Between the first season of "Loki" and its second, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's stranglehold on our cultural conversations took a nosedive. Its films still made more than the gross domestic product per capita of several countries, but less than previous chapters, with a few exceptions – primarily those involving Peter Parker. Appraisals from critics and fans have been less enthusiastic.
As for the TV spinoffs that came and went between the summer of 2021 and now, aside from "Ms. Marvel," most demonstrated the law of diminishing returns in action with its Nick Fury-fronted "Secret Invasion" feeling entirely inessential.
