Captain America’s storyline came to an end during Avengers: Endgame. While some fans have accepted this finale for Cap, other fans are quite upset.
Warning: Avengers: Endgame spoilers below.
Critics and audiences alike might be content overall with Avengers: Endgame and how it wrapped up the stories of many of the original six Avengers, but there’s one character ending that some fans are particularly upset about.
In the last five minutes or so of the movie, we finally learn what happens to Captain America after months and months (and months) of speculation as to whether he’d live or die. Once Thanos is finally defeated (RIP Tony Stark), Steve is tasked with going back in time to replace the Infinity Stones. Instead of returning back right away, Steve decides to stay back and live out a life with Peggy Carter.
While some fans saw this as Steve Rogers finally getting a happily ever after, others (including myself) were confused about this choice and disappointed. One big complaint fans have is that this ending seems to break the rules of time travel set up in the film. Many people still aren’t sure how exactly this would work, but some are theorizing that it means there were two Captain Americas living in the same timeline at once.
But, beyond the confusing mechanics of time travel, what many fans are really upset about is that the ending seems very out of character for Steve Rogers and how it doesn’t offer a satisfying conclusion to his story. A hashtag on Twitter, #notmysteve, even started as a way for fans to discuss their frustration with this ending.
There are three main reasons why this ending doesn’t make sense for the Captain America character as he has been built up in the MCU.
Steve and Bucky’s relationship is ignored
It’s no secret that Steve/Bucky is a huge Marvel ship, and many fans have read that relationship as romantic. However, even looking at the canon relationship where the two are best friends, Steve’s affection for Bucky was a huge part of his character arc in the Captain America trilogy. Both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War place Bucky as a big motivator for Steve’s choices. Steve continually puts his life and even other friends on the line to save Bucky.
While it was very unlikely that Marvel would ever make the pair a romantic couple, the fact is that all of Cap’s movies were highly focused on this relationship. It seems very strange that they didn’t give these two more resolution. The last interactions between the two on screen were very strange. It seems out of character that after two movies of trying to keep Bucky safe that Steve wouldn’t’ stick around at all to be there for him.
Even with the ending scene aside, the movie seemed to try really hard to make viewers forget about Steve and Bucky’s friendship. Steve never once mentions the fact that he lost Bucky in the snap, which makes little sense as losing Bucky once again would likely be traumatic. While maybe not intentional, many fans can’t help but feel that the ending tried very hard to ensure fans could no longer read a romantic relationship between the pair.
Peggy Carter’s significance is lessened
One of the other aspects about Captain America’s ending that has fans upset is how this decision impacts Peggy Carter herself. In the MCU, it’s always been referenced that Peggy had a husband and children. In The Winter Soldier, we even learn that during World War II Steve saved the man who would become her husband. A growing fan theory: Was Steve her husband all along?
The answer to this question depends on when Steve returns to live his life with Peggy. If he is in the same timeline, which seems the most likely, the fact there were always two Steves around seems like a big plot hole. It also seems to go back on what was already established in canon. In the television series Agent Carter, we see Peggy Carter meet Daniel Sousa, the man who she later married. Having Steve go back to marry Peggy is a strange retcon of these canon facts.
The other concerning thing about Peggy and this choice is it doesn’t seem to give her a lot of agency. Did Steve go back and take the place of her original husband? If she was with someone else, would she have left him that quickly for Steve?
There are many unanswered questions here. Overall, how Peggy is shown in Endgame is strange. We see Captain America stare at her through blinds during the time heist. Then, we also see her and Steve dancing together at the end of the film. She never actually gets to speak or have much of a role. It seems like Marvel should have given her a bigger part if this is how they planned to end their stories.
In the end, Steve’s ending is just out of character
The last issue many fans are having with this ending is that it overall just seems out of character. Even putting romantic relationships and shipping aside, it seemed like an abrupt ending that didn’t quite fit with the narrative that has been established for Captain America over many years in the MCU.
Steve Rogers is known for never giving up, for making the sacrifice play, for “I can do this all day.” Of course, he’s been through a lot and definitely deserves a rest, but it seems strange to think he could just live a life of rest and relaxation. If he went back in the past and knew he could prevent bad things from happening, it doesn’t seem like he’s the type of guy who could just stand back and do nothing, especially not for decades.
Having Steve leave the present to go to the past also makes him come off as selfish and cowardly. Steve Rogers has found friends and family again since coming out of the ice. He has Bucky again, but he also has Sam Wilson who’s become one of the most important people in his life. He leaves behind the only family and friends he’s ever really known since the ‘40s— Bucky, Sam, as well as Rhodes, T’Challa, Wanda, and all of the Avengers who are left.
Steve seems like the type of person who would stick around to help rebuild the world and see his friends heal and recover. Found families are important, and seeing Steve learn to heal from his traumas and move on in 2023 would be more impactful. Having him go back in time feels like a cop-out, and it doesn’t feel true to character.
While we do witness two people reconnect, two people who never thought they would get to do so, it’s bittersweet because Peggy wasn’t the only special person in Steve Roger’s life.
Overall, the ending to Captain America’s story in the MCU left many fans with a bad taste in their mouth. Hopefully, in future properties, more specific details about this choice will be revealed.
What did you think of Steve Rogers’ choices in Avengers: Endgame? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.