Marvel Studios

There is a post-credits scene. (Just one, after the pretty credits.)

Assorted musings:

1. Did anybody else think that before you could see his face, Mephisto initially sounded like Benedict Cumberbatch? For a second I genuinely thought it really was gonna be Dormammu and not Mephisto. And given that in the next scene he appeared in and thereafter, he ditched the American accent, I'm pretty sure the fake-out was intentional.

2. Speaking of Dormammu: by summoning Dormammu's power to Earth, Zelma totally just nulled and voided Dr Strange's bargain with Dormammu, didn't she? Dormammu can now argue that he was not the one who first violated the terms of the agreement; that it was an Earthling. I wonder if that'll end up being the reason Clea has to come looking for Strange's help in MoM's post-credits scene... after all, we have no specific timeframe for that scene.

3. It seems to me that Riri basically just cribbed (and improved) BARF. Brain-scanning tech that creates a virtual reproduction of dead loved ones for a little *cough* therapy session? That's literally what Tony demoed when unveiling the September Grant for MIT students. Riri improved on it because now the virtual loved one can think autonomously, and the simulation only needs a single projector built into the armor rather than multiple projectors from a swarm of drones. Riri really went all-in on the whole "if I take something Iron Man did and do it better, people will take me seriously" thing.

4. I'm glad they had Riri actually take the deal with Mephisto, as she's far more interesting as a morally compromised antihero, as the show's been portraying her all along. She has that in common with Strange, I guess! Magic really does seem to corrupt or harm almost everyone who's used it so far: Agatha, Wanda, Billy, Strange, Mordo, Riri, Parker, even the Ancient One a little... even most of Agatha's coven got sacrificed. Donnie Blaise opened a portal to a hell dimension! And Zelma seems likely to be helping Parker soon. So far, only Wong, Jennifer Kale and Ned Leeds have really escaped any noticeable consequences, and if the comics are anything to go by, then being a magic user bodes ill for Ned... satanic panic is real, kids! Magic: not even once!

5. I wonder if Mephisto had anything to do with the generational curse placed on Alice's family.

6. This is really just more of the "Ironheart cribs a lot from BARF" point, but "planned contingency protocol to fake a defeat so you can sneak up on your opponent" is straight from the Mysterio playbook.

7. Why are they talking about Riri being a once-in-a-generation genius when Riri knows full well what Shuri's capable of?

8. Do we think Riri ACTUALLY brought Natalie back from the dead, or is this more like a Scarlet Witch dealio in which she's actually just stolen a variant of Natalie from another timeline?

9. Why on earth did Zeke go back to his house almost immediately after a prison break? Is he stupid? I mean I know he had his bionics and probably felt untouchable, but even still.

10. So after people were complaining that the Multiverse Saga hasn't done enough to make everything feel connected, this show is continuing story threads from:

    • Iron Man (Stane family legacy)

    • Civil War (BARF, MIT, the September Grant and the Stark Legacy)

    • Doctor Strange (Dormammu)

    • Wakanda Forever (obviously)

    • Agatha All Along (Mephisto)

I was thinking like “damn Riri really lost 4 suits in these 6 episode and a movie? That must be a record”. That twist at the end was great.

That was excellent. Also...

Mephisto

Wanda didn't meet him, but Riri did.

If the Marvel films aren't going to reference the TV shows (much) then Mephisto and magic can be our TV villain, our TV BBEG.

Also I'm so glad The Hood (or I guess just Parker) gets to stick around. I'm always bummed when a villain is one and done. I get it practically speaking, but a few should survive and I think he'll be a fun choice.