By Aaron Schweitzer
They say hindsight is 20/20. The MCU has 22 films total and the last 2 chronologically combine to one that 20 films have set up. So let’s take a look back at those 20. The goal of this series is to rewatch the MCU with Infinity War and Endgamein mind and see a few things. The first is to see ways in which they refer back to other movies indirectly or indirectly. The second is to see how these movies prepare for the Infinity Saga in terms of story. Finally, the goal is to see how they set up the end of the Infinity Sage in terms of characters and development. This article won’t contain references to how it sets up other MCU movies other than Infinity War and Endgame and also some of these might seem like a bit of a stretch, but that’s the fun in it. Obviously not all of these were intentional, but the MCU has done a fantastic job with little Easter Eggs and I want to find them with the Endgame in mind. Of course, SPOILERS.
(0:49) Cap passing Sam: “On Your Left.”
The Russo Brothers really picked the right line to have the heroes come back in on. We all knew they had to, but no one knew how and even then… this is one of the biggest moments in comic book movie history. Out of everything they could have done, I really think they nailed it. It is a callback to this line and it is a small way of saying watch for something big about to happen. This is a perfect way of tying together the start and end of the Russo’s time with the MCU.
(2:44) Steve’s list of things he needs to catch up on. (Moon Landing, Star Wars/Trek, Nirvana, Troubleman, Rocky (Rocky II?)
This list winds up actually being different in every country of release, but let’s just think of a few of these in hindsight, shall we? For the moon landing, Cap wasn’t there, but Thanos throws a freaking moon at Tony in Infinity War. Also, Captain Rogers may not have been around for the moon landing, but he did walk on the surface of the planet Thanos was hiding on, making him an astronaut?
Additionally, Star Wars/Trek seem to encapsulate a lot of this ark with Thanos. Sometimes things are rather adventurous, but truly, this is a war among planets and galaxies for the sake of the universe. Both also feature a primary villain motivated by fear of things that happened to him in the past.
Not to discredit Nirvana, but don’t you think there are a few other bands that should top Roger’s list. Surely at least the Beatles would, right? Maybe Rush, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, or others. But what does Nirvana have that the others don’t? Given that this is the Russo Brothers as well, what if it was a something that they had in mind for Thanos’ motivation. After all, he is just trying to make the world in a state of Nirvana, right?
(11:50) to Cap: “I thought you were more than just a shield.”
The whole reason why Cap is able to wield Mjolnir is because of just this fact. Steve Rogers is more than just a shield. Captain America is about more than just wielding a shield, but it is about the spirit of what Steve embodies. That is why it is so important when Steve passes it along to Falcon in Endgame. In the comics, both Sam and Bucky have taken up the mantle, but the MCU has portrayed Sam with the same qualities and made Bucky more of a lost character who is trying to get a glimpse of who he once was. The MCU never tried to set up Bucky as the next Cap.
(20:01) Peggy on archived interview: “He saved over 1,000 men. Including the man who would become my husband as it turned out. Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life.”
This is something that maybe does not make a ton of sense to me. Maybe Peggy is trying to be sly or simply throw everyone off covering Steve’s secret time travel, but either way, that last line really means a lot to Endgame. While we never actually see or know when Steve dies, Peggy does not know any wiser until he shows back up in the 70s. And there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Cap changes Peggy’s life from then on.
(20:27) Peggy to Cap: “I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn’t get to live yours.”
Fortunately for Cap he does get to go back and live that life that he so desperately wants. Either way, it does not seem to be ideal for someone who just wanted to be a normal person and serve his time. I wonder if this is something that the Russo Brothers were just working on the project at hand or if this is Peggy trying to be sly…
(21:29) Peggy to Cap: “The world has changed, and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best. And sometimes the best we can do is start over.”
This line struck me in particular because this seems to be similar to Cap’s motto in the support group after the time jump in Endgame. Cap talks about how the world changes and all we can do is our best, but he does not talk about starting over, but moving on. Those two are similar concepts, but also different. Starting over means forgetting the past whereas moving on means accepting the past. Either way, Peggy seems to have had a lot of influence of Cap’s philosophy.
(22:17) Cap to Peggy: “I couldn’t leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance.”
You know, I really did not notice how much dancing was prominent in these movies. I knew it was present, but not every 5 minutes in The First Avenger and so prominently featured in the follow up movies. For lack of beating a dead horse, let’s just say that the Russo Brothers and Kevin Feige knew what they were doing and made sure dancing didn’t come out of left field in Endgame.
(35:06) Cap is breaking into his own apartment because the record player is on.
It’s the little details that count, right? This is the same music from the end of Endgame when Cap finally gets his dance with Peggy. They didn’t have to do this, but they used the same music in this scene where it is very prominent, yet forgettable and after seeing Endgame, you instantly recognize it. It’s a perfect example of how a moment in a movie can elevate the mind in the present, future, and even in hindsight too.
(44:30) Pierce: “Sometimes building a better world means having to tear the old one down.”
The more I watch these movies, the more I think Thanos is really just a conglomerate of all the previous villains. Pierce talks about destruction for the sake of a thriving race and Thanos does the same. Thanos is an iconic character from both comics and film, but in the movie Infinity War, you can really start an argument that Thanos is actually right. Pierce may also be right and we might want to root for him if he wasn’t a part of HYDRA, but either way, both of these characters have similar thought processes on their methods.
(47:48) Cap: Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?”
Of course, this same scene is emulated in Endgame. While it takes place a few years from The Winter Soldier, it is the same scenario with the same characters. This one should have been obvious and Captain America makes great use of this with his hindsight knowledge.
(1:10:47) Nat: “If it was down to me to save your life…, would you trust me to do it?”
Interesting that this character that would talk about how the fate of someone would be Black Widow. Nat makes the ultimate sacrifice in Endgame and she is a character that we have grown to trust to make that decision. Ultimately, despite her sketchy past portrayed in the movie, she is very trustworthy to save life.
(1:31:57) Sam about Cap: “I do what he does, just slower.”
You can’t help but think about this line in the context that Falcon takes up the Shield after Steve. That is textbook doing what Steve does and given that Sam is not enhanced, of course he would do everything slower. On your left.