Even though I still have some questions after Avengers: Endgame, I think I’m ready to see it again.

I saw Avengers: Endgame opening night. The story has sat in my head for a week now, and while I did enjoy the movie, I still have some lingering questions about Avengers: Endgame.

Spoilers ahead!

Make sure you check out my review of Avengers: Endgame

What’s up with the Hulk?

Smart Hulk design in Endgame
Smart Hulk in Endgame

Marvel has had a rough time with The Hulk. The Hulk started with his own movie, but Marvel couldn’t really figure out where to go next. They found success when they pushed him as a co-star in other movies.

But relegating him as a sidekick has worked out. Hulk was one of the best parts of the first Avengers movie and then really started to shine in Thor: Ragnarok.

But here’s my question about the Hulk: What really happened to him?

Starting in Ragnarok, we started to get the feeling that he was going through something. Banner had let the Hulk run free since the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. When Thor found him and helped bring Banner back, things were still a little rocky.

It only got worse for Hulk after he was defeated by Thanos in the first ten minutes of Infinity War. The Hulk refused to come out after that. Throughout the film, Banner kept trying to get Hulk to appear and fight, but Hulk refused to.

Then we move into Endgame, and off-screen, Banner has forced the Hulk out in a way that lets both of them exist.

Um, excuse me?

After all the build-up for basically two movies, things are going to repair themselves off-screen. I want to know why Hulk refused to come out. I want to know why Smart Hulk is there now. How does the Hulk feel about being a blend of two people?

My biggest question is, why did Hulk have such a problem to have a resolution off-screen?

This all seems like a cop-out as well. If Hulk didn’t want to come out and is then forced out, did anything really get settled?

I also wonder what effect this has on Hulk. We see Hulk raging from the battle of New York, and we see Smart Hulk tossing aside cars and motorcycles a bit more…politely?… Does Smart Hulk know how to fight anymore? We didn’t really get to witness that.

What Happens to the Marvel Movie Timeline?

Bruce Banner’s face looks confused
Timelines can be confusing

So here’s what I understand… Going back in time isn’t going to change the current time for the Avengers. That’s why Tony makes this plan at all since he has a family in the post-Snap world. Anything they do in the past isn’t going to affect their future.

I think. It’s all pretty confusing.

But when Hulk meets the Ancient One, she starts to talk about different timelines being created if a stone is taken away. Of course, if it is replaced immediately, that new timeline…goes away?

Okay, so in theory, our heroes take all the stones from a different time period. Then at the end of the movie, Captain America takes them all back to the time that they were taken.

But what about Thanos? In the main timeline, Thor aims for the head and kills him. Then they travel back in time for the stones, and Thanos comes with them. But then Tony uses the stones to snap Thanos and his people away.

The Thanos that got snapped away is from the past.

But if the stones get replaced at the same time that they are taken, does Thanos still travel through time?

Man, I don’t even know.

To further complicate things, when Captain America takes all the stones back, he decides to stay in the past. So does that screw up the timeline? Did Capt marry Peggy? If they are married, did they have kids? Did the Captain America in Winter Soldier kiss his own daughter or granddaughter?

Are The Infinity Stones Gone?

Thanos snapped away the Infinity Stones at the beginning of Endgame. The Avengers go back in time to get the stones back. Captain America replaces them at the end of the movie.

So are the stones gone?

Would it be possible for someone to time travel again to get the stones?

While I think that the stones are gone from the Marvel timeline, I’m not sure that the ending to them has been satisfactory. We don’t get to see them fade into nothingness so there’s no resolution.

Plus by jumping into time travel and bringing everyone back from the dead, Marvel has pretty much said that anything could happen. Someone will always be able to go back and get the stones again.

What happens next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Marvel has been working in phases since the first movie (Iron Man). We are nearing the end of Phase three, but surprisingly it’s not over yet. Phase Three will end with the next Marvel Movie due out in July, Spiderman: Far From Home.

I’m sure that Spiderman will be dealing with the fallout from the last two Avengers movies. I’m excited for a little more grounded approach to see what the world is going to be like now that everyone has come back.

The Infinite Stones have been driving the Marvel universe for a while now so I’m excited to know what will be driving things going forward. I think these plans help tighten the focus.

What’s up with all the Marvel TV shows?

So we know that there’s a Spiderman movie coming out. We also know that Guardians of the Galaxy is being worked on as well. Black Panther and Captain Marvel will most likely be getting sequels with how well those movies preformed.

We also know that many of our Avengers will be getting their own show when Disney launches their streaming service later this year. WandaVision, Hawkeye, Falcon and Bucky, and Loki are all getting a show on Marvel’s streaming service.

Does that mean that with everything that’s happened that we aren’t getting a true Captain America movie with Sam at the shield? Does Vision get remade? Did Loki use the cosmic cube that he stumbled upon during the Time Heist to start a new timeline or will we get new adventures with him.

Things are very unclear with what’s happening here. TV shows and movies are tough to schedule at the same time. That’s why when the Netflix shows launched they all mentioned the Battle for New York but never really crossed paths with any of the Avengers despite being in New York most the time.

Marvel does have an arm of the company that just does TV shows that doesn’t really integrate with the movie side. I’d love to see more integration if possible, but I think it might be too tough.

Still what is the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Wrap Up

Avengers: Endgame was a heck of a movie. While it wasn’t my favorite Avengers movie, it was a great ride. I’m really looking forward to what comes next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What did you think? Did you have the same questions after watching Avengers: Endgame?

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