3 Huge Consequences Of Endgame And One Big Reward [SPOILERS]

I almost left.

Somewhere around the middle of “Avengers: Endgame,” I nearly got up and walked right on out. I know, I know; that may seem sacrilegious, but it’s not because I didn’t absolutely love it, it’s because I love what Marvel has done over the years so much, I almost couldn’t bear to see it change.

The Marvel pull was too strong, however, and I hushed that little voice in my head and stayed until the end. I’m thrilled I did, of course. Thrilled and devasted and inspired and crushed all at the same time. If you’ve seen it you know what I mean. And if you haven’t, STOP READING and go see “Avengers: Endgame.” Seriously, from here on out this thing is full of spoilers. Last chance, seriously — full of them.

Where do we go from here? It’s the central question I’ve been asking since my first screening. Now that this twenty-two movie, eleven-year ride has finally come to a heroic end, what’s left for us fans? And more importantly, what are the consequences — and possible rewards — we’re left with.

Black Widow

When Natasha and Clint were tasked with retrieving the soul stone, you just knew bad things were coming. Foolishly, I hoped we could get around all that soul stone sacrifice stuff. Maybe they can throw Red Skull over the cliff. I mean the guys just standing there, right?

Eventually, I relented, and quietly said a prayer for Hawkeye. I’ll miss him terribly, I thought, but what a way to go. Then Widow whispered “let me go,” and I stopped breathing.

“This can’t possibly stick,” I imagined. The team will definitely find a way to fix this shocking, frightful mistake before Endgame ends. And nope! Natasha’s gone and I still can’t believe it.

How will Clint live with himself? How will The Hulk move on? How will the team function without their strongest female? And yes, Widow is stronger than Captain Marvel; just because you have a lot of power doesn’t make you strong.

The bigger question is, who’s in charge now that Natasha is gone? She was sort of the point man, coordinating operations while Steve was counseling and Tony was being a great dad. Who else will care as much as Natasha about keeping the family going?

My vote is Bucky. Not only is his background similar to Widow’s, but it seems like the responsibility would do for him what it did for her. He’s not the strong female we’re looking for, of course, but that’s fine; it’s Wanda’s time to shine a bit anyway, along with the plethora of new female characters Marvel can introduce. Still, there will never be another Widow, Scarlett will be aggressively missed, and someone has their work seriously cut out for them.

Captain America

I remember watching “Captain America: The First Avenger” and leaving the theatre with a colossal sense of pride. Then I remember seeing it again the next day because it was like an injection of confidence I never wanted to end. It’s mostly that feeling that made me want to leave Endgame early. I would’ve bet everything that Cap was going to make the big sacrifice. But he didn’t.

Instead, long after the dust settled, Steve heads out to return the Infinity Stones and decides to stay in the past with Peggy. A truly awesome ending for a truly remarkable man. And yet another huge plot point that floored me. I thought the climax had already happened and that we were all cried out. That the symbol of so much more than justice, the original Captain America, was still on the squad. Then a few moments later an aged Captain Rogers turns his shield over to Falcon and the tears came again.

Here’s a man with maybe the best character arc of all time — none. Cap is consistent. Like no other hero before, Cap is the same today as he was yesterday, and he’ll be the same tomorrow. Absolutely incorruptible. And while that may make for tricky storytelling, I love it as I’ve never loved anything before. What boy — what man — doesn’t want to be Captain America? A man who did everything he did for all the right reasons. A man who made the choices no one else was willing to make. Forgiving, powerful, relentless. A man without equal, who didn’t lord it over anyone, but who fought for everyone. A man whose behavior is so old fashioned it’s almost unrecognizable in today’s world. A man I wanted to be like no other before or after.

A man gone.

Captain America is true North. Not just for the Avengers, for the entire country. And now he’s gone. Who will be The Avengers moral compass? Who will stand up to Nick Fury when no one else will? Who, in the massive world of Marvel, will be wise enough, strong enough, and worthy enough to pick up Mjolnir. Who will ever be able to say “Avengers Assemble?”

If we’re staying with Endgame, today’s answer is Falcon. But will it remain that way? Will Bucky finally overcome his past and become worthy of the mantle? Or will Falcon truly live up to Steve’s vote of confidence? Whichever way we travel, the mantle of Captain America is both the most crucial and the most difficult role in the MCU. There’s just something about Steve specifically that makes you feel comfortable. That no matter what, he’s there fighting for you and everyone else in the universe.

Iron Man

Going in, I tried to steel myself for the inevitable. If they’ll take anyone, I concluded, they’ll take Tony. And they did. And I wasn’t ready.

With Pepper on the battlefield giving Tony permission to rest, Spider-Man apologizing and Steve and Thor standing at attention, it was the kind of sacrificial send off that a character of Tony’s caliber deserved. Memorable and definitive, it was over before you knew it. And it was perfect. Tony didn’t hesitate, he had the chance to save the world and he took it. No second thoughts.

While we may have been watching a huge group of heroes lay their lives on the line, Tony was the hero we’ve been following for the last 11 years. It’s his journey we’ve marveled at. From a war-mongering, self-serving irritant, to the very best of us. A man with no powers who we fell in love with. An Iron Man.

“Every journey has an end,” Tony said. His journey, specifically. And it’s over.

It’s from here that we learn what Marvel movies are really about; connections. Not just the staggering connections made throughout the 22 movie flow, but connections fans made by watching each movie over the years. Connections that started with Iron Man.

We remember where we were when we watched the first one, the last one, and every one in between. We remember who we watched them with. We remember why we wanted to watch them again and again. Most importantly, we remember who we were before we saw them, and who we’ve become since.

Tony’s journey was the anchor. The thread holding the Infinity Saga together. He knew something was coming and he fought with his life until he saved us from it. Who will do the same?

Will War Machine slide into Tony’s old armor? Will we train a completely new Iron Man? Possibly an Iron Woman. The list of opportunities is long, but those iron boots are some truly hefty boots to fill. Can anyone in Hollywood — can anyone anywhere — bring the soul that Robert Downey Jr. did? Is there another human being alive that can capture the hearts of so many, for so long, and still leave us far too soon?

Truthfully, it’s too soon. I’m sure there are other greats out there just waiting in the wings, but I’m not up for speculating right now. Instead, I’ll simply say thanks, Tony. We love ya 3,000.

Clear Canvas

There are many more changes we’re going to have to deal with beyond the three listed above. What of Gamora, how’s Thor tie into The Guardians, what of The Hulk’s arm; to name only a few. All questions we can enjoy deciphering for months to come. But until then, we’re left with virtually a clear Marvel canvas, and that’s exciting.

Remember how it all started? Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau taking a huge risk on the first Iron Man, no clue how it would turn out. Flash forward eleven years later, and their faith has been rewarded time and time again. Characters we never thought would work have become fan favorites. Stories we never thought we’d see have been told spectacularly. And experiences we never thought we’d trump, have been outdone over and over again. And it’s going to happen again.

Marvel has done something that’s never been done before, and we’re all better for it. Creators will be given more room to create. The more obscure tales will finally have a shot. And the powers that be will continue to support an industry that delivers the best characters we’ve ever seen. Characters we love like family.

With the end comes tears. For that is the nature of the end. But also hope. Where we go from here, no one knows, but wherever it is, we go there together, standing atop the shoulder of heroes.