It’s easy to look back at the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with rose-colored glasses. The franchise has fallen on (relatively) hard times over the past few years, with both fans and critics growing increasingly discontent with Marvel Studios’ more recent offerings. However, while the early days of the MCU felt more cohesive and narratively assured than Marvel’s post-Endgame era has proven to be, that doesn’t mean they were without faults.
