A Year Later and I’m Still Disappointed with Avengers: Endgame

As a dedicated Marvel fan, I feel the franchise deserved a better ending than Avengers: Endgame.

BY: CLAUDIA MINARDI

Art by BossLogic via Twitter

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been an ongoing project since the first Iron Man movie in 2008. 11 years later, in May of 2019, the series came to a close with the widely anticipated Avengers: Endgame hitting cinemas. The film followed the superhero team where they left off in the third Avengers movie, as they consult time travel as a way to finally stop the power-hungry titan, Thanos.

I’ve been a Marvel fan ever since I was a kid. I saw all the Avengers films in the theatre and they hold a special place in my heart. I, along with many other fans, had been waiting years for the final installment to be released. However, the fateful day I went to see the movie, I left the room feeling weirdly underwhelmed. 

The film was packed with fight scenes, multiple character deaths, and funny jokes wedged between serious moments. I practically got emotional whiplash watching it. 

I think there was tremendous pressure to create a satisfying culmination to the multibillion-dollar series. There was over 10 years of material to cover and hundreds of characters to give screen time. It was a chance to give a final farewell to the franchise people of all ages have fallen in love with.

Yet, I can’t help but feel, more than a year later, that the film simply falls short. Of course, I could give an entire list of the things I disliked, but I think the focus is: whether or not the movie was a justified ending to the MCU. 

Avengers official concept art by Andy Park via Concept Art World

In my personal opinion, the point of the film was to tie up everyone’s stories and tell one last chapter of Earth’s mightiest heroes. The intentions were there, I just feel the execution was flawed.

I want to preface this with a quick warning that there are spoilers in this article. If you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame and want to avoid spoilers (which, I mean, the movie came out over a year ago) then don’t read ahead. Otherwise, let’s dive into this.

The main problem with the movie is the endings many of the characters got. I’m not complaining about Ironman dying. In fact, I feel his death was justified: the franchise started with him and in the same way, it ended with him. 

Various other members, those whose journeys finished with Endgame, were cheated of a satisfying arc that was true to their character development throughout the franchise. 

I was extremely upset with Black Widow’s arc. She made the sacrifice of giving up her life so that the rest of the team could succeed. She had a bittersweet yet necessary ending. However, her death was barely commemorated, and by the end of the film, the characters were too busy grieving over Ironman to pay homage to their other fallen teammate. 

She died early on in the plot and didn’t get to participate in the final battle. I feel Black Widow, as an original Avenger and loyal, strong, female character didn’t get a justified arc to end her chapter. 

Avengers official concept art by Andy Park via Concept Art World

Another character whose actions seemed unjustified and made the movie feel flat was Captain America. Steve Rogers’ essence was his selflessness and his leadership. However, in this movie, his character arc concluded with him returning to rekindle his love with Peggy Carter from the 1940s. 

With this ending, Captain America reverses all of the character development he’s achieved throughout the franchise. We saw him lead the Avengers, become an outlaw for the sake of his team, and restore humanity’s faith in the world. Along the way, he accepted that he and Peggy would never have a relationship, and although he grieved when she died, he eventually found it within himself to move on. 

His decision to go back and live a life with Peggy reverses his emotional achievements and reveals a (dare I say) selfish side of Steve. This is the same man who insisted on becoming a soldier so that he could serve his people, despite how he was routinely rejected. It was out of character for him to live in the past and leave the world he loves so much unprotected. 

Avengers official concept art by Chris Kesler via Concept Art World

Do we even know the fate of Hulk’s character? Banner merged with Hulk to permanently create a “Professor Hulk” persona: Hulk’s appearance with Banner’s intellect, speech, and fashion sense. Even though he was able to crack the code to time travel, a pivotal point in the movie’s plot, Professor Hulk shows an aversion to fighting, which was a disadvantage when the team went up against Thanos.

The film never hints to the Hulk’s future. In fact, director Joe Russo states, “I have no idea where that character goes from here." The Hulk, who is an important team member and original Avenger, doesn’t even have their arc fully formed.

Although I personally feel this movie failed to give the most important characters justified endings, does it really matter? In fact, does anything that happens in Endgame matter, in terms of the future of the MCU? 

It doesn’t to a certain extent.

Endgame was astronomically hyped, however, it’s not the end. We still have a Black Widow origin film, a third Spiderman movie, a sequel to Captain Marvel and Black Panther, and at least three new spin-off shows that, for the most part, continue where Endgame left off. 

Avengers official concept art by Andy Park via Concept Art World

I’m curious as to why there was so much importance placed on having an action and character packed final movie, when in fact, it’s nothing more than a stepping stone to the upcoming projects. I feel the only plot points that Endgame solidified were Tony Stark’s death and Thanos’ defeat, two things that were crucial and bound to happen. 

With this being said, I don’t think Endgame is a terrible movie. I don’t think it was the best MCU film, but at the same time, taste is subjective. It was a thrilling experience when I watched it in the theatre. During the part where Captain America wields Thor’s hammer Mjinor, everyone jumped up from their seats and cheered. 

Even if I wasn’t exactly fond of the direction the movie went, seeing it in the theatre with many others who had waited for this final installment was unforgettable.