Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Although The Umbrella Academy has always been diverse, it’s never truly taken advantage of its cast when telling diverse stories. Some of the Hargreeves siblings are queer, two are POC, and one came out as transgender this season. Finally, season three digs into these characters' stories more deeply. Specifically, Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), and Viktor (Elliot Page) get nuanced storylines that make for great representation. Spoilers for The Umbrella Academy season three!

I was so happy with Diego’s character arc this season as an avid Diego fan. Diego is a character who, despite hating being vulnerable, has been one of the most openly vulnerable characters on the show. This has made him such a relatable and lovable character. He’s also the only Umbrella to have a disability: a stutter. When he’s overcome by emotion, Diego struggles to speak. That happens once this season when he’s angry at Lila for lying to him about their child. It’s such a raw moment that broke a lot of viewers’ hearts, but I’m glad his stutter wasn’t forgotten by the show’s writers. 

I was also elated to see Diego’s Latino identity finally acknowledged and fleshed out this season. In prior seasons it often felt like his ethnic identity was completely ignored. While this wasn’t a major problem since he wasn’t raised in Latin culture, it’s still great to see someone who looks and acts like my family represented onscreen. When he and Ben began arguing in Spanish and Korean, respectively, I could tell Umbrella Academy was finally going to touch on the characters’ ethnic/racial identities. 

The May Incluvie Movie Highlights features 3 fantastic coming-of-age films. We explore butterfly-inducing Sneakerella and Crush, and the sadly timely feature - The Fallout, about the after-effects of a school shooting. Movie Critic Teri Elam joins in to discuss Alice, a 2022 blaxploitation inspired film starring Keke Palmer. In addition, we give a nod to movie theater blockbusters - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent - for being better than expected on the incluvie scale! Join in with your hosts: Cathy Yee and Hazel Bolivar!

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There are so many interwoven stories, themes, character arcs, timelines, and dimensions! In order to keep track of the MCU films and figure out what to watch when, here’s a list of those that have come out – 29 as of now — as well as what's coming up in the next few years. Included are related articles and Incluvie score (and a fun 1.5 minute TikTok).

First is the release order of the MCU films. This is the way Marvel intended the audience to take in the characters and story arcs. After the release list is Incluvie’s own note and style on how to watch!

1. Iron Man (2008)

2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This past Friday, Disney+, and Marvel released the second episode of their new original mini-series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Directed by Kari Skogland and written by Michael Kastelein, this is the first to see Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) battling together. With the announcement of John Walker (Wyatt Russell) as the new Captain America (ugh) and the rebel organization the Flag-Smashers wreaking havoc across the world, the Avengers duo must work together to restore peace and a legacy.

Now, a lot happened in this episode. Yes, some events were more impressive than others; however, it’s vital to recognize the brief scenes. For myself and others, there are three fleeting moments in this chapter that, ultimately, prove the power of short-lived significance.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead.

The following review contains major spoilers from ‘WandaVision’ Episode 5, “On a Very Special Episode…”

Even though this week, both Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany were teasing a “huge cameo” in the show, I didn’t expect it to come so soon, let alone the fifth episode. What I didn’t expect was for me to jump from my bed and scream so loud my room shook — talk about wild!

The fourth episode of the series, “We Interrupt this Program,” created a pivotal shift for the show. Rather than only focusing on the suburban sitcom world, viewers finally get an outside perspective with the help of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and fan-favorite Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). And, in this fifth episode, time is split between the two realities.

This is your last chance to avoid any and all spoilers. Trust me, you do NOT want this masterpiece of an episode spoiled.

“On a Very Special Episode…” viewers are automatically thrown into the sitcom world — this time, in the 80s. As usual, the miniseries pays homage to the classics of each period. This time, it’s the American sitcom Family Ties. The opening credits of this episode was brilliant, especially with baby Vision looking so out of place. However, the intro also made me a little uneasy. Knowing that the entire town is being held captive (most likely under Wanda’s control), and realizing Vision has no idea what is going on produces an eerie feeling.