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Over the past ten years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has gained worldwide recognition and popularity. But everything changes, and after Avengers: Endgame, subsequent releases have been facing a challenge. With Thanos no longer a threat, the main arc of the story seems to be over and it’s difficult for audiences to get as invested as they were before.
Spider-Man: Far From Home was a box office success, but with it, Phase Three came to an end. Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have begun the next stage in the MCU. The movies have their similarities, but both of them bring something new to the table.
Warning: This list contains spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!
10 Similar: The Main Characters Are Trained To Be Assassins From An Early Age
If there’s any character known in the MCU for their dark background, it’s Black Widow. Natasha has many times pointed out that she has red in her ledger, and she wishes to make amends for her past. Her standalone movie goes a little deeper into her training and experience with the Red Room. The bleak picture it presents makes Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame even more tragic.
Shang-Chi’s background is similar to Natasha’s. His father, Xu Wenwu, is the leader of the terrorist organization the Ten Rings. While significantly less creepy than the Red Room’s General Dreykov, Xu Wenwu is still ruthless and exposes his son to methods of training as brutal as those of the Widows.
9 Different: Shang-Chi Manages To Escape His Father Early On—Black Widow & Yelena Do Not
The relationship between Shang-Chi and his father is very different from the one Natasha and her sister Yelena Belova have with Dreykov. Ultimately, Xu Wenwu does care about Shang-Chi, even if he is an abusive parent.
This is part of the reason Shang-Chi manages to flee the Ten Rings at a very early age. After completing his first assignment from his father—avenging his mother’s murder—he is horrified by what he has become and runs. Xu Wenwu allows it. Natasha doesn’t have that luxury, not until she meets Clint Barton and is recruited by SHIELD. Yelena and the other Widows only find freedom at the end of Black Widow.
8 Similar: Both Movies Have A Cast Of Strong Female Characters
The long-awaited stand-alone movie of the first female Avenger, Black Widow, is unsurprisingly centered on a cast of strong female characters. Natasha is not alone on her journey to defeat General Dreykov. The most pleasant surprise of the movie is her sister, the sarcastic and occasionally almost innocent Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh. Rachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff becomes their adoptive mother during an undercover mission in Ohio when Natasha and Yelena are only children. Together with the Red Guardian Alexei Shostakov, they reunite years later to take down the Red Room.
Shang-Chi is also surrounded by strong female characters. His mother, Ying Li, is the guardian of the mystical dimension of Ta Lo, a role she gives up to marry his father. His aunt Ying Nan takes over after that, although they only meet many years later. His sister, Xialing, is just as talented as him in martial arts. His friend Katy Chen may not have any mystical abilities, but she definitely has the determined heart of a draconic protector.
7 Different: Shang-Chi Is An Origin Story Focused On The Titular Male Lead
Despite the abundance of female characters in Shang-Chi, the focus still remains very much on the conflict between Shang-Chi and his father. It’s only natural, as this is Shang-Chi’s origin story. Still, fans undoubtedly look forward to seeing more of the new Marvel ladies Shang-Chi has introduced.
Unsurprisingly, the dynamic is different in Black Widow. It may have been meant to be Natasha’s origin story, but it comes a little too late for that. However, most of the cast members—including the secondary villain, Taskmaster—are women. If the post-credit scene is to be believed, Yelena Belova will definitely play an important role in the future of the MCU.
6 Similar: There’s Significant Sibling Rivalry & Family Drama Involved
Beyond the mystical element, Shang-Chi is a family drama. It centers on a grieving husband who loses his mind and abuses his two children. His son runs away from home, leaving his younger sister behind to be mistreated and ignored. Xialing deeply resents her father and brother. Her reunion with Shang-Chi is a violent match in her fight club. They’re then captured by their father and forcibly brought home, to the headquarters of the Ten Rings.
Natasha and Yelena also fight upon seeing each other again, and, in both movies, there are awkward meals that end very poorly. Both families have experienced passing moments of pure happiness—portrayed in the first parts of the movie or through flashbacks—but that’s something they can never truly have again.
5 Different: Black Widow’s Characters Find More Closure Than Shang-Chi’s Characters Do
By the end of Black Widow, the characters manage to more or less fix their relationship. Yelena no longer seems to resent her adoptive family. Natasha admits that their family was real to her too, just like it was to Yelena. Melina and Alexei assist them to take down the Red Room, even if it’s something that goes against their own training. Yelena is last seen at Natasha’s tomb, mourning her sister.
Shang-Chi doesn’t get that kind of closure with his family. He seems to mourn his father when he watches Xu Wenwu die, but then goes back to his old life without too much trouble and begins to work with the Avengers. Meanwhile, Xialing almost seems to prefer Xu Wenwu’s unfortunate fate. It allows her to take over the Ten Rings. Only time will tell if this will bring her into conflict with her brother again. Either way, their relationship is still not in a good place.
4 Similar: Both Main Characters Are Immigrants
Most of the characters in Black Widow, including Natasha, are Russian. Natasha leaves the Red Room and moves to the United States after Clint Barton recruits her for SHIELD.
Shang-Chi is Chinese. After he flees from his father, he comes to the US, where he becomes the target of prejudice because of his Asian background. Katy Chen’s family is also one of Chinese immigrants, with three generations now living in the United States.
3 Different: Shang-Chi Is More Culturally Significant
While Black Widow does include a vague vibe of the harshness of the Soviet Union under the communist regime, it doesn’t really go into more detail on Russian history. It also loses the honor of being the first MCU woman-led superhero film to Captain Marvel.
As the first Asian-led superhero movie in the MCU, Shang-Chi offers far deeper insight into Asian culture. The addition of Katy Chen’s family provides a look into the lives of regular Asian Americans, while the creatures inhabiting and protecting Ta Lo come from Chinese mythology. The beautiful flow of the martial arts fighting in Shang-Chi is reminiscent of traditional Kung-fu movies. Black Widow is more similar to Winter Soldier in nature, a spy-themed thriller weaved into a world of superheroes.
2 Similar: The Villains In The Story Are Able To Use A Form Of Mental Manipulation
The main villain in Shang-Chi may have been the Mandarin, but he’s actually being manipulated by someone else. The Dweller-in-Darkness reaches out to Xu Wenwu from his prison, pretending to be Ying Li. Xu Wenwu attacks Ta Lo because he thinks his wife’s people are holding her captive.
The Black Widows are also being manipulated by General Dreykov. His daughter Antonia receives the same treatment, and Dreykov turns her into his greatest warrior, the Taskmaster.
1 Different: Shang-Chi is All About Mysticism, While Black Widow Is About Science
Most of the weapons used in Shang-Chi are magical in nature. The Ten Rings are a mystical relic used by the Mandarin to create his criminal empire. The Dweller-in-Darkness is a monster from another dimension, and the Great Protector defending Ta Lo from the creature is a dragon.
Black Widow‘s General Dreykov is just a regular human. Melina is the one who creates the serum he uses to control the Widows. He applies a pheromonal lock to all Red Room personnel, keeping them from hurting him. The only antidote for the serum is the red dust, synthesized by an older Widow from Melina’s generation. The pheromonal lock can be countered by severing one’s olfactory nerve.
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