It easily could've started earlier. But the demarcation line of 9/11/2001 is a pretty stark one, kinda hard to miss. Call it the catalyst that forced everything to be darker & grittier?

I'm not so sure actually. Perhaps plenty of people get fed up with real world darker and grittier and wanted their fiction to be more uplifting?

I guess all I can say is that is my perspective having lived through it. If I understand you correctly, you’re saying we’re starting to come out of this? I would agree completely with that.

I think many of us that can see the trend are very very tired of it. Hell I keep watching 4K77 because that movie gives me hope in a way that no other media does. I am certainly a product of my generation :)