Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is a film that has surprised the world, creating one of the most unique films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far. From its cinematography, to its stellar choreography, to the likable heroes, to a stand-out villain with Xu Wenwu AKA The Mandarin.
Wenwu managed to win over audiences, breaking out from the typical trappings of MCU villains. Rather than bland or forgettable, Xu Wenwu stole the film whenever he was on screen and proved to be one of the best villains the MCU has produced. And many factors went into why the Mandarin became a instant favorite.
He Is The Real Mandarin
Iron Man 3 did many things both right and wrong. Iron Man 3 introduced a version of the character that was rather controversial and divisive amongst fans because the Mandarin was a fakeout. Marvel Studios seemed to see the feedback and years later with Shang-Chi, it was fixed.
While Shang-Chi showcases that Iron Man 3's events did happen and respects those events, it manages to give fans the Chinese warlord who wields ten magical rings just like the comic books. Shang-Chi's Mandarin even references Iron Man 3 directly in more ways than one.
No Forced Comedy
A common trope in MCU films is that when a villain does something dark or menacing, it is usually followed up by humor from either the villain themselves or some other character. In some cases, this trope works, but some fans have voiced that it can ruin the emotional impact of a scene.
That was not the case for Shang-Chi, as it showcases the darker side of the character and builds on it to show growth. It gives Xu Wenwu more impact on the story rather than just being a foil for the hero. However, Xu Wenwu is not devoid of humor, as he too makes a few jokes, but just at the right time to show his human side.
Genuinely Threatening
Xu Wenwu is an immortal warlord who leads an army of terrorists and ninja assassins. As an immortal, he has centuries worth of knowledge and skill combined with brutality. Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings takes time to show that Xu Wenwu is not a pushover.
Even without his signature weapon, he earns the title of the Mandarin by being one of the best fighters in Shang-Chi, but when combined with the ten rings, he shows that he could have taken on the Avengers if he wanted to. From tearing apart a room full of criminals to fighting his own son, Xu Wenwu is not someone to take lightly and manages to be cold and spine-chilling when he needs to be.
No Stereotypes
One genuine concern fans had at the idea of adapting the Mandarin to the big screen is that Marvel would turn the character into a stereotype of a Chinese terrorist. Largely because the early appearances of the Mandarin were exactly that.
Thankfully, with an Asian-American director at the helm of Shang-Chi, the film shows much respect to the Chinese culture. Not only is Xu Wenwu a great representation of an ancient Chinese warrior but the mythology and style of the film make it feel less of a Marvel superhero film, but more akin to a giant budget Chinese epic.
Master Of The Ten Rings
Xu Wenwu wields ten mystic rings on his arms that grant him immense power. These prove to be deadly weapons but are also bound to be as iconic as Thor's hammer or Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet. Changing the rings to five mystical bands on each arm made for a distinct look for the MCU version.
The combat was unlike anything seen prior, which mixes martial arts with magicks; it makes Doctor Strange's fight scenes seem tame by comparison. Each time Xu Wenwu became the Mandarin and used the rings, he proved to be one of the deadliest fighters in the MCU.
Fully Fleshed Out
A problem fans have with MCU villains, especially in origin stories, is that the hero is so well-developed that the villain ends up feeling like an afterthought. With Shang-Chi, the titular hero is given as much development as Xu Wenwu due to their interconnected backstories.
Shang-Chi and Xu Wenwu end up developing through flashbacks and modern-day segments. Through this, fans were able to be invested in both the hero and villain nearly equally. It's one of many aspects that demonstrate that Shang-Chi is different from any other films in the MCU.
He Is A Family Man
Xu Wenwu is human and as mentioned, he gets fleshed out as much as Shang-Chi. This is because Xu Wenwu is a villain who originally gave up being a villain to have a family. He retired, gave up his ten rings, married Ying Li, and had two children: Shang-Chi and his sister Xu Xialing. This is quite a contrast from his comic counterpart who is downright evil.
This showed that not all villains are simply evil for the sake of evil. Xu Wenwu desired power but once he acquired that power, it did not bring him the satisfaction he wanted. Instead, that came from raising a family that he lost over time thus tugging him back to darkness but not for evil reasons.
Sympathetic Plans
What does the Mandarin seek? World domination? Revenge? Neither because all he seeks is to be reunited with his murdered wife Ying Li. In the end, Xu Wenwu is a mourning widower that happens to have access to god-like power and an army with centuries worth of resources.
Thanks to the true villain of the film's physic abilities, he's tricked Xu Wenwu into thinking his wife is trapped behind a magic door and that opening said door will release her. He wants to bring his entire family back together, even if it means slaughtering anyone in his way. It's wrong, but his motivation is very human and realistic in nature, making him one of the most sympathetic villains of the MCU.
Strong Performance
All things so far point to a well-written villain, but none of that would have worked without the proper actor to deliver Xu Wenwu. From his darkest moments to being a wholesome father who genuinely loves his family, it would have fallen apart without Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai brings charisma that makes Xu Wenwu impossible to hate, but he also delivers on being a cold-hearted killer willing to do anything to get his way. One second he's speaking with love for Shang-Chi but then is equally as quick to terrify him or nearly kill him. All of which Tony Leung Chiu-wai portrays with grace.
He Found Redemption
To bring his character arc full circle, Xu Wenwu ends up unleashing a dark being known as the Dweller In Darkness. The Dweller had been telepathically using Ying Li's voice to deceive the grieving Mandarin into destroying the barrier that held him back.
Xu Wenwu decides to make up for his mistakes by being a father once again and sacrificing himself to the Dweller to save Shang-Chi. In his last act, Wenwu gives the ten rings to his son, giving Shang-Chi the means to defeat the villain. Xu Wenwu ends up dying, only not as a warlord or villain: a hero and a father who gets to reunite with Ying Li in the afterlife.