Summary
Relationships between MCU characters are just like anyone else’s – they sour when ignored for too long and only become more hostile when no one takes the time to mend them. In this way,The Marvelsis an extension ofWandaVisionsince its lead characters also tackle personal issues in the midst of otherworldly chaos. They’re emotionally fighting their own internal demons even as they fight literal villains as well. When Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel returned to Earth after a six-year disappearance inCaptain Marvel, she was the apple of Monica Rambeau’s (Akira Akbar) eye. It’s not that different fromIman Velani’s IRL friendship with Brie Larson, actually.
Granted Monica was only eleven years old at the time and just excited to see her Aunty Carol return in one piece. She was too young to feel abandoned and too wide-eyed to think the older woman had anything less than a good reason for leaving her and her mom Maria (Lashana Lynch) in the first place. Twenty-eight years later (minus five for The Blip), Monica is starting her own heroic adventure and her familial connection to Carol has pretty much gone up in smoke. Similar to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) burning bridges inSecret Invasion, it’s looking like Carol has created an enemy out of an ally. WillThe Marvelscapitalize on this animosity or fumble the bag?
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Monica’s reaction to Carol Danvers inWandaVision
Monica’s presence inWandaVisionwasn’t exactly the most shocking twist of the Disney+ show. But it was still completely unexpected even before she was confirmed as starring inThe Marvels. In Season 1, episode 3, “Now in Color”, Monica arrives in the pleasant suburb of Westview as just another happily brainwashed neighbor. She becomes besties with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) until she accidentally asks too many questions and finds herself on the other side of the powerful witch’s magical forcefield. Luckily for Wanda, though, Monica refuses to give up on their connection and goes on a mission to save the other woman from her increasingly bad choices.
Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) are helping her come up with a plan to get back into Westview when the subject of superheroes enters the chat. Just like MCU fans in real life, they devolve into debating who’s stronger than who and how. It’s the type of conversation one might hear walking around a comic convention or see playing out more viciously on social media. Jimmy and Darcy are talking about Wanda’s powers specifically when the subject of Captain Marvel comes up and suddenly Monica’s whole vibe changes.
Some MCU fans get stuck on this scene because it’s weird how all of them know specific details from theepic battle inAvengers: Endgame. However, this scene inWandaVisionleaves others confused as to what happened to the close connection between Monica and Carol. In season 1, episode 5, “On a Very Special Episode. . .”, Monica argues that Wanda is the strongest Avenger because “she could’ve taken out Thanos on her own if he hadn’t initiated a blitz”. When she follows this up with how “nobody else came close” to defeating him, Jimmy argues that Captain Marvel did. The camera is close enough to Monica’s face to show it drop from curious speculation to one of barely concealed hurt.
She abruptly changes the subject back to sneaking into Westview while Jimmy and Darcy give each other WTF faces behind her back. Her hurt feelings probably have something to do with howCaptain Marvel has been M.I.A.since the defeat of Thanos and his forces. For all intents and purposes, she helped take them out and then just took off. Did she send Monica a message? Did she give her condolences for Maria’s death? If the answer is no on both accounts, then it’s no wonder Monica can’t even bring herself to talk about the person whom she used to call Aunty without looking like she wants to cry. Now it’s just a question of whetherThe Marvelswill allow Monica and Carol to air out their issues.
The Marvelsshould examine Monica and Carol’s relationship
Sometimes the most interesting part of a fantastical storyline is the interpersonal conflict between characters.Monica finally getting her Photon powersinThe Marvelsis only one reason why fans are excited about the new MCU movie. Sure, fans show up for explosions, mystical powers, and action-packed drama. Just because MCU movies can be deep doesn’t mean they have to and fans looking to unwind usually want them nice and simple anyway. Yet, the addition of personal discord between characters often works to underline the bigger issues.
Captain America: Civil War, for example, thrived both because of the big battle at the end and the hostilities among the group that made it happen. It makes the stakes higher and more intense when the players involved have something more personal on the line. While Monica didn’t exactly curse Carol’s name inWandaVision, it’s clear their former connection isn’t what it used to be. Monica harbors resentments and watching Carol be confronted with them inThe Marvelsin addition to the classic MCU conflict will only make things more interesting.
Not all relationships between MCU characters are filled with resentment and old hurts. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff)found out they were half-siblingsand it only made them closer. Then again, they were bonded through shared trauma rather than torn apart by what they’d done to each other. Carol has some explaining to do as whatever she’s done (or not done) to Monica is still a sore spot. All it took was one look from Monica inWandaVisionto show her ill feelings toward Carol.
The woman had been part of her childhood for years and six years of distance only made Monica’s love for her that much stronger. So, what went wrong? What happened to sever their connection? Was it time, personal offense, or something else entirely?The Marvelshas the chance to answer these questions left byWandaVisionand bring closure to Carol’s and Monica’s relationship. If nothing else,The Marvelsat least needs to explain why it fell apart in the first place.
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