John Orquiola

@backofthehead.bsky.social

Enthusiast. Star Trek 🖖 & TV Features Editor, Senior Writer & Interviewer at Screen Rant. Who am I to argue with the Captain of the Enterprise?

I love Hawkeye. MCU Christmas in New York. Kate Bishop's confidence, bravado, and vulnerability. Clint Barton's weariness. How Clint gradually accepted Kate because even though he has kids, he doesn't want them in danger but also warmed to being a mentor. This show is very underrated and special. 💜🖤

Saw Eternals in the theater, didn't like it, didn't give it another thought. Finally rewatched to reassess. Same reaction. Doesn't feel like a Marvel movie. Stiff, plodding, uninvolving, and the Eternals have lame powers and dull personalities. I just don't think this should've been made.

Bild

Ryan Coogler's Black Panther is still phenomenal. Wakanda is maybe the best world building in the MCU. Michael B. Jordan is electrifying as Killmonger, as is the story of T'Challa righting the sins of his father. RIP Chadwick Boseman, my King. Gone too soon, never forgotten.

Bild

Dormammu, I've come to bargain and say that Doctor Strange is a lot better than I remember. Stephen Strange was an acquired taste for me, and the movie is a variant on Iron Man's origin, but I was dazzled by the first depiction of the multiverse and how complex MCU concepts of magic were introduced.

Bild

Endgame and Infinity War overshadow how incredible Civil War is. The airport fight is still awesome. The Russos, Markus and McFeely brought verisimilitude to the Avengers and MCU geopolitics. Spider-Man and Black Panther were perfect. Steve and Tony's split still hurts. My second fave of the MCU.

Bild

There are 3 fictional universes I escape to: 1. Star Trek, but it's also my job so sometimes I need an escape from my escape 2. Game of Thrones 3. Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers: Endgame Encore has been a great prompt to revisit my favorite corners and characters in the MCU

Bild

Few would call Age of Ultron their favorite Avengers movie. A mixed bag. Age of Ultron felt reductive after The Winter Soldier and showed the limits of Joss Whedon's vision for the MCU. The Russos and Markus and McFeely would thankfully take over to launch the Avengers to its greatest heights.

Bild

My personal high water mark for the MCU feels even more relevant today. The Russo Brothers and writers Markus and McFeely escalated and vastly improved everything about Steve Rogers and SHIELD's corner of the MCU, with spectacular action, deeper characterizations, and real stakes. I love this movie.

Bild

What's your favorite era of the MCU? Mine is 2014 to 2016 from The Winter Soldier to Civil War. SHIELD and Hydra were still a thing at the start, the Avengers were at their peak, then the Sokovia Accords and heartbreak of the Avengers disassembled. Plus Guardians of the Galaxy in the middle.

BildBildBildBild