Should You Skip Eternals in 2024/2024? A Gamer‘s In-Depth Breakdown

As a gaming aficionado who lives and breathes the latest Marvel news, I get asked a lot – can I skip Eternals? Is it really crucial viewing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

Well, strap in true believers – here’s my epic breakdown on whether Marvel’s cosmic oddity is essential or skippable as you embark on your MCU binge.

What Goes Down in Eternals?

Let’s start with a refresher on what this immortal ensemble flick is all about…

Eternals introduces a brand new team of superhuman cosmic protectors who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years safeguarding humanity.

They’re forced to reunite when monstrous Deviants (also immortal creations) return after centuries absent to once again threaten civiliazation.

Oh, and these Eternals face judgement from their own makers for standing by during all of human history’s atrocities and conflicts when they had the power to intervene. No big deal though!

Here’s a quick rundown of the main players:

• Ikaris – Cosmic Superman who flies and shoots lasers from his eyes
• Sersi – Matter manipulator (yes, including humans!) and central hero
• Sprite – Appears as a tween but is actually an ancient soul
• Makkari – Flash-level speedster
• Phastos – Cosmic forge master who crafts weapons
• Kingo – Bollywood legend packing mean plasma blasts
• Gilgamesh – Strongest Eternal with a forgotten history
• Thena – Warrior Eternal struggling with madness
• Druig – Can control minds, often against their will
• Ajak – Leader and seer who communes with Celestials

Yeah, it’s a lot unpack. Which partly explains why reviews ended up mixed to lukewarm when Eternals launched in late 2021. Critics praised the visuals but found the story messy and unfocused.

Not the worst reception, but a far cry from consistent crowd pleasers like Ragnarok, Infinity War or No Way Home.

Why Eternals’ Reception Left Fans Divided

As the stats show, critics and general moviegoers viewed Eternals differently – not unusual for MCU films. But rarely is there this much deviation between reviews and fan sentiment on a Marvel effort.

Why such differing takes on Eternals’ quality?

The pace and scope was an abrupt shift – After the zippy humor of previous ensemble Avengers flicks, Eternals slower contemplative mood surprised fans expecting another thrill ride.

Weighing down story with lore building – Unlike the organically woven worldbuilding of early Phase 1-3 films, Eternals overtly plants seeds for the future at the expense of plot.

Unfocused supporting cast – Leading lady Sersi emerges clearly, but many other Eternals lacked character depth or meaningful development.

Does that make Eternals complete rubbish though? Well, not so fast!

Eternals‘ High Points Reveal Potential

However middling the reaction, Eternals did bring some fresh cosmic flavor to the MCU stew.

Visually it sears with striking tableaus and a sweeping intergalactic scope that satisfy the urge for pulpy sci-fi spectacle.

The ensemble cast oozes talent and charisma in roles that capture what fans adore about Marvel’s flawed outsiders who struggle with purpose and identity.

Moments land emotionally too – like Phastos’ raw revelation to his human family or the burgeoning romance between Ikaris and Sersi before betrayal tears them apart.

While the present-day plot meanders, the glimpses into how the Eternals influenced human myths and history proved intriguing. These subtle winks at the MCU’s tangled cosmic past brought thrills for continuity-obsessed fans like myself!

Add in two stingers setting up sequels and a Harry Styles cameo, and you can decipher why general moviegoers enjoyed Eternals far more than critics.

Are Eternals Essential to Marvel’s Phase 4 (and Beyond)?

But back to the core question at hand true believers – with mixed reviews and reactions, is Eternals crucial viewing as the MCU surges onward? Should you prioritize it ASAP in your Marvel catchup quest?

Based on connections to wider universe (so far), the current answer is no, Eternals isn‘t required viewing to understand Phase 4 or upcoming Marvel releases.

Light Phase 4 Plot Links

The only nominal tie to wider Phase 4 narrative thus far lands in Thor: Love and Thunder when Gorr wields a blade forged from Celestial remains – basically space gods on the food chain level above Eternals.

Though watching Eternals illuminates Celestials’ destructive potential, Love and Thunder quickly re-establishes these concepts for newcomers.

Beyond that, no other Phase 4 properties directly reference Eternals events or characters…yet.

Of course, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige teases that could change soon, saying Eternals will have “massive importance” on the MCU’s future:

“The adventures they go on – past, present, and future – will have major repercussions on the creation of the MCU.”

Sequel and Spinoff Plans Promising

Feige’s words carry weight because an Eternals sequel is in active development to continue the story, likely expanding cosmic lore.

Starfox portrayed briefly by pop icon Harry Styles also got his own Disney+ series in early planning, though details remain under wraps for now.

If both projects advance, interest and significance of Eternals as franchise lynchpin would skyrocket – making the film far more crucial background viewing!

Future MCU Connections – Guessing the Possibilities

While sequel plans gestate in development limbo, Marvel fans like myself have ample time to speculate and theorize where Eternals could link into upcoming MCU chapters.

Thanks to Eternals whopper cliffhanger mid-credits scene, we know a judgement by Celestial Arishem hangs in the balance for Earth‘s heroes.

Many fans presume this could connect to flooding multiverse issues that crescendo in 2025’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and/or 2026’s Avengers: Secret Wars.

If so, Eternals lore around Celestials and cosmic hierarchy could illuminates these climatic chapters for two Avengers blockbusters in major ways.

Not to mention the MCU delving further into supernatural mysticism via Blade in 2024 as well as magic and multiverse mayhem in 2025’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sequel.

Could the emergence of vampires or reality-shattering madness relate to that pesky Celestial judgement call somehow?

As these projects release details, rerunning predictions will be a blast for theorists like myself!

Better Starting Points for MCU Newbies

Okay, digging into Eternals importance for longtime MCU disciples could fill endless posts. But if you‘re brand new to Marvel‘s cinematic reign and debating where to kick off your fandom, where should you start instead?

Here are my top recommends for easily digestible MCU origin points over Eternals:

1) Iron Man (2008)

The one that started the prolific juggernaut of Marvel’s shared universe on a wing and a prayer deserves first viewing honors. RDJ’s signature charisma as genius playboy Tony Stark hasn’t diminished one bit.

Plus it‘s a largely self-contained banger with post-credits tease for what‘s to come. Still the gold standard!

• Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Critics / 91% Fans
• Box Office: $585 million

2) The Avengers (2012)

Once you‘ve watched key Phase 1 films establishing Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America, Joss Whedon‘s banter-filled team-up extravaganza is hugely rewarding payoff. Assuming the world didn‘t end from Y2K, watching this decade-later still rules hard!

• Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Critics / 91% Fans
• Box Office: $1.5 billion

3) Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

My personal favorite Phase 3 film and fantastic entry point courtesy of rockin’ space fantasy vibe, 80‘s neon color palette, and riotous laughs. After sloggy prior solo outings, this threequel was a heavy metal return to form showing Thor‘s potential.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Critics / 87% Fans
• Box Office: $854 million

4) Black Panther (2018)

Cultural milestone and box office titan that transcends superhero fare thanks to Shakespearean drama around legacy, plus Ryan Coogler‘s adept worldbuilding that satisfyingly expands MCU scope.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Critics / 79% Fans
• Box Office: $1.3 billion

Plenty other candidates like Guardians 1, Winter Soldier or Spider-Man: Homecoming deserve first-view glory for new MCU inductees over Eternals as well.

But seriously, even random picks from Phases 1-3 ensure more coherent crash course in Marvel machenations compared to that dense Eternals jumble.

The Verdict: Skip For Now, But Check Back Later!

So there you have it webheads! My epic odyssey evaluating Eternals importance and whether newcomers can bypass it entirely while starting their MCU binge.

For those with less background on Marvel‘s winding mythology so far, Eternals isn‘t vital viewing right now (despite epic scope). Tackling earlier origin films first pays off bigger in emotional investment and coherence.

But for died-in-the-wool MCU fanatics like myself, keeping tabs on Eternals developments is wise as connections emerge later down cosmic highway.

A planned sequel and spinoff series signal the enigmatic ensemble could anchor heavier franchise weight soon. And I‘d bet my mint-sealed Stan Lee autographed comic collection that links to multiverse stories are nigh!

So while Eternals is clearly skippable film today needing no direct prior knowledge, remember to loop back later once you‘ve got a few dozen MCU notches behind your fandom belt!

Let me know which MCU films or shows would you rank as priority viewing over Eternals for newcomers in comments below. Excelsior!