Marvel Studios' upcoming film, Eternals, will peel the layers back on the early years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the main characters living on Earth for centuries, the film will take a look at how they've protected and influenced humanity. It will also focus on their relationships and how close they've gotten to one another since they arrived on Earth. But with love in the air, it's hard not to wonder how Eternals will handle being the MCU's first film to include a love triangle.
A love triangle is a trope that is more commonly seen in television where two people are vying for the affection of a third person. The person they are in love with often shares feelings with both parties, making it difficult to decide who to be with. In films, these situations don't often work as well because they don't have multiple episodes to nurture the relationships and make each interaction feel more organic. This is most likely why the MCU hasn't explored them. That being said, the narrative of Eternals could help in that department, as there are centuries of history to fill the gaps.
At the beginning of the movie, Sersi (Gemma Chan) and Ikaris (Richard Madden) are an item and care deeply for one another. But where Ikaris loves the people and acts as a soldier, defending them, Sersi cares for them on a more empathetic level. At some point, the couple goes their separate ways. The MCU is also set to explore Sersi's relationship with Dane Whitman (Kit Harrington), aka the Black Knight, from the comics. As of now, both he and Ikaris seem largely separated with Sersi in the middle, but as the latter brings his allies together again, old feelings may resurface.
The problem, of course, is not knowing if this strategy will pay off for the film or if the love triangle will just detract from the larger plot. Fortunately, Eternals has history on its side. With 7,000 years' worth of stories to tell, the film could show the highs and lows of Ikaris and Sersi's relationship. This is similar to how Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sprinkled in Shang-Chi's history with his father through flashbacks. Their past could serve as context to Sersi and Dane's relationship without making it feel like they're competing for her. By the time Ikaris shows up in the present, the entire struggle could be seen through Sersi, who loves them both but can't choose one.
However, it's equally possible that Eternals will avoid a love triangle altogether, and Dane will only exist as a way to nod to their relationship before sending him on his own journey. If that's the case, it could allow the film to explore Sersi and Ikaris' romance as it's rekindled. Realistically, this makes the most sense since Sersi is practically immortal and Dane is just human, meaning he will live for only a moment compared to her and her fellow Eternals.
With thousands of years of history between them, the Eternals' first live-action outing is sure to be filled with love and heartache. Not to mention, the inclusion of Dane Whitman's relationship with Sersi raises the odds of seeing a full-fledged love triangle in the MCU. Thankfully, Eternals' story looks to give enough opportunity to make the dynamic work in ways that could prove the trope can be as effective in movies as it is on television.
To see this love triangle plays out, check out Eternals, opening exclusively in theaters on Nov. 5.
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