Of course, WandaVision is really, really good. But it is more to watch. And then there are shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which wasn’t nearly as good but became required viewing for Captain America: Brave New World, just like the abysmal Secret Invasion has plot points that will surely be picked up in Avengers: Doomsday.
Up until this point, Marvel’s loss has been Fast & Furious‘ gain. For a while, Fast & Furious seemed like the only franchise that could rival the MCU, thanks to its unabashed sentimentality, its utter disregard for physics, and its growing cast and mythos. So great is the legacy of previous movies that the disappointment of Fast X doesn’t diminish excitement for Fast Forever, slated for a 2028 release.
Part of that excitement comes from the fact that the movies have been special, a unique, over-the-top cinematic experience. Putting four new shows on a B-tier streaming service seems poised to flush away any of that goodwill, giving viewers the prefect excuse to bail on Fast & Furious, just like they did with Marvel.
It doesn’t mean that viewers hate Fast & Furious. It’s just that, sometimes, family is best in small doses.
