It seems the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to keep on expanding forever as they continue to find success, this time with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The film follows the titular character as his past catches up to him and he is forced to confront his immortal father, the "real" Mandarin and wielder of the Ten Rings.
One of the films' greatest strengths is the stellar cast that plays the many brilliant characters that appear in the film, from Asian acting superstars like Michelle Yeoh's Jiang Nan and Tony Leung's Wenwu to rising young talents like Simu Liu's Shang-Chi and Awkwafina's Katy. Combined with a heartfelt story, these actors bring authenticity to characters who can easily become mainstays in the MCU.
10 Shang-Chi Quickly Finds A Fanboy In Jon Jon
After a phenomenally choreographed martial arts fight sequence on a San Francisco articulated bus, Shang-Chi finds himself rushing to the neon-lit metropolis of Macau to warn his sister Xialing that the Ten Rings are after their pendants. Determined to not let her long-time friend take on this dangerous task alone, Katy chooses to go with the future Avenger.
When the two arrive in the address Shang-Chi has, they're shuffled into a rather precarious elevator with a man named Jon Jon, who quickly reveals he's a fan of Shang-Chi's, having seen footage of the San Francisco fight. Jon Jon agrees to help Shang-Chi find his sister if the superhero will participate in a fighting tournament match.
9 The Chens Stress The Familial Bonds Of Asian Culture
Early in the film, Shang-Chi—going by the alias "Shaun"—drops by Katy's house to pick her up for work. Although brief, the scene gives audiences a glimpse into the dynamics of the Chen family, with Mrs. Chen admonishing the young adults for not finding "proper" jobs and Waipo Chen asking when Shaun and Katy are going to "get married."
Given the increasingly hyper-competitive environments Asian children grow up in that often straitjacket them into certain careers and relationships, the idea of being able to choose what to do with one's life can often feel liberating and overwhelming. Shang-Chi and Katy actually go as far as discussing these notions of freedom after a late karaoke night.
8 Trevor Slattery Finds Redemption With Morris
If there's one thing fans universally panned about Shane Black's Iron Man 3, it would have to be the controversial twist that revealed Trevor Slattery's Mandarin to be a front put on by Aldrich Killian and A.I.M. However, Marvel Studios would retcon this with the 2014 short "All Hail the King" which saw the Ten Rings break Slattery out of prison on Wenwu's orders.
While the Mandarin was unnamed at the time, Slattery eventually made a rather humorous return in Shang-Chi alongside the Dijiang Morris from Ta Lo. By the time Shang-Chi, Katy, and Xialing encounter Slattery and Morris in Wenwu's compound, the two have already formed a kinship that serves as one of the film's most endearing friendships.
7 Razor Fist Is A Villain Who Knows His Limits
The Romanian Razor Fist first appears as a formidable antagonist that Shang-Chi must fight on the San Francisco bus. Despite his brutality, he is ultimately successful in retrieving Shang-Chi's Eye of the Dragon that Wenwu needed to gain entry into Ta Lo, suggesting that the Ten Rings thug was more than just a one-off villain (like Death Dealer was).
Razor Fist appears alongside the Ten Rings in Ta Lo and initially fights against the villagers as Wenwu tries to unknowingly free the Dweller-in-Darkness. After witnessing a Soul Eater kill Death Dealer (and nearly being killed himself), the high-ranking assassin wisely called for the Ten Rings to join forces with the people of Ta Lo to stop the Soul Eaters.
6 Jiang Nan Teaches Shang-Chi To Embrace His Roots
Played by the legendary Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, Jiang Nan is the sister of the late Jiang Li and aunt to Shang-Chi and Xialing. When Shang-Chi and his allies arrive in Ta Lo, the guardian is the one to quell the villagers' initial hostilities towards the outsiders and welcome the group in.
Determined to learn about how Li once bested Wenwu in battle, Shang-Chi asks Jiang Nan to teach him about the powers of Ta Lo. After quickly defeating the young martial artist, Nan explains to Shang-Chi that he must embrace both his mother's and father's legacy, and teases the larger world of Ta Lo that promises to be explored in sequels.
5 Even In Death Jiang Li Profoundly Impacts The Story
By the time the current events of Shang-Chi unfold, one key character has already passed: Jiang Li, Shang-Chi, and Xialing's mother. Killed by the Iron Gang—one of Wenwu's rivals—Li is the driving force for Wenwu's motives in the story, who is guided by the false promise that freeing the Dweller-in-Darkness will bring Li back to life.
Likewise, both of Li's children—Shang-Chi and Xialing—are guided in a similar way by their mother. Before passing, Li gifted both of them Ta Lo keepsakes in the form of the Eyes of the Dragon with the hopes that they would one day get the chance to gaze upon their ancestral home.
4 There's A Bonafide Fighter To Be Found In Xialing
If there is an underrated character in Shang-Chi, it is undoubtedly Shang-Chi's sister Xialing. The Golden Daggers Club founder made a stellar entrance in her arena fight with Shang-Chi, where she proceeded to give her brother a well-deserved beatdown after he abandoned her to the ruthless machinations of their father.
Unfortunately, Xialing is relegated to a background role for the remainder of the film. She does get a chance to shine during the battle in Ta Lo where she shows off her skill with the Rope Dart. Yet one of the most exciting things about Xialing is how her future is teased by her decision to assume her father's mantle as leader of the Ten Rings.
3 Shang-Chi Has A Real Steadfast Friend In Katy
Katy Chen is the epitome of a loyal, dedicated friend, toughing it through thick and thin to aid her friend Shang-Chi as he confronts his immortal father. Katy first meets Shang-Chi when he is confronted by a high school bully after moving to the U.S. Before a fight breaks out, Katy intervenes by getting in the bully's face and belting out the lyrics to "Hotel California."
Among the characters in Shang-Chi, Katy has the most reason to stand out, being an original character unfamiliar with the world Shang-Chi is deeply embroiled in. Yet Awkwafina turns in a wonderful performance that carefully balances the humor that is an MCU staple with a sobriety that allows the movie breathing space in its more serious moments.
2 Shang-Chi Is The MCU's First Asian Superhero
Of course, it's impossible to talk about Shang-Chi without discussing the titular character himself. Despite having his origins significantly changed, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi very much captures the spirit of the character as a martial artist, so much so that critics have likened the film to other famous martial arts films like the 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Perhaps even more important, though, is the visible effort to diversify racial representation in the MCU. Similar to how the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa was the first Black superhero to have his own solo film with Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, Liu's Shang-Chi is the first Asian superhero to debut in his own solo film.
1 Marvel Does The Mandarin Justice With Wenwu
Shang-Chi's biggest obstacle was always going to be portraying the Mandarin. Fortunately, no one was more qualified to do that than the esteemed Tony Leung, one of Asia's most prolific actors. In preparing for the role, Leung explained that he didn't approach the character as a villain, but instead focused on emphasizing what shaped Wenwu into the man he became.
Not only does Leung's fantastic portrayal of the iconic villain defy the narrative troubles that often plague the MCU's antagonists, but both he and film director Destin Daniel Cretton manage to circumnavigate the problematic racial connotations that surround both Fu Manchu and the Mandarin in the comics.