In this retrospective look at Black Widow, Eric revisits Natasha Romanoff’s long-awaited solo film with fresh perspective. Four years after its release, this movie hits differently — not just as a farewell to Natasha, but as the true beginning of Yelena Belova’s rise in the MCU. From the family dynamic to the emotional weight of the photo album, from Taskmaster’s tragic backstory to Yelena’s place in Hawkeye and Thunderbolts, this episode explores how Black Widow bridges the gap between Civil War and Infinity War, while leaving behind a legacy bigger than Natasha herself. It’s action-packed, emotional, and full of heart. This is Marvel Maniac: An MCU Aftershow. And today, we remember.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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The Sacred Timeline is no longer sacred. In the Season 2 premiere of Loki, “Ouroboros,” we watch the God of Mischief violently time-slip across a TVA unraveling at the seams. Eric breaks down the emotional core of Loki’s journey, Tom Hiddleston’s powerful delivery, and the cinematic VFX that elevate this premiere to something special. Plus: our first impressions of OB, a standout addition to the cast, and a question that still lingers—what do regular TVA citizens actually do? If this is your first time watching, or your fifth time through the loop, you’re not alone. This is Marvel Maniac, and the multiverse just got messier.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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“Multiverse fatigue” has become the buzzword of the moment — but is the concept really broken, or just misunderstood? In this tight Friday feature, Eric unpacks what’s gone wrong with Marvel’s multiverse storytelling… and what’s still so powerful about it when done right. From Loki to Deadpool, No Way Home to Multiverse of Madness, this episode digs into why the multiverse still has magic left — if Marvel can remember how to use it. One multiverse. One mic. No holding back.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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After months of coverage, it’s finally time to look back on everything Phase 5 brought to the MCU. From Quantumania to Ironheart, from multiversal madness to gritty street-level arcs — this is the full journey, in order, through the most unpredictable phase yet. Eric reflects on the highs, the stumbles, and the moments that hit harder than expected. No grouping. No skipping. Just real talk, honest emotion, and a search for what made this phase truly matter. 15 projects. One chaotic saga. This is the Phase 5 Review.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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The Ironheart finale delivers big magic, big emotion, and one hell of a Mephisto moment. As Parker Robbins' origin unfolds in full devilish detail, Riri faces off against both Ezekiel and the Hood—only to come face-to-face with Mephisto himself. Did she take the deal? Is Natalie truly back? And what does this mean for the MCU’s mystical future? Eric unpacks the explosive final showdown, that chilling post-credits scene with Zelma Stanton, and why this 6-episode series might be one of the MCU’s boldest swings yet.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Riri faces her toughest battle yet as the Hood’s grip tightens and Ezekiel returns as a full-blown cyber-enhanced villain. With her suit destroyed, her heart shattered, and Natalie glitching beyond repair, Riri must dig deep—turning grief into fuel and magic into armor. From a brutal White Castle showdown to a garage filled with memory and meaning, this episode forges the heart of a hero. The finale is coming… and Ironheart is almost ready.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Riri’s past comes back to haunt her as she faces the emotional fallout of John’s death—and the cloth in her pocket may be more cursed than anyone imagined. As Parker builds a villain squad and Natalie becomes almost too real, Riri's world unravels in ways that mirror Tony Stark’s darkest days. Magic, trauma, and heartbreak collide in an episode that pushes our hero to the edge.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Riri’s in deeper than ever as this week’s heist spirals into a full-blown crisis. Natalie starts to feel more human, Joe drops a massive MCU bombshell, and The Hood reveals just how far he’ll go to get what he wants. With Chicago burning in the background, a devastating loss shakes the crew—and Riri’s left questioning everything. We’re halfway through Ironheart, and the stakes just shot through the roof.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Support Marvel Maniac: an MCU Aftershow by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/marvel-maniac-an-mcu-aftershow