Warning: SPOILERS ahead for WandaVision episode 6!

Thor movies. Kat Dennings reprised her role as Darcy for the Disney+ series after a long absence in the MCU. Originally introduced as Jane Foster's (Natalie Portman) assistant, the character has transformed into a fan-favorite with her expanded presence in WandaVision. That said, the show couldn't shy away from targeting the past criticisms surrounding Darcy.

Darcy made her MCU in 2011's Thor as part of the research team that first encountered the God of Thunder when he was exiled to Earth. At the time, she was an intern earning college credits as a political science major. After assisting Thor (Chris Hemsworth) during his first trip to Earth, Darcy reunited with the Asgardian native in Darcy primarily served as the comic relief within the ing characters. While she was involved in the otherworldly threats targeting her home planet, Darcy was never fully utilized as a dynamic character.

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Thankfully, WandaVision has put more effort into Dennings' MCU role, adding substance to Darcy while evolving her into an astrophysicist enlisted by S.W.O.R.D. to investigate Westview. Darcy still has her quick wit and snarky comments, but she also emerged as one of the team's most vital with her discoveries. By allying with S.W.O.R.D.'s Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), Darcy has been able to fill in many pieces to the Westview puzzle. That didn't stop S.W.O.R.D.'s director, Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg), from referring to Darcy as the stereotypical "sassy friend" when banishing the trio from the base in episode 6. The reductive comment not only cemented Hayward's ignorance but also played into the flaws with Darcy's past MCU appearances.

Darcy's Thor Arc Falls Into A Common Trope

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis in the MCU

For much of her arc in the first two solo Thor movies, Darcy fell into the sassy sidekick trope that often plagues female ing characters. In her case, Darcy was the smart-mouthed friend and assistant to Jane, with not much to add to the plot. Interestingly, Dennings starred in the sitcom 2 Broke Girls as a snarky figure with a lot of sass during her initial tenure with the MCU. It's possible the actress fell into a typecast situation until WandaVision decided to finally give Darcy appropriate character development.

The criticism surrounding Darcy was clearly on the mind of the WandaVision team. By turning her into a notable astrophysicist with a lead role in the mystery focused on Wanda's (Elizabeth Olsen) sitcom-filled world, Darcy has shed the sassy sidekick trope. The character is now integral to not only WandaVision's plot but also to the future of the MCU. Dennings could potentially pop up anywhere now that her character is a fan-favorite. She may never stop being the comic relief, nor will Darcy ever be able to hide from her sideline arc in the Thor movies, but it's a good sign Dennings is getting her due in the MCU.

More: WandaVision Episode 6 Breaks The Show's Timeline Rule

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