I ❤️ Captain Marvel

There’s been a lot of negative talk about Captain Marvel lately and I’ve been having a really hard time staying quiet about it. It’s taken all of my strength not to say anything, because if there is one thing I know about social media and the internet, it’s that you shouldn’t respond to every sexist or misogynistic comment you come across. Especially, if it’s about superheroes. There’s no point to it. It doesn’t matter what you say, they’ll tell you you’re wrong. They’ll tell you to, “Stay in your place.” They’ll call you names. They’ll minimize your worth. You have to be the better person. You have to remember that they’re the ones who have no idea what they’re talking about. They are the ones who are wrong. We are better than them. We are strong, independent women. “When they go low, we go high.”

Higher. Further. Faster.

With the recent news that Captain Marvel is officially returning in 2022, it seems like all the haters are crawling out of the woodwork. Petitions. Think pieces. They’ll say anything to make you believe that the rest of the world is unsatisfied with this particular, female superhero. I am under no illusion that everybody loves Carol Danvers. That would be stupid to believe. However, as a fandom, I think we are extremely underestimated. There are more us than you’d think. We are dedicated and opinionated. Which is why I’m putting an end to my silence. I can’t sit here, quiet, while Brie Larson and Captain Marvel continue to be tore down and broke apart. I won’t do it anymore. I won’t let my fellow fans down. I’m breaking all the rules.

I can only speak for myself. I can only speak to what Captain Marvel means to ME. I can only tell you why I think she is so groundbreaking. It’s about time I give her the recognition she deserves.

Captain Marvel is the first woman of the MCU to receive her own film, a film free of any Avenger team-up. It only took twenty MCU movies, but we finally got there. It was our turn. Played brilliantly by the inspirational and effervescent, Brie Larson, Carol Danvers is the feminist hero of our dreams. She is kick-ass and unapologetic, able to tackle any obstacle you set before her. If you disrespect her, she will punch you in the face. She has no time for your bull***t. Larson’s unmatched energy and endless enthusiasm for the material has made her the perfect choice for Carol. She plays her with an effortless style. Carol is cool, calm, and collected. Nothing will stand in her way. She protects the ones she loves. She can do anything.

One of the reasons why I love the film so much is because it calls out the type of emotional abuse and undeserved harassment women go through on a daily basis. There is a scene in the movie where Carol is looking at a map, minding her own business, when a cocky-looking dude parks next to her. When she ignores his attempts at flirtation, he tells her to smile more. He calls her a freak. So, what does she do? She steals his motorcycle. Every woman on the planet has been in this situation. In reality, we aren’t allowed to do anything. We just have to shake our heads and let the insults roll off us. We’re not permitted to push back. Captain Marvel enables us to project our desires onto her. We might not be able to photon blast our boss or steal someone’s vehicle, but we can imagine, we can dream.

“I’ve been fighting with one arm tied behind my back, but what happens when I’m finally set free?”

The main theme of the film is about standing up for yourself. It’s about protecting those who are marginalized and forgotten. Carol is told to restrict her emotions. She is told to keep herself in line, behave like a lady. Everyone tells her how she should act and who she should be. Throughout the film she is pushed and punished for being herself. As she tries to let go of trauma, she begins to understand who she is. When she refuses to be controlled anymore, she becomes someone new, entirely. She breaks free.

The epic fight scene toward the end of the movie set to No Doubt’s, “Just a Girl,” is flawless and superb. The chemistry between Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson is absolutely spot-on. The intense sequences of action molded together with Carol’s humor and sass is perfect. Goose. . . Well, Goose is a good kitty. Oh, I’m sorry. I mean, Flerken. I love Captain Marvel, because she is the reflection of women everywhere. When she gets knocked down, she gets right back up again and again, and again. She represents strength, kindness, and heart. She is the hero we all hope to be.