Thanos’ Soul World Moment Betrays His Infinity Saga Arc

Thanos' (Josh Brolin) emotional Avengers: Infinity War moment in Soul World betrays his MCU arc. While Marvel Studios had been teasing the existence of the Mad Titan as early as Thor, the villain wasn't properly introduced until 2018. Avengers: Infinity War functioned as Thanos' origins story, with some of its most memorable moments in it. That included tackling his complicated with his ad Gamora (Zoe Saldana).

Marvel Studios' work was cut out for them when staging Avengers: Infinity War. Aside from kicking off the culminating of the Infinity Saga, it also needed to properly establish Thanos as its big bad. Instead of presenting a one-dimensional, power-hungry villain, the Mad Titan was motivated by his misguided belief that he needed to balance the universe by killing half of it. He was so wrapped up in his goal that he sacrificed, albeit begrudgingly, Gamora to acquire the Soul Stone in Vormir. Despite the gallant effort from the Avengers and all their allies, Thanos ultimately won, resulting in the Decimation.

However, in the immediate aftermath of enacting the snap, the Mad Titan found himself in the Way Station — MCU's version of the Soul World, where he met a young Gamora. In one of the most emotional moments of Avengers: Infinity War, she asked him if, in the end, it was worth it. Thanos said yes, but with a sad, and perhaps and some longing in his eyes. As well-done as this moment was, it actually betrayed the Mad Titan's Infinity Saga arc as it implied that despite achieving his goal, he still had unresolved issues. Otherwise, Thanos wouldn't be in the Way Station. Based on how the Soul World is utilized in the MCU, it's essentially a place of introspection for characters, allowing them to look back at their lives and examine which moments and events shaped them. If Thanos was fully sold on the idea of balancing the universe, he really wouldn't have any reason to be in the Soul World.

Thanos smiling at the Garden in Infinity War

Avengers: Endgame almost featured something similar involving Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and grown-up Morgan Stark (Katherine Langford). After Tony Stark's snap which killed him, he found himself in the same orange-tinged Way Station where he met his daughter. They briefly talked about the hero's death, where the Avenger admitted to having regrets about leaving his young family to save the universe. The scene didn't resonate with viewers during test screenings, so director Joe and Anthony Russo decided to scrap Avengers: Endgame’s post-credits, but it fits with the idea that MCU's Soul World is where characters are able to look back at their lives and ruminate about their decisions. If this was also the case with Thanos' Way Station moment in Avengers: Infinity War, then it means that the Mad Titan had some doubts if the whole thing was indeed worth it.

Marvel Studios has only featured the Soul World properly once in Avengers: Infinity War, and it's curious if it will ever factor in the MCU again. After all, it's still uncertain how exactly it works. Perhaps it can make another appearance as part of Gamora's story in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

More: Kang's Phase 4 Multiverse Introduction Creates A Problem For Avengers 5