Did Avengers: Doomsday Really Ruin Thunderbolts’ Epic Conclusion?

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Summary

  • Thunderbolts* marks a positive shift for the MCU with strong reviews and fan excitement.
  • The film navigates themes of community and growth, but falters with an abrupt ending.
  • The finale undermines character arcs for set up of Avengers: Doomsday, disrupting viewer experience.

For the first time in several years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is generating positive buzz again in the cinema world following the release of the film Thunderbolts*. Directed by Jake Schreier, this latest MCU offering has garnered some of the most favorable reviews in years and has revitalized a significant portion of the fanbase. Unlike recent box office hits such as Spider-Man: No Way Home or Deadpool & Wolverine, which relied on nostalgia to spark audience interest, Thunderbolts* explores new territories for the MCU and gives a glimmer of hope that the franchise might still have something worthwhile. However, this optimism is somewhat dampened in the final act when elements from the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe interfere with the storyline and undermine the film as a whole.

Contrary to first impressions, Thunderbolts appears to be a compelling sign of Marvel Studios’ ability to create authentic, practical films. Yet, it simultaneously raises concerns. The necessity for the studio to establish connections within the broader universe and prepare for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday release appears to compromise the movie’s conclusion.

The Story at the Center of Thunderbolts*

One striking factor contributing to Thunderbolts’ creative triumph is its ability to delve deeply with minimal resources. The movie appears to be a continuation of lesser-known Marvel productions like Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the less favored subplot from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Remarkably, it brings together this diverse array of leftover threads from the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe and offers insightful examination of these characters. Mostly, the film revolves around the feelings of powerlessness and disorientation experienced by these characters, which resonates both within the storyline and beyond it. In a symbolic sense, these characters can be seen as misfits, isolated pieces from Marvel’s grand mythology. However, the movie manages to unearth significance in exploring this very feeling of isolation.

Initially, the protagonists are isolated figures, some serving as secret assassins for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. By the end of the movie, they’ve discovered the importance of camaraderie. Banding together and finding support in each other, they not only conquer external challenges but also tackle their individual issues. This development positions them against Valentina and her malevolent actions. They’ve undergone personal transformations and appreciate themselves too much to be ensnared by her again… or so it seems, until the very last moment of the film.

The End of Thunderbolts*

In the climactic scene of Thunderbolts, a sudden twist catches viewers off guard, but unfortunately, this unexpected turn does little to compensate for the chaos it causes within the narrative, themes, and character arcs of the film. Following The Void’s downfall, our titular team chases after Valentina through the wreckage, hurling insults at her for her betrayal and treacherous intentions. However, as they push past the last pile of debris, they discover not only Valentina but an entire press conference in progress. It seems that Valentina has orchestrated this scene to unveil her creation – a new team who have just saved the day – as none other than The New Avengers. As a movie critic, I found this twist more confounding than compelling.

It’s not surprising at all that Valentina carried out this action; she’s been consistently adapting to whatever situation benefits her throughout the entire movie. However, what is surprising is the team’s reaction. Given their character development over the course of the film, which emphasized learning to appreciate themselves as individuals and as a team, one might expect a more vigorous response to Valentina’s announcement. Instead, they appear unphased. Yelena shares a subtle remark with Valentina about unforgiven actions, but seems to go along with the plan regardless. The post-credit scene of the film suggests that the whole team actually followed through with Valentina’s impromptu idea, as it fast forwards over a year later and shows each member working together as The New Avengers. This unexpected response from the team is puzzling, especially considering their character arcs.

How Avengers: Doomsday Changed Things

It’s absurd and contradicts the main messages of the movie to suggest that this team would blindly follow Valentina’s revelation. Moreover, it’s hard to believe that Congressman Bucky Barnes, a character known for his strength and independence, would not only comply with the reveal but remain committed to it enough to still be part of the New Avengers 14 months later as seen in the post-credit scene.

It’s evident that Marvel is rushing to prepare viewers for next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, and they are doing so quickly. When they decided to abandon the initial Kang-focused plan for Phase 6, they had to make a significant change in direction. This means that while Avengers: Infinity War had a ten-year build-up, Doomsday has only a few films spanning a few years instead. To create this sense of continuity, Marvel needed the Thunderbolts* movie to conclude with The New Avengers being key figures for the future, and they even filmed the post-credit scene on the set of Avengers: Doomsday, with the Russo Brothers directing. However, this approach may detract from the current viewing experience, as it seems to be more about setting up the upcoming Avengers film.

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2025-05-07 23:09