Top 10 MCU Moments of 2021

“Wandavision” (2021)

The mystery of who the big bad of “WandaVision” was kept fans theorizing and returning every week. Although fans expected to see characters like Dottie or Mephisto get exposed as antagonists, one of the biggest threats was actually the nosy neighbor Agatha Harkness. She chose to hammer home this major reveal with an enchanting song. “Agatha All Along” was a funny and ridiculously catchy tune. Within the context of the show, it helped clear up a few mysteries. And outside of the series, it became so popular that it reached the top of the iTunes soundtrack chart at one point. Although Agatha is definitely insidious, we can’t deny that she’s good at crafting memorable songs.

“Black Widow” (2021)

There was a time where every woman in the Black Widow program was forced to obey orders without question. After Yelena was freed from this systematic brainwashing, she and Natasha started working together to end these evil practices. It was great seeing the avenger get revenge on the man who kept the program going. However, the most satisfying moment came when Yelena used a special compound to free all the widows. It didn’t matter whether these women went on to fight in underground cage matches or help other people in need. The important thing was that Natasha and Yelena made sure every Widow was free to make their own choices.

“Loki” (2021-)

After Loki is sent to the terrifying Void, he runs into many of his alternate selves. Unsurprisingly, all of these gods of mischief have trouble getting along. The tension rises amongst all the variants until alligator Loki decides he’s had enough. His violent bite encourages the numerous mischievous Asgardians to battle for supremacy. It’s fun to see how each of the variants uses their powers to try to take down the others. And since the Loki we’ve grown to know wants no part in the struggle, we couldn’t help but laugh as he completely avoids the conflict. We’re glad the variants chose not to talk out their differences so we could get this superb clash.

“What If...?” (2021-)

“What if” showed us a reality where Doctor Strange traveled back into the past countless times in an effort to save his love interest Christine. But after his numerous attempts fail, he uses dark methods to acquire enough power to save her. Strange-Supreme eventually succeeds and breaks the laws of time. Unfortunately, his actions cause his entire reality and Christine to fall apart. Watching Strange-Supreme lose everything made for an impactful and unforgettable conclusion that still haunts us. At least Strange got to take a break from the world he destroyed to join the awesome guardians of the multiverse in a climactic fight in another great “What If?” scene.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021)

While all the fight scenes in Shang-Chi’s debut film were amazing, the first one fans think of is always the bus brawl. When Ten Rings goons try to get the hero’s pendant, he has no choice but to fight them on public transit. The showdown is packed with fluid choreography that makes each hit feel completely real. There’s also a few fantastic comedic beats that keep us laughing between punches. And since the bus is moving throughout the city, Shang-Chi has to change up his tactics every time the vehicle hits a new obstacle. This breathtaking fight was a wonderful way to show us what Shang-Chi could do. We definitely believed he had the skills to take on a giant demon after this bus display.

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021)

Throughout “Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, Sam questioned if he could or even should carry the weight of the legendary vibranium shield. His decision became even harder when he learned that a Black man named Isaiah was imprisoned after taking up the Captain America mantle. Although the shield had an incredibly heavy history, Sam was willing to lift it up in the end to save lives. The moment where he arrives to confront villains in his new Captain America suit was incredibly powerful. Not only did his new outfit look outstanding, but it was the moment Sam showed us how strong he was. He would carry the burdens of the past while soaring into the future as the second Black Captain America.

“Loki” (2021-)

In this show’s season 1 finale, the charismatic He Who Remains gives Loki and Sylvie a choice. The duo can either maintain a single timeline or assassinate him and allow a multiverse to grow and prosper. Unfortunately, Loki and Sylvie heavily disagree on how to move forward. After a tense fight between the duo, He Who Remains is slain. His death immediately leads to countless amounts of realities coming into existence at once. After this game changing event, the animated “What if” series showed us examples of how characters in other Marvel timelines can look like. Sylvie’s tremendous decision may be the reason why we see a live-action Captain Carter and other remixed characters in future Marvel films.

“Wandavision” (2021)

Wanda has been using her magical abilities in the MCU for years without truly comprehending what she was capable of. During her Disney+ series, she learns firsthand how terrifying her powers can actually be. Agatha also repeatedly warns that Wanda is meant to become a threatening being known as the Scarlet Witch. After the Avenger is pushed to her mental and physical limits, she decides to take full ownership of her abilities. Wanda uses a clever plan to defeat Agatha before becoming the Scarlet Witch. Although she still has more to learn, seeing her fully embrace her identity and decide to make her own path was exciting and inspiring.

Before we highlight our marvelous top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Trevor Slattery Returns, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021)
We Weren’t Expecting A Former Villain to Come Back as Excellent Comic Relief

Thena Defeats the Deviant Kro, “Eternals” (2021)
This Warrior Overcame Her Personal Struggles & Ended This Huge Threat

Chadwick Boseman Becomes a Star-Lord, “What If…?” (2021-)
It Was Emotional Hearing This Late Actor’s Final Marvel Performance

Quicksilver Arrives In Westview...Sort of, “WandaVision”
Our Jaws Dropped When We Thought Fox’s Mutants Entered the MCU

Isaiah Bradley Sees His Statue, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021)
It Was Heartwarming to See This Soldier Finally Get The Recognition He Deserved