There are many reasons why Wakanda Forever has become a beloved MCU movie, but one of the most important is that it gives a fitting send-off to Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther. In this sense, the franchise has done the right thing when it comes to one of its most important and beloved characters.
Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that the MCU hasn’t always been so consistent with its characters. Indeed, there are several very ill-judged character changes, many of which have a significant impact on the way that their stories unfold as the franchise continues.
Tony Stops Growing As A Person
There’s no question that Tony Stark/Iron Man is, in some ways, the heart and soul of the first few phases of the MCU. However, it has to be admitted that, in terms of character growth, he leaves something to be desired.
Other than his final sacrifice in Endgame, what’s so surprising about Tony Stark is that he does stop growing as a character. He does realize that his self-centered behavior is a problem, leading him to change Stark Industries for the better and become a superhero. On a more personal level, however, he never really changes from the arrogant jerk he always was- he’s almost always convinced his way is the right way. This is unfortunate, as it means the viewer has to spend far too much time with an individual who doesn’t seem to have any desire to fundamentally change his ways, no matter how destructive they might be.
Thor, The Comic Relief
For quite some time, Thor has been one of the best of the Avengers. In part, this is because Chris Hemsworth is just incredibly charming and charismatic, but also because he has an arc as a character, enduring some self-doubt before fully embracing who he is.
Unfortunately, this starts to change in Infinity War, and there are even vestiges of it in Thor: Love and Thunder. In essence, he has become little more than comic relief, which robs this particularly important character of so much that had made him an interesting and indispensable part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Strange’s Constant Backslides On Responsibility
As one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, Strange has a great deal resting on his shoulders. Moreover, he is one of those people who seems to know how important he is.
However, his character changes pose some significant problems. In particular, he seems to have some real issues with taking responsibility for his powers. He learned the lesson in his first solo film that his powers have consequences, yet he’s not above forgetting that when it suits him, particularly in No Way Home, when he decides to help Peter, even knowing the perils entailed in doing so. While there are times when he seems like he will finally become the type of character who will do what is necessary to embrace this part of being a superhero, he backs out again. With Strange, it always seems to be one step forward and two steps back.
Wanda The Mass Murderer
For many, Wanda is one of the best female characters in the MCU. It’s easy to see why this might be the case since she has a fascinating story and one that is deeply tragic in the classical sense.
However, her character transformation, particularly in Multiverse of Madness, is something that the franchise will probably come to regret. It is, indeed, quite disheartening to see her go from being someone who has learned so much about grief and herself in WandaVision to someone willing to commit mass murder so that she can exist in a universe with her children.
Ulysses Klaue Becomes Nothing More Than A Cypher
Though the MCU tends to create many great villains, it has to be said that Ulysses Klaue is a bit of a waste, and his character change is one of the most disappointing in the MCU. There’s a lot of potential for him in Ultron, but much of this is tossed aside.
By the time he appears in Black Panther, he has become little more than a malignant racist. What’s more, he is summarily killed by Killmonger which, while satisfying in its way, shows just how frustrating his character change was and how sometimes a character can become ever worse as the franchise wears on.
Peter Quill Becomes A More Traditional Hero
When the first Guardians of the Galaxy came out, many were surprised at how fun it was and how much it breathed new life into the MCU formula. Key to this was the character of Peter Quill, who was refreshing because he wasn’t the usual type of hero that the franchise tends to privilege.
Unfortunately, this was largely changed, particularly once the Guardians got folded into the larger Infinity War plotline. Quill stopped making rash decisions and boldness that marked him out as his person, not a cog in the Avengers machine, becoming just another powered-up guy in a costume. In essence, Peter Quill became just like every other hero in the franchise, complete with a love story that felt more than a little forced.
The Humanizing Of Loki (And The Quasi-Romance Plot)
Loki is a fascinating character, and there’s no doubt that he is one of Tom Hiddleston’s best roles. Given just how many elements of the MCU he has appeared in, it was inevitable that he would have some character changes, not all of which were to his benefit.
In particular, the series which bears his name made some unfortunate choices. There is, it must be said, something a little disenchanting about seeing this enigmatic, and sometimes downright psychopathic, character rendered more human. The addition of a quasi-romance plot with one of the other Lokis just adds insult to injury.
Black Widow Gets More Passive
Black Widow is another of those characters who has often been seen as among the best in the franchise. This is precisely what makes it so frustrating that, as the series goes on, she becomes ever more passive.
Of particular note is the fact that she is the one who has to give her life so that the efforts to defeat Thanos bear fruit. She went from a character that defeated a whole band of Vanko’s henchmen in Iron Man 2 to someone who seemed to be around largely for the more powerful characters to bounce off of. When her story wraps up in Endgame, she sacrifices herself- and in the end, it’s so Hawkeye can get his family back. While she thinks that she has much to atone for, it is still frustrating to see this very powerful female character ultimately decide that her own life is worth giving up, especially in a way that seems to make Marvel’s first female cinematic hero a victim of the women in refrigerators trope.
Agatha Becomes A Prisoner Of Her Own Schemes
Agatha Harkness quickly became something of a cultural phenomenon. In part, this is because she was played by Kathryn Hahn, who brought fierce energy to the role, making her a villain who was even more compelling than the series’ hero.
Unfortunately, she ended up being a victim of her schemes, and she had to passively accept the punishment Wanda decided to inflict on her. This was quite a come-down for one of the best villains that the MCU has yet to produce, and it is in keeping with the franchise’s general uncertainty about how to handle its most powerful female characters.
The Humanizing Of Bucky Barnes
For much of the first several phases of the MCU, Bucky Barnes was the Winter Soldier, a brainwashed assassin used by HYDRA. Eventually, of course, he was rescued from that fate, and the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier followed his attempts to make amends for his past misdeeds.
Unfortunately, this entire storyline comes to feel a bit limp, particularly since Bucky is so much less intimidating than he was as the Winter Soldier- as Bucky’s best friend Cap shows, being a good guy doesn’t mean you can’t still be a terrifying force when you need to be. Moreover, he seems to suffer genuinely, and it almost seems unfair to put this particular character through unnecessary torment on his road to finding himself.