5 MCU Characters With Perfect Endings & 5 Who Deserved Better

5 MCU Characters With Perfect Endings & 5 Who Deserved Better

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen many characters’ stories come to an end, and while some have been perfect, others have been far less satisfying. The movies of the MCU have been adapting the characters and stories of Marvel Comics into live-action since 2008, with countless narratives having unfolded within the franchise over the years. This has seen a number of significant character arcs take place, with key moments of development and emotional payoffs marking memorable points in the franchise’s timeline.

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Though some of the character endings in the movies and TV shows of the MCU have been perfect, others have not. It would seem that for every satisfying conclusion that a character’s story comes to, there’s another that is somewhat disappointing, leading to a mixed overall feeling. The MCU’s formula for narrative success isn’t entirely foolproof, it seems, and so here are 5 MCU characters with perfect endings as well as 5 who deserved much better.

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10

Perfect: Thanos

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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As one of the biggest and most powerful villains in the MCU’s movie timeline, Thanos has earned a special place in the franchise’s mythos. His role in the Infinity Saga saw him decimate the ranks of the Avengers, and forced multiple major battles that served as memorable and emotionally powerful scenes in the franchise’s history. Considering the importance of Thanos to the wider MCU, getting his ending just right was absolutely imperative for the narrative integrity of the Infinity Saga’s own ending.

Fortunately, the MCU’s handling of Thanos’s franchise exit was absolutely perfect. Seeing him finally vanquished by the combined might of the MCU’s heroes was a moment of incredible triumph, and it also afforded the MCU an opportunity to deliver an emotionally gut-wrenching flourish to the Infinity Saga in its final hour. Seeing Thanos crumble into dust in the same manner as the Avengers he defeated was bittersweet, but it was a perfect ending to the villain’s story.

9

Deserved Better: Gamora

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

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Unlike her adoptive father, Gamora’s ending was surprisingly disappointing in the MCU. After being unceremoniously killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War as a sacrifice to allow him to obtain the Soul Stone, Gamora returned via time travel from the past in Avengers: Endgame. This saw her MCU story continue in a sense, and she was included in the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in order to further explore the unorthodox way in which she was revived.

The movie saw Gamora gradually soften toward her one-time teammates, though she ultimately chose to leave them behind and journey with the Ravagers instead. Considering the MCU’s first Guardians team then disbanded, it would seem that Gamora’s story as part of the team is over. Though she may yet return in the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 seemed to bring her story to something of an end, albeit an incredibly disappointing one that failed to do the character justice.

8

Perfect: Aunt May

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

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Spider-Man: No Way Home brought Spider-Man’s first MCU trilogy of movies to an emphatic end, closing the first chapter of his journey in the franchise with an unforgettable story. No Way Home saw Peter Parker undergo massive growth in his journey as Spider-Man, with one of its most shocking elements being the death of Aunt May. The way that the movie handled May’s ending was absolutely perfect considering the MCU’s wider approach to Spider-Man as a character.

With no Uncle Ben in the MCU, Spider-Man’s on-screen story instead saw him learn many of his first lessons about heroism from Iron Man. After his death, seeing Aunt May meet a tragic yet quietly heroic death – complete with her last words being imparting the “with great responsibility” lesson to Peter – was utterly devastating, and also had a profound impact on the hero. As upsetting as Aunt May’s ending was, it served a true purpose as a part of Spider-Man’s story, and it therefore served as a perfect send-off for the MCU’s version of the character.

7

Deserved Better: Peggy Carter

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter laying in bed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

After being introduced as one of the MCU’s most interesting female characters in Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter’s story hit a significant snag when Steve Rogers found himself frozen in ice for several decades. Though Peggy was still alive in the MCU’s present, she was much older, and could only play a minor role in Steve Rogers’ story. Peggy then died during the events of Captain America: Civil War, with her death prompting Rogers to act against the Sokovia Accords.

Considering Peggy’s potential as a character, her limited time in the MCU’s main timeline was a travesty. Though she did return as Captain Carter as part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’s Illuminati, it was little more than a cameo that ended with her violent death. Though the handling of Peggy’s ending was largely unavoidable, she’s definitely a character that deserved far better after the positive reception to her introduction.

6

Perfect: Scarlet Witch

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

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Wanda Maximoff’s introduction into the MCU established her as one of the most powerful characters in the franchise, with the would-be villain eventually joining the Avengers. After Thanos’s intervention in the Infinity Saga’s closing entries began leading Wanda down a path of grief and loss, she eventually embraced her dark potential by becoming the Scarlet Witch. She met her demise in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’s ending, when she collapsed Mount Wundagore on herself after realizing the extent to which the Darkhold had corrupted her.

The ending was a perfect way to end Wanda’s time as the Scarlet Witch, even if it wasn’t ideal for the hero she once was. Considering the massive power possessed by Wanda, it was implausible to have her vanquished by another hero, but giving her a final moment of redemption was the best approach to her ending. Though it might not have done the former Avenger Wanda justice, it was the perfect ending for the villainous Scarlet Witch in the MCU.

5

Deserved Better: Killmonger

Black Panther (2018)

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Almost immediately after his introduction in Black Panther, Killmonger became one of the most popular villains in the entire MCU. The character’s many human traits and understandable motivations were amplified by an exceptional performance from Michael B. Jordan, helping to make Killmonger instantly iconic. However, Black Panther also saw Killmonger die after a battle with his cousin T’Challa, serving as an untimely end to the villain’s MCU tenure.

Killmonger’s popularity and honorable motivations made him a fascinating character, as well as an exceptional antagonist. Seeing him killed off so swiftly was a huge blow to the MCU, as he seemed to have much more of a role to play in the franchise’s future, and yet only appeared once more briefly in a dream sequence in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. To that end, the way that the MCU ended Killmonger’s story so abruptly was not just disappointing, but it was not at all the ending that the character deserved.

4

Perfect: Iron Man

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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It’s no secret that Iron Man’s MCU story was one of the most important throughout the Infinity Saga, as he proved to be perhaps the most popular and influential hero in the franchise. As the first character introduced, Tony Stark’s own story helped shape that of the entire MCU, leading up to his bittersweet ending at the end of the Infinity Saga. Finally overpowering Thanos long enough to gather the Infinity Stones, Iron Man died, snapping the Mad Titan out of existence.

Iron Man’s heroic moment of sacrifice ranks as one of the most emotional in the entire MCU. Having seen him grow from an arrogant and self-centered arms dealer to a genuine hero was more than just incredibly gratifying to those who had followed his character development, it was truly touching. As such, Iron Man’s MCU ending was one of the franchise’s most perfect conclusions to a character arc.

3

Deserved Better: Black Widow

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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Another character to meet with a heroic end during the events of Avengers: Endgame was Black Widow. However, unlike Iron Man, her death was not a triumphant moment, nor one that was emotionally satisfying in any real way. Though Black Widow’s death also contributed to Thanos’s defeat, it didn’t receive the same fanfare as Iron Man’s, and with good reason: it didn’t do her justice at all.

As a founding Avenger, Black Widow’s death deserved to be every bit as heroic a moment as Tony Stark’s. However, her death was unceremonious, and emotional though it may have been, Black Widow’s demise was not at all the ending she warranted. Additionally, her sacrifice was not celebrated to the extent of Iron Man’s, only furthering the ways in which the MCU’s approach to Black Widow’s ending let the character down.

2

Perfect: Steve Rogers

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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Another founding Avenger to have been given a definitive MCU ending was Steve Rogers, the franchise’s original Captain America. After becoming one of the MCU’s most iconic leaders and a key part of its Avengers team, Steve Rogers’ story began to see him undergo massive personal growth. This story led him on an emotional journey, culminating in one of the MCU’s most satisfying individual character payoffs.

Steve Rogers retiring peacefully into the past and leaving his life as Captain America behind him was utterly poetic. His whole story was about learning when to stop fighting, and when he needed to make a stand for those around him. Seeing him ultimately choose to pass on the mantle to Sam Wilson and pursue his own happy ending was exactly what the character deserved after his heroic service throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

1

Deserved Better: Maria Hill

Secret Invasion (2023)

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Though Maria Hill was never more than a supporting character in the MCU, she proved a key part of Nick Fury’s Avengers Initiative and a valuable ally to the former SHIELD director. Introduced as one of SHIELD’s most formidable agents, Maria Hill was a consistent player in Nick Fury’s operations even after the fall of SHIELD. Hill’s ending came about in the first episode of Secret Invasion, and it was nowhere near the send-off she deserved.

Maria Hill is shot and killed by Gravik while he poses as Nick Fury in an attempt to incriminate the former SHIELD director. The plot sees Maria Hill’s death become little more than a plot point, albeit an incredibly shocking one. It was far from the ending that Hill deserved, especially as her potential in the MCU was never truly explored. As such, it remains one of the most affronting character endings in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Category: Entertainment