An MCU Fan's Critique of the 'Avengers: Endgame' Trailer

We waited for what seemed like ages for this trailer. Between threats made on the producers (like... really?) and my own overactive hype, it came, it went, and it left only a few questions partially answered. That said, I want to share my thoughts on the MCU's biggest film to date. Let's delve into what will be the biggest movie of the new year—based purely on the trailer.

Keep in mind, it was a trailer, so we're not gonna get the whole story from the first few minutes of footage from the full film. That said, I'll start with the title: Avengers: Endgame. It was a mistake on my part to hype up what the title would be. I never told anyone I was anticipating the title reveal, but I felt so let down by my own exaggerated hopes. I just pray others are smart enough not to OVERhype the movie itself, or they'll be disappointed.

Now, let's dissect the trailer, and get into where each of the four characters might end up. In the trailer, you get just enough of what each of the Avengers is going through to understand that poop has hit the fan, and there are real consequences to Thanos's "Decimation." You also see that the focal points of this trailer rest on Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Scott Lang, most likely setting up the reconciliation between Tony and Steve, and setting up what I believe is the inciting incident of the film in Scott's appearance and his connection to the Quantum Realm.

Beyond this, here's my speculation: Tony will either be rescued by a Quantum Jump from the Avengers, Thor's Stormbreaker and the Bifrost, OR... more likely... Captain Marvel will show up. Regardless, it's all about how the Avengers will get to the Quantum Realm, and how that will help repair the Thanos Snap.

Now, for the meat and potatoes of this piece... the characters. I'm only gonna focus on the first Avengers: Tony, Steve, Thor, Natasha, Bruce, and Clint, as well as where I believe they'll end up.

Starting with Clint, and based on the trailer, we know he's seen some dark stuff. His focus in life is gone. I don't know much about the comics (my expertise is a passing knowledge), but that's the crux of why I'm so passionate about the MCU: It's what I know, and it's ALL I know. Regardless, if I know the comics or not, Ronin is basically the Batman of the MCU, even more than Iron Man (don't skewer me too hard, comic purists). But the losses Clint faced sent him on a journey to rediscover who he is and what he needs to do to have purpose again. Only it is a very, very dark line he's traveled. We'll get to see that in A:E.

In my opinion, Natasha COULD—not will, but COULD die. If it does happen (in a very convoluted and forced way that Bruce sees, but has no power to help), he could trigger the Hulk and unleash Worldbreaker Hulk—a Hulk so strong he could stomp a fissure in the eastern seaboard... it's comics, though, so it'll probs be different in the movie. But that's not very likely. Personally, I feel that Bruce and Natasha will try to pick up their relationship where they left off, and that relationship will be the backbone of the Avengers on Earth, even if they won't hold their relationship very long because of the... you know... failure to stop Thanos.

Now to Bruce himself. I think that it's possible to see a fused Hulk/Banner, or Banner's intelligence in Hulk's body. They may even do the She-Hulk mechanic where he can't go back to human form anymore. This is the LEAST likely story they'll tell, based off of what they've set up in the story. But that's #PureConjecture.

And now for Thor... Thor Odinson... all I can say is "ugh" in the greatest of ways.

Thor has the most... no, THE most tragic arc of the central Avengers. Tony, Gamora, and Starlord are as much to fault for Thanos's victory as Thor is, but Thor truly has lost the most in recent years. He is the most raw, and the most powerful of the Avengers (pre-Captain Marvel), but Thanos's "you should have gone for the head" bit was as much a middle finger to Thor as it was a victory banner. Thor's pissed, but now there's room for him to doubt, and we could see this explored in his story. Taika Watiti did a fantastic job of blending humor and pain with Thor, but it's HOW Thor (Chris Hemsworth) chooses to hide his pain with an "eternal optimism" that I find so compelling, and now, there's no optimism to hide behind.

Steve Rogers is also pretty low (that single tear cry though). His entire arc (outside of the Avengers) was to save his friend Bucky. Bucky is Steve's connection to the past, a hope that what he had before he was frozen could occur in the modern day. With the initial shock of awakening 70 years after WWII, then to lose his purpose when SHIELD fell, and to lose Peggy Carter (his bae) in Civil War, Bucky truly became the one thing that held Cap together—even to the point of sacrificing his duty to the Avengers and his friendship with Iron Man to protect the Winter Soldier, bringing me to...

Tony is floating in space. In a full arc of his vision in Age of Ultron, he now looks across space, thinking he failed to protect the Earth and believing he "killed the Avengers," the movement he and Nick Fury began back in 2008's Iron Man. And yet, in the entire saga of the MCU, Tony's main motivation has been to protect Pepper. Sure, he says he wants to protect the world, but in the end, he really can't live without her. And now (from what the trailer shows), he will die without her. However, this is where I believe Captain Marvel will come in, saving Tony (and Nebula if she's still on the ship with him. Who knows, maybe she'll live longer without oxygen because of her biomechanical enhancements). Not only that, but Tony will be forced to reconcile with Steve if he and the Avengers are to be successful. Even Steve admits that "Earth just lost her best defender" when speaking about Tony to Colonel Ross during Infinity War. Steve has no issues making amends, even considering the major loss they've suffered at Thanos's hands (or fingers... aw, snap, I went there). It's Tony who will make or break the Avengers here.

I would go on about each of the other important characters... "why doesn't Thanos know about the Avenger's plan? If he did, would he try to stop them?" Yaddah yaddah. For now, this is all I can gather, because that's all the teaser showed.

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To close, I want to add some additional insights I gleaned from the trailer at large.

I've found that trailers coming from Disney's companies, particularly the teasers, are designed to show off the first act of the film, especially if it's a sequel. This is because the first act shares the essential direction of the film, without giving any of the plot away. This is why I think Scott's arrival to the Avengers compound (and the final shot or "stinger" of the trailer) will serve as the story's inciting incident near the end of the first act. It's the moment that causes the key players to act, but—as of now—that's still more conjecture.

Side note: THANOS AS A FARMER. Can you imagine a more simple way to demonstrate his psychosis and self-aggrandized humility? He really is "the Mad Titan."

As we get ready for Captain Marvel releasing next March, and also drooling over Avengers: Endgame, we're also looking at a THREE HOUR RUNTIME for the Phase 3 climax. Ridiculously awesome. But that's pre-edits and pre-final cut. I don't think Marvel wants to release the film this way, because they will want to maximize the amount of time theaters can replay the film (and get that sweet, sweet fan money).

Anyway, that's my thoughts for now. Any other ideas, from anyone at all, feel free to share. :)