10 Ways Avengers: Endgame Looks Totally Different Now, 6 Years Later

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Six years have passed since Avengers: Endgame served as the poignant climax of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but subsequent events within the franchise have brought about significant shifts. Now, Avengers: Endgame, which concluded a decade’s worth of storytelling and wrapped up the Infinity Saga, has left an indelible mark on the MCU timeline. However, with the franchise now delving into its Multiverse Saga, featuring alternate realities, legacy characters, and cosmic-scale perils, Endgame appears quite distinct in retrospect.

Following the release of “Avengers: Endgame”, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has shifted from the Infinity Saga into a more intricate and expansive Multiverse Saga. This new phase has brought about various alternate realities, timelines, and variants. Previously, “Endgame” was seen as the pinnacle of interconnected storytelling, but now it seems to be merely one stop on an enormous, multiversal journey. The significance of “Endgame” has been slightly lessened not because it’s flawed, but due to the rapid expansion of the MCU’s scope.

10. The Harvest Makes Avengers: Endgame’s Final Battle Look Different

Secret Invasion

In the thrilling series, “Secret Invasion,” I found myself utterly astounded by a game-changing revelation that significantly alters my perspective on the epic finale of “Avengers: Endgame.” It turns out that Nick Fury had ordered the Skrulls to gather the blood of Earth’s mighty heroes from the battlefield in a clandestine operation called “The Harvest.” This disclosure casts an ominous shadow over the heartwarming aftermath of Endgame’s most heroic stand, making what was once perceived as selfless sacrifice, now seems tangled in underhanded manipulation.

The notion that Fury was secretly planning to militarize the leaked DNA of the Avengers shifts the final battle into a scene tainted by potential future manipulations. This gives an unsettling tone to what would otherwise be a victorious instance, hinting at the MCU’s ominous surveillance-state themes that were already in play. It also underscores Fury’s extensive history of covert, morally questionable actions.

9. The MCU Setting Up Iron Man & Captain America’s Successors Makes Their Endings Feel Different

Captain America: Brave New World & Iron Heart

Initially, when Endgame premiered, it seemed to signify the concluding part for both Iron Man and Captain America. Tony Stark gave up his life, while Steve Rogers handed over his shield. Nevertheless, Sam Wilson stepping into the role of Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World, as well as Riri Williams’ introduction as Ironheart (essentially Tony Stark’s technological heir), reshapes those goodbyes into new beginnings.

Initially considered permanent endpoints, their story arcs now seem more like links in an ongoing saga’s chain. Although it aligns with the comics, it undermines the closure that ‘Endgame’ intended to provide. Instead of closing a book, Marvel has just flipped to the next page. Consequently, the heavy emotional resolutions from ‘Endgame’ have transformed into stepping stones for new roles, thereby transitioning the film’s tone from finality to evolution when viewed retrospectively.

8. EDITH’s Spider-Man: Far From Home Ending Adds Different Context To Iron Man’s Endgame Death

Spider-Man: Far From Home

One less-obvious change in the narrative between Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home is the introduction of E.D.I.T.H., a powerful AI with control over a defense satellite, which Tony Stark created. The existence of this orbital weapon system during the events in Endgame, yet its non-use, raises some intriguing questions. If Stark had such advanced global technology at his disposal, why wasn’t it utilized during the battle against Thanos?

Looking back, it creates an unexpected and unfortunate complication in Iron Man’s self-sacrifice. E.D.I.T.H., which could have countered threats or aided the Avengers more effectively, was only revealed after Tony’s death. Although it was probably developed later, it inadvertently makes Tony’s Endgame strategy seem less strategically planned out. This new perspective changes how viewers understand the “no other way” reasoning behind Iron Man’s final action.

7. Robert Downey Jr.’s Casting As Doctor Doom Makes Iron Man’s Death Feel Less Definitive

Avengers: Doomsday

In a surprising turn of events, it has been confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will once again join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time as Victor Von Doom instead of Iron Man. This alteration affects Tony Stark’s death in “Endgame,” which served as the emotional core of the movie. The repercussions of Tony’s self-sacrifice are now being examined from a different perspective – one that takes into account the continuity of actors and the complexities of multiverse theory.

The comeback of RDJ (Robert Downey Jr.) makes it challenging to fully appreciate the emotional significance of his goodbye. The possibility that Iron Man’s persona might resurface in the Marvel Cinematic Universe diminishes the emotional heft of his initial departure. With the Multiverse Saga introducing variations of well-known characters, it becomes more difficult to accept Tony’s death as irreversible. Regardless of whether it’s a different Stark, Downey’s reappearance revives a door that the “Endgame” had powerfully shut.

6. Multiverse Of Madness Changed The Way You See Thanos’s Death

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

In the movie “Avengers: Endgame”, Thanos is portrayed as an insurmountable menace, necessitating the collective efforts of all heroes and ultimately claiming Iron Man’s life. However, in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, it’s shown that another version of Thanos can be defeated more easily by the Illuminati, which raises questions about the true invincibility of Thanos. This idea is later called into question or contradicted.

If alternate Earth’s teams could have defeated Thanos so effortlessly, it raises the question that perhaps the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 616 Avengers had an ineffective team composition or strategy. The notion that better solutions might have existed elsewhere makes Iron Man’s sacrifice seem like a regrettable mistake rather than an inevitable outcome. It doesn’t diminish Tony Stark’s heroism, but it does challenge Doctor Strange’s claim that there was no other way to defeat the Mad Titan.

5. The MCU’s Multiverse Rules Have Changed Since Endgame

Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, & Loki

As a diehard movie enthusiast, let me share my take on the intriguing concept of Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In the epic saga of Avengers: Endgame, the Ancient One confided in Bruce Banner that these mystical stones are the linchpin of our universe. Removing them from their respective realms sets off a chain of doomed, alternate timelines. It’s strongly suggested that the Stones have a pivotal role in traversing multiple universes and even creating parallel dimensions. However, subsequent MCU productions, such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness, seem to have rewritten that rulebook. In the former, Ned manages to open interdimensional portals using sorcery, while in the latter, America Chavez effortlessly punches her way through different realities.

The way Endgame explains things now seems old-fashioned and excessively technical. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s concept of the multiverse has grown, Endgame‘s straightforward logic appears to be more like a temporary solution rather than a definitive explanation. The rules about time travel and timeline consistency that were once clear have become confused, replaced by a more flexible, chaotic model based on the multiverse.

4. The Eternals’ Absence Feels Poorly Excused

Eternals

In the movie Eternals, it’s revealed that these characters were told not to interfere with Thanos’s campaign by the Celestials, unless Deviants were involved. But as we look back, this reason seems questionable. If their primary duty was to safeguard and guide humanity, then the impending doom Thanos represented, given that half of humanity’s existence was at stake, should have prompted them into action.

This weakens the impact of the Eternals considerably, as the storyline seems overly thin. The fact that they were on Earth all along, with enough power to combat cosmic perils, makes their lack of action during the Infinity Saga appear unbelievable. Particularly since the Eternals later learn that the Celestials’ intentions were actually more sinister. It would have been more convincing if Thanos’s invasion had sparked their revolt instead.

3. The Asgardians Of The Galaxy Was Much More Short-Lived Than Endgame Suggested

Thor: Love And Thunder

At the conclusion of “Avengers: Endgame”, Thor teams up with the Guardians of the Galaxy, creating an intriguing concept: “The Cosmic Asgardians”. Following several engaging scenes that explored their unique camaraderie and Thor’s bond with the group, fans were eager for a standalone film showcasing their joint escapades.

Regardless of the robust introduction, Thor: Love and Thunder abandoned the earlier plot line in just its initial 15 minutes. The Guardians briefly crossed paths with Thor before departing, causing their setup from Endgame to seem like a red herring. What initially seemed an exciting new direction for Thor’s character progression soon dissipated, giving way to a self-contained tale with minimal ties to the promised collaboration.

2. Rhodey Is Probably A Skrull In Avengers: Endgame

Secret Invasion

As a film enthusiast, I was blown away by the shocking revelation in “Secret Invasion” that completely alters my perspective on “Endgame”. It seems James Rhodes, or Rhodey as we know him, might have been swapped with a Skrull long before the conclusion of the Infinity Saga. The Rhodey who was rescued later still bore his leg injury, indicating that the one walking normally during “Endgame” wasn’t the real Rhodey. This means the War Machine who joined the Time Heist and mourned Tony Stark was actually a Skrull imposter all along.

It’s quite shocking to discover this fact, as it raises questions about some of the most poignant scenes in the movie. If Rhodey wasn’t truly himself, then Endgame loses one of its most authentic, human viewpoints. A moment that was previously seen as a symbol of unity and friendship now seems more complex. The possibility indicates that the Skrulls might have been far more cunning, even creating emotions that appeared genuine.

1. Loki Season 1 Complicated The Infinity Stones Even More

Loki

Season 1 of Loki revealed an unexpected turn: In the TVA, the Infinity Stones function merely as ornaments and have no cosmic power because they don’t operate there. This shift has made their narrative less consistent across various dimensions. Although not yet explicitly shown in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is well-established comic book lore that the stones only function in their original universe, which explains why they are irrelevant in the TVA.

If taking the stones out of their original timelines spawns alternate realities, then they wouldn’t function anymore. However, Hulk managed to bring everyone back despite this, which suggests a puzzle. The TVA’s existence and its management of various timeline branches imply that Captain America didn’t actually reset the timeline but instead created branches. This leads us to question whether the returned stones had any real significance. In other words, the complex time dynamics in Avengers: Endgame have become even more perplexing due to these subsequent developments.

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2025-06-05 01:09