Happy as I was to hit the theaters for the first time since the pandemic began (I was masked and was alone in the auditorium), I found myself increasingly frustrated with SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS the longer it went on. Make no mistake, the film is chock-full of stuff I love: beautiful visuals, intense action, fun characters, OMFG monsters, and heady themes, but the script itself incrementally disappointed me. Ultimately, I think I’m tilting between liking the film and feeling disappointed by it.

First, the positives. I love that this is a film that gives ample representation for Asian talent, both in front of and behind the camera. We need more of that, especially after our last president fomented such hatred against Asian peoples. I love that the film explores the often-troubled relationship between 1st and 2nd generations of immigrant families. I love that it explores the Asian diaspora and looking for one’s place. I love that it’s a reclamation of characters whose origins were rooted in racism (Fu Manchu, I mean) and whose representation was often culturally insensitive, if not racist (Shang-Chi himself). I love that the film touches upon the nature of abusive relationships and how sometimes it’s hard, if not impossible to heal (a fraught subject, one that the director, late of SHORT TERM 12, was well-equipped to handle respectfully).

And of course, there’s Wenwu, the ground-up reimagining of the Mandarin and Fu Manchu/Zheng Zhu. Instead of a warlord steeped in Yellow Peril, we have a nuanced, calculating, obsessive, violent, and loving character as masterfully depicted by Tony Leung, who runs away with the damn movie. Leung presents Wenwu as a complicated man seesawing between good and evil, a balance that he inflicts upon his wife and children.

My only complaint here is the film’s prologue primes us for the man’s legendary evil, but he does little directly evil on his own. We see no torture, no assassinations, no screaming rants, no heinous manipulations, and only subtle hints at the emotional and physical abuse he visited upon his children. I imagine this is all in service of distancing him from his Fu Manchu origins, but it almost feels like we wind up with a half-realized relationship between him and his children, one left to exposition rather than action that would be more emotive and resonant.



#043 Xu Wenwu
Team: Underworld
Range: 8
Points: 75
Keywords: Ten Rings, Ruler, Martial Artist, Underworld, Past

11 11 19 3

10 11 18 3

9 11 18 3

8 11 18 3

8 11 18 3

8 11 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Master of the Ten Rings of Power: Wenwu may begin the game with the Ten Rings of Power equipped at their point value.
I Have Had Many Names: Mastermind. Leadership, and when he succeeds, he may instead generate an#048 "Ten Rings Assassin & Death Dealer" on Click #3
Brutal Conqueror: Charge, Leap/Climb, and Flurry.
Energy Locking Rings: During your turn, choose Precision Strike or "after Xu Wenwu hits with a Close attack, deal the target 1 Action token." Xu Wenwu has that until you choose again.

#043b Ten Rings of Power
Light Object
Points: 25
Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop. KO.
Effect: , but only for Close attacks. Giant Reach: 3. Probability Control. Perplex. Force Blast. If this character didn’t make an attack this turn, Energy Shield/Deflection until the beginning of your next turn.

UPDATED 09/13/01 - Thanks, Pokolo!

Discussing "What If...?" episode 5:

Are you flerken kidding me?! It’s Pym’s fault again?!

No, this one doesn’t actually bother me that much. While Pym and pals cause this outbreak, I don’t really feel like any of them are to blame here. It’s not like they could have predicted such an unexpected outcome.

Moving past that, I quite enjoyed this episode. I found myself liking Hope a lot more here than I did in her previous appearances. I’m not sure why. Maybe the alt-universe premise removes that feeling of Hope taking another character’s place, so I’m more able to just enjoy her character for what it is.

Maybe it was her awesome introduction where she combats zombies with an army of ants, both giant and normal sized. Don’t underestimate the swarm! Seriously, that felt like a great use of her powers.

That does bring up one of the episode’s issues, though. Where was that super useful ant army in the train station? Do ants not like trains or something?
That all-devouring swarm seemed like a very effective anti-zombie weapon, so why not bring them?

I also enjoyed Hope’s giant walk. It was meaningful and another good use of her powers. Why do so few Pym particle users take advantage of bidirectional size-changing? Oh well.

The other characters were generally great, too, and the episode had enough surprises to keep it interesting.


A few issues:

Similarly to your notes about continuity issues regarding Civil War, I have a small issue with the events of “Ant-Man & The Wasp”: How did the Pyms find Janet if she was a zombie? Was Zombie Janet still of sound enough mind to communicate with Scott to relay her coordinates? That seems like an awefully complex trap for a zombie to plan.
I know Marvel Zombies in the comics remain just as smart as they were before, but that didn’t really come across here (Wanda hinted at it by seemingly reacting to Vision’s body, but that’s it).

I feel like the ending was a bit more of a cliffhanger than I would have preferred. If they hadn’t revealed the fate of Wakanda, it would still have been open-ended, but it would have felt like an okay ending. The current adventure is over.
But by specifically showing Zombie Thanos, I feel like it demands a follow-up much more strongly. The characters are minutes away from a major fight. If we actually get a follow-up, then I rescind this complaint.

Definitely agree with all that! I imagine that the handwaved logic of rescuing Janet and Hope's single giant ant usage was a result of the series' strict half-hour runtime. Nearly all of these episodes could've benefited from being longer, and this could've taken the time to explain these questions and more strongly play out its drama.

Seems like the Z-Virus in this universe is rapid-onset, which is how the Black Order recovered so quickly. Maybe Janet got infected minutes before Hank got to her?

Likewise, it feels like there should be a reason why the giant ants never return. Maybe they get infected after eating zombies? And shrinking them would make infecting other insect populations likely?

Shang-Chi himself represents one of my major complaints for the film. I can’t nail down his personality. Sure, his backstory and powers are fully fleshed out, but his personality is generic MCU rogue -the oft-seen guy who masks his guilt and uncertainty in comedy and pop culture references. The movie swears up and down that there’s depth here, that he’s struggling to be at peace with himself -for him to accept both the good and the bad in him- but it’s not dramatized in his performance.

Like, we get flashbacks of his loving relationship with his mother and his souring relationship with his father. We see how this child is equally capable of tenderness and violence, and that’s all well and good… but we don’t see that struggle reflected in Shang-Chi’s personality. Is he struggling with a balance? Apart from his training with Nan and his revelation to Katy, do we see him wrestle with aspects of himself? Is he a man split in two, constantly trying to make the good part of himself stronger? Do we see him fail and berate himself for it… or revel in it?

We don’t. For nearly the entire movie, Shang-Chi is just the guy who gives or receives exposition -and this is a movie practically MADE of exposition. Exposition =/= drama.

That said, Simu Liu is fun enough to watch, especially in the more grounded fight scenes. It’s clear that the man’s got serious training. He sells all those fights beautifully. That bus fight? Exquisite stuff. Can’t complain there.



#044 Xu Shang-Chi
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 55/150
Keywords: Ten Rings, Ta Lo, Martial Artist, Celebrity, Assassin

9 12 19 3

8 11 18 3

8 11 18 3

7 11 18 3

6 11 17 3

| | | |

8 11 18 3

9 11 18 4

9 11 19 4

10 12 19 4

11 13 20 5

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Wayward Protégé:If Shang-Chi is played at 55 points, he’s KOed if he crosses the red line.
Light and Dark: Shang-Chi may begin the game with the Dragonscale Bo Staff equipped for free -OR- the Ten Rings of Power equipped at their point value.
Jiu-Jitsu Counter: When an adjacent opposing character misses Shang-Chi with an attack, Shang-Chi may immediately make a Free Close attack targeting them as though he had their Attack and Damage abilities.
New Master of the Ten Rings: STOP the first time this ability is revealed this game. // Charge & Leap/Climb, even if this power is lost.
Rapid Punches: POWER: Close with a locked damage of 2. After resolutions, if Shang-Chi hit, he may make another attack as a Free action, repeating this until he misses.
Floating Golden Shield: Impervious & Super Senses, even if this power is lost.
Lashing Force: 8, Giant Reach: 3, and Exploit Weakness, even if this power is lost.

#044b Dragonscale Bo Staff
Light Object
Points: 5
Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop. KO.
Effect: Giant Reach: 2. Damage dealt to characters with the Mystical or Monster keywords from this attack cannot be reduced.

Awkwafina. Your mileage may vary.

I love her in THE FAREWELL, a poignant dramedy about saying goodbye to her grandmother, but I bristle at her early roles where she deliberately appropriated AAVE to get popular. Here, I find that Katy occupies shaky ground between legitimate character and mascot. Most of that comes down to her delivery, which always sounds like she’s doing voice performance, but she was the only one alone in the studio.

I DO respect her character’s journey in this, an AAPI woman mostly divorced from her ethnic heritage who discovers some form of purpose and belonging over the course of the journey. That’s beautiful, powerful stuff. I’ll also say that along with Wenwu & Trevor, Katy has the most distinctive personality in the film. That’s something.



#045 Katy Chen
Real Name: Ruiwen
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 5
Points: 35
Keywords: Ta Lo, Warrior, Pilot

6 10 16 0

6 10 16 0

7 11 18 1

7 11 18 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

I Shot It Right In the Throat!: Katy may begin the game with the Dragonscale Bow attached at its point value.
I’m Like the Asian Jeff Gordon!: When Katy pilots a vehicle, it may use Sidestep. If the vehicle can already use it, it may use it twice per turn for Free.

#045b Dragonscale Bow and Arrows
Light Object
Points: 10
Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop. KO.
Effect: 10, +1 Ranged damage. Damage dealt to characters with the Mystical or Monster keywords from this attack cannot be reduced.

UPDATED 09/10/21 - Thanks, Kaden!

Dragonscale Bow is amazing and I would use the #### out of it.

"I'm the Asian Jeff Gordon" looks a little weird. If she's off the board as a pilot, her being able to use Sidestep becomes meaningless. Especially since she already has it through her dial. I get that you were trying to have her grant the power to the vehicle she's piloting, but that's not what the wording conveys.

"I'm the Asian Jeff Gordon": When Katy pilots a vehicle, the vehicle can use Sidestep. If the vehicle can already use Sidestep, it may use sidestep an additional time as FREE.

That is probably a bit closer to what you may have been going for. WHat do you think?

Many thanks, Kaden! Glad that the bow looks fun!

I deeply appreciate your note! I've updated the dial and sent you some rep! Big thanks!

I enjoyed the film overall. I love the dials so far. You can maybe give Xu Wenwu a generate minion ability similar to what we’ve been seeing lately between R&F and Empyre, as part of his Leadership/Mastermind ability.

Many thanks for the praise and feedback, friend! I honestly struggled with all this movie's dials. While the martial arts seemed easy to differentiate and lock down, all the mystical/fantasy stuff challenged dial flow and brevity. Truly glad you're digging them!

That's also a fantastic note about Wenwu! I've updated the dial and sent you rep! Big thanks again!

Thanks! I noticed, are you making death fewer virtually the same/part of the assassins dial? Shouldnt he have his own unique sculpt and dial as he was a high ranking member? He could even be like a “prime” version

Yeah, I figured combining them made the most sense. Outside of Death Dealer's exploding dart and brief fight with Shang-Chi, I didn't see much that was special about them (you'll see my rant when I post the dial). I split the dial so it's either a Ten Rings Assassin or Death Dealer, and I figure there'd be a duo sculpt, so it'd function something like asm044 Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. Hopefully it'll make more sense when the dial's up!

This is great! I love the bo staff, the high values, and the quick punching abilities. They feel really accurate to his fighting style and the character. My only additions would be to add precision strike to Rapid Punches and remove the Ten Rings from Light and Dark and add an equip of the ten rings to his "Master of The Ten Rings" ability. Something like:
When this click is first revealed, unequip and KO any objects equipped to Shang Chi and equip Shang Chi with the 043b Ten Rings from outside the game.
This would allow him to start with the bo staff and then switch into the Rings like how he did in the film. If you think that is too powerful, you could score the ten rings when equipped.

Thanks, friend! Giad to hear this all sounds like it kicks ass!

I definitely appreciate the note, and believe me, I considered those. I held off on Precision Strike because his AV is so high, especially with Close Combat Expert. Basically a balancing decision to prevent his base form from being too powerful. Haha he's already a lot for 55 points!

The Ten Rings was the biggest hurtle of the film, as its powers felt do-everything vague to me and separate from the characters' individual styles. I wound up giving latter-dial Shang-Chi an approximate as if he could use the rings without equipping them -much like many Asgardian pieces not needing their weapon Objects- as some of their usage is character-dependent. I also wanted to keep the option to use or not use whichever Object, just because a player might not want to switch or even use the objects (haha I myself probably would not, but I'm a pretty simple player).

I also didn't want to risk overcomplicating this dial more than I already have. I think it's streamlined in practice, but on the page, it's on the line for what it needs to be. In truth, I probably should've made two dials with an promotion mechanic, just so it wouldn't have to be so much in one place.

Again, I definitely appreciate the note and I value the insight, but I think I'm going to hold off for now.

Damn, I was excited to see the fighting arena, and the early shots of it in the film were promising. Mixed disciplines going at it! Sumos vs. ninjas! Judo vs. karate! Black Widows vs. Extremis Soldiers! The Abomination vs. Wong! Holy crap, let’s gooooooooooooooooooooooo!

…except it’s all just set-dressing. We barely spend any time in the arena; we don’t see it made into a competition like ENTER THE DRAGON, BLOOD SPORT, or MORTAL KOMBAT; and we don’t see much more of the Wong/Abomination fight than we did in the trailer. Their fight is such a blip in the film that I didn’t see the point of dialing them --there wasn’t enough information. And this was the moment I was the most excited to see!

At first, I liked Xialing, who felt like a darker version of Shang-Chi -the person he’d be if he hadn’t gone AWOL… but after Wenwu “rescues” them from his assassins, she loses much of her personality and purpose in the film. Oh, she fights well enough -the movie gives everyone stuff to do in the 3rd act, all to keep the wheels turning while Shang-Chi does the actual plot stuff- but like Shang-Chi, I can’t say much about her personality or goals.

In fact, she’s so blank, that I genuinely don’t know how to read the post-credits. Am I supposed to be happy that she’s a badass girlboss bringing egalitarianism to a terrorist organization? Or am I supposed to be scared at what hell she’ll wreak over the face of the globe? It’s unclear, and it shouldn’t be.



#046 Xu Xialing
Team: Underworld
Range: 0
Points: 50
Keywords: Ten Rings, Ta Lo, Martial Artist, Underworld, Ruler

9 11 19 3

9 11 18 3

9 11 19 3

8 11 18 3

8 12 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

MMA & Tai Chi Master: When an adjacent opposing character misses Xu Xialing with an attack, deal them 1 Action Token.
Rope Dart Master: Xialing may begin the game with #046b Dragonscale Rope Dart equipped at its point value.

#046b Dragonscale Rope Dart
Light Object
Points: 10
Equip: Any
Unequip: Drop. KO.
Effect: Giant Reach: 3 & Exploit Weakness. Xu Xialing may place a hit character adjacent to her. Damage dealt to characters with the Mystical or Monster keywords from this attack cannot be reduced.

UPDATED 09/13/21 - Thanks, Pokolo!

Why not make the rope dart another equip item? Just curious