I am burdened with the glorious purpose of posting this tag on my blog…
I was tagged by Mary @ Wild Writing Dreams (thanks, Mary) a while ago, and figured I’d better actually get around to it.
Before I do, though, a warning: I’m on vacation (as of two days ago) and will not be replying to comments/reading other people’s posts/etc. for a couple weeks. I promise I’ll return (probably around the 15th or 20th, depending on various factors)!
Now that we’ve got that out of the way… the tag!
the rules
- Feel free to include the above graphic somewhere in your post (but it’s definitely not necessary).
- Take the questions and answer them on your blog (or social media or wherever!).
- Tag up to 5 other Marvel fans!
other important things
- There will definitely be spoilers in this post. Stop now if you haven’t watched the Marvel movies.
- Feel free to use MCU GIFs/photos throughout your post if you properly credit them. (All images in this post are from the MCU Fandom Wiki except one, which is credited.)
- I love the Marvel movies, especially the older ones, but I definitely think younger readers should talk to their parents before watching, and everyone should watch with discretion. ☺
the questions + my answers
1 // How were you introduced to the MCU fandom?
I was thirteen years old and I watched The Avengers (I think? it might have been Captain America: The First Avenger?) with my two closest friends. We were in the spare bedroom of my house, sitting on a futon and watching a laptop on a TV tray, and it was glorious. The MCU then became a very important part of my early teenage years.
2 // What’s your favorite Marvel film?
Thor: Ragnarok is up there. Although I wish the change of tone hadn’t been so great (in comparison to the first two Thor movies), it was a very well-done movie and the director really understood the characters and their motivations and arcs. I watched it last month and was crying about how good it was (and how the next movies sorta ruined it for me).
Spider-Man: Far From Home is also one of my favorites, but not really for any grand storytelling or moviemaking reason. Just because I love Peter and MJ and Ned and Betty and seeing them traverse Europe is pure pleasure for me.
And Captain America: The Winter Soldier (and, by extension, Civil War) is another I’ll love forever. The worldbuilding — the character development — the intense conflict and believable motivations — and, of course, Bucky —
So I guess those are my three favorites. Captain Marvel was pretty good too, though. And the first Spider-Man. And… most of them.
3 // Top favorite Marvel character characters?
#1: Loki
You will… never be… a god!
// Loki to Thanos, Avengers: Infinity War //
As I have explained to my family members many times, I don’t like Loki for his moral character — his choices and beliefs — until quite late in his timeline. I like him for his story character: the way he is written and acted. Tom Hiddleston does a fantastic job. And I think that all of us can relate to Loki, at least in some measure. We want to be loved, accepted, and acknowledged. Obviously (hopefully) most of us don’t choose to destroy kingdoms and people to reach that goal (thank goodness). But it’s… relatable. Understandable (somewhat).
It hurts, doesn’t it? Being lied to. Being told you’re one thing and then learning it’s all a fiction.
// Loki to Thor, Thor: Ragnarok //
#2: Bucky (Winter Soldier)
I remember all of them.
// Bucky to Iron Man, Captain America: Civil War //
I think I like Bucky for the same reasons I like Loki. Plus, Bucky didn’t choose to be a villain — he was forced. And he has to live forever remembering what he did. *cries*
I also completely ship him and Natasha, think that it was being set up in Civil War, and hope that the + series Falcon and the Winter Soldier and/or the movie Black Widow will confirm that they at least did previously have a relationship. Or the beginnings of one.
I’ll settle for anything involving a Bucky-Nat interaction at this point.
(And I have to say, I think that both Loki and Bucky are far more interesting and relatable than their buddies Thor and Steve, and I wish they’d been more major in said buddies’ movies, and I’m very happy they’re getting TV shows.)
I’m with you ’til the end of the line.
// Bucky to Steve Rogers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier //
#3: Peter (Spider-Man) (and MJ)
When you can do the things that I can, but you don’t, and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you.
// Peter to Iron Man, Captain America: Civil War //
(I’m not convinced that quote is true — but it definitely shows Peter’s strong moral compass and desire to help.)
Peter’s a teenager who wants to have a normal life, but world-threatening dangers keep getting in the way. Relatable…ish? The teenager part at least. Plus MJ is great. I think the Spider-Man movies are the only ones I can watch without finding tons of things to critique/complain about (not to say that all the other movies are bad, ’cause they’re not, but I genuinely enjoy Peter’s movies so much that I stop worrying about little details and just enjoy them).
You can’t be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there’s no neighborhood. Okay, that didn’t make sense but you know what I’m trying to say.
// Peter to Iron Man, Avengers: Infinity War //
#4: Natasha (Black Widow)
It’s really not that complicated. I’ve got red in my ledger, I’d like to wipe it out.
// Natasha to Loki, The Avengers //
I love characters with tragic backstories, okay? She’s beautiful, powerful, and all-around awesome. I’m not typically a fan of “strong” women, because women really aren’t as strong as men (in general), but yeah, if superheroes were real then there’d probably be a few women among their numbers. So I’m okay with it. And even if some of the fight scenes are unrealistic, the other aspects of Nat’s character make up for it.
I have no place in the world.
// Natasha, Avengers: Age of Ultron //
#5: Clint
Have you ever had someone pick your brain and play? Pull you out, stuff something else in. Do you know what it’s like to be unmade?
// Clint to Natasha, The Avengers //
Apologies to hawkeyerules (*waves* hey, I seem to mention you in every other post nowadays), but Clint’s not my favorite. At least he made it into the top five, though… that’s good, right?
Anyway, I absolutely adore Clint’s family, and he’s a strong hero with a soft side, which I love.
The city is flying, we’re fighting an army of robots and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense.
// Clint to Wanda, Avengers: Age of Ultron //
4 // If you were transported into the MCU and had to trade places with one of the superheroes, who would you choose?
I don’t think I’d do well in the place of any of the superheroes. They’re all so strong and smart. I’d die.
If this counts, though, I guess I’d pick MJ. Because she gets to have some adventure, but she doesn’t die, and she ends up with Peter Parker. That’s pretty cool.
It’s just I’m obsessed with telling the truth even if it hurts other people’s feelings.
// MJ, Spider-Man: Far From Home //
5 // What are some of your favorite quotes from the films?
*laughs* I’m terrible at remembering quotes I like (and I already quoted a lot of them above). Let me go find some.
There’s only one God, ma’am, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that. // Captain America, The Avengers
If you’re nothing without this suit, then you shouldn’t have it. // Tony Stark, Spider-Man: Homecoming
I have nothing to prove to you. // Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel
Why is Gamora? // Drax, Avengers: Infinity War
6 // Which crew would you want to be a part of — the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, or the Revengers?
I don’t know. None? Like I said, I really don’t think I’d survive any of the MCU movies/situations. If we’re going by which people I want to spend the most time with, then the Avengers.
7 // Favorite and least favorite ship?
Favorite: BuckyNat, without a doubt.
You could at least recognize me! // Nat to Bucky, Captain America: Civil War
I really hope it turns out to be (at least sort of) canon.
You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead. // Steve to Bucky, Captain America: Civil War
And I’m pretty sure someone involved in making MCU movies agrees with me.
honorable mention: Peter + MJ, Tony + Pepper
Least favorite: probably Nat and Bruce, just because it feels totally forced and unlike either of them.
honorable mention: Steve + Peggy (not that I don’t like them together, it’s the way it’s portrayed in Endgame… more on this later)
8 // Favorite and least favorite villain?
Favorite: Ultron. I could say Loki or Bucky, but I’ve already talked a lot about them, and their character arcs both lead to redemption and not being villains. Ultron, however, is witty, knowledgeable, and enjoyably creepy.
I had strings, but now I’m free. There are no strings on me…
I think a lot about meteors. The purity of them. Boom! The end. Start again. The world made clean for the new man to rebuild. I was meant to be new. I was meant to be beautiful. The world would have looked to the sky and seen hope. Seen mercy. Instead they’ll look up in horror because of you. (to Black Widow)
Do you see the beauty of it? The inevitability? You rise, only to fall. You… are my meteor. My swift and terrible sword and the Earth will crack with the weight of your failure. (to the Avengers)
Everyone creates the thing they dread. Men of peace create engines of war. Invaders create Avengers. People create… smaller people? Er… children! I lost the word there. Children. Designed to supplant them. To help them… end.
// Ultron, Avengers: Age of Ultron //
honorable mention: Thanos, Mysterio
Least favorite: I honestly can’t think of any MCU villain I really don’t like. Sure, all of them are villainous and evil, but that’s just part of the story. There wouldn’t be a movie without them.
9 // Unpopular MCU opinion?
Oh boy. I have a lot of opinions. I don’t know if they’re unpopular, but I’ll share them anyway:
- Captain America should not have gone back to Peggy; it ruined his character arc.
- Thor: Ragnarok gave Thor an amazing character arc. He didn’t need a hammer. He had one eye (like his dad). 😍 And then… Infinity War ruined it. You don’t need a hammer? Okay, take an axe. Because that’s not a crutch the way the hammer was, obviously. Axes are so different. You’re blind in one eye, which gives you a connection to your dad? Ha. Nope. Now you have an artificial eye, the only purpose of which is to give Rocket a semi-funny line. 😑
- Same with Loki. At last he’s loved and needed. (Also dead.) 😭
- The time travel in Endgame was unnecessarily complicated and made for a very confusing ending. What’s with the alternate timelines?
- Basically I don’t like (almost) any of Infinity War/Endgame (except Tony’s character arc).
- Captain Marvel was actually pretty good. Especially the scene where she’s talking to Jude Law (I can’t remember his character’s name so I always think of him as Dumbledore) and says she doesn’t have to prove anything to him.
10 // What’s your favourite Stan Lee cameo scene?
The one in Captain America: Civil War. *grins*
the questions for you
I’m not going to tag anyone, since almost everyone whose blog I read has already done this tag. If you haven’t, please take the questions from here and do the tag yourself!
1. How were you introduced to the MCU fandom?
2. What’s your favorite Marvel film?
3. Top favorite Marvel character?
4. If you were transported into the MCU and had to trade places with one of the superheroes, who would you choose?
5. What are some of your favorite quotes from the films?
6. Which crew would you want to be a part of—the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxies, or the Revengers?
7. Favorite and least favorite ship?
8. Favorite and least favorite villain?
9. Unpopular MCU opinion?
10. What’s your favorite Stan Lee cameo scene?
until next time
I hope you enjoyed this post! Have a great couple of weeks and I’ll see you when I get back.
I’m with you ’til the end of the line —
P.S. Do you agree with any of my MCU opinions? Is BuckyNat canon? How did you first get into the MCU (or, if you haven’t, do you want to)? Tell me in the comments!
“I’d die.” What a relatable statement….
If I was a Marvel fan and had actually watched all 2something movies and not just 5 of them (give or take and add a decimal)…I’d so do this. Also, time travel stinks and while I’m sure you didn’t mean it stinks in general, I take full rights to pretend you agree that it’s an annoying trope (usually).
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It’s usually annoying and also hard to keep track of which version we’re on.
HP 3: you can change things but DON’T change anything that people would notice, or get seen
Outlaws of Time: if you see yourself you die, otherwise nothing makes sense and there are SO MANY TIMESTREAMS
Emerald Atlas: you will change things, but then they will have already happened so it doesn’t matter. you can even see yourself and then you’ll remember that you did.
Avengers Endgame: YOU MUST NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. Oh but you will, and we’ll just create all these alternate timestreams that make NO SENSE, and then you have to go fix them. We think. We’re not quite sure.
I just wish it a) made a little more sense and b) was consistent.
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Indeed! More incentive for us to try it, then? XDD
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Clint isn’t your favorite!?!?!? Ahhh!!!!! Jk, jk, I understand. Loki’s awesome though, as is BuckyNat all the way, baby!!!!!!!! Man, I kinda do remember watching Avengers that way 😁. That was fun. And I do agree with the whole Peggy/Steve Endgame thing. I actually read a theory that it would have been better if Steve had been the one to snap the gauntlet instead of Tony and I kinda like that better instead of the ending he did get. Anyway, I loved seeing your thoughts on the MCU and have a fun vacation!!!!!!!
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Adorable cinnamon roll that he is, I have to give first place to Loki XD
Could’ve been cool to see Cap snap the gauntlet, but then Tony’s ending wouldn’t have been as emotionally satisfying… I would’ve preferred it if Cap hadn’t gone back to Peggy, but had chosen to live out his life with Sharon (or honestly anyone — or just by himself) and given the shield to BUCKY (*sobs*).
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No one ever gives enough credit to ant man😫😫😫 thats the best and the wasp😍👌🏻😤 love her
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I totally forgot to mention him in this post *facepalm* but he’s definitely one of my favorites as well.
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Ahhhh I LOVE this post!! The Winter Soldier is the best Marvel movie ever 😍😍 Also, I agree 100% about Cap’s arc! Especially after watching Agent Carter, I’m not too pleased that Peggy and Cap got back together.
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I really should watch Agent Carter! I still haven’t tried it out.
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Loki is my favorite character too, and it is so awkward to explain to people.. My mom: “Why do you like him? He is literally up there stabbing people.” Me: “Yeah, which leaves so much room for character development!”
I’m totally with you on not liking what they did with Steve in Endgame. I love Steve and Peggy together, but some of the tragic-ness, and how they both had to learn to move on are some of the reasons I like it. I just pretend Steve went back to have his dance, but then something malfunctioned and he came back old.
I’m kind of ok with how Tony’s character arc ended, but I still argue it didn’t HAVE to end that way; he’s been perfectly willing to sacrifice himself in other movies. It’s kind of the “No one wants to watch the hero go through so much growth and pain and then be happy, but then immediately lose it all.” That’s the problem I have with both Tony and Loki, even if I’m super proud of them at the same time.
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Yep. I wish the filmmakers had worked more at creating satisfying and well-done character arcs rather than filming awkward scenes to please the fans (like all the women fighting together).
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Ooooh this was SO awesome, Maya! Thank you so much for doing the tag, I loved reading your answers! 😄 (also, I feel like from all the people I’ve seen do this tag-me included-seem to like that specific Stan Lee scene 😂)
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I had so much fun reading your opinions! I agree with what you said about Cap’s arc and Captain Marvel being a decent movie. It wasn’t the best, but I still enjoyed it all the same 🙂
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I love this post! It was so fun! I never thought about shipping Bucky and Nat, that would be really cool!
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Hey! I nominated you for the Outstanding Blogger Award! Here is the link!
https://gabijoydenner.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/i-was-nominated-for-the-outstanding-blogger-award/
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Thanks so much, Gabrielle!
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[…] found this at Maya Joelle’s blog and it’s MARVEL so obviously I can’t pass it […]
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Ah, this was so much fun to read! YES, Loki is the best, and yes, I like him for his STORY character, not at all his moral character (and I feel very cheated that they had to kill him; didn’t the directors realize that we just wanted to see Loki working with the Avengers for once?! And I really wish he would have died in the Snap and then come back…*cries over what might have been*…) And Natasha…I love her so much.
I…wow, I never, ever considered a Bucky/Nat ship before…but I kind of like it!
Ultron is a great villain. Also, Captain Marvel was pretty good!
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I am such a Marvel nerd yet didn’t know there was a Marvel tag!! Love this post and will definitely be doing this on my blog 🙂 xx
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[…] — as I talked about in this post — I’m not the biggest fan of Infinity War and Endgame, I do really appreciate the MCU […]
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