With two shows released, we can see how things might go for the MCU+. At best, these long form stories go deeper than cinematic predecessors. At worst, they are anemic cash grabs to prop up a new streaming platform. They know that if they wrangle subscribers early on, and advertise content in the pipeline (releasing logos for shows they haven't even staffed yet) shareholder happiness awaits.

Ain't nothing wrong with storytelling as a business, because good storytelling will never be scarce. However, the fact that we are seeing MCU characters inhabiting CW quality writing and production (at times) should be disconcerting. The MCU flourished through a volley of quality writing which persistently advertised future content without ever failing to deliver on IP expectations in the moment. Not once from 2008-2019 did we live in the future of the MCU, accepting whatever was in front of us. We were in the moment, with our characters.

We have crossed over into an era of living for the future (now advertised to be much bigger in scope/characters than phases 1-3), in which there is little incentive to keep "things" great, because there are now enough "things" to keep busy.

We are transitioning from being told stories to simply consuming content, the fine China swapped for paper plates. Passing the threshold of sustainability, it is clear that if the MCU magic does evaporate one day, it will take years of healthy returns before the makers acknowledge it.

And you know what, they deserve all the money in the world for giving us a generation of high quality pop culture. I'm just not going to pay a monthly subscription to watch treasured characters from my 2010s fade away, and I hope they know there are many of us who feel that way, and us leaving heralds something more significant for viewership. I assume they are prepared to fill our void with young viewers, the young avengers in the pipeline.

In tech-visionary style live unveilings, Kevin Feige and Co have advertised expansion, but it might be a Trojan horse for deflation if this teetering at the top turns to a tumble. The best days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and perhaps superhero-centric storytelling, could very well be behind us. After the inevitable post-pandemic rehash gets us to Thor 4, we will likely seek something new, as the world has changed.

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