For a while now, it feels like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been stuck in the doldrums. And if I’m honest, that’s where I’ve been stuck too – both personally and creatively. To be fair, the MCU has had some solid content post-Avengers: Endgame (for example: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is one of my all-time favorite MCU flicks, and I absolutely adored the Disney+ series Agatha All Along). Yet overall, I’ve been feeling a bit “blah” and uninspired by a franchise that once ranked among my favorites.
However, I’m happy to report that not only did I love the recent Marvel Thunderbolts* movie, I’m excited for the future of the MCU again. And after a long year of personal challenges, I’m feeling that geeky/creative spark again too, and I’m excited to start writing about some of the stories I’ve been reading and watching.
Thunderbolts* review: MCU’s redemption arc
It’s tough to talk about this movie without spoilers, because so much of what I love about it dives into very spoiler-y territory. However, I’m a sucker for a story about a team of dysfunctional anti-heroes who discover a sense of redemption and found family with each other. (Also, I won’t give away who “Bob” really is, but I deeply felt for this character and can’t wait to see more from him.) Many of the Thunderbolts might be labeled as D-list characters, but I came to love them throughout the film. This movie also is a surprisingly mature and heartfelt reflection on dealing with the aftermath of trauma, and the importance of community and connection to mental health. It’s the first Marvel movie in a long time that I went back and watched a second time in the theaters.
Sunrise on the Reaping: A dark return to Panem
It feels weird to say you’re a fan of a franchise with such a dark premise as The Hunger Games, and “enjoyable” isn’t really the right word for these books. However, Suzanne Collins is an incredibly compelling writer, and she knows how to craft a tale that sucks you in and won’t release you until the last page.
I went through a long reading slump last year, but at the start of 2025, I set a personal goal of reading at least two chapters from a book per day. I had no problem meeting that quota while reading Sunrise on the Reaping, a new Hunger Games prequel featuring Haymitch Abernathy, the character played by Woody Harrelson in the original films.
This book is tense, violent and heartbreaking, as you would expect, and it’s impossible to read without feeling anger at a government that sends children to die in an arena to control the populace through fear. However, these books are never without a spark of hope, and they remind us that there is always a reason to fight back and defend what is right.
Dungeon Crawler Carl: Sci-fi mayhem with a talking cat
This is one of the weirder books I have read recently, and I absolutely loved it. It’s about an average guy who survives the apocalypse by entering “The Dungeon,” which is basically a giant video game created from the ruins of Earth by alien entities. His companion is Princess Donut, a pampered cat who gains the ability to speak and becomes Carl’s loyal but sassy companion during their quest to survive the brutal and deadly dungeon. This book is at times silly, scary and absolutely hilarious, and while I’ve only read the first part of the series, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
The Night Agent: Addictive government conspiracy thriller
While this show isn’t technically new (it first premiered on Netflix in 2023), I watched it for the first time this spring, and quickly got sucked into the suspenseful plot. Too many nights, I stayed up way past my bedtime so I could keep watching and find out what happened next. I would wake up exhausted the next morning, but did I learn anything? Of course not! The show was so good that I’d do the exact same thing the next night, until I finally reached the finale.
This series follows a young FBI agent named Peter Sutherland who’s seeking to prove himself and redeem his family’s complicated legacy. Along with a former tech CEO named Rose, he starts unraveling what turns out to be a massive government conspiracy putting an untold number of lives at stake. I’ve only watched the first season so far, but I found both the characters and the story compelling. It’s a great watch, and I’m excited to see more.
Daredevil: Born Again – A promising return
I’ll admit it – even though I loved the original Netflix Daredevil show, I’ve been procrastinating signing up for Disney+ again to watch this. After finding some of the recent Disney+ content a little “meh,” I feared the return of this show would disappoint me. However, I wish I wouldn’t have been so worried. I’m about halfway through the season, and I’m really enjoying it so far. Matt Murdock actually hasn’t spent much time in the suit yet, but I’m OK with that. Instead, the show has focused on deep dives into characters, motivations, personal thoughts and struggles. It’s super fascinating that Wilson Fisk is also trying to avoid his alter ego and become a (somewhat) reformed man. Naturally, Murdock and Fisk are going to end up as Daredevil and Kingpin again, but I’m curious to see how they get there.
The Accountant 2: A must-see sequel
Until earlier this year, I hadn’t watched Ben Affleck’s action thriller The Accountant, but I saw a trailer for The Accountant 2 and thought it looked interesting. In the sequel, Affleck’s forensic accountant teams up with his hitman brother (Jon Bernthal) to avenge a death and they end up uncovering a deeper conspiracy. Affleck and Bernthal have great chemistry, and while this film doesn’t strictly need another sequel, I wouldn’t say no to seeing this team-up again. (Also: Any character who takes time to pause in an action movie and rescue a cat is a hero in my book.)
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