Thunderbolts Is Better Than The OG Avengers And I Think There’s A Couple Reasons For That. I Know I’m

Thunderbolts is better than the OG avengers and I think there’s a couple reasons for that. I know I’m stoking the fires with that one, but as an enormous fan of Avengers 2012 I always wanted something more from them.

Avengers 2012 was a true ensemble movie but its leaders, Steve and Tony, were defined by their conflict. Their differing personalities. The formation of the team was the point and their instability as individuals second to that. They had to get over each other to work together.

Thunderbolts isn’t really an ensemble movie. There’s an ensemble in it, but it’s about Yelena and her struggles with her mental health- her search for a solution to her depression and grief and trauma. So instead of getting over the differences of her teammates, it’s about wanting them around- learning to find the good and accept the bad. To prop one another up and find connection.

There’s also something distinctly un-masculine about Thunderbolts. I say un-masculine because it’s just not Joss Whedon’s Avengers. It’s not gendered in that way. It’s not about how sexy Black widow is when she kills a man, or the dick measuring contest between Steve and Tony- their dysfunctions and savior complexes.

The avengers are built on sacrifice- how much are you willing to sacrifice to keep humanity safe? The thunderbolts are once again built on that connection but they’re also built on their guilt and desire to be better people, not only for their loved ones but for themselves.

They also defer to Yelena. John does the “I’m the most experienced guy of course I’m the leader” bit and then almost immediately defers to Yelena later in that sequence even if he’s reluctant at first. The plan only works if you wait for me. You can see later in that scene when Bob is shot, John waits for Yelena’s call on whether to leave or do something about Bob in that moment. There are obviously times where they don’t defer to her, this is a group of people still getting to know and trust one another. They work together instead of despite each other.

They come to see her as someone to follow because they see her empathy, her ability to wait and watch and assess, and also her insane plans! Like calls to like but they see a team leader in her without her vying for it.

Idk I just love this movie. I have low hopes marvel will be able to strike lightning twice but I really hope they can. I’ve missed it.