Avengers: Infinity War Tries To Raise The Stakes (But Fails)

Warning: contains spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers: Infinity War tried to revolutionize the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing real stakes, but its bold ending falls short. It definitely hits an emotional mark, yet the ultimate feeling is somewhat hollow.

That's not to say Infinity War isn't an event. Fans shivered with anticipation at the prospects this film hinted at, and ven the most cynical critics and journalists agreed to keeping the films secrets locked down until the general public could see the thrills for themselves.

It was tough not to be overwhelmed by two hours and forty minutes of action, twists and one of the series' bleakest climaxes. While audiences and critics debate over the quality of the movie is it really Marvel's best or was it an underwhelming addition to the franchise? it's worth taking stock of what happened. Not only did Thanos acquire all six Infinity Stones sacrificing his own daughter, Gamora, in the process but he used that godlike power to eradicate one half of the universe's population. With barely a blink, some of the MCU's most beloved characters disintegrated before our eyes Bucky Barnes, T'Challa, Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, Nick Fury, Dr. Strange, to name a few. To say that the bad guy merely won would be an understatement. But was this "real" stakes?

This Page: What Avengers: Infinity War Tried To Do

Infinity War Ups the Emotional Stakes

Whatever you think of the ending and it has its detractors the emotional resonance it created was undeniable. The MCU hasn't been short of tear-jerking moments (think the death of Agent Coulson in The Avengers or the emotional climax between Peter Quill and Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2). Yet Avengers: Infinity War's raising of the stakes invested heavily in making sure every death mattered. It's hard not to be invested in these heroes when audiences have spent close to 20 movies with some of them. The franchise has accomplished a lot in its decade of life, but the sheer emotional force of that climax could be a new peak for it.

The emotions were also high for Thanos himself. The franchise has had issues with its villains for a while, and up until this point, many fans felt that Thanos lacked true menace or any grounding in humanity. While his motivations remain questionable, the stakes felt tangible for him in Infinity War. To gain control of the Soul Stone, he must sacrifice that which he loves the most, and so with real tears in his eyes, he tosses Gamora to her death. The relationship between Gamora and her unwanted adopted father has formed one of the MCU's most intriguing subplots, but it's one the franchise held back on until this film. The complexities between the two felt authentic and the audience keenly understood that, even for a narcissistic tyrant, the decision would haunt him for the rest of his days.

It can't be enough for a film to make the stakes high for the heroes: It must be the same for the villain, and in that aspect, Infinity War delivered on its promise. The problems come when you apply this to the wider franchise.

Marvel Avengers Infinity War Spoiler Secrecy

Audiences Know Everything About The Marvel Movies Now

Still, even for those who were genuinely moved by the bleakness of that ending, it's tough to overlook the reality of both the MCU and how Hollywood works. Now more than ever, audiences are aware of the behind-the-scenes machinations of film-making. Trade publications reporting on productions and upcoming projects used to be something only those in the business read, but now, everyone can keep up with the latest news. This means that everyone knows when a sequel has been commissioned, or if the actors involved have signed a multi-film contract.

On top of that, major studios like The Walt Disney Company will reveal their upcoming slate of releases in advance, often showing the next three or four years of films to fans and investors. Marvel fans know which films are coming up, who is featured, and when their sequels are happening. So, when we are aware of all this news, how can a movie truly raise the stakes in a way that will stick? We already know that many of the actors who died in Infinity War are set to return to the franchise in some form. Black Panther is getting a sequel. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will happen. Spider-Man 2 releases mere months after Avengers 4. None of this has been kept secret by Marvel or Disney, and so it's hardly surprising viewers will bear it in mind.

However, the narrative also stretches. Sure, T'Challa can die and that can be a genuinely emotional moment, but when the villain has a MacGuffin that the first two hours of the film established could bend space, time and reality, then how do we retain those stakes or emotional resonance? We know that Thanos or someone else wielding the Infinity Gauntlet can undo it in a flash. The reality of franchise film-making and modern Hollywood is that the stakes can never truly be that high, because to do so would be bad business.

Marvel's MacGuffin Problem Softens the Stakes

The chances are that some of the ensemble have died for good, if only to ensure that the stakes were high on some level, but maintaining that when you have the MacGuffin to end all MacGuffins under your control is suspect. Doctor Strange's final line hints that Thanos's victory was the only way to ensure his ultimate downfall, but what does that mean for Strange himself or everyone else who turned to dust? The upcoming challenge is for Kevin Feige and company to decide who really dies and who comes back.

The logic behind those choices could prove questionable. Will it be done based solely on story potential, or will the realities of the demands of franchise film-making step in and pull a few strings? If the only characters who stay dead are supporting members of the ensemble who fans are less attached to then the stakes decline yet keeping those big names dead would hurt the bottom line. Whoever remains dead despite the powers of the meag-MacGuffin that is the Infinity Gauntlet and the Time Stone will come into question. What was clearly intended as a mere storytelling device may make matters more complicated for Marvel than they could have imagined.

Infinity War certainly has stakes, and they stick long enough to ensure that the story's emotional resonance lands as intended. However, audiences don't go into these films without a lot of context nowadays. Even if they don't know the complete ins and outs of Hollywood, they know what MacGuffins are and how franchises work, and they take that knowledge into the screening room with them. Inherently, the franchise system means that the stakes can never be truly high for any film. That's not to say that they can't have meaning, but when it comes to Thanos and Avengers: Infinity War, their true power can't help but be reduced.