Welcome to my MCU Rewatch, where I write an analysis of the MCU movies in the order of theatrical release. In this installment, I talk about the wavering morality of Steve Rogers.
Release Date: 6 May 2016
Distributor: Disney/Marvel
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
In the previous installments of Captain America, Steve Roger’s (Chris Evans) morality was never questioned even though he was defying orders (especially if he was defying orders). He indisputably did the right thing by rescuing Hydra POWs, one of which was his best and closest friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). He also did the right thing by taking down SHIELD and Hydra in one fell swoop. Here, he is the crux in the split of The Avengers, not because he rejects the Sokovia Accords, but because he wants to protect Bucky from being framed.
It is perhaps the first time Steve’s morality is called into question. And it should have been done better.
A Sense of Irony With The Sokovia Accords
I find a sense of irony in this: The wealthy capitalist, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), wants to be the one to have government oversight on The Avengers. Meanwhile, the man with a country name for his moniker wants to stay privatized.
I suppose, considering that most of the real-life America is a privatized capitalist organization, this is a movie where Steve Rogers reflects real life, for once.
This falls apart once you go further than 20 minutes, however. Steve has a history of defying authority, both with the United States Army and SHIELD/Hydra. So it’s no surprise that he’ll only see red tape and bureaucracy as a deterrent to doing what’s right. Besides, with The Avengers, he was the final authority. I suppose Steve recalled the corruption of his previous bosses and decided “no more.”
Can’t really blame him. Once you become your own boss, getting a new one is a bitch.
Red, White and Grey Sense of Morality
Steve Rogers brings out the good in people. It is perhaps the reason Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) sticks by his side, because he acts as her moral center. Despite signing the Sokovia Accords, Natasha later switches alliances. Steve’s morality is definitely the reason Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) sticks around, because Captain America knows what’s right without question.
Steve also pays attention to individuals, and therein lies the problem here. He’ll cause a rift in The Avengers for the sake of his best friend, even though Bucky doesn’t believe he’s worth the trouble. Steve believes he is, but is Steve really looking at the effects of his decision? During the course of Captain America: Civil War, one Avenger is paralyzed and four land in prison, one of which is barely older than a teenager. Is clearing Bucky’s name worth all that?
Would you permanently affect five people for the sake of one person? Would you ASK five people to change their lives for the sake of one person? A person who also happens to be a legendary shadow assassin for Hydra (albeit unwillingly so, it seems)?
This same sense of individualistic morality is seen again in Avengers: Infinity War and a little bit in Avengers: Endgame. In Infinity War, with the choice to remove or destroy the mind stone from Vision (Paul Bettany), Steve says they do not trade a life for a life. Yet he asks the warriors of Wakanda to sacrifice themselves for the sake of buying time when Thanos’ army attacks. In Avengers: Endgame, Steve’s decision to go back in time to collect the Infinity Stones has effects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will further be explored in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Steve Rogers is a troublemaker. The further he gets from the 1940s, the further off-kilter his moral code. No one thinks to call him out on this because no one thinks Captain America can ever be wrong. Even some of the Avengers who signed the Sokovia Accords end up turning their backs on the government officials that preside over them, Tony Stark included.
Does Captain America know what’s right? In a lot of cases, yes. But like with any other authority figure, his stance on the world is still worth questioning.
Interesting Arcs in Side Characters
I love Captain America, but the more interesting characters in this movie are supporting roles.
I get the sense Bucky is just along for the ride; he doesn’t want to contribute anything to the plot or interact with any of the characters. So then I ask: What is Bucky’s motivation? When he’s not running from the law, what does he do for fun? Is he slowly catching up with 70 years-worth of culture and history like Steve? Or does he just like to hide out in his pathetic little apartment eating plums?
Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) has an interesting arc too. She’s still learning to be an Avenger, and she has good teachers in the Avenger Dream Team. She has a romantic interest in Vision. But she also has one of the best powers and character arcs in the entire MCU and is barely given any screen time. How does a teenager (or very young adult) deal with being in the spotlight? How does she stay “good” when her origins were nefarious? With Natasha coming from similar origins, how much are they looking out for each other?
I have a soft spot for Hawkeye, and I love his snide comments and snark in Captain America: Civil War. I have “I retire for five minutes and it all goes to shit” as a button on my purse. My soft spot stems from my love for the Fraction/Aja run of the Hawkeye comics from about 2013-2015. The MCU version of Hawkeye is a bit more put together, and it makes him kinda boring, but I still love him as a character. For now.
Stay tuned next time for another egotistical white boy gaining unseemly powers, this time called Doctor Strange.
Thoughts on Captain America: Civil War
- Tony decides to fully fund all these MIT students but what if some of their ideas are totally and utterly stupid tho?
- What are the overall effects of the Sokovia Accords? They don’t play a big role in upcoming movies. Considering the rift they created within The Avengers, you would think they would have ongoing ramifications in other movies.
- The world needs more of Bucky and Sam Wilson teaming up involuntarily. Their relationship, what little we see, brings me joy and fuels my lifeblood.
- Before I saw Captain America:Civil War, I thought Spider-Man would be an annoying character I would cringe through. Turns out, he’s the most endearing character on screen and I love him.
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