The Politics of Inclusion: Why Simu Liu’s ‘Typical’ Response Matters
Let me tell you why a one-word social media reply from Simu Liu might be the most revealing commentary on Marvel Studios’ current identity crisis. In an era where streaming platforms curate watchlists like personalized museum tours, Disney+ forgot to include Shang-Chi in its Avengers: Doomsday promotional lineup. To the casual observer, this seems like a minor oversight. To Liu—and anyone paying attention—it’s a recurring theme dressed as a technical error.
The Watchlist That Speaks Volumes
Disney+’s suggested viewing list for Doomsday reads like a Marvel executive’s anxiety dream: Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, even Deadpool & Wolverine (despite their absence from the list). But where’s Shang-Chi? Personally, I think this isn’t just about a missing tile in a digital mosaic. This omission crystallizes a deeper tension between corporate storytelling and cultural relevance. Shang-Chi’s 2021 film wasn’t just a box office win—it was a seismic shift in Asian representation. Yet here we are, three years later, with Marvel treating its first Asian lead like a footnote.
Why This Tiny Snub Feels Like a Pattern
Let’s dissect Liu’s “typical” response. On the surface, it’s dry humor. But dig deeper, and you’ll find generations of marginalized communities recognizing the familiar rhythm of tokenism. What many people don’t realize is that watchlists aren’t neutral—they’re editorial choices that signal value. When you program an algorithm to say, “These stories matter for understanding our universe,” and exclude a character whose solo film saved Marvel’s 2021 slate, you’re making a statement. A detail that I find especially interesting? Shang-Chi’s animated appearance in Marvel Zombies counts as his “continued relevance.” Tell that to the kids who dressed as him for Halloween.
The Doomsday Redemption Arc
Liu’s return in Doomsday isn’t just another superhero cameo—it’s a corporate course correction wrapped in quantum energy. From my perspective, this is Marvel acknowledging (finally) that Shang-Chi’s power isn’t just in his rings, but in his cultural gravity. Placing him alongside the X-Men and Fantastic Four isn’t narrative logic—it’s damage control. But here’s the twist: this “reckoning” feels less like a grand plan and more like Marvel realizing they’ve undervalued their stock. In my opinion, the real story here isn’t the battle against Doctor Doom, but whether this appearance translates to sustained investment in the character.
Beyond the Multiverse: A Industry at a Crossroads
This isn’t just about one character. What this really suggests is an existential dilemma for blockbuster franchises: Can studios reconcile diversity initiatives with their obsession over “franchise players”? The irony? Shang-Chi’s initial success proved audiences crave fresh faces, yet Marvel’s response has been to retreat to Avengers-era comfort food. If you take a step back and think about it, Liu’s journey mirrors the industry’s struggle to move beyond performative inclusion. The box office doesn’t lie—Shang-Chi grossed $433 million globally. But in Hollywood’s calculus, sometimes $400 million isn’t as valuable as Robert Downey Jr.’s mustache.
The Bigger Picture Marvel Isn’t Ready to See
Here’s what’s really fascinating: Liu’s quiet dissent exposes a generational shift in entertainment politics. Older executives still equate “legacy” with white male heroes, while audiences increasingly demand protagonists who reflect real-world diversity. This disconnect creates absurd scenarios like a superhero who can’t get a streaming recommendation despite headlining his own movie. A deeper question emerges: Will Marvel’s upcoming slate—including Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts—finally embrace the new guard, or will Shang-Chi remain the MCU’s beautiful, underused painting?
In the end, this story isn’t about a watchlist error. It’s about who gets to define a universe’s legacy—and who gets erased from the footnotes. As someone who’s watched superhero cinema evolve from camp to cultural force, I can’t help but wonder: Will we look back at Simu Liu’s “typical” as the moment Marvel finally understood that diversity isn’t a phase—it’s the real Infinity Stone?
