MCU Phases 4 and 5: These 15 Loose Ends Prove They Were Kind of a Mess

The MCU is currently in the midst of Phase 5, which is shaping up to be part of the Multiverse Saga. Right now, things are quite confusing. With Kang the Conqueror introduced as the villain, his storyline may need to be hastily wrapped up, and Doctor Doom must be set up quickly and efficiently for the overarching narrative to make sense.

Phase 4 left many unresolved plot points and apparent plot holes, requiring numerous projects to address them all. Given that Phase 4 has the lowest approval ratings of any MCU phase so far, there are many elements that currently don’t make sense. We’ve compiled a list of the most glaring abandoned storylines, so let’s dive in.

What’s up with Celestials and Eternals?

Eternals marked a significant turning point for the MCU, introducing an intricate and ambitious storyline with larger-than-life characters that was subsequently abandoned. The Celestials were enraged when the Eternals turned Tiamut to marble, preventing its full formation and Earth’s potential destruction. At the end of Eternals, Arishem, the Prime Celestial, abducted Sersi, Kingo, and Phastos to review their memories and decide humanity’s fate, but this plotline was never followed up.

Kevin Feige recently confirmed that Eternals 2 is not planned, and the massive remains of Tiamut are only briefly referenced in She-Hulk. However, there is a possibility of revisiting this storyline in Captain America: Brave New World, as the Celestials are confirmed to be the source of the MCU’s adamantium, and the trailer shows Wilson and Falcon flying around a Celestial corpse.

What’s Skaar’s deal?

Skaar was introduced in She-Hulk, but the identity of his mother and the circumstances of his conception were never explored. His sudden appearance left fans with many questions about the implications of Hulk having a son in the MCU. This storyline might be revisited in The Young Avengers, as Skaar could serve as a natural successor to Hulk in the MCU’s future.

Where’s White Vision?

In the ‘WandaVision’ finale, a new version of Vision, known as White Vision, is created by S.W.O.R.D. Wanda’s Vision attempts to restore White Vision’s memories using the Mind Stone from his own forehead. This leads to a philosophical debate about what defines the “real” Vision. Ultimately, White Vision regains his memories and departs without explanation, leaving his fate uncertain.

Although White Vision is set to have a solo show, fans have expressed disinterest in the character, feeling that too much time has passed since his last appearance.

Sharon Carter

Sharon Carter’s turn to villainy was unsurprising, considering her life was upended after aiding Steve, Bucky, and Sam in ‘Captain America: Civil War’. While her sense of betrayal by the government is evident, a deeper exploration of her motives and her role as Madripoor’s Power Broker would be valuable, especially in light of her family’s S.H.I.E.L.D. legacy. Her story might continue in ‘Thunderbolts*,’ given Valentina’s involvement in the film.

What or who are Ten Rings calling?

At the end of the movie, Danvers and Banner discuss the rings with Shang-Chi. Danvers noted that the rings’ technology was unlike any alien tech she had encountered, while Banner observed that they were older than the thousand years Xu Wenwu had used them and were not made of vibranium. Wong revealed that the rings emitted an unknown signal and were sending out a beacon.

He explained that this was not documented in the Codex and warned Shang-Chi and Katy that their lives had irrevocably changed. So far, this storyline hasn’t been addressed, and we have no idea what or who the rings called. However, Simu Liu recently confirmed that ‘Shang-Chi 2’ is in the works, so this will likely be explored further.

What’s the purpose of introducing Starfox now?

Starfox, portrayed by Harry Styles, was introduced in the mid-credits scene of ‘Eternals.’ Fans were puzzled by his appearance, given that his story is closely linked to Thanos, who is no longer part of the MCU. This raised several plot holes regarding Thanos’ origin, as the Mad Titan’s background differs from his comic book depiction, where he is half-Eternal. With ‘Eternals 2’ currently not in development, it remains unclear when this storyline will be resolved.

What happens to Moon Knight?

‘Moon Knight’ was originally intended as a limited series, with little expectation for a second season. However, the character quickly became a fan favorite, and the conclusion of the mini-series teased several intriguing potential directions. While there’s no confirmed timeline for Moon Knight’s next appearance, there are rumors that he may join a compelling new project centered around the ‘Midnight Sons.’

Clea needs Strange’s help with what?

Clea, a sorceress from the Dark Dimension and Dormammu’s niece, arrives on Earth seeking Doctor Strange’s help, though the exact nature of her request is unclear. The mention of incursions suggests a connection to the upcoming ‘Secret Wars,’ based on comic book storylines. Additionally, rumors suggest that Dormammu may return to the MCU, which could lead to a more defined storyline for Clea.

Hercules in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

Hercules Panhellenios, the son of Zeus, is tasked by his father with hunting down and killing Thor following a clash with Thor and his team against the Council of Godheads at Omnipotence City. Since then, there has been no mention of the character. However, reports indicate that this storyline will likely be explored in ‘Thor 5,’ which is currently in development. Notably, Taika Waititi will not be returning to direct the sequel.

Why is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine recruiting people?

Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who appeared in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and ‘Black Widow,’ has been actively recruiting individuals. In ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ she rebranded the disgraced Captain America, John Walker, as U.S. Agent. In ‘Black Widow,’ she was shown as the superior of Yelena Belova, who was already working with Valentina. Valentina seems to be assembling a team with flexible morals, operating in the gray areas of geopolitics rather than forming a traditional Avengers-style group.

This storyline will likely be explored in next year’s ‘Thunderbolts*,’ where Valentina is expected to play a significant role, driven by her own hidden agendas.

Black Knight and Ebony Blade were quickly forgotten

‘Eternals’ appeared to offer a wealth of intriguing storylines that haven’t yet been fully explored. Dane Whitman, played by Kit Harington, was introduced in the film, and his last appearance involved his interaction with the Ebony Blade and Blade. Harington recently stated that he is uncertain about his next appearance, but we suspect it’s likely to be in either the ‘Blade’ reboot or the ‘Midnight Sons’ project. The ‘Blade’ film seems the more probable venue, given the confirmed significant role of the Ebony Blade in the movie.

What’s the deal with the Venom symbiote in the MCU?

In the post-credit scene of ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage,’ Venom exposes Eddie to various universes, including the one inhabited by Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. However, in the post-credit scene of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ Eddie is returned to his own universe, leaving behind a piece of symbiote goo. This plot point is briefly addressed in the trailer for ‘Venom: The Last Dance,’ though it remains somewhat confusing.

In the ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ trailer, the bartender from ‘No Way Home’ (played by Cristóbal Fernández) is about to touch the symbiote when Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character intervenes, trapping it in a containment tube. Ejiofor appears to play a military commander affiliated with an organization studying symbiotes. His team seems capable of interdimensional travel, as they are shown pursuing Eddie and Venom. Alternatively, the symbiote fragment might have ended up in a parallel version of the bar, featuring a duplicate of Fernández’s bartender, adding to the confusion. This storyline is expected to be clarified in the upcoming ‘Venom’ film.

The Sokovia Accords are repealed, how did this happen?

The Sokovia Accords led to a major rift within the Avengers, as Steve Rogers and Tony Stark disagreed on the future of superheroes. Given the devastation of the Snap, the world’s state during the five-year gap, and the chaos following the Blip, it’s understandable that the Accords would be abandoned, particularly with the Avengers disbanded. However, the precise timing and reasons for their repeal remain unclear. While ‘She-Hulk’ confirmed that the Sokovia Accords had been repealed, the details of how, when, and why this happened are still unknown.

Skrulls had a planet all along, but now they lost it again?!?

The Skrulls stirred up considerable chaos in ‘Secret Invasion,’ one of the MCU’s recent disappointments, but no resolution followed. We don’t know how the Invasion was resolved or what transpired during the treaty after Fury and his wife left for S.A.B.E.R. The only known detail is that the Skrulls originally had a planet called Tarnax, which Captain Marvel was aware of. Tarnax was destroyed during the events of ‘The Marvels,’ leaving the storyline unresolved and no clear resolution in sight.

What happened to G’iah, and why wasn’t she involved with Rambeau, Khan, and Danvers?

Early in ‘The Marvels,’ Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan discover that their powers are intertwined, causing them to switch places whenever they use their abilities simultaneously. The film attempts to explain this by suggesting their light-based powers are inherently connected. However, this creates confusion because, in the ‘Secret Invasion’ finale, Emilia Clarke’s G’iah was enhanced with DNA from several notable MCU characters, including Captain Marvel. This enhancement should have made her entangled with Danvers, Rambeau, and Khan, but she is not mentioned in the Phase 5 film, even though it was partially marketed as a sequel to ‘Secret Invasion.’

It’s unclear when G’iah will next appear, but it is likely to be during major crossover events.

Have any loose ends you think need addressing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!