“Deadpool and Wolverine,” like many post-2019 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, is brimming with content. It’s not merely a buddy-cop movie but spans multiple universes, giving a grand farewell to numerous Fox/Marvel characters. This results in a mixed audience reception—some might leave feeling overwhelmed, while others might be exhilarated by the sheer spectacle. There’s plenty of superhero action to enjoy, but the frenetic pace and packed narrative can obscure some script flaws. It’s only after the credits roll that certain logical inconsistencies become apparent.
As “Deadpool and Wolverine” attempts to weave together numerous comic book movie continuities with generous fan service, the screenplay struggles to maintain internal logic. This leads to parts of the film that don’t make sense, such as the unexplained revival of familiar characters. Other perplexing moments include the absence of key figures from previous “Deadpool” movies and unresolved plot threads.
Here are some of the 3 most baffling aspects of “Deadpool and Wolverine,” including Easter eggs that might confuse rather than delight eagle-eyed MCU fans.
Cable’s Absence is Never Addressed
During an opening job interview with Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) mentions his experience leading the superhero group X-Force, noting that they’re all dead. He also references Cable (Josh Brolin), the time-traveling mercenary from “Deadpool 2,” who survived that film and even walked with Deadpool’s team in the final scene. Wade’s comment about Cable being dead is puzzling, especially since even Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), who died in “Deadpool 2,” is shown alive in this film. The absence of Cable, coupled with a vague explanation, raises questions. Perhaps Marvel Studios didn’t want another Josh Brolin character in the MCU post-Thanos, or it could be another sarcastic Deadpool quip. Regardless, the lack of clarity about Cable’s fate is perplexing.
Captain America’s Proto-Shield Survives
As Wade’s job interview concludes, Happy Hogan highlights the qualities that make the Avengers iconic, showing relics from early MCU adventures, including the arc reactor from “Iron Man” and Captain America’s shield prototype from “Iron Man 2.” The presence of this shield in Hogan’s office is odd since the last time it was seen, it was in Tony Stark’s garage, which was destroyed in “Iron Man 3.” Tony never retrieved the shield, so its appearance in Hogan’s office is strange and seemingly forgetful of past events.
Deadpool’s Easy Timeline Hopping
A fan-service-heavy sequence shows Deadpool hopping between dimensions, encountering various versions of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), including one with a costume from his first comics appearance. Surprisingly, Deadpool faces no challenges from the Time Variance Authority (TVA), despite being on their bad side after killing many agents. This diminishes the TVA’s menacing power, as Deadpool traverses timelines effortlessly, weakening the consistency of antagonistic tension and highlighting the film’s prioritization of fan service over narrative coherence.
Cassandra Nova’s Power Level Fluctuates
The film’s main villain, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), has inconsistent power levels. Initially, she is shown as a powerful psychic, capable of controlling every fiber of Wolverine’s body. However, her abilities fluctuate depending on the scene’s requirements, leading to moments where she inexplicably fails to use her powers effectively against Deadpool and Wolverine. Emma Corrin’s performance helps mitigate this inconsistency, but it underscores the challenges of writing for an overpowered antagonist.
