5 Marvel Shows to Watch Before Avengers Doomsday

Several months ago, I did a blog post about pre-Endgame movies to watch before Avengers Doomsday. Especially with the recent Doomsday trailers, I thought it a good time to revisit some more Marvel projects to rewatch before the big day. One thing the post-Endgame saga did was canonized television series on Disney Plus. Say what you will about the inter-workings of movies and series, but I’ve enjoyed it. (Though I'm still waiting for them to officially canonize SHIELD)

WandaVision

In the midst of the pandemic, this was our saving grace for nine episodes. It was definitely an amazing way to begin the Multiverse Saga. Remember all the theories and anticipation, watching for Mephisto and Agatha? While Wanda isn't confirmed to be in Doomsday (or alive for that matter) this was our first look at grief during early post-Blip life. A lot of mysteries have been answered from this series, but there are still plenty of question marks, including Wanda's boys and White Vision.         

Extra Credit - The Marvels

Say what you will about this movie (and it making Carol Denvers into a Disney princess) but there's one big thing from this movie to address leading into Doomsday: The X-Men. After getting her superpowers in WandaVision and teaming up with the Marvels in this movie, Monica ended up thrown into another corner of the multiverse where she met Beast and Binary from the X-Men universe. Plus I swear I'm one of the few people who wants to see Ms. Marvel back.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 

A number of mixed emotions during this series but I think we were all happy to have this adventure during the pandemic. I'm not sure it was the best received Marvel project, especially after the energy surrounding WandaVision (that was a hard act to follow). It was an emotional adventure transitioning Sam Wilson from the Falcon to being Captain America, but it also introduced our new Falcon, US Agent, and of course Val.

Extra Credit - Captain America: Brave New World

If you went straight from Falcon and the Winter Soldier and straight past this movie on your way to Doomsday, you'd probably be alright. There's no indication that Red Hulk or Sterns will play a part in the next Avengers movie. That being said, this movie serves to further establish Sam's role as Captain America and Joaquin's role as Falcon (I had honestly forgotten there was a new Falcon).

Loki

We can't have a multiverse movie without addressing the Loki who triggered the multiverse. After this variant escaped in Endgame, there was humbling to happen and some Kangs to be discovered. If it weren't for this Loki, we wouldn't have the X-Men universe, What If, Tobey's Spider-Man, or any of the parallel worlds. Last we saw of Loki, he was woven into the fabric of the multiverse, so I'm curious what his role will be in Doomsday.

Extra Credit - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

This movie was underwhelming for many people (especially since the Kang storyline was scrapped). However, it attempted to connect the threads of our Avengers to the big bad of Loki. I'm curious what would've happened with this movie and Loki if Kang Dynasty were still happening. I heard rumors we'll see something of Kang being taken care of off-screen in Doomsday, but we'll see.

Hawkeye

On the grand scale of things, this show probably won't have much impact on the events of Doomsday (especially since Jeremy Renner isn't confirmed to appear). However, it does feature Yelena, previously seen in Black Widow, who would become a major player in Thunderbolts. Plus, I also just adore her character interacting with Kate Bishop. 

Extra Credit - Black Widow

Like Hawkeye, this movie doesn't look like it will have direct impact on Doomsday. That being said, this movie introduced the aforementioned Yelena and her adopted father. Both these powerhouses (Red Guardian for his strength and Yelena for her wit) reappeared in Thunderbolts. It's hard for me to decide if this movie or Hawkeye are more crucial.

 

What If...?

Slim chance of any of these characters appearing in Doomsday (except perhaps a variant of Captain Carter), but this hit series gave us a glimpse of what a multiversal epic could be. Three seasons and three epic finales. I think it would be a shame to let this series fade into obscurity, despite the release of Marvel Zombies, so I'd love to see Kahhori or the Hydra Stomper again.

Extra Credit - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

If we're going into a multiverse grand finale, we ought to include the epic (and horrific) journey that Doctor Strange took across the worlds. This movie isn't exactly what I'd envisioned from a multiverse hopping story, but it was the first (aside from Loki) so it would be a fun (and traumatic) one to revisit.

I'm sure there are plenty of other movies and series to revisit before the epic crossover of the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. In a few months I plan to highlight a few more post-Endgame movies. I have my list already and I probably won't finish it (especially as more and more cast members are revealed). I appreciate all that the MCU has done for superhero movies and, despite what vocal internet people say, it's not dead and I can't wait to see it continue to grow and evolve.

The Multiverse of Agency

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

"If you knew there was a universe, where you were happy, wouldn't you want to go there?" Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch

If your life has gone exactly how you thought it would when you were a kid, I’d venture to guess you’re in the minority. Life has its twists and turns (violent twists and turns at times). Things go right. Things go wrong. Take mental health concerns into account and the whole situation only gets messier. 

There are a few twists and turns in particular that I wish hadn’t happened in my life. Like coming home from my mission early (a story for another time). If I’d have done it differently or gone for a service mission afterwards, maybe I’d be happier now? Maybe my mental health issues wouldn’t be so paralyzing. 

In Multiverse of Madness, Wanda spent all her energy trying to recreate her fantasy life. I went into the movie thinking Wanda was going to help Doctor Strange to make amends for the events of WandaVision. Instead, we saw her tearing the multiverse apart to get what she wanted. She only saw two options in her life: take over the life of her doppelganger or go through life miserable. What a miserable dichotomy! 

There’s a temptation to look for another life where life is grander and happier. The phrase goes “the grass is always greener on the other side”. But we have the power of agency to change and choose happiness. Our agency doesn’t give us power to change our past wounds, but it gives us the chance to choose where we go from here. Do I wallow in the pain and stay stagnant? Or do I keep pushing forward and trying, even though it’s painful at times?

"From our experience, the greatest danger to the Multiverse, it turns out, is Doctor Strange." Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic

But is change even possible? In this great “Multiverse of Madness” there hadn’t been a Doctor Strange that the Illuminati could trust. His fate in their minds was predetermined by the past experiences they had with others like him. They didn’t even give him a chance to react differently than their Strange and as a result they died. 

"This Stephen is different. He is. It doesn't matter about all the other Stephens. They're not like him." America Chavez

While our Stephen did end up reading the Darkhold, he didn’t let its darkness control him (at least not that he saw). He chose to be better than his predecessors. As we study the Old Testament this year, I hope I’m doing better than my predecessors too, Doctor Strange was able to stop Wanda’s rampage through the multiverse. Because he wanted to be better. 

“Every time you opened a portal, you sent us exactly where we needed to go." Doctor Strange

My life has not gone how I’ve planned one bit. I wanted to go to BYU, go on a mission, get married, start a family, and start my career directly out of BYU. Instead I came home early from my mission, I didn’t use my degree from BYU, I didn’t get married at BYU, and my wife and I have struggled with infertility. 

Ever since I was a young adult, I’ve loved a scripture in Words of Mormon: “And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.” (Verse 7)

Repeatedly during the movie, we kept hearing referenced Christine's question to Doctor Strange: "Are you happy?" I had a patient say something similar to me recently and it got me thinking... Life hasn’t turned out how I planned. I still struggle with all the what-ifs (that's a completely different aspect of the MCU multiverse). But each step along the way, I’ve felt a witness that “the Lord knoweth all things” and it’s for “a wise purpose” that my life has gone the way it has. When I look at my wife, my daughter, and my friends, I’m grateful in my little corner of the multiverse. 

"Sometimes, I do wonder of my other lives. Yet I remain grateful in this one. Even with each tribulations." Wong

Agony, Misery, and Identity in WandaVision

Warning: spoilers contained for WandaVision.

For the past year and a half or so, I have struggled with my own identity. I've had a lot of turmoil and grief in my life, and at 43 years old, I'm just now starting to grapple with who I am. It's not an easy road, and it never is for anybody who is trying to figure out where they fit in the world. Trying to juggle all the parts of your identity (like your job, family, spirituality, social connections, values, and self worth) can be painful at times. 

After the first few episodes of the excellent WandaVision, we saw a show that was about something incredible, but it was hard to identify exactly what direction the story was taking us. But now that the entire season is complete, it's clear that WandaVision is about one thing: a woman dealing with grief and pain, and trying to figure out who she is, and how she fits in the world. I relate to Wanda's agony. She has lost so much, she is figuring out how to relate to society, and she just wants to live the impossibly simple life depicted in her childhood sitcoms. 

Identity has always been a question in the MCU. From the get-go in Iron Man, Tony bucks the system and announces that "I am Iron Man" (cue Black Sabbath). Steve asks Tony, "Take away that suit of armor and what are you?" Peter tells Tony, "I'm nothing without the suit." And Tony comes full circle, in his ultimate sacrifice, and counters Thanos's "I am inevitable" with "I am Iron Man". Heck, even that tree guy has been known to say "I am Groot" every once in awhile. 

But this question of identity is never brought more to the forefront than in WandaVision. Vision asks "What AM I?" and then summarizes beautifully, "I have been a voice with no body. A body, but not human. And now a memory made real. Who knows what I might be next?" The two Visions debate the Ship of Theseus thought experiment. And Vision ultimately concludes that “Perhaps the rot is the memories. The wear and tear of the voyages. The wood touched by Theseus himself.”

This ultimately mirrors the identity crisis that Wanda has. She rejects that she is grieving. She rejects things that go wonky in her world. She rejects that she is a witch at all. But, but, but ... but when Wanda finally accepts who she is, finally embraces her power, finally admits to her grief and pain and trauma, that's when the real healing begins. Afterall, Wanda couldn't really move forward until she was allowed to process her misery and loss. And that is why it was so powerful when Wanda finally becomes the Scarlet Witch and says, "I don't need you to tell me who I am." We see her journey, we have experienced her mourning and her loss, we know what she has been through. 

Listening to Double Vision go through an identity crisis helps me frame my own "who am I?" question. Watching Wanda deal with her sorrow helps me deal with my own. I know nobody can tell me who I am or what I can become. Nobody can overcome my pain and grief for me. After all, what is grief, if not love persevering? It's the rot of my life that makes me who I am: the hardships and the sludge and the rotted wood that turns me into the man I am becoming. Every step I take to embrace my own heartache, I am one step closer to loving myself, to embracing my true power, and to know who I really am. 

And then I can finally say, "Okie dokie artichokie!"

10 New Cosplays We Look Forward To Seeing

With the world on temporary pause, new cosplay has been hard to find. Without conventions or even Halloween, the most wonderful day of the year, happening at their regular capacity, the cosplay community just doesn't have the chance to strut their stuff. That hasn't stopped new media from coming out, some of which we can't wait to see at the next Comic Con, whenever that may be. 

Here's a few. 

10: Live-Action Mulan

Say what you will about Disney's Mulan, the costuming was on point. From Mulan's red combat uniform accented with armor to the villain Xian Lang's incredible makeup, this film gives a lot to the cosplay community. Seeing someone bring one of the film's outfits to life will be a true sight to see, plus all the costumes are modest so there's no worry about having to compromise standards to be the warrior you were truly meant to be. 

9: Netflix's The Witcher

While Henry Cavill's Geralt of Rivia looks torn straight from the video game, the rest of the cast have unique costuming for this live action take on the beloved book and game series. His traveling minstrel Jasker alone has enough outfits to keep any seamstress busy for weeks, and Yennafer is perfect for any cosplaying lady who wants something elegant but doesn't want to go back to Disney princess. 

8: Doctor Who

Now Comic Con has never been lacking for Doctor. Who cosplays, from versions of the Doctor himself to his wide cast of villains right down to the TARDIS itself. However recent years gave us the first female Doctor and the Fugitive Doctor, and both are ripe for cosplay. Given the popularity of the series, it won't be surprising at all to see plenty of these versions of the Doctor running around the panels at the next convention. 

7: The Mandalorian

Remember how The Mandalorian was all anyone could talk about? Just wait for the resurgence once we can get our geek on and start dressing as our favorite Star Wars show. Mando and Grogu aside, as epic as their cosplays will certainly be especially with daddy/baby matching cosplays, let's not forget the wide range of other characters the show gave us. This includes a sand-beaten Boba Fett, grown up Asoka and the poor longsuffering Frog Lady. 

Bonus points will be given if Frog Lady cosplays include edible eggs. 

6: Justice League Snyder Cut Joker

That's a long title. 

Joker cosplay is never thin on the ground but with the new uber dark Joker from the Snyder Cut trailers of Justice League, you can bet that we're going to see more Jared Lito impersonators running around. The butcher's apron and gloves hints that he's going to do something messy, and the bulletproof vest, reminiscent of the opening cut scene in DC Universe Online means that there's going to be danger. You know someone's already chomping at the bit to find the perfect wig to make this Joker come to life. 

5: Onward

This film does not get it's just due in my humblest of opinions. Debuting at the unfortunate start of the pandemic, its theatrical run was hampered by it no longer being safe to go out. That being said, those who did see it and loved it can't wait to cosplay as one of the blue elves from the film, becoming the true Dungeons and Dragons/Disney nerds they've always wanted to be. Even if it's just Barley's cool ripped jean vest covered in D&D-esque pins, we want to see this on the convention floor. 

4: Pokemon Sword and Shield Gym Leaders

Released late 2019 we didn't get a chance to see these characters shine. With the game's graphics and characterizations of each gym leader, I won't be surprised to see a few of them pop up in the cosplay list. At the very least, someone needs to show up in a giant cape with Pokemon related sponsors sewn into it like some cross between a NASCAR driver and Liberace.

3: Wonder Woman 1984

Another derisive release, nobody can argue that once again the costuming was done right. Cosplayers can go with the 80's looks, to Cheetah's terrifying transformation, all the way to Wonder Woman's golden eagle armor. The wings might be a bit of a pain to deal with in crowds, but let's face it, that's never stopped cosplayers before. 

2: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Can we just take a minute to thank Animal Crossing: New Horizons for getting us through parts of this last year? It's a major contributing factor to why yours truly didn't go into a depressive spiral sooner than I eventually did. To honor this game, let's see some people dressed up as their favorite townsfolk. They could even set aside a space in the convention where they can wander around aimlessly and talk to people as though they were player characters. I know I'd love to give Ozzie the Koala and Raymond the Cat big hugs for being there for me. 

1: WandaVision

You know this would end up on the list. 

What is there to say? Each episode had a pile of period costume choices plus superhero outfits PLUS Agatha. It's a cosplayers goldmine, and we still won't see the true depth of this deposit until Friday when the last episode is released and supposedly Scarlet Witch's final form is revealed. I can't wait to see adorable couples dressed as Wanda and the Vision, posing for photos and breaking our hearts all over again. 

What cosplays do you want to see? 

-JOE

Who is Scarlet Witch?

As has been well established, I'm the guy who, in the Before Times, would answer everyone's questions after we went out to see a superhero movie. I know superhero lore like some people know... well, useful information. That being said I was the only one squeeing years ago at the end of Captain America: Winter Soldier when they revealed the Scarlet Witch, looking all creepy in her cell, moving blocks with her mind. Of course to MCU fans she is known as Wanda Maximoff, and with WandaVision's big reveal last week I think it's best to talk about her, what she's been known to do, and why we need to be excited. 

Be warned: There be spoilers ahead. 

Yar. 

From The Pages of Marvel

Scarlet Witch first appeared in The X-Men #4 in 1964. Yes, that's right, X-Men. See the first and foremost thing you need to know about her is that in the comics she is a mutant, and the second thing is that her father is a very important mutant: Magneto. At first Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver were with Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, until they became disillusioned with Pop's way of thinking and split. Not convinced of Xavier's philosophy of mutant/human harmony, they decided to step away from the conflict and joined a new team of heroes: the Avengers. 

Remember class, in the comics, the Avengers and the X-Men live in the same universe, even though it barely makes any sense, but that's for a different blog. 

On the Avengers Wanda met the love of her life, Vision, the robot with the ability to phase through walls. They married and through... plot and magic... they had two children who grew up to become superheroes themselves, Speed and Wiccan. 

Over the years Scarlet Witch's comic adventures mainly dealt with her fighting for what she believed was right, and trying to come to terms with her vast powers, which will talk about in a second. If you want a full breakdown of her comic appearances check out her Wiki page here, but let's get into her power set. 

All Purpose Plot Insulation

For the most part, Scarlet Witch's powers were whatever the plot needed her to do. This was first explained by her mutant power being the ability to manipulate probability fields, meaning if the chance for a bad guy's gun to jam was 4%, she could send a hex bolt at it and increase it to 99%. She could control what happened the longer she concentrated on it, so if she wanted the gun specifically to jam she would have to take a second to concentrate, but if she just wanted gun not be a problem and threw a bolt then the gun could jam, or turn into a fish, or melt, or something else random. Eventually they said that her powers gave her control of "chaos magic", meaning that her name wasn't just a cute super hero name but that she truly was a witch. 

For a long time Scarlet Witch was seen as a character whose powers were cool but weren't that useful. She didn't have the range of other magic users like Dr. Strange, and her powers weren't as straight forward as Wolverine's, so she was delegated to fixing little things that the other characters needed. 

Until...

House of M

In another ret-con that comics are infamous for doing, they reveal that Wanda's powers are capable of warping reality itself, and that there is no such thing as "chaos magic". With her true powers unlocked she becomes a major concern for the heroes of earth, until daddy Magneto and Quicksilver guide her into creating a world where mutants are the dominant species and all the heroes have their hearts desires made reality so they won't interfere. After that doesn't work out, to no surprise to anyone, Scarlet Witch unleashes one more reality warping hex before the mainstream universe is returned, declaring "No more mutants" and turning all but a handful of mutants into regular humans. 

Beast goes on a quest to find a way to restore the mutant population, only to be told by Dr. Strange that Scarlet Witch's latest hex has been tied into the fabric of reality itself and therefore can never be undone, making mutants an endangered species. Several issues, a bunch of weird plot lines involving time travel, a baby and and the Phoenix Force and that all gets reversed eventually bringing back the mutants. 

WandaVision's Big Reveal

So what does all this have to do with WandaVision? Well first Wanda seems to have followed a similar arc to her comic book counterpart, going from a telekinetic telepath (telekinetipath?) to a reality changing powerhouse. Episode 5 gave us some interesting concepts, first that she can't resurrect the dead (presumably Vision being a robot is technically not resurrection but just good IT) and second that she is manipulating reality. Pietro appearing at the end of the episode is a huge move because it's not the Pietro from Age of Ultron but the Pietro from the X-Men franchise, recently acquired by Disney. Rumors have been swirling that WandaVision will not only tie into Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness but also be the catalyst to introduce the X-Men into the MCU, creating the complete Marvel universe. The repercussions from this could reverberate throughout the MCU and film in general for decades to come if Marvel and Disney are able to pull off the transfer, and fans of the OG Marvel universe will be squeeing in delight as team-ups and battles with their favorite heroes are brought to life on screen. 

The Thing About Magic

The interesting and challenging thing about magic users in superhero universes isn't how powerful they are but how they choose to use their powers. Characters like Scarlet Witch, Constantine and Zatanna are usually relegated to background characters out of fear that their complicated abilities may take away from the stars. Whenever these characters are given their chance to shine though, the story changes from "Do we have enough power to stop the bad guy?" to "Do we have too much power to be allowed to exist?" Scarlet Witch brings the question "If you could change the universe to however you want it to be what would you do" to its next logical step of "Should you?". When Scarlet Witch is a good guy she holds back her powers, using what she needs to get the job done, but when she's a villain, or at least an antagonist, she's doing it out of the fear of losing someone she loves. It's hard to blame her for wanting to create a world where her and Vision have the perfect TV life, but is it worth the expense of a town of people? And to bring back Pietro, is it worth merging two universes to make it possible? 

-JOE

Bewitched by WandaVision!

For our review following the finale of WandaVision, see here.

My first impression? "What the H - E - double hockey sticks am I watching?"

Okay, my second impression? I can't wait to find out more.

This is not your normal MCU fare. There is no intricate plot, no action sequences, no bad guys. (No, Kathryn Hahn does not count as a bad guy. She's not going to turn into her Spider-Verse incarnation of Doctor Octopus. Or is she?!) Even the displays of superpowers are punctuated by silly animated stars and magical symbols. 

So seriously, what the heck are we watching?

WandaVision is definitely a classic style sitcom, and a darn good one at that. The first two recall the 1950s and 1960s, with later decades represented in later episodes. It's so well done that it can hardly considered a parody of The Dick Van Dyke Show or Bewitched. This is authentically a good sitcom, down to the word choice, the era-appropriate humor, and the blocking. WandaVision was even filmed in front of a live audience using camera lenses from the time period, and tungsten lights to add to the authenticity of creating a sitcom. Incredible work on the details!

So how does WandaVision fit into the larger MCU? Wanda and Vision have no recollection of their past, and it's clear by the end of the first episode that they are being observed. It's great to have some genuine mystery in this show: Who is watching them? Is Vision alive? And how is Kathryn Hahn so incredible in everything she does?

It's also important to point out the two MCU elements that were introduced in WandaVision. The symbol of a sword in a circle was seen several times. Is this the symbol for S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation Response Department)? Of course it is, this is Marvel, afterall!

And finally, Monica Rambeau. Remember her from Captain Marvel? She's the daughter of Maria Rambeau, and she's the one who helped Captain Marvel pick out her suit's colors. Well, she shows up in this strange and intriguing world of WandaVision as an adult. Why? Not sure, but I'm on board to find out...

And honestly? I'm hooked! I can't wait for the next installment of this interesting world. Not just because I love the MCU and want to find out how it plays out. But I'm genuinely engaged by WandaVision. 

And by Kathryn Hahn.

WandaVision Binge List

WandaVision is surprising us with a 2020 release date (I hadn’t expected it until 2021 or later at this rate). We still don’t have an exact release date, but if you need some reviewing of our titular characters, take a look at this watchlist. I also included movies featuring more minor characters already confirmed for the show. 

Thor (1 hour 55 min)

This movie is the first of our optional viewing. Since Darcy is set to appear in WandaVision (although we don't know in what capacity). Darcy is one of my favorites (as I've said before) so I'm excited to have her back again. So start with this Thor backstory movie.

Thor: The Dark World (1 hour 52 min)

Another optional viewing to see Darcy. While she wasn't super involved in the action of this movie, she moved the plot along and definitely helped with the final battle (even if she got a bit distracted by her intern at that one point).

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2 hours 16 min)

This is our first movie to actually feature one of the main characters of WandaVision. It might only be the credits scene, but it's still definitely relevant for Scarlet Witch's backstory. If you don't have time to watch Winter Soldier, just google the scene.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2 hours 22 min)

Wanda's first true appearance and Vision's creation. If you've been following these binge lists, you've already seen this addressed for Black Widow. This time we're focusing on Wanda's growth, from working for Hydra to losing her brother and becoming an Avenger. We also obviously get Vision's creation by Ultron/Thor.

Captain America: Civil War (2 hours 28 min)

While the Avengers have their issues in this movie, this movie gives us our first glimpse of Wanda and Vision's relationship. They ended up on different sides of the Avengers Civil War, but they still showed they had a connection, though it wouldn't be fully explored.

Avengers: Infinity War (2 hours 40 min)

This was the first true appearance of Wanda and Vision's relationship, in my opinion. And just like that we put them in a spot where their lives were on the brink. Especially Vision. He had to die for the Avengers to win, but even then it wasn't enough and they lost anyway.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2 hours 5 min)

Another optional one for a side character. Agent Woo is set to appear in WandaVision, but we don't know to what extent. He was sort of a side antagonist/comic relief in Ant-Man and the Wasp, so I'm not sure what to expect from him next. I was surprised to see him return.

Captain Marvel (2 hours 5 min)

Our final optional one. This time it's because Monica Rambeau is set to appear in WandaVision. She's getting re-casted, due to the 20+ year time jump between them. Not sure how much Monica is even going to appear in the show, but we'll see.

Avengers: Endgame (3 hours 2 min)

Wanda didn't appear until the end of the movie and the final battle, but it's an important step in the story right? The thing we have yet to find out is how WandaVision is gonna happen with Vision still dead. There are some theories out there, but I guess we'll find out.

What are you expecting from WandaVision? Any theories or things you're looking forward to? I'm looking forward to seeing how it'll play into the Doctor Strange sequel. 

What We Know About the MCU Post-SDCC (TV Shows)

Last week I checked in with updates on the MCU news Post-San Diego Comic Con for the movies. We also got a chunk of news/release dates for some upcoming Disney+ MCU shows. With the release of Jessica Jones Season 3, the Marvel Netflix shows have officially ended, leaving us now with Disney+, Hulu, and (for one more year) ABC as our MCU TV Show distributors. So let's see where we're at.

Runaways Season 3 (December 13, 2019 on Hulu)
Last we saw the Runaways, they were all split up. So were the parents. Alex, Nico, Molly, and Leslie were last seen at the Hostel. Karolina, Chase, and Janet were captive by the Magistrate's family (currently possessing Victor, Stacey, and Tina). Gert is captive by her father Dale. We haven't really heard much about where we'll be taken during Season 3, but I think it's pretty safe to assume that we'll pick up right after Season 2. That means the whole of the series will take plenty of time before the Snap. The only thing we really know that's coming up is the introduction of Morgan le Fay, a sorceress from the Dark Realm. She's fought the Avengers in the comics, but it'll be interesting see how she approaches "Runaways".

Ghost Rider (2020 on Hulu)
We don't know much about "Ghost Rider" yet except that we have the same Robbie Reyes coming back to star in this Hulu series. It'll be interesting to see where they take this show. We last saw Robbie/Ghost Rider at the defeat of AIDA in 2017. So presumably at least 3 years will have passed. However, which timeline will he be in? Agents of SHIELD has deviated from the MCU Timeline, so will he be in that timeline or will this series be before/during/after the Snap? More details to come, I hope.

Helstrom (2020 on Hulu)
This series was announced around the same time as Ghost Rider. However, we don't know much yet. Daimon and Ana Helstrom will appear. They're the children of a mysteriosu serial killer. Their father in the comics was Satan, so it'll be interesting how they swing that in the live action. Being half-demon hybrids (according to the comics), I'm curious what'll happen. Like with "Ghost Rider" we'll have to see what happens with "Helstrom".

Agents of SHIELD Season 7 (Summer 2020 on ABC/Hulu)
Since Season 6 has yet to complete, it's unknown what's going to happen with Season 7. However, we know that they're done filming. Because of how they've filmed it, I've wondered if it's going to be more like two halves of a season, instead of two separate seasons. Presumably the main cast of Season 6 will all return. But with the last couple episodes still yet to aire, we could stil have some fatalities for all we know. I think at this point it's pretty safe to say that we won't have any MCU crossovers in the last season.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020 on Disney+)
This six-episode series will be the first of the Marvel series on Disney+. It seems like these series will play more into the movies than previous TV series have, so it'll be interesting to see how that happens. Currently we know that Sam/Falcon/New Cap and Bucky/Winter Soldier are returning as obvious series regulars. Helmut Zemo (last seen in custody in "Civil War") seems to be returning as the show's villain. We also have it confirmed that Sharon Carter will return (last seen in "Civil War"). Since this show is reportedly going to take place after "Endgame" we can expect to see Sam dealing with the Captain America mantle being transferred on to him and how that impacts him.

WandaVision (Spring 2021 on Disney+)
We don't know much of what's going on yet with WandaVision. I've seen differing reports on whether it'll take place before or after Infinity War. If current reports are correct and this takes place after Endgame we must be in for some sort of craziness. With Vision dead and Wanda resurrected in the Blip, who knows what'll happen. In the comics, Scarlet Witch used her powers to "create" children for her and Vision. So is that what she's going to do for Vision? Is she going to "resurrect" him using her powers? It could be an interesting take on the grieving process for Wanda. The only other thing we know is that Monica Rambeau, last seen as a child in Captain Marvel will appear. Since they've recasted her it would make sense that she'll appear primarily in the present day. Also, since Scarlet Witch is set to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this series (or at least season one) will act as a prequel of sorts to the movie.

Loki (Spring 2021 on Disney+)
Not much is known yet about the Loki series. In the main timeline, Loki is dead, as of 2018. However, this series will reportedly take place in an alternate timeline, after Loki stole the Tesseract during the Time Heist of "Endgame". This was the villainous version of Loki though, instead of the anti-hero from "Ragnarok" and "Infinity War". So that leaves me with a lot of questions about how the series will proceed.

What If...? (Summer 2021)
The "What If" comics are ones I'd never heard of before. Basically, as the name implies, it follows the idea of "what if" certain events had unfolded in the Marvel universe. As the other Disney+ series will tie into the movies, I'm curious how they'll make this one relevant. Will more time travel be involved? Or will it be a stand-alone series that doesn't make an impact on the others and is just for fun? Regardless, we have confirmation that many MCU characters (25 that were listed on the MCU wiki) will return. The ones I found most interesting were Thanos, Dum Dum Dugan, Jane Foster, and the Grandmaster.

Hawkeye (Fall 2021)
Last we saw Clint Barton/Hawkeye, he was back on the family ranch. Who knows where we'll head next with this show, but it's been reported that this series will take place after "Endgame". I heard rumors that it'll explore Clint's time during the Blip, acting as Ronin, but I guess we'll see. We do have reports of Kate Bishop being introduced. In the comics, she worked alongside Clint, both using the name Hawkeye. So we'll see.

Cloak & Dagger Season 3 (??? on Freeform/Hulu)
We haven't had confirmation that "Cloak & Dagger" will be back, but we also haven't heard word that it's been cancelled. Last we saw, Tandy/Dagger and Tyrone/Cloak were on a bus, presumably heading out of New Orleans. This could be our one continuation of the Netflix show, as we've seen Newspaper clippings of Luke Cage and Brigid alluded to previously working with Misty Knight in New York. But I guess this is another one that we'll just have to wait for more news.

I think I caught all the pending MCU shows. Which one are you looking forward to the most? I'm really curious how the Disney+ series will pan out. Will they make it supplemental to the movies or will they make me watch them to understand what's going on in the movies? That would bug me. But I guess I don't have to decide for another year anyway.