The Marvel Cinematic Universe is so much more than just superpowers, explosions, and popcorn movie troupes. It is full of flawed heroes and villains that straddle the lines of morality, complex human emotions, and an intensive retrospective into the human condition. Okay, I may be overselling that just a tad, but you get what I’m saying here. No one in the MCU lives in the “absolute good”. This includes even the most clean cut boy scout of the group, Captain America. Even with his old fashioned ideals and sensibilities, he is a soldier and a man who sometimes makes the hard choice for the greater good. Which is why I don’t quite understand all of the backlash from fans about Cap’s “hypocrisy”.
You see, over on Reddit, a fan has decided to point out that, during the events of The Winter Soldier, Cap very aggressively chastised Nick Fury for all of the secrets he kept from everyone, stating that those secrets have led to many people’s deaths. But then, in Civil War, we find out that Cap himself kept a very big secret from Iron Man, the secret of his parents’ death, which ultimately led to the huge rift between them and the final nail in the coffin for the already splintered Avengers. Hypocritical, right? Wrong. It’s called growth, people.
Here’s Cap complaining about Nick holding back secrets, bit hypocritical considering he went on to hold back the fact Bucky killed Tony’s parents from him? from r/marvelstudios
Now, I’m not saying what Cap did was right, but he finally understood why Fury kept so many secrets. It’s 3 parts protecting others and 1 part protecting themselves. Cap even admits this in his letter to Stark at the end of the film.
And I call it growth because this world isn’t black and white, with things being either good or evil, right or wrong. There is a vast moral gray area that we all live in, and it was something that Cap was slowly learning during his time as an Avenger. This fan “uproar” is preposterous, just another thing for people to complain about. And, really, I think this all stems from some deeper resentment that Chris Evans is leaving the part, which means the Cap that we all know and love is done (most likely) after the still untitled Avengers 4.
So, in a sub conscience attempt to distant themselves from such a beloved character they’d hate to see go, they are attempting to create flaws in him that make him less likable. It’s like trying to internally point out all of the things “wrong” with you ex after they dump you. This makes the “breakup” just a bit easier.
What fans need to realize is that these characters, albeit superheroes, are just as messed up and flawed as we are. They’re human beings, prone to mistakes and making bad judgement calls. So, get off Cap’s back. None of you would have done it any differently. You all would have covered up the fact that your best friend from childhood, as a brainwashed assassin, killed the parents of your new best friend, to save both your new friend’s feelings, your old friend’s past, and yourself.
The real hypocrites here are the fans who are attacking Captain America while thinking they’re beyond reproach…
Do you think Cap was a hypocrite for keeping the secret? Let us know in the comments below!