She’s got pipes.

“No artist wants their work to leak and fumble the meticulously coordinated launch of a new era, unless they’re on some Banksy nonsense.”

It was a sincere moment, and those have been too rare in mainstream entertainment of the last twenty years. The “very special episode” of 90s TV (Full House, Saved By The Bell) became such a fixture of mockery that anything approaching sincerity is now immediately salted with a side-eyed wink that “haha we know this…

I think this was a good example of when being off-the-nose would be detrimental. Prior to this series, I don’t think anyone in the MCU ever mentioned that Sam was Black. As viewers we understood that both Anthony Mackie and Sam Wilson are Black. But it never came up in conversation! Not even from the two characters…

I found it cringy while also really enjoying it.  I'm used to everything being ensconced in a certain layer of sarcasm and irony, so actual sincerity makes me want to pull my head under my T-shirt, even when I agree with it.  Sam is the man.

I can see it. I loved it as a speech, but it was a super well-prepared speech for a spur-of-the-moment admonishment (and broadcasting worldwide!!). Was Sam rehearsing that on the way to the battle? You could easily imagine MCU-Obama giving the same speech almost line-for-line.

A couple of other thoughts. My God, if…

YES THANK YOU!

Nah, I don’t think so. I think the cringe factor is fair.

Sharon’s heel turn would have made a lot more sense if we got an episode or even just a cold open dedicated to her post-Civil War backstory.

I, too, was mostly satisfied with Centrist & The Disaster Bi. But hoo-boy is the apparent half-rehabilitation of Walker into Sam The Slightly Homicidal Eagle not going to play well. 

I appreciate the mention of how Karli and Sharon were underserved by the series’ 6-hour movie feel. One of the virtues that television has over film is that it’s easier to stop for a moment and dedicate time to supporting members of the ensemble without sacrificing the greater story arc of the leads, but Falcon and…

And nobody should roll out films just because we need more black or female, or both, lead characters. That’s a pandering disservice all around.

Not to mention that with Captain Marvel, you have a cosmic level hammer, so you have to have a cosmic level nail. These movies work because of the interconnected mythos. There was no place for her, or Dr. Strange (who they didn't really utilize that well, IMHO), until you could have the big fight with Thanos.  She's…

You’re very welcome! If any of this is useful for your own writing please use it as you see fit!

I don’t think that was the point Sulagna was trying to make.

It actively didn’t make sense to me that the MCU waited 11 years to release a female helmed movie. Not only was it confusing that Black Widow didn’t get a solo film (and got weirdly left out of the merch for The Avengers if I recall), but movie audiences were primed for big budget young adult content with female…

I definitely didn’t say that those movies came out because of political correctness...what a strange misinterpretation. I just remember when we were waiting for ages for a superhero movie with a Black or female lead. Do you not remember that time?

hah! yes, that’s exactly it, thank you

Also the relatively unnamed woman in Black Panther who was working with Killmonger, who was pretty much the only African-American woman character in the entire film. Also Gamora’s death in Infinity War if you are looking for women of color being murdered.

Rosario Dawson’s character being beaten with a bat in Daredevil, Dr. Cho being hit with a battering ram in Age of Ultron, Raya being kicked in the chest and murdered in Jessica Jones....there’s likely more, I used to have a running list in my head because I was so shocked about it happening so often. It would always…