Marvel's 616 Season 1 Episode 5 Suit Up!

In the fifth episode of Marvel's 616, titled "Suit Up!", the focus is on the iconic costumes that have played a major role in many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movies. The episode explores how Marvel's costume designers work tirelessly to bring these larger-than-life characters to life on the big screen.

The episode begins by showing how Marvel's costume designers start their work by poring over comic book panels, sketching out designs, and creating 3D models of the outfits. The designers talk about how they try to stay true to the source material while also making tweaks to make the design work better on celluloid.

We get a glimpse into the costume department of Marvel, where each outfit has a story behind it, and the designers combat unique obstacles while creating it. We see a tension building between the costume designers of the TV division and the films, and how both the teams get inspirations from different sources. The episode also explores the importance of getting feedback from actors and directors while designing their suits.

The episode also touches on the controversies surrounding some of Marvel's most iconic costumes. For example, we hear about how Captain America's suit went through many changes over the years. At first, the design featured a flag design, but Marvel eventually settled on a more traditional superhero outfit, which has since become iconic.

We also see how the costumes of female characters like Black Widow and Scarlet Witch have evolved over time, with the designers themselves conceding that the earlier costumes were "not the most tactful". However, they acknowledge that the new suits have a greater sense of empowerment.

The episode features interviews with some of Marvel's biggest names, including Stan Lee himself, who talks about creating the iconic Spider-Man suit. We also hear from the costume designers who worked on the first Iron Man movie, explaining how designing the suit from scratch was one of the biggest challenges they ever faced.

It's a treat to listen to the anecdotes of how some of the big-screen costumes were created. For example, we hear how Robert Downey Jr himself helped innovate the Iron Man suit, specifically the gauntlets. We hear how Karen Gillan, the actress who plays Nebula, had to endure 5 hours of make-up and costume fittings every day to bring the character to life.

The episode also explores how Marvel's costume designers make practical considerations when designing costumes for the movies. For example, they talk about how the Iron Man suit has to be comfortable enough for the actor to wear and how they use specially designed fabrics to make the costume more functional.

At various points in the episode, we see glimpses of the making of pivotal costumes like Thanos, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Iron Man and the coming together of epic moments from the MCU timeline.

In conclusion, "Suit Up!" is a fascinating insight into the world of Marvel movie costume design. It gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at how some of their favourite superhero costumes were created, from initial sketches to full-fledged suits. The episode beautifully showcases the artistry, craftsmanship, and creativity that go into creating iconic superhero outfits, providing viewers with yet another reason to love the MCU.