I spent my Sunday rewatching my absolute favorite MCU movies back-to-back: the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. I started with Vol. 1, followed by Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.

While watching, one thing became crystal clear to me again, which pretty much explains why I haven't really had much fun with Marvel over the last few years, with very few exceptions.

Just for context: Apart from the second half of Eternals and Brave New World (both of which I had to turn off due to a complete lack of interest), I’ve seen every single MCU movie. Most of them in the cinema. I used to have a blast with them and I grew up reading the comic books. So overall, I’m still a fan of what Marvel fundamentally does. This is criticism on a higher level, but it’s criticism nonetheless.

Brand New Day hit the mark for me in many places, even though I have to qualify that a bit in hindsight without spoiling anything. I liked what they did with Sadie Sink's character. I liked how they addressed the whole dynamic between Ned, MJ, and Peter. The Hulk got sidelined again, as usual, but overall it was definitely one of the better recent movies. I’d probably even rank it in my top 10.

However, my top 5 remain unchanged:

# 1: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

# 2: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

# 3: Avengers: Endgame

# 4: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1

# 5: Thunderbolts

Why do I rank the Guardians so high? Because the storytelling works on a completely different level. It’s built around the concept of a real found family. A group of misfits who genuinely need each other, who slowly build a deep emotional bond, and who manage to be hilariously goofy in one moment, only to pivot to dark, bitter seriousness the next.

You never feel disconnected from these characters. Every single one of them learns what it truly means to be a hero from the ground up through this community.

I’m missing this feeling with almost every other Marvel hero. Most of them feel far too one-dimensional. They don't seem to genuinely suffer from their past, nor do they show honest, heartfelt joy when things take a turn for the better. The real emotion gets left behind, right along with that specific dark humor and the subtle twinkle in the eye at the right time.

A character like Drax simply doesn't exist anywhere else in the MCU. Sure, people might argue that Deadpool is funny, but to me, Deadpool is 12-year-old toilet humor. Personally, I find Ryan Reynolds about as funny as watching someone trip and hurt themselves—it’s just bottom-tier humor that mostly makes me cringe (maybe except for the Soundtracks).

This leaves a massive gap in the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now. It's the legacy left behind by James Gunn. The Russo brothers do great work, but they focus more on the classic heroic epic. That’s fair, and people want to see that, but it lacks emotional variety.

Yelena brings a bit of that energy. I had some hope for She-Hulk, but that ended up drifting right back into Deadpool territory with the whole fourth-wall gimmick, even if she is much more likeable.

Rewatching Vol. 3 and Vol. 2, the final scene with Yondu, but also the soundtrack alone, blew me away again. It brings out so much nostalgia and elevates scenes to the dynamic level of a final Thanos face-off without needing a massive, generic battle. Hearing Fox on the Run or that final scene in Vol. 3 where Rocket plays the very same song that started it all—it feels like a complete circle. It makes you feel like you grew up alongside this group.

Compare that to someone like Daredevil. Matt Murdock is one of the most one-dimensional characters in the MCU to me. Yes, he wakes up covered in sweat, stares in the mirror, and doubts the world—the exact same superhero tropes we’ve seen a thousand times before. It’s repetitive, and it’s the same reason DC keeps failing with Superman, who has been the same boring, vanilla dude for a hundred years.

Then you look at Rocket Raccoon's origin story and his friends in captivity. That actually lands. That actually touches you.

Or take Captain America. We miss him as a leader, but he is so painfully unemotional. Catching the hammer with a slight smile in the Doomsday trailer was pretty much the absolute peak of his emotional depth, which really isn't much.

I’d much rather have scenes like Drax telling Mantis she’s ugly on the outside, but still an amazing person. I laughed so hard, but I was also genuinely happy for them. I cared when they faced impossible odds, always holding onto that slight edge of self-deprecation that everyone else seems to lack. When Yelena landed from the ceiling like her sister Natasha and made that quiet gagging sound right after, I genuinely thought Marvel was back for a second. But moments like that are way too rare now.

These movies come from comic books. They come from our childhood enthusiasm. It’s supposed to be a world that isn't 100% grounded in our reality. Right now, something vital is missing.

How do you guys see this? Do you think Marvel has this on their radar or has plans to address this gap? And please don't just say "Spider-Man is funny." Spider-Man has a few clever quips because he's young, but that’s not even remotely close to the emotional and comedic range of the Guardians.

Quo vadis, Marvel? Where is the real emotion and the actual fun?