TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis filled with fun action movies, where you’re expected to turn your brain off. If you think too hard about how the physics in Ant-Man works, for example, you’ll just end up with a headache. Still, while we can accept some fantasy science, plot holes are something else entirely.
And The Marvels is no stranger to holes, be them in space or in its plot. The adventures of Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau are certainly a lot of fun, but if you pay the slightest bit of attention, you’ll notice that it isn’t the best-constructed story the MCU has to offer.
8Kamala’s Family In Space
Enjoyable But Nonsensical
A lot of elements in The Marvels were clearly added because somebody thought it was funny. And yes, most of those choices were, like the musical planet or Goose having a multitude of babies. The Khans are another element that was clearly added for comedy, but that one does need explaining.
Kamala’s entire family has a lot of charisma, and they’re one of the best aspects of the film, but it’s hard to justify their presence aboard a top-secret satellite. The only reasoning given was because they insisted on knowing what Kamala was up to, which is as good as not giving a reason at all.
7Nick Fury Is Cracking Jokes After Secret Invasion
Seems He Got Over That Rather Quickly
Chronologically speaking, The Marvels happens after Secret Invasion, the Disney Plus series where Nick Fury has to deal with Skrulls hidden among humans. The series focuses on the struggles Fury has to endure, the old allies he loses, and the new ones he makes. He’s even revealed to have a wife, who, in the end, goes with him in his space elevator.
The Nick Fury seen in The Marvels follows a completely different tone, one that fits with the movie but not with everything else that recently happened to the character. Other Marvel projects do a great job at following how characters feel after recent events, like Clint Barton in Hawkeye. And what happened to Fury’s wife, did she get bored with space that quickly?
6The Skrulls Have A Planet, Making Secret Invasion Pointless
And It Was A Lovely Planet, Too
The whole point of Secret Invasion is that the Skrulls have nowhere to go, so they have to choose between hiding among humans or taking over Earth by force. But there seems to be a third option no one told Nick or Gravik about: the planet shown in The Marvels. It does get destroyed in the events of The Marvels, but that’s only after the events of Secret Invasion.
Once their planet gets destroyed, the newest Skrull refugees go live with the Asgardians on Earth. The problem is, the United States Government has declared war on Skrulls after the events of Secret Invasion, meaning that these new refugees have a lot of problems coming. Not that The Marvels bother with telling you any of that, it’s almost as if the Disney Plus series didn’t happen.
5Monica And Carol Keep Shooting Light Beams At Dar-Benn
Just Punch Her
The fight scenes in The Marvels get very creative, using the main problem our super-powered trio has and turning it into an advantage. Since the three of them are constantly switching places, they first have to deal with how disorienting that is, and by the end of the movie, they’re using that misdirection against their opponents.
Yet, because as clever as our heroines are, they can’t seem to stop shooting light beams at Dar-Benn, who keeps absorbing them with her Quantum Bracelet. And Dar-Benn doesn’t just nullify their attacks, she uses them against them. The first time they battle, we can let it slide, but by the final confrontation, you’d think they would’ve figured it out.
4The Logic Behind Space Holes
A Movie With And About Holes
The goal of Dar-Benn in The Marvels is to restore Hala, her home planet, to its former glory. To do this, she uses her Quantum Bracelet to tear holes in space, so she can send air and water to Hala from other planets. The thing is, how these holes work isn’t ever explained, nor are the holes consistent either.
She invades the musical planet for its water and the Skrull planet for its air, but couldn’t she get both from the musical planet? She’s never shown to properly control these holes, she just opens them and hopes for the best. Then there’s the final hole she creates with both Bracelets, which serves no purpose; even with her lack of control, the giant hole should’ve opened at Hala, not in a different cinematic universe.
3Monica Going To The Other Side To Fix The Hole
Needlessly Forced
Once the giant space hole is made, our heroines get ready to fix it. Monica, the brain of the three, instantly knows how to fix it even though this is the first time something like it has happened. While we’re not asking for the fictional physics to be explained in detail, without understanding some of the logic in play the scene just leaves too many questions in the air.
For one, if she’s using her powers like a thread to close a wound, it looks like it would be easier from where the hole was blasted, since she’s pulling the parts into their place instead of pushing. On top of that, Carol should be the one doing it, since she’s the most powerful of the three; Monica learned how to fly only a week ago.
2Only Hala’s Sun Is Fixed
What About The Water?
Once all conflicts are resolved, the different background problems are brushed aside with lines so short you might miss them. It’s mentioned that the musical planet, Aladna, is slowly going back to normal, and then we see Captain Marvel going to Hala to try and fix things there. She then flies towards Hala’s sun, sparks it back to life, and all problems are solved.
The thing is, Hala still had no air or water. Even if you consider the air problem solved (through a combination of what they stole from the Skrulls and their sun being back online), their seas aren’t going to magically emerge for no reason. But since the movie is ending and the people of Hala are smiling, you can just assume they’ll work it out.
1Dar-Benn Is No Match For Captain Marvel
She’s Just A Kree With A Hammer
When making stories about all mighty characters, the plot either has them lose some of their powers or face off against even mightier foes. The Marvels do neither, with Carol being able to fly through armored ships and ignite suns, but unable to defeat a single Kree with a hammer and a funny bracelet.
The power levels were always a problem in the MCU, but it’s never been more jarring than here. Even with Dar-Benn being able to absorb Carol’s light beams, just a light tap from Captain Marvel should knock out nearly all opponents, particularly ones without any powers. Even the regular goons seem to be able to take on Carol and last a few rounds.
