Episode 8. Mental Health in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Episode 8. Mental Health in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Show Notes

“Everyone fails at who they are supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are.”
(Frigga, Avengers: Endgame)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most successful film franchises in history. But the popularity of these movies & series isn’t merely based on superheroes and quirky one-liners - it’s rooted in how effectively the MCU portrays the human experience, including mental health struggles of all kinds.

From Ironman to Avengers: Endgame and beyond, the MCU confronts us with mental health realities. Pat & Father Nathan discuss lessons we can learn by viewing them through a lens of faith. Be surprised by connecting with characters who - super strength and time-traveling aside - are actually a lot like us. Welcome to this fun and meaningful conversation! We could do this all day.

Show Notes

  • The Church contains the fullness of truth, but it is not the ONLY place where truth is found. Even our secular culture places genuine goodness, truth, and beauty in its films & media because they are the only things that truly attract the human heart.

  • Why is group therapy effective? It’s because we’re watching other people wrestle with realities that overwhelm us to do on our own

    • This is part of what makes the MCU so approachable for such a wide demographic: they’re real, relatable people even though they have superpowers

    • These are situations that we’ve encountered in our lives, so the heroes are accessible and endearing to us

    • Roman & Greek mythology had gods that were so appealing because they had human qualities and flaws

  • Mental Health in the MCU

    • Simple mental health struggles

      • Tony Stark: Narcissism, including self-medication & addiction in Iron Man 2

      • Bruce Banner/Hulk: Integrating anger into his identity and using it as the righteous virtue it was created to be

    • Deeper mental health challenges

      • Black Widow: childhood abuse & trauma

      • Iron Man 3: PTSD & panic attacks due to the events of The Avengers in New York City

      • Bucky Barnes: trauma, guilt & shame, and a dis-integrated identity (Bucky vs. Winter Soldier)

    • Profound mental health crises

      • Spider-Man: loses Uncle Ben and then his father figure, Tony. Watches (spoiler!) Aunt May die. But even after all that, he still willingly lets go of MJ & Ned in order to keep them safe, out of selfless love for them.

      • Coping with grief, loss, & despair: Wanda and Thor

        • Wanda is orphaned at an early age, help Ultron gain power, loses her twin brother, watches Vision die twice, sees Vision being torn apart by SWORD, enslaves hundreds of people in Westview, loses her children & husband again

          • She self-medicates with the Darkhold: dives into anger, fear, & regret; tries to kill America Chavez, kills dozens of people across multiple universes in the process, eventually brings Mt. Wundergore down on herself in total despair

        • Thor is born into a privileged royal life, but then loses his brother (multiple times), his mom, his hammer & identity, his father, his best friend, has to fight & kill his sister, loses his home planet, breaks up with Jane, loses to Thanos, and eventually (spoiler) watches Jane die

          • He also runs away & self-medicates with alcohol & video games, he struggles mightily with guilt, loss, regret, grief, and anger. BUT he chooses community over isolation, purpose over aimlessness, and love over fear. In the end, he chooses life over death.

      • Moon Knight: Dissociative Identity Disorder springing from childhood trauma & abuse