The multiversal arc in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is causing a major upheaval in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s storytelling. While the addition of America Chavez and many variants to the mix has changed things up, it appears that certain characters have signed out for good and will not be returning (joining the long list of others).
Some exits in the MCU have provided the characters a tremendous departure, whether it’s Tony Stark’s sacrifice or the closure achieved by the universe-displaced Peter Parker. Looking back at how their arcs played out, it’s interesting to see how their stories came to a close and why these particular endings were so well-deserved.
He Who Remains
Loki on Disney+ has a lot of foreshadowing, with He Who Remains’ arrival setting up the story’ future. He Who Remains’ exit was wonderful in letting viewers know that major things were coming, even if he perished not long after his debut in the flesh.
He Who Remains offered Loki and Sylvie the option of killing him in order to shatter the multiverse, which Sylvie chose. His death put everything about the TVA into perspective, explaining why He Who Remains’ presence was vital and established Kang the Conquerer’s impending arrival.
Loki
Thanos crushed the neck of Loki from the Sacred Timeline, and he is no longer alive. His death, however, completed the God of Mischief’s transformation from a conflicted evil to a repentant figure. Loki would have left Thor to perish in his previous existence, but he bowed out of the MCU to save his brother at the cost of his own life.
Given Loki’s penchant for backstabbing, few would have predicted an honorable death, therefore seeing Loki do something truly unselfish signaled the end of his evolution. Despite his agonizing demise, Loki’s exit left no stone untouched in his quest to complete his story.
Natasha Romanoff
Natasha perished in Avengers: Endgame, but she hadn’t been seen by the public since the precursor Black Widow. This was a better sendoff for her because it detailed her entire biography, including information about her childhood, family, and what happened in Budapest.
Many people criticized that Avengers: Endgame didn’t highlight the impact of Natasha’s death, which was depicted in the end credits of Black Widow when Yelena visited her sister’s grave. Natasha’s leave provided her with the individual experience she deserved while also informing her fans about the character.
Odin
Odin’s spirit gave one of the wisest MCU lines to his son, giving Thor the power to fight Hela, as one of the All-final father’s acts. It was the final time fans saw the character, which was a fitting conclusion given his initially chilly demeanor. In the first two Thor films, Odin’s duty was to deal with mistakes he committed with his sons, but in his final appearance, he got to make amends.
Odin expressed his affection for his children and forgave Loki for trapping him on Earth. Odin leaves the MCU pleased with the knowledge that he mended with Thor and Loki before reuniting with his wife in the afterlife, one of the few peaceful deaths the MCU has ever depicted.
Peter Parker-Three
Although the Andrew Garfield incarnation of Peter Parker never had his own series, he did find closure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After saving MJ’s life, Peter-Three felt like he had finally atoned for his failure to save Gwen back in his universe.
He arrived at the MCU unhappy about all that had happened to him, but after meeting his counterparts, he left a happier man. Fans were relieved to see this version of Peter-Three happy once more, as he returned to his universe with a new attitude on life.
Steve Rogers
When Captain America was reunited with Peggy Carter in the final shot of Avengers: Endgame, it was the nicest thing that could have happened to him in the MCU. Steve had always struggled with a sense of belonging, as well as the fact that he had never fully recovered from the loss of Peggy.
Steve was able to be with the lady he loved at a place where he felt he belonged thanks to time travel. After spending so much time as a man out of time fighting worldwide wars, Steve finally got to experience true happiness for the first time in his life. He willingly entrusted the mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson to perform his ultimate obligation as an old man in the present.
T’Challa
Since What If…? revealed a version, T’Challa has had two exits in the MCU, with the Sacred Timeline T’Challa bowing out in Avengers: Endgame. Black Panther appeared in the latter, as he fought alongside his MCU colleagues to defend the universe from Thanos.
T’Challa was last seen celebrating the return of everyone who had been lost in the Snap with his family. He was last seen rescuing Peter Quill to save that reality from Ego, after which he returned to his Robin Hood-esque ways in a multiverse T’Challa managed to rehabilitate Thanos himself.
Thanos
Thanos was the MCU’s main enemy for the first three phases, and his saga was wrapped up in Avengers: Endgame. Because there were two versions, he received two exits, both of which were good sendoffs (depending on the character arc and story).
The Holy Calendar Thanos’ departure was pleasant to him because he had accomplished his aim of destroying the Infinity Stones; his life purpose had been fulfilled, and he didn’t mind being slain. In terms of the story, Thanos’ alternate exit was brilliantly done, with his death ending the Infinity War for good and unifying all of the universe’s heroes, which would never have happened otherwise.
Tony Stark
Tony Stark is responsible for the MCU’s inception, and he was given a fitting send-off. Tony sacrificed himself to help Snap defeat Thanos’ army, therefore ending the Infinity War. He was also regarded as a hero throughout the universe.
It was a fitting finale for a man who had begun as an egotist and evolved into a selfless martyr. Since Tony conducted the eulogy at his own burial when his family and friends played his final message – his final words of “I Love You 3000” are immortalized in the MCU fanbase for what was a tearjerking but fitting parting – his exit played to his portrayal.
Yondu Udonta
Yondu’s persona changed dramatically from the previous film, going from someone Star-Lord tried to avoid to receiving a hero’s sendoff. Yondu’s final appearance in the MCU saw him gladly sacrifice his life to save Star-Lord.
Yondu eventually gained the admiration of his colleagues and realized that becoming a father to Star-Lord was his greatest achievement in life. Yondu was also given a dignified funeral, with his former Ravager allies paying tribute to him. Given that the film ended with a complete focus on Yondu’s departure, it was a fitting send-off for many characters.
