My Top 9 Favorite MCU Characters (9-5)

Hello all!
I apologize for no posting this past week, but I have had lot to do, with it being May and important school stuff going on. Nevertheless, I at least wanted to get ONE post out, and of course, with Civil War releasing in just a few days, I decided to count down a few of my favorite MCU characters. (This is a top 9 instead of the normal top 10, because I couldn't decide between two characters, Loki and Bucky, who are both honorable mentions.)

 


9. Kilgrave

After Daredevil's first season, the expectations for Marvel's next Netflix-verse show were exceptionally high, to say the least. Needless to say, Jessica Jones surpassed people's expectations, and it was largely due to David Tennant's chilling performance as Kilgrave. Normally being the quirky, time-travelling alien, in Doctor Who, Tennant steps out of his comfort zone and delivers a haunting performance. While the idea of mind control is very old, dating back to old science fiction novels in the 19th century, Jessica Jones takes this concept into a realistic and unsettling realms. The creepy thing about Kilgrave, which also makes him extremely intimidating, is his narcissistic personality. He is not concerned with world domination, like a traditional villain with this power would be, but he just does what's on his mind at the moment. Tennant's likability and charm also trick you into forgetting that Kilgrave is an awful man, and a mental and physical rapist. 

8. Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Unlike a the general populus, I am not dying to see a stand alone Black Widow film. However, that does not take away from how awesome Scarlett Johansson is as Black Widow. Don't underestimate the power of a supporting character, because without them, your main characters are much less complex. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Cap was so much more compelling due to his relationship with Black Widow. Currently, Natasha is the only prominent female hero that Marvel has, with Scarlet Witch rising up and Captain Marvel to be introduced soon. Her back story revealed in Age of Ultron is intriguing, and I am excited to see it be expanded on. In the end, she is a total badass supporting character, who provides a great FOIL to all the Avengers.

7. Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin

The best true villain that the MCU has had so far, Wilson Fisk is a force to be reckoned with. His physical presence is one thing, but his emotional backstory, along with his multilayered motives, lead to an incredibly complex character, and an awesome one. He was portrayed as a very vulnereble character, and a dangerous one at the same time. Vincent D'onofrio's performance is one of the highlights of the Daredevil TV show, and he is menacing. I have already talked about this guy a bunch in my Daredevil Season 2 reviews, so I'll end this here.

6. Frank Castle/The Punisher

From one Daredevil antagonist to another, Jon Bernthal is fantastic as the Punisher. Similar to Fisk, the Punisher is not just a big bad guy, he is a character, and a well-rounded one at that. He is stunning in the first four episodes of the season, where he is almost a phantom, killing crowds of criminals, then vanishing. His terrifying presence is always felt, but after the scene in Episode 4 of Season 2, with his monologue about his daughter and war, I was almost brought to tears about this man's life. You can see why he does what he does, but you don't (or maybe you do, Karen does) agree with his brutal methods. The prison fight in one of the later episodes was gruesome, as it should be, and showcases the Punisher's true rage and bloodlust. But after that scene, you remember that this man is a loving father and husband, and a war veteran. Yeah, the Punisher is freakin' awesome.

5. Matt Murdock/Daredevil

As you can see, I love the Netflix-verse. In both fabulous seasons of Daredevil, Charlie Cox gives us an amazing hero to root for along the way. What is a superhero show, without it's hero? Daredevil's internal struggle to be the idealistic hero that others see him as, and be true to himself is really exciting to see unfold. We see more to him than just a badass ass-kicker. His other struggle to remain a man with no blood on his hands is deeply shaken by Elektra and The Punisher, and it also makes the audience question themselves if killing is ever justified. We also see his relationship with Foggy and Karen, and his attorney life, which brings a whole new layer to the show. What is Daredevil without some sweet lawyer drama? And of course, Matt is a total badass. The hallway fight, and the stairway fight are two of the greatest fights ever put into a TV show or film, and there are so many others that are so cool. The fight choreography is performed brilliantly, and outshines everything else in the MCU. To sum it up, Matt is a hero who is questioning his own moral code, who we can relate to, and is just so awesome in fights.