Marvel’s Phase 4 has received more criticism than other Phases. A lot of fans feel like the characters aren’t moving forward in their journeys, either staying still or going backwards. While those criticisms are valid, it’s also important to acknowledge that Phase 4 is an epilogue of sorts, wrapping up some of the fallout in the lives of heroes who took center stage in Phase 3.
Most of the recurring characters are still dealing with life in the aftermath of the Infinity Saga, while they navigate the new challenges being thrown their way. As all this commences, Phase 4 continues to set up new threats and introduce new heroes for the future. Progress has definitely been made to give Phase 5 more direction, so although Phase 4 pales in comparison to the others, it’s clear that the most recent projects are about endings, just as much as beginnings.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
The absence of Steve Rogers has been felt by fans and characters alike in this new wave of MCU content, most heavily impacting the lives of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. Sharon Carter is still feeling the consequences of her actions from 2016, when she joined Team Cap during Civil War and subsequently turned to a life of crime as she went off the grid.
Steve still maintains some influence over Sam and Bucky, and the frenemies duo are still struggling to cope with the loss of their friend throughout the limited series. As they both learn to move on from their past and embrace who they are in a post-Thanos world, Sam and Bucky’s story is a continuation of storylines first present in Phases 1-3.
Hawkeye
Clint Barton and Yelena Belova were coping with the loss of Natasha Romanoff in the Hawkeye series, and both of their stories still deeply rooted in the events of Avengers: Endgame. Clint seems to be settling down more now, trying to take a step back from heroism and prioritize spending time with his family.
After years of fighting, it makes sense that the archer would be ready to move on from a life of danger, which is why he passed his mantle down to Kate Bishop. Yelena likely still has more time left in the MCU, since her character was introduced far later than Clint’s; however, even she is struggling with what happened during the Infinity Saga.
Thor: Love And Thunder
The God of Thunder finally resolved the mysterious romance plot line with Jane, who disappeared from the franchise suddenly, without ever giving any reason as to why she and Thor split up. Love and Thunder finally explained the separation, and allowed Thor to put the ghost of relationships past to rest, as he reconnected with Jane for one last time.
He also managed to overcome some of the grief that has wreaked havoc on his life since his mother died in Phase 2, continued with Odin’s passing in the Infinity Saga, as well as Loki’s kind-of death in Avengers: Endgame. Thor 4 allowed the God to move on from the things that happened in the past, serving as a conclusion for his Phase 1-3 story, so that he can move on with his life in future films.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Perhaps the greatest movie to come out of Phase 4, Spider-Man: No Way Home was the end of Peter’s beginning. Until this point, Peter was still in the early stages of heroism, still in possession of his youthful charm, despite all he's gone through during the Infinity Saga. In a way, No Way Home was the completion of Peter’s “training” that Tony set up for him in the earlier Phases, now that Peter’s mentor and aunt are both gone. Choosing to erase himself from the minds of his loved ones was the final step into becoming both an adult and a true hero, now that he's given up life as he knew it.
By removing him from the environment that pushed him through the first part of his journey, Holland's Spider-Man 3 was the conclusion of Peter’s childhood and relationships with those he looked up to. Much like Thor: Love And Thunder, No Way Home completed the storyline Peter was given in the past, so that his character can move on to bigger things when he returns in future films.
Even with so many rising heroes and introductory stories, the driving force of Marvel’s Phase 4 is to heal the characters that suffered on screen during the Infinity Saga. By splitting this Phase into both endings and beginning, Marvel definitely took an unconventional approach when crafting projects for this current era. Despite the transitional nature of Phase 4, the MCU will surely have plenty of new content to work with as the franchise draws closer to Phase 5.