MCU Phase 5's Shocking and Heartwarming Finale
As the closing of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5, Thunderbolts* comes with an unexpected surprise. This film brings a fresh feel that has long been missing from the MCU, even providing an emotional and moving viewing experience, although it cannot yet be called “absolute cinema”. However, amidst the saturation of the MCU formula that has recently felt repetitive, Thunderbolts* finally becomes one of the truly enjoyable shows—since the last time we watched Spider-Man: No Way Home.
One of the most surprising moments comes when Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine indirectly—or perhaps because of the influence of Sentry’s manipulation—announces the presence of The New Avengers. This scene is so shocking, especially when the iconic soundtrack of The Avengers is played again, even if only briefly. The nostalgic effect it creates is so strong that it gives goosebumps—truly goosebumps.
The presence of two credit scenes also adds weight to the story going forward. The mid-credit scene is just a joke by Red Guardian with a shopper at a supermarket when he shows off a Wheaties Box Cereal from The New Avengers , while the post-credit scene expands the MCU connection to the Fantastic Four. It is said that the Fantastic Four's spaceship was detected entering Earth-616, possibly through a portal or wormhole. It is suspected that Reed Richards used a Time-Space GPS-like device—inspired by Tony Stark's technology—that was disrupted by Galactus' attack. The devourer of worlds destroyed their universe, and in the chaos, the Fantastic Four were finally "thrown" into the main MCU universe. This is a very promising multiverse setup.
In terms of story, Thunderbolts* is indeed reminiscent of Suicide Squad, but has a different identity and character. The plot is built gradually and neatly until it reaches a fairly emotional climax. The theme of "found family" is a common thread, especially in the touching relationship between Alexei and Yelena. The interactions between team members also feel organic and entertaining—their chemistry can even be said to be more compact than Manchester United's midfield!
The audience will also find deep emotional layers from these characters. This time, Marvel dares to touch on mental health issues more seriously than before. This is reflected through the complex dynamics between characters, especially Yelena, played by Florence Pugh very well. She managed to convey a sense of emptiness and inner pain very convincingly, making the audience care about her journey. Not to forget, Bucky Barnes again steals the attention in every appearance—yes, this may be a bit biased, but it still deserves to be highlighted!
Although the third act of this film is a little less solid than the beginning and middle, Thunderbolts* still managed to show that they are a solid team. This film reminds us that people who seem quiet or introverted and have a lot of problems are often the ones who need to be talked to the most—otherwise, they can become The Void themselves😭😭😭
Oh yeah, one more thing, I don't like Marvel Studios because some characters like Taskmaster Maria Hill were deliberately killed off too quickly and their deaths were ridiculous.
Trivia
Avengers Tower was purchased by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Leader of OXE Group and the one who developed Project Sentry) from Tony Stark in 2016 possibly after the Civil War event and renovated into Watchtower. Spiderman once glided in the atrium of the Watchtower in July 2024 (Spider-Man: Far From Home event).
