When I watched this movie at the theatres, I was completely entranced. Despite the fact that I do not enjoy horror or gore, it did not affect my enjoyment of the movie at all. The change in aesthetic and shift in genre from what Marvel generally produces also did not faze me. After watching the TV shows of phase 4, I was used to changes in genre, tone and theme. So I was shocked when I heard that many fans did not enjoy the movie.

But after marinating on it for a day, I think I understand why.

Marvel’s Changes In Genre, Tone and Aesthetic

Up until phase 4, Guardians of The Galaxy and Thor: Ragnorak have been the biggest deviations in genre for the MCU. Marvel has built its fanbase by creating conventional superhero movies so it’s no surprise that many fans are frustrated by the sudden changes in genre, tone and aesthetic. I’m sure that even just a few years ago, no one would have expected Marvel to release a sitcom. And so it’s perfectly valid to feel hesitant to accept change.

Marvel is evolving, whether fans want it or not. Phase 4 of the MCU is by far its most diverse collection of stories present (both in terms of the characters and the range of genres). In order to remain an MCU fan, one must let go of preconceived ideas of what a superhero should be.

I think the biggest reason why so many fans have reacted negatively to phase 4 is due to an unshaking loyalty to the movies that built the foundation of the MCU. Fans are so caught up in their own expectations that they fail to enjoy the movie for what it is. To some fans, this deviation feels like a betrayal but it’s not.

The fact of the matter is that the movies that built the foundation of the MCU are generic superhero stories (I say this despite loving them deeply). They lack diversity and you could find countless stories like them. Though we may feel a nostalgic connection to them, if they are all we receive, the MCU will become boring. No one, not even die hard MCU fans, will be happy if every movie is about the same white man who created his own problems through ego and recklessness (Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Bruce Banner, Hank Pym, Thor and so on).

Marvel Doesn’t Slow Down For Anyone

Marvel has created such a devoted fanbase that they now expect viewers to have watched every movie and TV show produced by them. The truth of the matter is that the MCU is just one giant TV show. If you want to enjoy a movie, you have to watch every movie that comes before it. They don’t do recaps or give you time to acclimatise to the story, they simply expect you to know the context.

And so if you walked into this movie without having watched Doctor Strange, every Avengers movie that Wanda has been in, WandaVision, What If and Spiderman No Way Home at the very least, this movie will make absolutely no sense. Without context, this movie is trash. With context, this movie is amazing and the culmination of numerous character arcs.

Without watching WandaVision, you won’t be able to understand Wanda’s motivations. Without watching Infinity War and Endgame, you won’t understand why Wanda calls Strange a hypocrite. You won’t feel empathy for them in the same way I did, having watched everything related to their backstory. And What If will give you valuable context on the multiverse.

This movie will not slow down to accommodate anyone. Parts of it are confusing even for fans who have watched everything related to the MCU multiple times. If you are a relatively new fan, this is not the movie for you. In fact, most of phase 4 isn’t for you (except for maybe Eternals, Shang Chi and Ms Marvel).

Marvel Fans Need To Manage Expectations

A major problem with the MCU fandom is our obsession with theorising. So many of us are so caught up in coming up with theories that we almost feel entitled to watching them be confirmed. We don’t stop to simply watch and enjoy a movie. Fan theories are great but they should never stop you from being able to enjoy a movie for what it is.

People were so caught up in their expectations of events that they were unable to enjoy the actual events on screen. I can almost guarantee that many more fans would have enjoyed this movie if they had spent less time developing and becoming irrationally excited over headcanons and predictions.

At the end of the day, we are not the writers of the MCU. We do not get a say on character or story direction. Even if in our heads, a certain story idea would be amazing, the MCU is not obligated to accommodate us. We as fans seriously need to work on our entitlement.

This Is Wanda’s Story

The fact of the matter is that despite the movie being labelled a Doctor Strange movie, he only has that title because he’s positioned as the hero. Compared to in the previous Doctor Strange movie, Doctor Strange has been sidelined and is secondary within his own story.

Though the movie spends some time on his personal motivations and life, it is not to the degree deserved by a main character within an MCU movie. The vast majority of the movie focuses on Wanda: her motivations, her past, her character development. Doctor Strange also does not engage with her in the final fight, that honour goes to America Chavez.

If one did not read the title of the movie, it would seem as though he was merely the mentor figure rather than the main character. Any storyline that concerns merely him is positioned as a subplot (alternate Doctor Stranges destroying worlds or bringing about incursions). Throughout the movie, he is merely reacting. And in the end, his role becomes helping someone else realise her power. (Maybe that’s a good thing considering the ego this man has. I don’t know who’s worse: him or Tony Stark?)

Whereas Wanda has a full arc in this movie. She starts off from being a villain with a sympathetic motivation to realising that in the process of trying to get her family back, she has become a monster and therefore is unworthy of her family. She has full autonomy throughout the movie and is singlehandedly able to defeat every other character. It is only through her character development that the movie is able to end without America losing her life.

Even America is closer to a main character than Doctor Strange. She is the most important aspect of the movie. Her presence is what pushes the plot forward. And it is her development as a character and trust in herself that allows her to find the answer. But even still, America does not have enough time to truly develop as a character. Her taking Doctor Strange at face value when he tells her she’s been controlling her powers the whole time comes across as rushed. She, too, becomes a side character in terms of character development.

Now this would be a flaw by most peoples’ standards but I love Wanda, so I barely noticed the sidelining of the main characters throughout. But like it or not, it does exist. Wanda receives more attention and development (in a single movie) than any other MCU villain.

So of course fans who are there to watch a Doctor Strange movie will be disappointed. They have been conned into watching a Scarlet Witch movie instead.

Final Thoughts

I think that anyone can enjoy this movie if they just let themselves. Take the time to watch all the movies that come before it and let go of your expectations. Like it or not, you are not the writer and you have no creative control over what the MCU does. Accept it and move on. Your headcanons are simply that, headcanons. You do not have the power to drive the canon, only the writers do.

Read My Other Reviews

Diversity Is Crucial To Authentic Storytelling

WandaVision: Yes, It Is That Good!

WandaVision: Is It Worth Your Time?

Relax and Watch Some YouTube