A new project in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 5 solves the problem of superhero fatigue by dealing with a key aspect of fans' complaints.
SUMMARY
- Superhero fatigue is a real problem in the industry, with recent underperforming movies and TV shows highlighting this issue.
- The release of I Am Groot, with its short runtime and small-scale adventures, shows how Marvel can address superhero fatigue and maintain audience interest.
- Marvel should experiment with different series times to better suit the story and prevent audience fatigue, as seen in the example of the animated Marvel Zombies series and its potential for hour-long episodes.
I Am Groot helps Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe accidentally hit a major problem related to superhero fatigue head-on. Several superhero movies and TV shows have sadly underperformed in recent years, with the MCU's Phase 4 being the franchise's most criticized so far. While the dwindling quality of some of Marvel's and DC's most recent releases certainly played a huge role in the turbulent phase superhero projects are currently going through, it is easy to see that a sense of fatigue surrounding superhero projects has slowly crept in among the general audience.
All three DC movies released in 2023 have underperformed at the box office, with The Flash's historical box office bomb overtaking headlines from Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Blue Beetle's poor financial results. On Marvel's side, the MCU's Phase 5 projects that were not as well-received as expected are Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Disney+'s Secret Invasion. All these projects underperforming or getting bad reviews cements that superhero fatigue is a real problem, but interestingly, the MCU timeline has since shown how that issue can be dealt with, in a seemingly accidental move.
I Am Groot's Tiny Runtime Shows How The MCU Can Fix Superhero Fatigue
Recently, the MCU's Phase 5 saw the release of I Am Groot season 2, which brings back Baby Groot for a whole new batch of adventures across the MCU, including an appearance from Jeffrey Wright's Uatu, The Watcher, from Marvel's What If...? — another Disney+ animated series. I Am Groot's episodes have a very short runtime, ranging from four to six minutes. While the Baby Groot series is not made to serve as a major MCU entry, instead focusing on small-scale adventures, I Am Groot's length and format can help Marvel Studios solve its superhero fatigue problem.
With Disney+, Marvel has upped the pace of its content output, and that has led to many complaints over movies and shows having poor CGI due to tight deadlines, as well as MCU series feeling rushed and unsatisfying. If Marvel's desire is to keep releasing stories constantly to keep its several characters on the audience's mind, some short bite projects like I Am Groot could help them achieve such goal without creating an overwhelming backlog of required viewing for MCU fans. I Am Groot also cements that MCU shows should be able to play with their format, going outside the MCU's seeming rule of 6-episode drama shows and 9-episode comedy series.
Why The MCU Needs To Experiment More With Its Series Times
Echo releasing all its episodes at the same time - and Daredevil: Born Again having 18 episodes - show that Marvel has been listening to complaints about the MCU shows having a strict format. Experimenting with its series' times should be another step, as multiple future MCU projects could benefit from a runtime better suited for their story. For instance, the animated Marvel Zombies series will be rated TV-MA, and hour-long episodes in the vein of the innovative Invincible animated series could prove beneficial for its story. In the end, I Am Groot can provide some interesting lessons for the MCU to end its superhero fatigue problem.
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