#and the dynamic between Thena and Gilgamesh

[mayamidnightmelody]

The Eternals, a group of superhuman beings created by Jack Kirby in 1976 for Marvel Comics, have long been an integral part of the Marvel Universe. Known for their immense powers, ancient origins, and complex mythologies, the Eternals have captured the imagination of comic book readers for decades. In 2021, Marvel Studios brought these characters to the big screen in the film "Eternals," directed by Chloé Zhao. This article delves into the differences and similarities between the movie and the comics, examining how the film adapts and reinterprets the rich source material.

Origins and Creation

Comics

In the comics, the Eternals were created by the Celestials, god-like beings who visited Earth millions of years ago. They performed genetic experiments on early humanity, resulting in three distinct groups: the Eternals, the Deviants, and baseline humans. The Eternals were granted near-immortality and vast powers, which they used to protect humanity from the destructive Deviants.

Jack Kirby's original vision was heavily influenced by mythology, science fiction, and his earlier work on the New Gods for DC Comics. The Eternals were presented as almost god-like figures themselves, with a rich tapestry of stories intertwining their existence with the myths and legends of human history.

Movie

The film adaptation retains the essential elements of the Eternals' origin, including their creation by the Celestials. However, it expands and reinterprets these elements to fit within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Eternals in the movie are sent to Earth to protect humanity from the Deviants, following the orders of the Celestial Arishem. The film emphasizes their role in guiding and observing humanity throughout history, contributing to the development of civilization while adhering to their mandate not to interfere directly in human conflicts.

Characters and Relationships

Comics

The core group of Eternals in the comics includes Ikaris, Sersi, Thena, Makkari, Ajak, Gilgamesh, Sprite, and others. Each character has a distinct personality, power set, and role within the group. For instance, Ikaris is often portrayed as the noble and powerful leader, while Sersi is known for her hedonistic and adventurous nature. Thena, inspired by the Greek goddess Athena, is a fierce warrior and scholar.

The relationships among the Eternals are complex and often strained. Despite their immortality and shared mission, they have different views on their purpose and how to interact with humanity. These differences lead to internal conflicts and evolving dynamics over time.

Movie

The movie introduces a diverse cast of Eternals, retaining many of the key characters from the comics but with some notable changes. The gender and ethnicity of several characters are altered to create a more inclusive and representative ensemble. For example, Ajak, originally a male character in the comics, is portrayed by Salma Hayek, and Makkari, traditionally male, is reimagined as a deaf female character played by Lauren Ridloff.

The film delves deeply into the relationships and emotional lives of the Eternals. Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sersi (Gemma Chan) share a central romantic subplot, highlighting the tension between duty and personal desire. Thena (Angelina Jolie) and Gilgamesh (Don Lee) have a profound bond, forged through their shared experiences and Gilgamesh's role as Thena's protector. The film also explores Sprite's (Lia McHugh) struggle with eternal youth and the limitations it imposes on her desire for a normal life.

Themes and Motifs

Comics

The Eternals comics explore themes of immortality, duty, and the nature of godhood. Kirby's storytelling delves into the philosophical implications of living for millennia and the burden of immense power. The Eternals' interactions with humans raise questions about free will, interference, and the ethics of their protective role.

The mythological underpinning of the Eternals' stories is a significant motif. Kirby weaves elements from various mythologies, creating a rich tapestry that connects the Eternals to the gods and heroes of ancient cultures. This connection to mythology enhances the grandeur and epic scope of their adventures.

Movie

The film adaptation retains many of these themes but adapts them to resonate with contemporary audiences. The theme of duty versus personal desire is prominent, as the Eternals grapple with their mission to protect humanity while longing for personal fulfillment and connections.

The film also emphasizes diversity and inclusion, reflecting modern societal values. The diverse cast and varied backgrounds of the characters underscore the universal nature of the Eternals' story, suggesting that heroism and virtue are not confined to a single culture or ethnicity.

Another central theme in the movie is the concept of faith and questioning authority. The Eternals' blind obedience to the Celestials is challenged, leading to a critical examination of their purpose and the morality of their actions. This theme aligns with broader narratives in the MCU, where characters often grapple with the responsibilities and consequences of their powers.

Visual and Stylistic Differences

Comics

Jack Kirby's art in the original Eternals comics is iconic, characterized by his dynamic compositions, bold lines, and imaginative designs. The visual style is grand and operatic, reflecting the epic scale of the Eternals' stories. Kirby's use of intricate details and cosmic imagery creates a sense of awe and wonder, befitting the god-like nature of the characters.

Subsequent artists who have worked on Eternals comics have brought their own styles to the series, but the grandeur and mythic quality established by Kirby remain a consistent visual thread.

Movie

Chloé Zhao's "Eternals" brings a distinct visual and stylistic approach to the MCU. Known for her work on intimate, character-driven dramas, Zhao combines this sensibility with the epic scope of a superhero film. The cinematography, by Ben Davis, captures sweeping landscapes and grandiose celestial imagery, creating a sense of scale and majesty.

The film's visual effects bring the Eternals' powers to life in a way that is both spectacular and grounded. The design of the Celestials is particularly impressive, maintaining their awe-inspiring presence from the comics while integrating them seamlessly into the film's aesthetic.

Zhao's approach to storytelling is more contemplative and character-focused than typical MCU fare, allowing for deeper exploration of the Eternals' internal struggles and relationships.

[canonrpfinder]

anyone else still love 2021's eternals? no? just me? i'm hoping to find writing partners willing to do just about anything with the fandom. i'd love to explore the dynamics between the characters or throw ocs or even other marvel characters into the mix. even though i'm open to doing just about anything, i would love to focus on druig x makkari, thena x gilgamesh, sersi x dane (exploring the black knight), druig x ikaris, and kingo x sprite (with sprite having visibly aged after the events of the film). i'm 21+ and literate/advanced literate/novella looking for 18+ writers who write about the same.

✒

[roleplayfinder]

anyone else still love 2021's eternals? no? just me? i'm hoping to find writing partners willing to do just about anything with the fandom. i'd love to explore the dynamics between the characters or throw ocs or even other marvel characters into the mix. even though i'm open to doing just about anything i would love to focus on druig x makkari, thena x gilgamesh, sersi x dane (exploring the black knight), druig x ikaris, and kingo x sprite (with sprite having visibly aged after the events of the film). i'm 21+ and literate/advanced literate/novella looking for 18+ writers who write about the same.

.

[tokensbossh]

Eternals: The MCU’s Risky Love Letter to Humanity

Marvel's underrated movie Eternals was actually good...Marvel's Eternals, with its sprawling narrative and massive ensemble cast, might have missed the mark for many, but if you give it a second chance, you might find yourself surprisingly drawn in. As Captain America: Brave New World brings the Celestial events from Eternals to the forefront of the MCU, it's time to revisit this often-dismissed movie and dig into why it worked for some of us. The film may have sparked debates, but its audacity and ambition deserve a deeper look. A Fresh Angle on the MCU

Eternals The MCU’s Risky Love Letter to Humanit (3) For those who skipped Eternals or rolled their eyes at its lofty concepts, here's a quick refresher: the story revolves around a group of seven superpowered beings, each bearing powers that echo ancient mythological figures. They've been on Earth for thousands of years, quietly following orders from their god-like leader to exterminate Deviants (think monstrous entities that threaten humanity). But after completing their mission, they’re left in limbo—waiting for a new directive that never comes. Fast-forward to 500 years later, and these ageless beings find themselves scattered across the world, with no sign of their next mission. When a new Deviant threat arises, the group must reunite, unravel the mysteries of their origins, and face shocking revelations that change everything. The premise alone is enough to spark intrigue, even for the most skeptical MCU fans. What stood out for me, though, was the film's exploration of humanity's legends and how they might have been shaped by these very beings. It’s not just the "aliens are behind all our myths" angle we saw in Thor. Instead, Eternals asks a bigger question: What if our greatest heroes of mythology were real—and they had been subtly influencing the course of history? This philosophical undertone adds weight to the film, offering something deeper than a traditional superhero flick.

Character A Marvel First?

Eternals The MCU’s Risky Love Letter to Humanit (2)

Eternals The MCU’s Risky Love Letter to Humanit (2)

Eternals The MCU’s Risky Love Letter to Humanit (1) What truly elevates Eternals for me, though, is its character work. Unlike most MCU movies, where relationships often feel surface-level or exaggerated for comedic relief, Eternals takes its time to dig into its characters' pasts, motivations, and emotional complexities. This isn’t just another ensemble piece where quips and jokes make up for any meaningful connection. These are beings who have lived thousands of years together, and when they reunite, the emotional baggage is palpable. Let’s start with the leader of the group, Ajak (Salma Hayek). She embodies a calm strength that contrasts with the emotional turmoil brewing beneath the surface. But it’s her relationship with Thena (Angelina Jolie), once a fierce warrior now struggling with mental health, that provides some of the film’s most tender moments. Thena, driven by loyalty and guilt, is taken care of by Gilgamesh (Don Lee), who patiently watches over her, even when it means sacrificing his own needs. This is not the dynamic we often see in superhero teams, where characters simply get along because they have to. Druig (Barry Keoghan), who has grown disillusioned with humanity, has a fascinating arc, especially when paired with Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), a character who represents hope and optimism. Their relationship is electric—filled with tension and sweetness. Then there’s Ikaris (Richard Madden), who shares a tense, sometimes romantic connection with Sersi (Gemma Chan). The film’s emotional climax—a moment of raw vulnerability between these two characters—is one of the most genuine and heartbreaking scenes I’ve witnessed in a Marvel film. Richard Madden’s Ikaris, breaking down in tears, is a pivotal moment that showcases a depth we rarely see in MCU leading men. This is the real meat of Eternals—not the celestial battles or world-altering stakes, but the exploration of human (or alien) relationships. The film doesn’t just present characters as tools for a larger narrative; it asks us to care about their histories and, more importantly, their future. Every character has a different perspective on humanity, but they all share one thing: a deep-seated care for each other. It’s this connection—rooted in centuries of shared experiences—that anchors the film. The Risk of Emotional Investment The big risk Chloé Zhao took with Eternals is asking audiences to care deeply about characters who were entirely new to the MCU. After over a decade of established characters, it felt like a big ask. In a world where we’ve become accustomed to big set pieces and grand action sequences, Zhao’s quieter moments and slower pace may have felt like a departure from what we’ve come to expect from Marvel. And yet, I appreciated the gamble. Zhao challenges viewers to invest emotionally in these beings—not just as superheroes but as people with complex histories, personal traumas, and evolving understandings of themselves. She asks us to care about how they’ve changed over the millennia, and how their relationships have been shaped by time, trauma, and unfulfilled purpose. That’s not something we typically see in superhero movies. Sure, there’s a lot of exposition, but unlike other MCU films, where world-building is often done in quick, forgettable bursts, Eternals takes the time to craft these emotional moments. Even if they feel like a bit of a slow burn, they make the eventual payoff that much more rewarding. A Film of Messy, Beautiful Ideas Yes, Eternals is messy. The movie tries to juggle lofty themes about humanity, morality, and the very fabric of existence while still tying into the ever-expanding MCU. It's ambitious, and sometimes it stumbles. At times, the pacing can feel off, with too much time spent explaining the intricacies of their mission and too little focus on character development. And yes, there are plenty of moments where we find ourselves scratching our heads over choices made for the sake of the larger MCU plot. But in embracing its imperfections, Eternals becomes something more than a mere cog in the Marvel machine. It’s a deeply personal, character-driven exploration of what it means to exist, to love, and to reckon with the choices we make. What sets it apart from other Marvel films is that it asks us to care about the story itself, not just the broader universe. It’s a different kind of superhero movie—one where the stakes feel more personal, where the relationships are more complex, and where the heroes are flawed, vulnerable, and, at times, heartbreaking. The Long-Term Value of Eternals So, where does Eternals fit into the broader MCU? It’s tempting to place it as a standalone, a forgotten chapter in the franchise’s larger narrative, but I think it’s a movie that will resonate more as the MCU continues to evolve. The events of Eternals are far from finished, and the celestial implications that were barely touched upon in this movie will no doubt play a larger role in future installments. In some ways, Eternals feels like a love letter to the concept of immortality—not just in the sense of living forever but in the impact of our actions, relationships, and legacies. These characters, while immortal, are grappling with the weight of their existence, and their stories will continue to unfold. It's not about the action set pieces or the flashy effects, but about the quiet moments of introspection that make Eternals a hidden gem in the MCU. By the end of the film, I realized that Eternals isn't just about superpowered aliens saving the world. It's about understanding what it means to care, to love, and to sacrifice. It's a complex, messy, beautiful film that might not have won over everyone, but it certainly found a place in my heart. And sometimes, that's all a movie really needs to do. Conclusion: A Love That Deserves to Be Seen Perhaps Eternals isn't for everyone. It’s a long movie, filled with questions of fate, morality, and sacrifice. But if you can embrace its slow pace and take the time to get to know these characters, you’ll find that the movie offers something unique in the MCU—a deep dive into emotional storytelling and complex character relationships. It’s a reminder that even in a universe filled with world-ending threats and epic battles, the true heart of any story lies in the connections between people. Eternals may not be the MCU's best movie, but it certainly deserves more love than it's gotten. So, give it a second chance—and maybe, like me, you’ll find yourself caring more than you thought possible. Read the full article

[findroleplay]

anyone else still love 2021's eternals? no? just me? i'm hoping to find writing partners willing to do just about anything with the fandom. i'd love to explore the dynamics between the characters or throw ocs or even other marvel characters into the mix. even though i'm open to doing just about anything i would love to focus on druig x makkari, thena x gilgamesh, sersi x dane (exploring the black knight), druig x ikaris, and kingo x sprite (with sprite having visibly aged since the events of the film). i'm 21+ and literate/advanced literate/novella looking for 18+ writers who write about the same.

_

[mooooonnotes]

Me, super happy, watching the Eternals: "Finally Marvel has introduced a character with healing powers, it was about time!"

Ajak: *dies immediately*

Me, super sad, glaring at Marvel: "Oh no! Why are you like this?"

[77-fxes]

That Old Time Religion- An Appreciation of Eternals

I find myself taken by the Eternals because it’s exactly the kind of movie that I wanted: Something like a mix between The Big Chill and a Terrance Malick film with superheroes. I wanted to see a group of characters who’ve known each other too well and for too long and who find themselves adrift in various ways. The film delivered that with aplomb.

What I didn’t expect was that the film would lean into the idea of Eternals as missionaries. Not the kind of missionaries that we see today, but something from a century or two ago. Small groups of fervent followers of some offshoot sect huddled in meeting in small rooms a la something out of The Master, or settling across the frontier spreading the gospel, bound by a common dogma and spiritual zeal. In that environment, the religious group becomes a sort of extended family, with generations, divisions of labor, relationships, and expectations, both of oneself and others. The Eternals present as one of these ‘missionary families’ and I think the movie does a good job of illustrating the sense of loss and disorientation that happens once that religious mission has no meaning.

Ajak is at the top of this family, the spiritual leader who holds the complete faith of her disciples and her directives hold the weight of God itself. Below here are the trusted older members, the devout Ikaris, the resolute Thena, the frustrated intellectual Phastos, and the lighthearted but steadfast Gilgamesh. Next would be the anxious but family-oriented Kingo, followed by the restless ‘teens’ Makkari, Druig, and Sprite who all chafe under the restrictions of their religious life in different ways but are bound by family ties. Finally, there is Sersi who, interestingly enough in this film is presented as the most innocent ‘youngest’ member of the team, with Chan’s performance playing up Sersi’s love of humanity and aversion to making choices as primary aspects of her character (Chan herself described Sersi’s story as a ‘coming of age’ story in interviews).

These dynamics come to ahead at Tenochtitlan where the Eternals' two missions meet an inflection point. The Eternals’ mission is described in two parts–a) killing the Deviants, and b) helping to foster humanity’s development. In Tenochtitlan, the Eternals seemingly kill the last of the Deviants, the Eternals are left with the state of the second mission. Druig calls out the failure of this lesson and in true teenager fashion, rebels against an order that has failed at the part of the mission that he is the most invested in. This in turn prompted Ajak to consider the religious mission concluded and release her children to their own fates. Here, the movie does something truly interesting in that it explores the question of self-identity and relationships outside of a hardcore religious context. All of the personality traits, relationship roles and expectations that the Eternals have ever known have been tightly connected to their faith in Arishem and the mission that he gave them through Ajak. Now that that’s over, who are these people? Who are they to each other? What are they supposed to be doing? Ajak gives the directive to ‘go out and live your lives (I’m paraphrasing)’ but would any of us know what that means if all we had known is one life, one faith, and one mission? The looks on the faces of the rest of the Eternals seems to betray this sense of dislocation and disassociation.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mainstream superhero movie take something like that on, particularly in a way that provides such murky answers. Three of the characters die in the process, one disappears before the big battle, and in the end the group splits into two different missions with three members possibly having their arcs erased with their memories. That’s heady stuff, and to me, it’s what makes Eternals such a fascinating movie.

[alwaysdrukkari]

yall there is so much to unpack in the tenochtitlan scene (ty @comradekarin!).

There’s so much, just from a Druig and Makkari standpoint (both their relationship with each other and who they are as individuals) so I’m just going to focus on a few things.

Makkari defending Thena. This isn’t in the linked clip but Makkari was the first Eternal to speak up against Ajak re: Thena’s memories (not counting Thena herself). Gilgamesh didn’t even speak up initially. I’m not dunking on Thena & Gilgamesh’s bond, but I just want to make the observation that Makkari was willing to voice direct opposition to Ajak (and by extension, Arimesh?) when the others were, as Druig later accused them of being, pawns who fell in line behind their leader. (I generally really like Ajak and wish we had more of her in the movie, but her immediately telling Thena after Thena came to that, “yeah you almost killed Makkari, you’re too dangerous and we need to change everything about you” was pretty shitty?) After Makkari speaks, Druig follows her lead — and I kinda just love how they were on the same page about this. Their actions altered the course of the group as it’s only after both of them speak up (and then Druig goes a little too far, but that’s a different topic lol) that Gil volunteers to stay with Thena to let her keep her memories, and Ajak makes the decision to let everyone go their separate ways.

I wonder if Makkari and Druig’s willingness to go to bat for Thena in Tenochtitlan when no one else wanted to defy Ajak’s decision had any bearing on the three of them deciding to head off together at the end of the film. Like since Gilgamesh is not here anymore (for the time being), are Druig and Makkari the next two that she trusts the most in the group?

Thena wounding Makkari. It’s interesting to juxtapose Thena fatally wounding Makkari with Ikaris burying Druig in the earth. Even though Druig and Makkari share mutual feelings, the contexts of those situations with Thena and Ikaris were almost polar opposites, so the way Druig and Makkari reacted was wildly different. I want to look at when Thena wounded Makkari first and Druig’s reaction.

I’m unsure if Druig possesses telepathy but at the very least, he is pretty perceptive, as demonstrated when he figured out Ikaris was the one behind Ajak's death. And when Druig directed his anger about Thena (and any anger he felt about Makkari getting hurt) to the person he thought was actually at fault, Ajak, he also shows that he is someone who is able to take a step back from heat-of-the-moment emotions and look at the bigger picture. I think Druig absolutely understood that Thena was ill and not in control of herself when she wounded Makkari, and I think he also recognized that Makkari getting hurt was one of the inherent risks she took as a fighter moving offensively against an opponent. Makkari chose to directly engage with Thena when she was in the Mahd My’ry state. But from Druig’s pov, if Ajak had lead them differently, both Thena being triggered and Makkari getting hurt trying to protect the others could have been avoided.

That Druig is able to look at the bigger picture (something I imagine he’s probably had to work on over the millennia, given he is so intimately connected with humankind) really adds some extra zest to the line: “Do you know what [watching humans destroy each other when he could stop it instantly] does to someone after centuries?” It was clear Druig was already in a heightened state of agitation because of the genocide, and the Thena/Makkari/erasing memories thing probably pushed him over the edge so he finally had it with this weird utilitarian mission and his own forced inaction.

Ikaris attacks Druig. The interactions and dynamic between Druig and Ikaris was another point of interest; in the clip, after Druig takes control of the people below, Ikaris tries to physically intimidate Druig into falling back in line. Ajak intervenes, but only Ikaris gives his attention to Ajak. Druig, on the other hand, stayed focused on Ikaris, until Ikaris walks away. The exchange only lasts a few seconds but boy did it set a tone? (Also, given how things ended with them, I’m honestly a little surprised their reunion in the present wasn’t more hostile.)

Druig’s monologue in Tenochtitlan gave us a glimpse into how the different Eternals, depending on their positionality within the group especially re: powers, might have interpreted their overall mission. Protecting humans from the Deviants to help them progress doesn’t necessarily equate to “build[ing] a better world” but it’s a natural assumption for Druig to make when that seems to... generally be the result of their interventions? (Of course, we see Ajak and Ikaris’ faces, and they both know what the true mission. Ajak seems resigned and at times, almost guilty, which is why I think she let Druig speak for so long — she knew she just had to let it play out). Before Druig leaves the pyramid, he tells Ajak, “If you wanna stop me, you’re gonna have to kill me.” And everyone heard (of course, lol it’s a small room).

But this line was directly referenced by Ikaris in the present day (“I should have done this five centuries ago”) before he takes Druig to the sky and tries to blast him to smithereens. Ikaris’ line indicates some level of regret that he had not or tried to off Druig back then, so he almost seemed to relish the opportunity to do so during the Emergence. If you look at this from Ikaris’ pov, burying Druig in the volcano was an attempt to right what Ikaris perceived to be a wrong. Ajak didn’t want any of the Eternals to die (as we saw by her solution to helping Thena and allowing Druig to walk away), so she stayed Ikaris’ hand in Tenochtitlan, and even though he clearly did not agree, Ikaris is nothing if not loyal. Although he never was able to make Druig let those people go (and even when Druig released them in present day, it was because of Sersi), and no one ever stopped Druig from taking those humans and making that commune,  when Druig again is attempting to take control of something he shouldn’t be, Ikaris sees this as a redemption of sorts, his chance to make things right on a cosmic scale.

Makkari, of course, completely loses her mind at this, and it’s just another instance of me wishing we had more Makkari in the movie because I would have loved to see a closeup of her during Druig’s monologue in Tenochtitlan. We got that little moment when Druig was arguing with Phastos, and I feel like she certainly would have had something to contribute here too — or even like a look shared between them?? But alas.. couldn’t have it all this movie.

[bulkyphrase]

Hi! For the "choose violence" meme:

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

18. it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...?

Hi!

For 16, I generally understand why people like a thing, even if it doesn't resonate with me at all. Like alpha/beta/omega: I can see the appeal of the weird sex, maximum drama, worldbuilding, and exploring toxic gender roles/dynamics in the safe world of fiction, even if this particular trope doesn't do much for me.

That being said, I don't get Irondad at all. Peter and Tony's relationship is pretty interesting in canon. I've always thought that Tony's treatment of Peter probably has a lot of echos of his relationships with his own father figures. The CACW recruitment scene has shades of Obie's friendly, manipulative negging, and Homecoming has obvious parallels to Howard - distant and dismissive, with most of the day to day pawned off on an employee, but it's obvious to the audience, though not Peter, that Tony cares a great deal but lacks any emotional tools to express that.

But most of the Irondad content I've seen ignores that and stuffs Tony and Peter into the most generic father/son cliches. As someone who prefers canon to fanon most of the time, this sort of "OC with a canon name" type stuff never really computes.

For 18, Eternals. I loved Eternals. I loved everyone in Eternals. Sersi, Kingo, Karun, Gilgamesh, Thena my beloveds. I'm always a sucker for adventure, putting the band back together, complicated relationships between people who love each other, and kind and sincere heroes, and Eternals has all of that.

Several people have told me that it's the one MCU film they can't finish, while for me it's the only Phase 4 movie I can watch on repeat.

Thanks so much for the ask!

choose violence ask game

[inklore]

I watch Eternals again and yeah that's true, Druig don't "hate" the others Eternals, he's part of the family and I like the relation that he and Phastos have because they teasing eachother, and Ikaria definitely hate everyone but Sersi.

i love all of their dynamics, like while i was watching the film the second time i was just picking up on how different they act with each other, but at the end of the day there’s still love and respect (we not gonna talk about how half of them stayed wanting to fight ikaris at all times ok)

like druig, phastos and kingo all have that teasing brotherly vibe going on between each other and it gives me ‘they drive me nuts but if they ever need me or anyone messes with them i’ll be there!’

and it seems sprite drives everyone a little nuts, if not insane from the sarcastic teenage angst, but they still have care for her, still try to sympathize and understand her (*spoiler* after druig knocked her out he was still smiling and happy to see her finally become happy and human)

not to mention gilgamesh is the superior older brother, he’s the one you go to when you want to day drink or need a bully beat up, like he is the one you’d go to if you didn’t want a life lesson chat from mom (ajak) and just needed to hear a dumb joke or a big teddy bear hug, and he’s always making sure everyone’s fed and their blood sugar is in order.

thena is the one to go to when you need a pep talk or to just hear ‘get up’ in her demanding beautiful goddess tone. like miss ma’am would do wonders for your mental health because she understands!

makkari would most definitely be the ‘i’ll help you with your homework by doing it all for you’ sister, or the ‘i saw you do something you shouldn’t have but i’m not going to tell anyone, let me help you do it better’, and she for sure could read a whole book for you in seconds and tell you every detail without you even having to pick it up. also, like gil, she gives the best hugs and has the best snacks stashed away.

ajak and sersi are the serious ones, like if you ever want a ten hour speech on why someone did this or need the softness of a mothers touch or affirmations go to them, like they are both mom and the mom friend.

ikaris is the brother you either look up to for being disciplined or the brother who ruins every holiday gathering and storms out because everyone would rather play dance dance revolution instead of call of duty. i see no inbetween with him lmaosks.

[how-bout-i-tell-you-anyway]

marvel relationships i NEED more of

1. shuri and ross (mini-rant below)

2. okoye and tchalla

3. okoye and shuri

4. okoye and m'baku

5. just more okoye with everyone

6. bucky and ayo

7. maria hill and fury

8. talos and fury

the way they go from this…

…to this. the evolution from enemies both driven by survival and fear to the respect for their mutual devotion to their peoples. the unlikely friendship forged by a beautiful and unexpected understanding. the little jabs and teases reminiscent of their past conflicts. the final evolution to close allies and even friends. BEAUTIFUL

9. fury and goose

10. goose and other shield agents

11. shuri and banner

12. valkyrie and thor

13. yelena and kate

14. yelena and barton

15. yelena and adoptive dad/red guardian

16. talos and his wife

17. rhodey and sam

18. steve and howard stark

19. drax and mantis

20. rocket and nebula

21. loki and mobius

22. mobius and sylvie

23. mobius and b-15

24. wanda and maria rambeau

25. darcy and woo

26. just more darcy with everyone (especially uptight authority figures)

27. thena and gilgamesh

the mutual respect. the inverted dynamic of calm built guy and dangerous warrior woman. the way that thena cares about him more than anyone else and that gilgamesh knows that she can take care of herself better than any of them but looks out for her anyway. the pure platonic love

28. more thena with everyone

29. sersi and sprite

30. druig and makkari (romantically, duh)

i don't even think i need to explain this one, but… the only-sweet-and-soft-for-you trope. the way he teases her so gently and takes note of her passions. the way her kindness is the only thing that seems to penetrate his anger and lashing out. how heartbroken and furious she was when she thought he was gone. and of course their fucking CHIN TILTS. literal favorite marvel couple

obviously i love most of these equally, but the friendship between shuri and ross literally makes my day every time i think about it.

he immediately realizes he was rude and backtracks and it's so clear that he acknowledges and respects her abilities as a literal genius.

also they're both so loyal and such good people. and so fucking FUNNY together. sunshine and sass except the old white guy is the sunshine and the young teenage girl is the sass. fucking INCREDIBLE

i am dead set on them being besties/pseudo-father-daughter and no one can change my mind.

note: i haven't seen moon knight, spiderman nwh, or dr. strange mom yet so no spoilers pls

[lilacliquors]

no imagine being a part of that dysfunctional family dynamic

they’re going to love you more than ikaris (except for sprite but we’ll come back to that) and you’re going to have so much fun with that. and i def can see them saying sth like “you make him more bearable”.

and you will become a part of the family really fast. you’re def going to be besties with druig and makkari, gilgamesh will always invite your on family dinners, kingo would love to finally have someone with a good sense of humor around, and you will get close with thena because she deserves the world. sprite def will be a bitch to you (at least at first) but you can tease the shit out of her <3

your dysfunctional family trope lover,

cocononnie 🥥

also being friend with druig while dating ikaris is such a vibe. first of all, druig is an icon. second of all, ikaris would get soo jealous. and you will have a field day with that. 😋

both you and druig will quickly pick up on it and sometimes you just intentionally mess with ikaris for fun, because to both of you that jealousy just seems ridiculous. and whenever you see that petty look on ikaris’s face, druig will give you a knowing smirk. of course you’ll give you cute little boyfriend some reassurance later. give him some kisses and he’s all sweet and smiley again.

and all the other family family member will be like ‘that’s who you chose to be friends with???’ but by the end of the day at least they will know that druig can be friendly if he wants to.

no need to mention you’ll be the captain of the drukkari ship.

still me,

- 🥥

oh i love this. i think the idea of being essentially absorbed into this huge and welcoming family is so pleasing because they actually like each other. like i'm sorry to the people who championed the avengers as a found family, but the eternals did it better.

but they really do make you feel like part of the family, they just love having you around. you bring out a side of ikaris that they didn't even really see with sersi. he's laughing and jovial, he becomes brighter when you're around. of course he still gets teased, he's family, but it's lighter now, and he knows that if gets too much, he's got you there.

and the friendship with druig? it confuses him because we all saw the sibling rivalry between the two of them. but druig will of course take full advantage of it. he'll crack quiet jokes with you to make you laugh, right in front of your boyfriend. shockingly, he'll share food with you, he'll nudge your arm with his, all sorts of stuff.

and of course ikaris is kinda jealous. but he does have that reassurance that at the end of the day, you're snuggling up in his arms or he's snuggling up in yours.

[cogentranting]

Eternals Quick Thoughts

(Not spoiler-free)

I liked it, there’s a lot of fun dynamics between the group

Gilgamesh and Thena are really sweet and pure

On the one hand, I like the idea of having Ikaris fly into the sun in reference to his namesake, but on the other I do not accept it because I was banking on him and Sersi being an epic love story across eras and NOW I want them to be an epic love story across eras which ALSO includes friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. 

Druig and Makkari are SUPER cute and I expect a LOT more of them in the sequel

I kinda thought going into this that they’d make Kingo sort of one note ‘haha he’s so vain and clueless’ and they didn’t and I appreciate that. I like that in a lot of ways he was more perceptive about people than the others, and that he got to take sort of a middle stance between Ikaris and the others, and that he did seem to look up to Ikaris in a way and so handled the betrayal different than the others. Also his finger guns were cool. I like them. 

Druig totally started a cult that he ran for 500 years and it kinda just slides by. 

That being said, I ended up really liking Druig. Very glad he’s not dead. 

Kro evolving to be more intelligent and more capable of emotion had just... no point? 

Furthermore, I SWEAR like a week ago every search and every source said that Dan Stevens was playing Kro but it was Bill Skarsgard and I’m confused.

It’s not that long you just haven’t built up your strength with lord of the rings marathons and it shows. 

But why DID Arishem make Sprite an eternal child? Is Karun Sprite’s legal guardian now that she’s human and Kingo et al were sucked into space?

I honestly thought that Druig was gonna be evil and betray them because you know... he controls minds, he dresses in black and red, he’s constantly pushing the limits by taking people’s free will and he started a cult. But I like what they did with him and was genuinely surprised that Ikaris was evil instead and I really like what they did with Ikaris as a villain (I still want him to come back and be redeemed though. I still ship him and Sersi). 

They teased that the Eternals know the Asgardians and now I need to see Kingo or someone interact with Thor. If nothing else, give it to me in What If season 2. 

I’m impressed that they managed to hide that Ajak dies like right away. 

I like the fight scenes, especially the Amazon one. 

What in the world is wrong with Harry Styles’s accent? What is he doing? And what is his hair doing? And what is the cgi abomination with him? 

[luckycheesefoodie321]

Watched Eternals!! Spoiler + Long Post

I feel like a generally average MCU fare in terms of plot and action pieces. First time they’ve really decided to include a Cliffhanger in the main part of the film, at least in terms of intro movies (except First Avenger but that was right before The Avengers so it made sense)… introduced a new big bad in The Celestials… I hear it wasn’t the big Celestials movie people were hoping for but it wasn’t as trash fire as some had led me to believe…

All that said, I enjoyed the cast. The Eternals themselves had a fun dynamic. But with so many new characters to introduce the audience, whilst also balancing the “we’ve known each other for centuries” group dynamic, the individual characterisation fell kind of flat and one-dimensional.

I love Gemma Cham but her character was so often just staring around conflicted and not actually doing anything except occasionally turning a rock into a butterfly (I exaggerate obvi). Her chemistry with her two love interests just didn’t feel as compelling as it could have been (which is why I get the obsession with Druig x Makari)… I was v interested in Gilgamesh and Thena and the fact he spent centuries doing what Black Widow became for the Hulk

Give me your hand vs The sun’s getting real low XD

Sprite was an interesting case but with so many characters, the more compelling elements of her story were lost in the bigness of the story. Like we see one scene of her trying to woo a guy, and then it’s revealed she’s got Tinkerbell syndrome and is in love with Ikaris and then she has a big spat with Sersi in the final battle before getting conked by Druig. And then all is forgiven and she becomes human?! Again an unfortunate product of a bunch of characters getting introduced in one story.

I loved Gilgamesh. If they find other Eternals and it’s a situation where they just look like the same but are “variants” then we can bring back best boi Don Lee aka Ma Dong-seok!!

Would love to see more of Druig and Makari and I guess we shall see them romping about the stars with Harry Styles aka Josh Brolin’s baby bro????

Faustus/Phostos however his name is spelt, I liked him. Him having a family was a lovely and having a male partner with an (adopted I’m assuming) son! Him mostly getting the better of Ikaris was nice.

Makari was a delight! More of her! Her and Druig were fun too. Good to see deaf representation and everyone just knowing sign language, demonstrating it is never something that impedes her.

I think they restrained Angelina Jolie’s natural star power well in making her Thena. And her ability to appear delicate but uncompromisingly fierce was great.

Who else? Ah yes the non-event comedic relief but also makes a compelling case for the moral grey area between the resolute and loyal to the directive, Ikaris, and the loves and appreciates the value of life, Sersi: Kingo.

He gives his reasons just fine for not being able to pick a side but then doesn’t join for the final fight in any capacity but then is shown to be taking charge of Human!Sprite and then is swept along anyway by Arishem. I’d like to see more of him but felt unfulfilled.

SPEAKING OF LACK OF FULFILMENT. DID IKARIS REALLY JUST LAUNCH HIMSELF INTO THE SUN?!? Apologises but doesn’t deal with any of the repercussions of his actions… I know “Icarus who flew too close to the sun blah blah” but his character was so much more interesting than that?! Like he actively chose to separate from the empathetic and nurturing Sersi who adored humanity bc he was loyal to the mission he had be indoctrinated into and when his whole purpose for being was threatened he killed Ajak, someone very dear to him, but still stuck by his beliefs despite it putting himself against someone he loves. And the Deviants were experiencing the same journey in that Arishem abandoned them as failures and the Eternals were complicit in their destruction despite just following orders and then evolving and having free will like living creatures are meant to have.

Could he have then become this morally ambiguous character trying to figure out which side he was on and embrace the natural human instinct of finding new purpose in his life? Kinda like that one dude in Dr Strange who realises The Ancient One used Dark Magic??? Yes! But instead he flew into the sun. Your symbolism didn’t land as well as you thought it did Marvel! Idk maybe he’ll come back but that was such a nonsensical resolution to his character arc. Not to mention, as soon as he appeared to Sprite and Sersi’s aide in London, I pegged him as the bad guy. Getting too predictable now.

Overall again this movie was ok. A good set-up movie for the many things coming up. But the pacing in the beginning was terrible, it was one character intro after another, really awkwardly placed flashback sequences, a butt ton of exposition, and then a very rude and unruly cliffhanger ending with two very cliffhanger end credits scenes. Eternals really didn’t try to be complete on its own.

There were beats I genuinely enjoyed. Like, funnily enough, the most interesting character to me was Kingo’s valet, Karun? A human among gods. He gets told to go home because the world is ending but for that same reason he chooses to stay because what is the point in returning with this knowledge of his impending doom. May as well watch their journey unfold.

Him thinking Kingo was a vampire, trying to stab him, then becoming Kingo’s closest confidante and companion in many ways?

Despite Kingo’s own beliefs about what the Eternals should do, he becomes the voice of humanity. “Hey, please save us? I would really appreciate it, but I’m probably biased”. Him leading the prayer for Gilgamesh’s funeral. Determinedly continuing to be a loyal cameraman and accepting the aggression of the Eternals at him trying to do his job in stride and even calling them out for being so angry.

And then him just being generally affable and pleasant and naturally funny. There were some moments that clearly were gunning for a laugh but his role was genuinely fun.

Like the story was so big beyond its boundaries that it was nice to see such a simple but well-rounded character.

That said I do look forward to where they take this cast and hope we have more time to get to know them beyond what they struggled to convey in this one.

[sylvies-chen]

ok so I watched The Eternals tonight and even though I got back from the movie theatre nearly three hours ago I haven’t made this post until now because I was a) processing the absolutely WONDERFUL movie I just saw and b) fawning over it with my lovely Maria @just-fandomthings who is tagging me in some Eternals stuff I’m going to be reblogging the crap out of very soon! So keep an eye out for a lot of Marvel related content and if that’s not your thing then sorry in advance for the spam. But first, it’s time to sing praises for this movie:

(WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Overall, this movie was probably the one I felt least followed a generic Marvel format. It left a certain amount of surprise and unpredictability which was very enjoyable. Everything about it felt very unique and different from what Marvel’s done before: from the camera angles to the STUNNING visual effects and costumes, to the plot development, it was all special. Even the dialogue and the dynamics between the characters were different and felt much more matured. The conflict was even something refreshing and new because evem though I’m fully on the “Ikaris was just some whiny dude who was obsessed with Sersi yet never fully respected her power and authority” train, his argument wasn’t completely invalid. It was just… his opinion. The way he went about it was all wrong, but his belief itself wasn’t the problem which is why we hardly think anything of Kingo for saying “I don’t agree with what you guys are doing but I refuse to fight you” and then leaving. I mean, have we EVER seen a Marvel movie do that before? No, never! They’ve had movies based on the exact opposite of that. Granted, the characters in this movie have had thousands of years to grow and mature so maybe they have an advantage to the lovable asshat that we call Tony Stark, but it was still so interesting to see power dynamics and general conflict explored like that.

Also, and I cannot stress this enough: DRUIG AND MAKKARI ARE EVERYTHING TO ME. Even through their limited screentime I have never fallen for MCU characters more quickly (except maybe Yelena) than these two. Makkari being a deaf character, I was (depressingly) expecting for her to be a throwaway character or a one-off kind of deal, but getting to see her in action and leading her into more action in the MCU was such a lovely surprise! Druig also won me over in a heartbeat. Watching him with Makkari was so sweet because they’re friends, they’re equals, they’re partners. That unbreakable bond there was portrayed really well in such a short amount of time. Oh, and Makkari’s raw scream when she thought Druig was dead? The way she went HAM on Ikaris as soon as she thought he killed Druig? Yeah, that shit both killed me and impressed me at the same time. If you’d seen me in the theatres you would have seen me crying while clapping and cheering my ass off. The visuals for her speedy powers in that scene were really well done and not only that, but watching her channel all that rage and kick that guy’s ass when he was referred to several times by everyone else as the strongest of them all was AMAZING. SO CATHARTIC. I have no choice but to stan. And my brain has been replaying “my beautiful, beautiful Makkari” for the past two hours. Both as individuals and as a ship, my love for them was on sight ‼️🥰

Thena and Gilgamesh’s friendship was also really sweet and that was the other instance of “woman going absolutely haywire because their soulmate is presumed and/or actually dead” lol. Gil was really the only one with the kind heart and patience to take care of her, to handle her when needed but to be understanding of her and take his time. That loss was devastating for her but ultimately pushed her to be stronger. And I think there’s a large component of Thena’s journey being about taking back her mind and bodily autonomy, which was really empowering and beautiful to watch. The women in this movie are amazing and are really the stars. (Although I will say: it was really refreshing watching a movie where they let their male characters cry!! And we had Phastos and his husband as MLM rep with a happy family and everything too!! My heart!!)

Anyway, this has probably all been said before but I don’t even care. I loved that movie and I’m a huge MCU nerd so I figured you folks, my lovely followers, could bear with me while I let my thoughts out. So yes! I really liked this film! There was some pacing issues which I cut them slack for because it was a long movie and they had a lot of bases to cover, and I would have appreciated if they put the time & location stamps as soon as they made the jumps just because some of them were delayed and had me confused for a second, but these are very minor things and all in all, the pros FAR outweigh the cons. It was a great movie: unique in every aspect, visually stunning, beautiful family dynamics and intriguing power dynamics, and a wonderful introduction to the world of the Eternal, Deviants, and Celestials!

[himoutolifestyle]

Hello, so one person said that they were interested in hearing the backstories of everyone for my Olive Tree Florist AU (an AU in which Thena owns a flower shop, Gilgamesh owns a restaurant, and cute shenanigans and things occur), so I’m just gonna take that and run. 

I’m going to have different posts to explain the different backstories (mostly because I don’t want to have like a super long post), but also because I’m writing them all up now and I would like to have breaks in between each backstory. I’ll do my best to link all the posts together but if I forget, sorry, 

That being said, let’s talk about Thena. 

Thena’s life was chaotic to say the least. Thena’s parents were killed in front of her when she was young (hence PTSD later in life) in an armed robbery, so she was very committed to be able to defend herself. 

After she was adopted by Arishem, she met Gilgamesh in school and they hit it off. Gilgamesh had never looked down on Thena for being a girl and respects her. Thena in return respects him and appreciates how he doesn’t conform to anyone, but rather walks his own path. 

When Thena gets to middle school, that’s when Druig gets adopted. Druig and Thena are closer to each other than their other siblings just because they’ve known each other longer but also because they’re on a similar wavelength with each other (I’ve always found their dynamic to be interesting). 

Ikaris and Sprite are adopted afterwards when Thena is in high school. That’s when Gilgamesh started having ‘family dinners’ with them. That was also around the time where both Thena and Gilgamesh were acknowledging that  they might have romantic feelings for each other.  

Thena and Gilgamesh got together the summer before they went to college (yes, they went to the same college). That’s when they met Phastos (who was an engineering major) and Ajak (biology/pre-health major). 

Thena’s PTSD affected her more after college when she was working for Arishem’s company. She wanted help, but Arishem thought the best thing was to keep everything hushed up, so he gave her pills and pills but the medicine just made Thena’s condition worse.

Gil stood by her side throughout this entire time. He was supportive and caring. But he knew that she needed more help than just him. So he contacted Druig and they were able to have her in rehab and in therapy. Gilgamesh would often visit her with pies and other foods (normally after he was done at the restaurant). He also would bring her flowers because he wanted to give her something that would brighten up her room even after he left. 

When Thena was discharged, she officially left Arishem’s company and his ‘family’. She opened her flower shop and named it “Olive Tree Florist”.  

Other Backstories: Arishem  I Thena I Druig I Ikaris I Sprite I Makkari I Gilgamesh