Avengers: Infinity War shocked everyone by ending with Earth's Mightiest Heroes losing their battle against Thanos. Despite repeated attempts to stop the Mad Titan, not even Thor plunging Stormbreaker into the villain's chest was enough to stop him from snapping his fingers and wiping out half of all life in the universe.
The Avengers made a valiant attempt to keep the Mind Stone from Thanos, though the villain's plan would have never been able to come to fruition had the heroes agreed to destroy it (resulting in Vision making the ultimate sacrifice).
Talking on the Phase Zero podcast, The Marvels director Nia DaCosta shared a compelling take on why the blame for that loss lies at Captain America's feet.
"So, here’s the thing: the reason why it’s his fault is the reason why he’s such an amazing hero, because he’s like, ‘We’re not gonna sacrifice anyone. There always has to be another way.’ He was incorrect," she argues. "But then also, he was right in the end, ’cause everything was fine."
"We did lose some people that we care about, but it is his fault, because he should’ve just ripped that thing out of his homie’s head from the beginning."
"But then, again, that’s what makes him such a good character, and I think some of the amazing success of that first part of the MCU was those characters were so true to themselves, and they made sense," the filmmaker continued. "All of the decisions that they made, even if you didn’t agree with them, they made perfect sense to who they were. So, even though I blame him, I understand him."
It's a real shame Marvel Studios has waited until now to let DaCosta talk about this movie (and the wider MCU) because it feels like she just gets it. While it may not be a popular assessment, Cap's unwillingness to make that sacrifice is what led to Thanos ultimately unleashing the devastating might of the Infinity Stones.
Things all worked out in the end, of course, and Avengers: Infinity War's ending remains one of Marvel Studios' best. Do you agree with DaCosta's take?
In The Marvels, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe.
When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as "The Marvels."
The movie stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson, Zawe Ashton and Park Seo-joon.
The Marvels is set to arrive in theaters on November 10.