Marvel"s Latest Mephisto Tease Reveals The Biggest Problem With The MCU

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The MCU has developed a problem, and the latest Mephisto tease in Agatha All Along is a prime example. Agatha All Along is the titular witch"s solo series, detailing her journey down the Witches" Road with a coven pulled together in a desperate bid to reacquire the powers stripped from her by Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision. The series is Marvel"s latest foray into horror as the Witches" Road presents a series of trials replete with supernatural events. So far, this has been confined to the spooky imagery surrounding witches, embodied in particular by the Salem Seven.
Agatha All Along episode 3 revealed the first trial faced by the coven in their journey down the Witches" Road. This trial involved the practice of alchemy as the coven, led by Jennifer Kale, brewed an antidote for the "Alewife"s Revenge" poison. It also delved further into the covens" backstories, with Agatha"s being of particular importance. As the coven explored the picturesque home of the first trial, Jen Kale divulged that Agatha traded her son for the Darkhold, and mentioned one name that has been long-awaited by MCU fans. Whether it made sense to casual viewers, however, is another story.
Agatha All Along's Mephisto Reference Only Makes Sense To The Fandom Mephisto Was Name-Dropped Without So Much As An Explanation Close Mephisto is Marvel"s answer to the devil, a powerful, otherworldly being who rules over his plane of Hell and has his hand in various nefarious misdeeds on Earth and beyond. He is one of Marvel"s most entertaining villains who slots perfectly into the mystical side of the MCU. Nevertheless, none of the many Mephisto references in the MCU have borne fruit. That is until now, when Jennifer Kale dropped his name in a conversation with Teen, stating that some say Agatha"s son, Nicholas Scratch, may have become a demon, or an agent of Mephisto.
Mephisto"s "Hell" is not the same as the biblical hell, but resembles it in many ways.
After teasing the demonic entity for so long, confirming Mephisto as MCU canon is a huge deal for MCU fans. For the casual viewer, however, the fleeting name-drop would have likely made no sense whatsoever. Instead, Marvel is relying on the audience"s prior knowledge of the character and his long-awaited and theorized MCU arrival for the name to make any sense. This disregard for viewers who are less invested in the wider conversation surrounding the MCU continues a worrying trend that could hurt the franchise in the long run.
The MCU Risks Becoming Insular & Introverted The MCU Is Making A Habit Of Relying On Viewers' Deep Knowledge Of The Franchise Close This is the second time in just a few months that Marvel Studios has hinged big reveals on the assumption of prior knowledge. Deadpool & Wolverine was a riot for Marvel movie fans as its cameos and references sparked elation at every tiff and turn. Many of its self-deprecating references and obscure cameos would have flown over the heads of casual moviegoers, however. The big reveal of Channing Tatum"s Gambit is a prime example of this, paying off a behind-the-scenes story that may be common knowledge within the fandom, but not necessarily among those who only joined the franchise recently.
Spider-Man: No Way Home also made slightly obscure references to several Spider-Man memes, though their inclusion was far less central to the main plot.
Between its daunting number of shows and movies, the MCU is already at risk of alienating anyone who isn"t fully invested in the MCU"s sprawling narrative. The MCU risks being a members-only club without ensuring that every reference and pay-off is preceded by a swift clarification. While this is a tall ask of Marvel Studios, it"s just as unreasonable to expect newbies to the franchise to do their homework and watch every installment of the MCU while also expecting them to be retrospectively privy to peripheral conversations about them. It seems, therefore, that the franchise is at an impasse.
The MCU's New Approach Can Only Work For So Long Thankfully, Marvel Studios May Be About To Deliver A Satisfying Solution Close The MCU"s references to itself may be enjoyable to its legions of fans, but maintaining their loyalty then becomes of utmost importance. Unfortunately, the specter of superhero fatigue may be causing their numbers to dwindle, which engenders a dismal prognosis for the franchise if it doesn"t change course. Despite being a record-breaking hit, for example, Deadpool & Wolverine was still subjected to criticisms that mostly took aim at its insular cameos and references, offering a snapshot of how unacquainted viewers might see the franchise.
A newly cast team of X-Men is rumored to play a central role in the saga that follows the Multiverse Saga.
Thankfully, Marvel may be veering towards a suitable lifeline. There"s no avoiding the fact that the Multiverse Saga will still be crammed with nostalgic cameos and references, but it may at least be preceding a reported soft reboot. If Avengers: Secret Wars ends with the creation of a new universe, Marvel can satisfyingly wipe the slate clean, allowing new fans to get in on the new ground level. Regardless, it will remain prudent for Marvel Studios to ensure huge figures like Mephisto receive more than a swift mention in a show like Agatha All Along.

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7/10 9/10 Agatha All Along TV-14 Agatha Harkness, after the events of "WandaVision," seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
Cast Kathryn Hahn , Joe Locke , Sasheer Zamata , Ali Ahn , Okwui Okpokwasili , Debra Jo Rupp , Patti LuPone , Aubrey Plaza , David Payton , Emma Caulfield Ford , David Lengel , Asif Ali , Amos Glick , Elaine Valdes , Paria Akbarshahi , Chau Naumova , Bethany Curry , Athena Perample , Alicia Vela-Bailey , Britta Grant , Marina Mazepa Release Date September 18, 2024 Seasons 1 Writers Jac Schaeffer Showrunner Jac Schaeffer Expand Upcoming MCU Movies