A Marvel fan proves that MCU Phase 4 isn't the franchise's downfall with a detailed post. Following an extended hiatus post-Infinity Saga, the MCU returned with Phase 4, and since kicking things off with WandaVision, it hasn't slowed down. Looking forward, the franchise isn't planning on letting up anytime soon, with a full slate planned out for the MCU Multiverse Saga.
Coming off the high of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, there are some concerns that Phase 4 is the beginning of the universe's downfall. Between the release of relatively divisive movies and criticisms about the lack of cohesiveness between projects, some worry that the MCU peaked in Phase 3 with critical and commercial hits like Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, not to mention the last two Avengers movies. When compounded by controversy from the VFX community, many fans are questioning how Marvel Studios can keep up its usual level of quality with the much higher output they have planned for Phases 5 & 6.
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However, one devoted fan took the time and effort to ease their fellow MCU loyalists' worries and prove that Marvel Studios is actually doing just fine with Phase 4. Reddit user @u/7Big_Steve7 looked to Rotten Tomatoes' Critics and Audience scores, and crunched the numbers for all Phases of the MCU to see how Phase 4 is doing compared to its predecessors. After computing the average grades for each one, the Redditor learned that Phase 4 still has a better rating than both Phases 1 and 2, and is only 0.57% behind Phase 3. Check out the breakdown below:
Phase 4 is NOT an MCU Downfall – here’s Evidence from marvelstudios
Since art is subjective, it is difficult to quantify the quality of movies and TV shows. However, Rotten Tomatoes, with aggregated scores from both critics and audiences, has been the go-to place for this purpose. While the Reddit user did a great job breaking down the number and proving that Phase 4 isn't Marvel's worst, it's worth noting that Rotten Tomatoes scores aren't always the best gauge for the project's quality. For starters, review bombing was easier done during the Infinity Saga-era, before the site introduced safeguards to prevent audience score manipulation. On the other hand, there's also the nostalgia factor, which means fans are looking back at the Phases 1-3 with a little bit more fondness than they might've when those movies were actually coming out.
In any case, it's unfair to compare MCU Phase 4 to Phase 3. The end of the Infinity Saga was focused on tying off plot lines and culminating long-gestating narratives, which means it's also full of satisfying payoffs for fans. Meanwhile, the beginning of the Multiverse Saga is geared towards setting up the next overarching storyline for the franchise, which will end with back-to-back Avengers movies, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, in 2025. For now, it's best to be patient with Marvel Studios' current creative endeavors. After all, they have proven before that they know how to deliver a satisfying ending – a rarity in recent times.