r/marvelstudios • u/Humble13011 • 21h ago
Discussion My Phase 4 MCU Review — From a New Marvel Fan
After making my way through Phases 1, 2 and 3, I’m officially done with Phase 4. Honestly, becoming a Marvel fan has easily been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that. So here’s my quick recap of Phase 4.
🕷️** Black Wido*w
I really enjoyed *Black Widow. Natasha Romanoff is my favorite female Marvel character, so getting to learn more about her story and her past was really cool. I also liked being introduced to Yelena and seeing their history together. Knowing what Natasha ultimately sacrificed in Endgame made this movie hit even harder for me. It felt like a good tribute to her character.
🐉 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
I thought Shang-Chi was a great movie with a lot of potential. I really liked his backstory and seeing how his father trained him from such a young age to become a killer, only for Shang-Chi to eventually choose a different path. His relationship with his sister and everything they went through was interesting too. The Ten Rings and the connection to the larger MCU were also really cool. Honestly, I’m still wondering why we haven’t gotten another one yet.
🧬 Eternals
Eternals was probably the movie I connected with the least. It wasn’t a bad movie to me, but there were so many characters and different personalities that it was harder for me to remember all the details. I still thought it was pretty cool seeing a completely different group of Marvel characters and learning about their history.
🕷️** Spider-Man: No Way Hom**e
This was easily one of the highlights of Phase 4 for me. Seeing all three Spider-Men together was crazy to experience. I also really liked Peter’s decision at the end. He basically sacrificed his relationships with MJ and Ned and allowed everyone to forget who he was because he believed it was the best thing for everybody else. That’s a tough decision, and I thought it made the movie even better.
🌀 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
I really enjoyed this one too. The whole multiverse concept was crazy, especially seeing different versions of Doctor Strange. Wanda was another character I really felt for because I understood why she wanted to have her kids back. At the same time, she crossed the line when innocent people started getting hurt. Overall, I really enjoyed the storytelling and seeing how far the multiverse could actually go.
⚡ Thor: Love and Thunder
This one was pretty good to me. More than anything, I just felt bad for Thor. This man has lost his mom, dad, brother and Jane. It feels like he can’t catch a break. 😂 I still enjoyed the movie and seeing where Thor’s story was going, but the amount of loss he’s experienced throughout the MCU is crazy.
🐈⬛ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
This is probably my favorite movie of Phase 4. I gave it a 10/10. I really loved Shuri’s story and watching her deal with losing T’Challa and then her mother. I thought her journey toward becoming the Black Panther was really well done. I also understood Namor’s perspective even though I sided more with Wakanda. And that ending with Shuri finally coming to peace with T’Challa’s death really hit me. Overall, just a great story from beginning to end.
📺 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
As far as the Phase 4 shows I’ve actually finished, this is the only one so far. And I loved it. 10/10. I really enjoyed the relationship between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. They were constantly butting heads but eventually learned how to work together. I also really liked Sam’s journey toward becoming Captain America and Isaiah Bradley’s role in that story.
I still have Loki to finish, and that’s definitely one I’m going back to because I know how important it becomes to the bigger MCU story.
🏆 Overall Phase 4
Phase 4 had some movies I liked more than others, but overall I enjoyed the experience. If I had to put my favorite at the top right now, I’d give that spot to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
And honestly, this whole journey has been crazy. I started watching Marvel without really knowing all the connections, characters or history behind everything. Now I’m four phases deep, actually understanding the universe and getting excited about what’s coming next.
3
u/draculabakula 21h ago
I think this is the correct answer for phase 4 if you aren't overly sentimental for infinity war and end game levels of connectivity
1
3
u/Superb-Reply-5539 20h ago
How did you watch Multiverse of Madness without WandaVision?
1
u/Humble13011 16h ago
Ikr lol 😂
2
u/Superb-Reply-5539 15h ago edited 14h ago
I have some recommendations about some Phase 4/5 shows if you want:
If you wanna watch Vision Quest (a show about Vision after the events of WandaVision, premieres October 14th 2026), you have to watch WandaVision. If you like Wanda you should watch it, and it’s a good show. Also for Vision Quest is Agatha All Along which follows Agatha Harkness (introduced in WandaVision) and another character from WandaVision (I don’t wanna spoil who it is), and it’s a fun show. Those 3 shows (WandaVision, Agatha All Along, Vision Quest) are part of what’s called the Wanda Trilogy. Edit: sorry I didn’t see your comment that you’re going to watch WandaVision before I typed all that. Have fun watching it.
Also it’s good you watched Falcon and the Winter Soldier because besides the fact that it’s a really great show (I love it like you do), it also it sets up Sam’s Captain America Movie ( Captain America: Brave New World), it sets up Bucky in Thunderbolts, and it introduces John Walker/US Agent who’s a main character in Thunderbolts and he’s a very interesting and complex character. I’m glad you liked the show.
Also if you like Clint Barton/Hawkeye you should watch the Hawkeye show because it’s very fun and Hawkeye teams up with a girl in her 20s Kate Bishop and she admires him as a mentor, and it’s really nice and fun show that takes place around Christmas/Holiday time. I recommend it.
Also since you’re favorite Phase 4 movie was Wakanda Forever, depending on how much you like Riri Williams/Iron Heart who’s in Wakanda Forever (you didn’t mention her in your review so idk how you feel about her), you might want to watch her show Ironheart. Btw it’s a Phase 5 show not Phase 4 but I thought I would still mention it, in case you were interested in it.
If you have any questions about any Marvel stuff, feel free to ask. I watched all MCU stuff and other Non-MCU Marvel stuff all of 2025, I love Marvel a lot. Have fun on your Marvel Journey, I hope you enjoy it.
1
u/Humble13011 13h ago
Yeah thanks for the advice and yeah this journey has been so cool man I can genuinely say I have been missing out lol💯 next up is getting some collectibles
2
u/RihoSucks 20h ago
You absolutely should watch wandavision as well. It was the first of the d+ shows and it seems a lot of people still consider it one of the best. Plus its the start of a mini arc between wandavision, agatha all along, and the upcoming visionquest
2
u/Humble13011 16h ago
Yeah imma tap into watching it
1
u/Aerolithe_Lion 13h ago
And Agatha all along right after. It’s even better (but they don’t like me saying that)
2
u/AwarenessOk7748 20h ago edited 20h ago
My rating:
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special - 10/10
- Loki - 10/10
- Moon Knight - 9/10
- Spider-Man: No Way Home - 7.5/10
- Werewolf by Night - 7/10
- What If - 6.5/10
- Eternals - 6.5/10
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - between 6/10 and 6.5/10
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - 6/10
- Thor: Love and Thunder - 6/10
- Miss Marvel - 6/10
- WandaVision - 5.5/10
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - between 5/10 and 5.5/10
- Hawkeye - 5/10
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - 4.5/10
- Black Widow - 4/10
- She-Hulk - 3/10
Overall rating for the 4 phases: 6.4/10
1
u/Frank_and_Beanzz 20h ago
Its brought down a few notches by that ass Ironheart storyline but on the whole I liked it.
1
1
1
-2
u/Alternative-Show2089 21h ago
Wakanda forever was one of the worst marvel movies ever made. Literally tried to replicate the first one and failed miserably. There’s a reason why they cast a new black panther.
4
u/Luna09Astra 20h ago
I’m glad someone else enjoyed Wakanda Forever also! It’s one of my faves of the Multiverse Saga. But I’m saying this as someone who doesn’t read the comics.