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| Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Appearing in Avengers: Infinity War alongside a dozen other superheros, Nomad's appearance caps in at six minutes and forty-five seconds. But that doesn't mean his limited time isn't intricate to the longstanding arc of his own series. In fact, pinpointing how deep his appearance is in Avengers: Infinity War was a fun challenge to accept while waiting for the next installment Avengers: End Game. In continuing my series about Captain America, here is a breakdown of his role and the connections to his past films. Hope you enjoy! (This post is gif-heavy and click on the image for credit).
Out of the Shadows
Similar to Steve's capsicle body and ship being retrieved at the beginning of Captain America: The First Avenger, Nomad steps out of the shadows as Wanda tries to protect Vision from Thanos's cronies. It's a subtle throwback to pre-serum Steve standing to the bully behind the movie theater.
Proxima Midnight wields a special spear, that was forged by Thanos himself. This allows the spear to transform into light and change its size. It hardly ever misses its target. That’s why it’s such a big deal to see Captain America dodge and grab this spear in the trailer. This isn’t supposed to be something you can just catch. - source
So no matter what, I promise you, if you need us - if you need me - I'll be there.
Steve's past always calls to him whether it's Bucky reappearing as the Winter Soldier or following his patriotic beliefs into battle. At the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Steve finally finds his place in the world at the Avengers compound. It's been about two years since Rogers and fellow Avengers have been home, but he knows he has to go back in order to find out what happens with Thanos. Stark and Rogers are both incredibly stubborn, it's part of what causes the divide in Civil War. Yet Stark was close to calling Rogers for help earlier in the film when he first meets Doctor Strange and Wong, and Nomad recognizes he needs to return to the place that used to be a refuge for him. His return isn't not going to be without some remorse trailing him.
Don't mess with my clique
The original Avengers had such hope when they first signed up to defend Earth. But along the way, none of them probably expected how their alliance would fracture and break-up. In the first film, Rogers strides with Hawkeye and Black Widow onto the battlefield as he and Stark mostly lead the team in NYC. Civil War's tagline "United We Rise, Divided We Fall" comes true as Rogers's clique changes drastically with Widow, Vision, Wanda, Rhodey, Falcon and Hulk in Infinity War before they head to Wakanda. They've got a little heads-up about Thanos, but their chances of defeating him are not as big as it could've been had all of the superheroes stayed together.
1000% DGAF
Steve is quite polite when his patience has been tested. In Infinity War, Rogers is 1000% done with hearing from Thaddeus Ross and the U.N. Rogers never lost his respect for Stark despite the fact that they disagreed over The Accords, and Ross wanting Rhodey to arrest them shows how useless the Accords were. Thanos is aiming to commit universal genocide, and Ross wants to swipe at the only ones who can try to protect humanity. Because Rogers has so little screen time, I try to savor every second of this scene. Evans's line delivery is sheer perfection.
All Grown Up
There was a time when Steve abided by the rules and sought respect from his leaders...now he knows what they're capable of and grew beard, so he doesn't play that game anymore.
We don't trade lives, Vision.
Rogers has developed a kinship with Wanda. In the beginning of Civil War, he tries to console her after causing an accident in Lagos. Because Vision owns the mind stone, he starts to realize that Wanda might be the most powerful force to kill him before Thanos has a chance to catch up. As Wanda refuses and insists they find another way, Rogers is reminded of Peggy respecting his choice to crash the plane at the end of his first film. While the noble and humane choice is to give Vision a chance to be separated from the mind stone instead of killed, ultimately this choice will allow Thanos to get all of the stones.“I see someone who needs help, and I help. You think it’s a weakness. But you’re wrong. It’s what makes us human, which is exactly what we’re supposed to be fighting for. I know who I am. I rescue the helpless. I raise up the hopeless. I don’t measure people’s lives…I save them” –Steve Rogers [Earth-616]
The Quinjet
Two times that Steve has discovered or re-entered new worlds was on the Quinjet - the first in The Avengers as Agent Coulson awkwardly described watching him sleep, and then returning to Wakanda to ask for T'Challa's help.
It's good to see you Buck
To think during the entire anthology of Bucky and Steve's relationship, they've only shared a few rare moments of companionship as friends and fellow soldiers. More often than not, Steve was lost or at odds with the comforts of his old life. In The First Avenger, Steve and Bucky embrace before he joins 107th regiment, and in Infinity War, Bucky has begun to heal from his identity as the Winter Soldier. They're getting ready to save the world together - finally. Knowing that destiny's waiting with Thanos, it's still a bittersweet moment.
Not only does T'Challa accept Rogers's plea for Shuri to take out Vision's mind stone, but also recognizes Cap's abilities as a soldier: "Evacuate the city. Engage all defenses. And get this man a shield." These scenes prove how much of a leader T'Challa has become since 'defeating' Killmonger.
T'Challa
After Civil War, T'Challa has aligned with the Avengers for about a year before the events of Infinity War take place. It was only two months before Black Panther was released that we saw him open up Wakanda's resources to the rest of the world. During that time he kept Winter Soldier secure - no doubt - from all of the governments that wanted justice. That's a significant way for these two to develop a friendship. AKA #SteveGetsAlongWithEveryoneExceptAssholesNot only does T'Challa accept Rogers's plea for Shuri to take out Vision's mind stone, but also recognizes Cap's abilities as a soldier: "Evacuate the city. Engage all defenses. And get this man a shield." These scenes prove how much of a leader T'Challa has become since 'defeating' Killmonger.
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Natasha: Yeah. Who do you want me to be?One of my favorite friendships in Marvel is Nat and Steve, and it's one of Steve's most important relationships too. They've been through hell together - realizing SHIELD was a lie and being forced to believe Fury was dead, trying to create some kind of new life while being a soldier-spy, stood side by side waiting to die in Age of Ultron, and Nat protected Cap and Bucky in Civil War. It's hard to believe they've been by each other's side on-and-off the battlefield since the beginning, and how much the world and life has hardened them but they still remain friends.
Steve: How about a friend?
Natasha: [chuckles] Well, there's a chance you might be in the wrong business, Rogers.
-Captain America: The Winter Soldier
My faith's in people....individuals.
I mean, none of the Avengers have a choice in not trying to stop Thanos. But Cap standing alongside T'Challa, Okoye, King M'Baku, and their soldiers reminds me of Cap's final letter to Tony in Civil War, as well as his speech from The Winter Soldier: The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not.
You ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death?
The few times Steve and Bucky have stood at the front lines together, they've reminisced about their past and joked around as normal non-super-soldiers. In Infinity War, they get one last chance to riff. It's also a lovely callback to The Winter Soldier where Rogers remembers Bucky supporting him after his mother passed away. With Bucky by his side, Rogers is never alone. He's ready to follow that kid from Brooklyn anywhere.
On Your Left
Still blown away by the fact that Steve can run as fast as T'Challa, and he's not even wearing advanced tech to do it.
#BFFS
One of the best friendships in the MCU has to be Thor and Captain America. Not only did they fight side-by-side in the streets of New York, but also have a kinship as the two 'most' immortal members of the Avengers. After not knowing what happened to Thor after Age of Ultron, they're finally reunited in the battlefield. And, they've still got that golden camaraderie."I have lived many ages of men, Steven. Centuries without end. I have seen many great men, and known countless honors. But the greatest honor of this ancient and tired soul has been the privilege of fighting beside you, and calling you my friend." — Thor v3 #11 (2008)
So Polite
He's honestly just so polite. This moment is slightly reminiscent to The First Avenger when Rogers breaks into the Red Skull's compound, directing the prisoners what to do and casually mentioning he knocked out Hitler over two hundred times. Or when Cap and Spider-man chat about which New York boroughs they're from in Civil War. Even in the midst of a battle, Steve can still make friends.
For every Avengers film, Cap has had a battle cry:
"Get out fast and give 'em hell.""Light the bastards up."
"Get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed, walk it off."
At the time of Infinity War, this is the last time (that we know of) of him rallying the troops. What else can you say given the massive amount of enemies that's wiping out Wakanda?
Incoming already came
Another nice nod to Stark and Rogers' humorous moment in Age of Ultron while they're fighting off Ultron's droids in Sokovia. Stark tries to warn Rogers that attacks are coming from all sides just as Rogers almost got blown to smithereens.
We don't trade lives, Captain.
Cap tries to hold off Thanos's guys from killing Vision, a variation of everything he's done in previous battles. And reflects the first time he used his body as a shield in The First Avenger.
You don't win wars with niceness, Doctor. You win wars with guts.
In The First Avenger, Colonel Phillips throws a fake grenade towards his soldiers-to prove who should take Abraham's serum. Rogers (and Peggy) throw themselves on the grenade. Putting his own life on the line for others is what he's all about. Similarly, he gives it all he's got against Thanos, holding his fist in defiance from being struck down. Courage aka guts is what it takes to be Captain America (also biceps). He does everything he can to possibly protect everyone else. This moment is a great parallel to the fight at the train station earlier in the film.
Everyone thinks Cap’s the perfect fighting machine on account of that super soldier serum he got. But that ain’t so. The reason Cap’s unstoppable is that he knows who and what he’s fighting for. And he ain’t ever gonna back down from that. Not one inch. - Dum Dum Dugan (Captain America Vol. 3 #40)
And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that.
Speaks for itself really.
The Boy Truly Does Give It His All
Is there truly any words for this parallel. No matter how and why a lot of people agreed with Stark's accusations that Rogers never deserved the shield his father gave him, Rogers still shows why he was chosen to become a super-soldier - to be the little guy standing up against the bullies no matter where they come from.You start running they’ll never let you stop. You stand up, push back… Can’t say no forever right?
Thor. What happened? Where did he go?
After waking up from being frozen and surviving every battle thereafter, Rogers has had to recaliberate from one loss after another. From what we see with Endgame, there might be no coming back to that hopeful Rogers who wore his heart on his sleeve.
Zemo Was Right
Vllains always serve threats that (depending on the franchise and strength of the writers) actually play out. Russos brings back Zemos's method of destroying the Avengers: getting under their skin.
Gone In A Flash
Steve's dream of dancing with Peggy in Age of Ultron vanishes as fast as Bucky dying at Thanos's snap. Both of them gone in an instant.
Oh, God.
This job... we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't find a way to live with that, next time... maybe nobody gets saved. - Captain America: Civil WarWhat a hell of a line to leave the film on. There was a time when Cap insisted there was only one God, and then there's two - and one of them just wiped out half the galaxy.
Just for posterity....
The ending of The Avengers perfectly captures Rogers's sense of duty on the battlefield. They defeated all of the aliens in NYC without losing anybody, but as time goes on, more and more sacrifices are made. Nothing will ever compare to the loss of half the universe in Infinity War.
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Post Credits Brilliance
It only took twenty movies for the MCU to start hinting at Captain Marvel entering the longstanding franchise. But what a brilliant way to do with the post-credits scene and beginning the hype for her own spin-off.
The final Avengers: Endgame trailer has some easter eggs already, but with the movie coming out soon, it'll get a post of its own. Since Chris Evans's contract with Marvel will end, and depending on Captain America's fate, I'll wrap up this series eventually later this year. It's going to take me forever to recover from the next film...
As always, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed! Let me know what your favorite moment was of Captain America / Nomad in Infinity War below.
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