Theory of Endgame

[owlmoose]

Initially, I left this as a comment on my first Endgame post, but I wanted to promote it because I've been thinking about it.


Natasha's sacrifice was narratively satisfying, but not emotionally satisfying.

Steve's choice to live in the past was emotionally satisfying, but not narratively satisfying.

Tony's sacrifice was both narratively and emotionally satisfying.

Therefore, I'm totally fine with Tony having died, sad as it was, because it felt right on both an emotional and story-telling level. It fit his arc in every way. (And from what I've seen, most other folks are okay with it, too, even if they are grieving for him.) But there are varying levels of dissatisfaction with Natasha's and Steve's arcs because, in one way or the other, they didn't satisfy. Personally I am less bothered in Steve's case because I care more about the emotional level than the story-telling level, but that's for me.

Thoughts? Does this resonate with anyone else?

Comments

[worlds_of_smoke]

yup, sorta-kinda. I really, really think it would have made more narrative sense to kill off Clint because he's not as major a character as Natasha is throughout the series. And he doesn't have a rumored movie coming up involving his character.

[owlmoose]

One of the things I appreciated about that scene is that, in the moment, I truly had no idea which way it was going to go. I could make a strong case for either character making the sacrifice, as far as the movie's internal narrative was concerned. But that's certainly true regarding the external factors, especially the upcoming Black Widow movie. I have to confess that I'd probably be more upset about Nat's death if it weren't for that movie guaranteeing that I'll get to see her again (and most likely that they'll find some excuse to bring her back).

[worlds_of_smoke]

I was 100% convinced that Hawkeye would be the one to go, since he's been in what... one movie?