heroes come together on-screen after being established in their own movies was a very impressive feat many have tried and failed to replicate.
Thanos's Quest For Infinity Stones
As soon as Thanos was teased at the end of The Avengers, fans began anticipating the appearance of a beloved villain from the comics. With that excitement rising, the cinematic universe began setting up the Infinity Stones and why Thanos would be the ultimate threat.
For some, the gradual introduction of the stones was tedious while Thanos waiting in the shadows made him seem weak. But when Avengers: Infinity War arrived, it became clear hiding the Mad Titan was the right move and the stage had been set for the biggest MCU event to date.
Thor And Loki's Brotherly Bond
The sibling rivalry between Thor and Loki was well established in the first Thor movie. And as Thor came into his own as a hero Loki became the MCU's most popular villain. But even though they met as enemies, there was always the hope Thor and Loki would find some reconciliation.
The trust between the brothers grows gradually over time with Loki continuing to prove he is the God of Mischief and Thor becoming wiser to his tricks. But seeing them join together at last only for it to end in tragedy felt like a well-rounded journey for Thor and Loki.
Steve And Peggy's Romance
The romantic subplots in the MCU have always been a bit hit or miss. Some feel like forced love stories while others really strike a chord with audiences. And perhaps the most important of these romances was the one between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter.
Their connection felt genuine and heartwarming in Captain America: The First Avenger and it was heartbreaking to see how time kept them apart. But that connection was somehow kept alive throughout the MCU and it was fitting that time was able to reunite them at the end of Steve's journey.
Tony Stark's Mission To Save The World
Since Tony Stark was the hero who launched the MCU, it made sense that he would be at the center of its biggest story. As soon as he is introduced to the larger world of aliens, gods, and world-ending threats, he becomes obsessed with protecting the world from what's to come.
While this was explored in Iron Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron, when Thanos appears, Tony immediately knows this is the threat he had been fearing all along. The conclusion of this story cements Iron Man as perhaps the MCU's greatest hero as he is the one who gives his life to end this threat.