As the First Avenger, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, made several decisions in the franchise that shaped MCU’s Infinity Saga and beyond.
Given his decades of service to the greater good, Steve Rogers’ Captain America made several decisions that redefined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The First Avenger has been fighting in the name of what’s right since the events of World War II. Starting as a scrawny kid from Brooklyn, Rogers was given the chance to serve his country despite his health issues in Captain America: The First Avenger after he was chosen for the Super Soldier program, which made him an enhanced human being.
As a central character, Rogers had several meaningful relationships in the MCU. Captain America co-led the Avengers with Tony Stark/Iron Man. They didn’t always see eye-to-eye, as proven by their opposite stance on the Sokovia Accords, but both were devoted to protecting Earth. Despite some trysts, Rogers’ enduring romance with Peggy Carter is one of the best love stories in the MCU, while his friendship with Bucky Barnes shaped it in more ways than one. Over the course of his time in the franchise, Rogers made decisions based on his morals, relationships, and emotions, which ultimately redefined the MCU.
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6Crashing The Plane In Captain America: The First Avenger
The Joe Johnston-directed blockbuster ended with a massive cliffhanger after Rogers decided to crash the plane full of explosives heading to New York in the final minutes of Captain America: The First Avenger. The sacrificial play was him in The Avengers. Without Captain America in the 21st century, it would be an understatement to say that the Infinity Saga would look very different. Not only will the Avengers lose a valuable member, but they would also struggle to navigate difficult decisions that test their morality.
5Defying Orders In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
As a lifelong soldier, Rogers was trained to follow orders, and for the most part, he stuck to his training. His penchant for adhering to authority was further highlighted when he was partnered up with Iron Man, who was more of a rebel. Things changed for him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, however, when he discovered that the very organization that he worked for had been infiltrated, and it was revealed that SHIELD had long been run by HYDRA. Had Rogers stood down and not delved into the conspiracy theory, the terrorist organization would still be secretly making moves that endanger Earth.
On top of the ramifications in the wider MCU, Rogers wouldn’t have learned about what really happened to Bucky, as well. After being believed to be dead for decades, it was revealed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that HYDRA brainwashed Barnes to be their sleeper agent. Since discovering what happened to his best friend, several integral choices that Rogers made moving forward were based on their relationship.
4Lying About Bucky’s Role In Howard & Maria Stark’s Death
Captain America: Civil War functioned as a set-up for the Infinity Saga’s culmination in Avengers: Infinity War. Captain America and Iron Man’s differing stance about the Sokovia Accords was the primary conflict in the film, but it wasn’t the ultimate cause of their falling out. Instead, it was Rogers’ decision to lie about Bucky’s role in the death of Stark’s parents that spelled the break-up of the Avengers because it made the issue personal between Captain America and Iron Man. Baron Zemo knew exactly what this secret would do to the Avengers, and he used it against them.
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What made Rogers’ deception worse is the fact that he even attempted to lie to Stark’s face when he was directly asked about the matter just before Captain America: Civil War‘s heartbreaking final fight. It’s difficult to gauge what would have happened if Captain America had just confessed what he knew about the death of Howard and Maria Stark right after he learned what really happened. However, it’s safe to say that Iron Man wouldn’t have been so angry because Rogers would have had the chance to properly explain that Bucky was brainwashed when he murdered the Starks.
3Refusing To Sacrifice Vision In Avengers: Infinity War
There are so many reasons why the Avengers lost to Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, and that included an integral decision made by Captain America. Rogers didn’t have any problems sacrificing his own life for the greater good but had issues giving up other people. That was why he refused to sacrifice Vision in Avengers: Infinity War to prevent Thanos from acquiring the Mind Stone, effectively sabotaging the villain’s whole plan. Had Rogers made the difficult choice to give up Vision, then not only would the purple alien’s Decimation not come to fruition, but it would have also saved Wanda Maximoff the grief of watching her beloved die, twice.
2Choosing Sam Wilson As The Next Captain America
After the fight against Thanos was over, the Avengers still had one final mission: return all the Infinity Stones collected during the time heist to their respective timelines. Rogers, alone, was chosen for the task. When he came back as Old Man Steve Rogers in the Sacred Timeline, it was only to personally hand Sam Wilson the Captain America shield as his chosen successor as the next Captain America, firmly establishing Falcon as the rightful wielder of the shield. If Rogers didn’t make this personal decision, it’s safe to assume that there would be a power vacuum with regard to who owns the shield in post-Infinity Saga MCU.
1Choosing To Retire At The End Of Avengers: Endgame
With the concept of time travel already possible in the MCU, Rogers made the important decision to retire at the end of Avengers: Endgame, but not in the Sacred Timeline. After returning all the Infinity Stones used to undo the snap, Captain America went further back in time to the late ’40s to reunite with Peggy Carter. In the closing moments of Avengers: Endgame, one of the biggest films of all time, Rogers was shown finally able to live the life that he always wanted. For a time, he never believed that it could happen, but once it became possible, he made the decision to take advantage of the opportunity.
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Admittedly having Steve Rogers around in the Multiverse Saga would have been great. If he continued his servitude, perhaps there would be a clear Avengers roster in the post-Infinity Saga MCU. Wanda Maximoff would feel protected and supported, which could have prevented the events of the Westview Anomaly. However, Sam wouldn’t have discovered the secret history of Isaiah Bradley as he geared to take over the role of Captain America.
