Don’t forget what Captain America once said about Daredevil “Few of us who choose this life are immune to tragedy or pain. Matt Murdock has suffered more of his share than most, but he keeps soldiering on, doing what he believes is right. The fact he has been able to take what most people call a ‘disability’ and turn it into his greatest strength, the fact a blind man takes to the streets every night to defend strangers, at huge personal cost- Well. I know people look up to me. I look up to Daredevil."”
That’s amazing. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this interpretation of Cap where he looks up to others for inspiration. I love it because it feels unexpected for him when he’s the one everyone looks up to. It’s a very neat idea for the character.
I'm pretty sure I just seen a comic where batman and superman had a similar exchange. Batman described how Superman was the perfect hero, being a symbol everyone could follow, which he couldn't do himself. It was as if he was a hero by design. While Superman described Batman as the man that could have gone down a different road but used the things that happened in his life to become a hero which he felt meant more than being "perfect" because Batman made the choice to be a hero. Edit: found a photo of part the comic www.reddit.com/r/batman/comments/7jpd70/batman_and_superman_both_think_the_other_is_the/
Isn’t that a good enough reason to do so? Plus, he looked amazing. I just want to know if he did it himself (if I missed where he said that he did or didn’t, I apologise). If he did, he did an amazing job of it and should be very proud.
I love captain America because he is a man who tries to be the best he can be, no matter what happens and no matter what anyone else says. He isn't perfect but he damn tries to be and when ever he falls down and everything falls apart he will always try to be the best man he can be and you can be damn sure that that's something I was inspired when ever life gave me a kick in the balls ... No I didn't cry at the end.....nooooo you did
Agreed! One of the few things about Ultimate Cap that I liked was that he beat up Pym for physically abusing Janet and i'm pretty sure he told a African American that he was "a credit to his people", since in those moments he really felt like a guy from the 1930's/40's trying to do the right thing.
@@tigerbread78 I don't think retcon is the word to use there since they didn't change anything. They just gave their interpretation about a scene open to interpretation
As far as Cap being unable to lift Mjolnir in Age of Ultron, I always looked at it this way: Cap is actually worthy, so he's able to budge the hammer a tiny bit, but his motivation for wanting to lift it at the time wasn't worthy, and therefore he was unable to actually lift it.
"Worthy" doesn't just mean being righteous but also being the Son of Odin, the rightful heir to the throne of Asgard. I don't know why Cap could lift it in Endgame or him or others in the comics. I think its a departure from what the enchantment means, just to come up with a plot. Vision lifting it is no problem because he's a machine.
Grafight23 the enchantment states “whoever be worthy shall possess the power of Thor” both the comics and movies have other people besides Thor because they’re are no requirements for them to share blood. Otherwise there be no point in the enchantment
@@TheSly797 The point of the enchantment, according to the origin story of Don Blake (The Mighty Thor 158 -159) was to turn Donald Blake back to his true self as Thor, once he had learned humility and wisdom in Midgard. Odin tells Blake that he set up the events that led to him getting his power and identity back. I think future writers took advantage of the ambiguous nature of the phrase to allow others to lift the hammer and gain its power, but It was never defined what "worthy" really means. Could Aunt May gain the power of Thor? She certainly was pure of heart! What about Natasha? She thinks badly of herself, but she was trained as an assassin as a little girl. Like Bucky, she didn't really have a choice, yet she eventually turned to the good side. Thor was allowed to change, after all.
Captain America and Superman becomes super interesting because of the perception towards them as "perfect". It's why I love those characters, especially when they are handled well by the writer.
@@hrdkorebp lol I don't think u understood what i was saying. I wasn't taking about powers. I'm talking about their character. And also, Supes is pretty human for the most part
One of the best quality and unique channels on youtube. Not many people put in the effort that you guys at nerdsync put into your videos. Thanks for existing!
Indeed, Imaginary Axis is basically the only channel that competes as far as I'm concerned, and that guy uploads like twice per year if we're lucky lol.
Patrick (H) Willems whose voice I swear I hear narrating Tony Stark’s speech bubble is pretty effortful. Granted, he’s a(n aspiring) film maker. Filmjoy’s pretty good, too. Lindsay Ellis. Et cetera. That said, NerdSync is amazing in his own right and brings so much uniqueness to his videos. These videos are fantastic, ever improving, and phenomenal.
@Arcana IX i miss 2015 NerdSync, i like these ones too but im a little nostalgic. Staying up late watching comic misconceptions was a blast back then, also i said in a comment that i loved him and got a responce so i was big fan after that lol
I thought Kevin Feige said the same interpretation as Russos' in his AMA But then again, it doesn't invalidate Cap's imperfection, because Thor was a total mess and still worthy, so it's about something else.
Basically every person involved whose opinion is worth anything to the MCU weighed in with the same basic idea. Cap was worthy in Ultron, but he refused to lift it out of respect for Thor's feelings. Whedon, Feige, and both Russo's all said it. The only thing I don't get is why it has to be Thor's feelings. Thor is already worthy, it's the other Avengers who'd be taking a blow to the ego.
Steve Rogers isn’t great because he is Captain America. Captain America is great because he is Steve Rogers. Its not that he could throw the shield far better than anyone else, its the generosity and kindred spirit he had, the ability to see the bright side when all hope was lost. Thats why i love Steve.
I'd be interested in a take on how the CW versions of Arrow, Flash, and Supergirl all contain this element of "everything is my fault" to an absurd degree. To the point where The Flash, faster than any human being could ever hope to be, constantly says "I wasn't fast enough", as if that's some kind of personal failure.
Great video as always, man. In fairness to the Russos though, Joss Whedon himself said years ago that Cap could've lifted the hammer in AoU but stopped himself
This. Kind of wish it'd get more likes so more would see it as Scott's joke becomes moot with the extra context that the original film director said he felt Cap could have then years later those brothers agreed with him making it canon.
I mean his point is more that regardless of whst the director says he thinks its a better moment when anyone can interpret it their own way. Even if joss whedon says cap could have lifted it i think the point stays the same.
@@zayray4283 i know, and he knows as well. In the video he is arguing that making it canon was a bad thing because 1) he likes a different interpretation of that moment, and 2) he thinjs its better for the moment to be open to interpretation. Your statement of "its canon though" is pointless because it has to be canon because otherwise hes disagreeing with nothing. If i said "i think they should have made thanos blue" and you respond "yeah but hes not blue", then youve said nothing, because my initial statement only makes sense if thanos is not blue. So pointing that fact out is pointless. Same thing with the hammer thing. To be clear thats just an example, i dont actually want a blue thanos lol
It's not canon though. WoG is not the same as canon. It is more optional canon. You are always free to ignore it, especially since WoG can be contradictory.
I would argue that even if the Russo’s interpretation is to be believed that doesn’t make him perfect, it makes him worthy. Thor is already worthy but he’s definitely not perfect
The point of Cap's speech in Winter Soldier was to prevent the ships being launched. Yes, he staked his reputation and future on it, but he was prepared to lose as long as they didn't get launched. Had I been at SHIELD, I would have refused to launch, too, not because I thought Cap was perfect/always right, but because the consequences if he were right were too big. If I don't launch and am proven wrong, I lose my job and the project is delayed (also possible trial for treason, including risk of death penalty, but I think SHIELD wouldn't want that in order to decrease their embarrassment). If I launch, and Cap's proven right, I have personally been responsible for thousands of innocent deaths. As an Occam's Razor, I don't launch.
Honestly, Captain America very quickly became my favourite character in the MCU when it began. He was just such a nice guy. He's likeable. In today's world, having that one guy be as reliably virtuous as him feels rare and it was just so very nice to see. He was someone to aspire to be. I view Superman in a similar light, but writers seem to prefer dragging him down more recently, with the exception of Supergirl, which seems to have done him quite well.
ArthurHLI oh man now I need to see Chris Evans in Bojack as a relentlessly optimistic upbeat guy who drives Mr. Peanutbutter insane with jealously. Maybe dating Jessica Biel?!?
Is this video asking a question 60 years too late? Just like Supes, this has always been Cap's mojo. He's All-American, milk and wholesome. Frankly, after all the gritty reboots and cynical heroes of the times, it makes him endearing. I'm all for Mr. Nice Guy Steve Rogers. It reminds me of being a kid and when Cap and Superman were the shining beacons.
Jos also said, when asked about cap lifting the hammer, something to the extent of "do we know he couldn't lift the hammer. Did he fail, or did he stop" so it wasn't just the Ruso brothers hinting that Cap was also worthy.
Well he left it vague on purpose though. And the Russos were clear that it was their opinion, not a fact. Personally I prefer the idea that he couldn't lift the hammer, because of the one secret he kept from Tony... Bucky killing his parents.
@@yoursonisold8743 I dunno, watching him actually answer the question, it sounds like he's hinting at cap being worthy pretty hard, and also someone being able to only budge the hammer, I've never seen or heard about that before. However, I do see what you are getting at, and I guess without getting a straight answer from Joss himself, we may never know.
Yourson Isold i agree with this theory too. The only thing literally weighing on Cap’s conscience is him holding the secret of Bucky killing Stark’s parents. The secret literally weighs on mjolnir and holds him back. Its only until after the truth comes out that he has nothing weighing him down and so he can readily summon mjolnir as he needs it
I think Cap was kinda morally perfect... which is different than perfect. He would do things well, but he would never do anything against his conscience, even if it would save half the universe. And that is Cap's flaw. Also, if others feel inferior, that can't be blamed on Cap. In fact, it's the opposite. They should be using Cap as an ideal to be better. If a person is too good, you can't say them being good is bad. Rather, it's the way they should be. And in the MCU, Cap does nothing morally wrong. He is what people should strive to be. And frankly, the Russo's version of Cap always being worthy makes sense. Or else, the hammer wouldn't have flown to him since he couldn't have made a connection previously and Thor said "I knew it"
Basically, yeah. We don't even know what 'perfect' means so how can we call Cap perfect when he's just trying to find the best way possible to go about things? Russos' Cap was great but sometimes the people who like the other characters (Tony) become blind on why Steve's like that. Such as CW ending: while they pin it on Steve being 'uncaring' to Tony's feelings that Bucky basically murdered his parents, Steve operated on the fact that WS is not Bucky, therefore should not be exalted. Hell, T'Challa understood. Did Steve lie? Maybe, but we don't really know that don't we, fans just went with the flow and was brought by their emotions (Tony's side in CW) and not how logically the MCU went (Steve's side, aka, another "morally perfect" stance). In the end, he was always worthy. Because he would always, always do the right thing, no matter how it would hurt more. He would defend a man who was manipulated and abused before a man who thought he was to be killed because of his actions. He would face Thanos one-on-one even if he knew it might end him. It's not because he's perfect. It's just he's trying to do his best to do the right thing.
@@forestgreenking I think it should also be noted that Cap is quite the simple person. I mean, he's complex as a character in some ways, but his core is quite simple, quite straightforward. For a man like that, staying more "perfect" would be easier. He has less to worry about, and more to stick too.
I always interpreted the Ultron Hammer scene as Cap choosing not to life the hammer. But I've never really like the idea that he stopped to not hurt Thor's feelings.
@@sketchasaurrex4087 Well, me personally, yes. But also I don't Cap is worried about people's pride, I mean I don't think he's someone to beat someone while they're down. But I've always read the scene as Cap's just trying to pick up a hammer because that's what everyone else is doing and he's just having fun with his friends, when it starts to move it startles him cuz he's not expecting it, he loosens his grip, let's it slip, and decides he doesn't want that. He's not trying to be worthy, he doesn't need that, he chooses to be self effacing instead.
One fan theory states that Steve couldn't lift the hammer because up until civil war, Steve was keeping the fact that Bucky murdered the Starks secret from Tony and for no other reason than the selfish one to protect Bucky. At the end of civil war, Steve is able to apologize for his secrecy to Tony and thus finally became worthy.
Too quick to judge, too slow to forgive. This is my most iconic, famous and amazing quote of Captain America because that quote is really happening in the real world and we need to act to it before the time runs out.
Great video from an ever greater Channel. Cap was always the Superman of Marvel to me. Both are the apex of social and human ethics. It is not them who are wrong. It's usually the world around them. And their struggle comes from watching them trying to keep their morals and sense of justice when trying to take on the wrongdoers. They are usually the ones their respective universes gravitate towards. They are their beacons of hope and righteousness. I see their role as one of extreme importance. The remaining characters need at least one person with that level of perfection in their universe that helps them regulate their behaviour.
Actually he is even better. Unlike Superman who just "is" the way he is because of providence, Steve Rogers was chosen to and granted powers because he was already believed to represent the values of his nation. Superman was born powerful, Steve Rogers was not so lucky. In the MCU and future comics interpretations they improve this message even further because Bucky stops being just his sidekick and is instead this fellow soldier who was even stronger than him in some ways. And rather than being a strong man, all Steve had was a good soul, but his body was frail. Yet he still wanted to be good and help others. Thatmakes him superior to Superman in a way because he's a character who strives to be perfect and an idol for others, but began as a mere frail mortal like any other human being.
LeonGun8 . But doesn't Captain America strive to be that perfect representation of values as you stated, where superman is just a reflection of his true self because of all the reasons about powers being granted versus horn with, etc?
@@friedfrog5447 that's really bad writing though. It's really really one dimensional. "He's good because he's good " is silly. You can try to make that sound deep all you want but it's not. Cap is never ever shown to have flaws or make mistakes and his "good" nature is never explained in any way shape or form. Superman on the other hand has a REASON for being the way he is. Who raised him being a big theme and the fact that he can't lose his temper or he could do insane damage to entire cities or on an even bigger scale or just accidently kill someone. And even with Superman's god like powers, he still makes mistakes that are framed as mistakes. Cap can pretty universally do no wrong. At least it's framed that way. That's the definition of one dimensional writing.
The way I feel about Cap is that he may not be perfect but his tenaciousness is something we all have the power to achieve. The power to keep going. No matter what.
Nope, I don't have that power. Most people don't have that power. Resilience is one of the strangest things to find in people and I don't think you can just "achieve it".
92brunod True but I meant we all at least have the power to try or just be a good person. For me cap being just a human who’s a good person is part of what makes him inspiring to me. How about we all have the power to be good and try to do what we can?
"I... I think I make mistakes." That one line is so powerful and shows how human Captain America is. Does anyone know the source of these panels? I know it's Civil War, but which issue? I'd love to read the entire exchange.
I’ve never watched the captain America films and I’ve never really been a captain America fan But from what I have seen Chris is very good at playing him
My best, iconic, famous and popular Marvel superhero of all-time is Captain America because he inspires me of what he says for the good result that the situation will be easier for everyone and everybody. I really love about Captain America is that he is not just wanting to be a leader but he accepts it just to become the leader.
Just for the record, there's vid of Whedon at a SDCC panel in 2015 insinuating that Cap might've just *chosen* not to lift the hammer. Also, Feige said it, and if Feige says it, it is law. That is all. Continue. Edit: I also have no idea what this video is all about.
Steve Rogers isn’t always perfect in the comics but in the movie, they always shift the narrative to justify his mistakes. That’s why I like his comics characterization better than his MCU characterization.
Cap as a "perfect" being, along with Batman and Superman and the moral dichotomy therein helped my grandfather cope with his morality when struggling with his PTSD when an industrial accident took away his main coping mechanism, exercise. Thats the point of aspirational characters. Thats the point of superheroes.
Yeah, the hero worship of Cap in the MCU always kinda irked me. Maybe it's because I've never understood the reason to hero worship anyone and because I don't think he's perfect at all. He can be a bit over dramatic about things (I love when Peggy said this to him in WS). He's hard on himself when he doesn't need to be (self blame ain't cute), a bit naive and self righteous, and come off as having a bit of a savior complex. And that's probably because that's been put upon him by others and sometimes by himself. Either way he's got flaws but he's a good man. Not a perfect soldier but a good man. Plus since he's an American hero (a HISTORICAL American hero at that), he's probably been in very school textbook and piece of media for the last 70+ years in MCU. So it's no wonder dudes like Coulson and Scott are in such awe of him. Historical figures are usually given the "hero" treatment until we learn about the REAL them. That and the Halo effect (yes he's a handsome patriotic boi but serum be damned, he's still an imperfect human being).
kids love captian america and superman . Men love batman and ironman (Mcu) . because they know life isn't about challenging your weaknesses and attaining the perfection . It is accepting whatever you are . it isn't about doing your best out against all the odds . but doing the necessary . it is not about standing for an ideal just situation but the knowlege of there is isn't any ideal justice In the end you always need the imperfect ones to do the sacrifice
I feel the comics version (the "real" version) is as flawed as the next guy. He constantly battles with the weight of being a living symbol. He has depression issues (not as deeply as Tony Stark, but they're still present). At least twice it became all too much for him, and he walked away for a while. And, I almost fear to mention "Hydra Cap". Technically, he's still got that stuff hanging over his head because it was never properly resolved. The complaint may hold more validity for the MCU adaptation of Cap, though. About midway through Winter Soldier, Cap really stopped growing as a character, and he coasted through another Cap movie and a half and two Avengers movies. Even Civil War ended up being more a Tony Stark movie than a Captain America movie. Cap just didn't do interesting things anymore, and he also had no flaws. He was just...there as a character. Other than the illusion of growth from becoming able to lift the hammer, he really didn't change at all in the last four years. I just don't think they knew what to do with him, and I think Chris Evans was bored with it all.
So the last video was of Superman. This was of Captain America. Both have been referred to as big blue boy scouts. Also both known as my two favorite superheros. Thank you. Your awesome and so is the channel.
I'd say, Cap pretty much got over the whole being perfect thing by Endgame. Especially when he got a good look at himself in the mirror. So to speak. 🤔
I think Cap didn't pick up the hammer because to himself, Cap is just a regular guy and he didn't want them to see him as something greater than he already was. The MCU shows cap didn't love all the attention that came with being " Captain America" and picking up the hammer would just have added more to that.
I've always (especially after Endgame) thought this, and in a way it makes me feel really, really bad for him. I've never been much of a Captain America fan, mainly because of him being 'too perfect'. I don't like him, but I do feel sorry for him. I think one of the reasons people were so shocked at the end of Endgame when he goes back and stays with Peggy (I'm not defending him, he shouldn't have done that but...) was because that is (correct me if I'm wrong) the first truly selfish thing he's done. I know in Civil War he went against 117 countries for Bucky, but that wasn't really being selfish. I'm sure that factored into it but I don't think that was the lone reason; he wanted Bucky to be safe, he wanted justice for whoever had actually done it, and he didn't think the Accords were right in the first place. Anyway, when he goes back to the 1940s at the end of Endgame, leaving Bucky, Sam, the Avengers and all the better things of the 21st century (internet, gay marriage, less racism and sexism) for Peggy (and in doing so essentially killing children and a man's relationship), this seems so out of character. And yeah, it is out of character. For the past five years he's basically become a grief counselor for heck's sake. But he's been hurting; been thrown into a world he doesn't know and a world which only wants Captain America, he's made new friends but eventually they die and he's left alone again. The only person he has to open up to is a semi-stable hundred year old man, aka Bucky Barnes, who is so different from the kid who would save him in alleyways. I'm not defending his choice, but he's hurting, and he hides it so well we forget, and so maybe it wasn't all that out of character; if you look back it'd really been coming for a long time.
I hate the supposition that Steve is always right, because Civil War is literally all about the fact that both Tony and Steve are wrong, their ideologies are both flawed, and neither of them can get past that. But _even more_ the central focus of the movie is that Steve is willing to break most of the rules he upholds for his own entirely selfish reasons and that kinda justifies Tony's point about accountability.
You got it wrong, he never upheld rules. He upheld right. Rules can be and often are wrong, slavery was once OK by the rules, but a moral person doesn’t claim that makes it right. Steve was not just serving his own interests by protecting Bucky, he was doing the right thing. Because the rules put in place were wrong and they were being used as a tool to justify bypassing justice for the sake of re establishing authority.
Love these videos so much Scott! And don't worry, I can sense the resentment coming from you about Cap in the video, but no matter how perfect he is, it's no match for those beautifully round, smooth cheeks of yours. Ditch the eyeliner dude, there's no need for it with the cheeks on display. Though I'm not very familiar with Cap in the comics, I love Cap's depiction in the MCU. I find him very inspiring and truly impactful with his sincerity, integrity, and pure good. I think it's great to have a few heroes like this. His character shined through most in the Cap sequels, where he stood steadfast against the government in his convictions. This also turned him from cheesy into a badass (along with his gritty, Bourne-esque fighting style). Smartly played Russo Brothers! For the record, I loved him already.
No, there is a balance in the universe... Before the serum Steve had a perfect character but his body wasn't perfect. Perfect morals but he had no way to inforce them. He was given a midly push to his true capabilities... A true good man.
In the comics have they ever made Cap a mutant? His ability is exactly what you mention in the video, he's able to basically make people do what he wants just by making some amazing speech because he's seen as this perfect figure. I feel like there could be some interesting take to Cap where instead of it just be people idolizing him, it's an actual power.
I'm pretty sure that the more interesting take is that he is such a perfect, good person that people follow anything he says rather than some Kilgrave mind control wackiness. There are way more interesting themes to explore when we can make direct comparisons to leaders and dictators in the real world and how charisma can be used as a tool for good and bad.
I definitely disagree with the idea that cap in age of Ultron could have lifted the hammer but didn't. For one thing I'm not sure how you would fake the struggle... I feel like it makes more narrative sense that through his struggle with Tony, his reaching out to Tony, then his subsequent standing down Thanos the first time that his worthiness grew.
For me, the reason he wasn't able to fully lift thor's hammer in AoU was because his character arc was not developed at its fullest. He may have caught up with everything that is happening in this modern world, but yet again he feels lost. That is the reason why I believe cap wasn't able to lift thor's hammer until he saw Peggy again at the 70s. He finally found a way to go back, he found where he belongs and finally he is complete. He is worthy.
The concept that he was ready to lift the hammer in AoU undermines the arc, not only in that movie, but every movie between it and Endgame. Him not being ready UNTIL Endgame (when he's accepted that some sacrifices for the greater good are totally called for, i.e. Whatever it takes) is the arc. That's the quality a king would need, to be worthy of the power entrusted to Thor. Also that's why Nat totally could have lifted the hammer by the end of AoU, but she never got the chance to try.
I think all NerdSync has left to be fully inducted into the annals of BreadTube is to pour a liquid over his head. He has the beautiful lighting and penchant for makeup.
1. I suggest toning down the contrapoints, it doesn't really work here. Making the distinction of different characters with varying perspectives interacting with the subject matter is what makes her channel work. Maybe something to consider with more like these? 2. I really enjoy the thoughts in this video. Very interesting even if it feels a little directionless. 3. Cap lifting the hammer is because he's worthy, not perfect. Perhaps getting into why those things are different could have been a larger topic. Hope you make more!
These essays are getting better and better and better. Love your take and thoughts on all of this and the way you put these videos together is second to none!
So awesome to hear Patrick Willems in a Nerdsync video! I love how this shows more of Captain America than just as a "good" guy and gives us more of his character being human... That line at the end, "I... I think I make mistakes." I love you guys! ❤️
I prefer the interpretation that Cap wasn't yet worthy to wield the hammer during Age of Ultron because he was actively lying to one of his closest friends since Winter Soldier; that he knew that it was his Bucky who murdered Tony's parents. It wasn't until Endgame where both Tony and Steve put aside their guilt and resentment where Cap was finally worthy of wielding Mjolnir.
NerdSync & Philosophy Tube are both getting super artsy lately. Still enjoy the content, I just wouldn't mind it getting dialed back a bit. Just an opinion, so don't go roasting me over it please. It's their channel, and to each their own. If you enjoy it more power to you.
I think he needed civil war and even infinity war + the 5 years to develop a sort of 'worthiness', especially since we now know through Thor that worthiness is not the same as perfection. I even think that perhaps MCU Vision without the humanity of Bruce and Tony would not have been able to lift it as a perfect android
So, I went for my own reason why C.A. couldn't lift the hammer; he was doing it out of hubris, he was competing, like anyone else, and although he might be worthy, wasn't trying to lift it for the right reason
@@netzach21 to an extent he learns to control his hubris, but you cannot compare him to Cap and insist that he is more humble than Cap at any point in the MCU. He maintains some of his insecure sense of superiority up till now.
@@politereminder6284 That's a fantastic point, I guess I'm stuck in trying to define what being worthy actually means, without that, I don't know why he didn't lift the hammer in age of ultron, I'll guess I have to settle on the explanation the Russo's gave that, he is just such a nice guy
I like that paragons exist, even if they're usually not my favorite. I think that might be why I like Spider Man a lot: He's definitely not perfect, he's certainly not _seen_ as perfect but he tries his damn best and is, plain and simply, good.
While I love the video, I can't really approve of using the Civil War comic as evidence because so much of it revolves around characters behaving out of character.
Oh my god. Yes. MCU's Civil War was so irksome to me because it's based on comic dynamics, which, /hello/, we didn't get in MCU because it started with them being frienemies, which was never a thing in the comics before Civil War. I had an almost emotional detachment with the ending because it was so stupid; it really was correct that it was more emotionally 'sad' by dividing them on grounds that just pushed the two men apart. Still, Tony reacting and Steve lying?? lmao stop with the comic basis. they should've just based it on the movies... never showed anything like that.
My ex had a friend who dumped a guy who was way out of her league because he was too nice. We live a world where if you're too nice you're judged cynically and you have to be full of drama and angst. It's not like being like Tony would be better since he's impulsive and aggressive. No one says to be perfect. Steve doesn't try to do anything but be himself. But their is no harm in trying, it's like saying I'll never get a job as good as that perosn has so I'm going to judge them and not care or be cynical.
Russo’s didn’t have anything to do w/ Age of Ultron, but Joss Whedon did and he’s the one that stated that Cap was worthy to lift the hammer. Russos were just backing him up
I don't get why the cutaway to the "I like that interpretation" line. Joss who directed the party scene had the russos on set for that and explained it during the commentary for the film.
Extremely insightful video, as always. I think there's another flaw that Cap has (at least the MCU version of him) that he alluded to at the end of Age of Ultron: he can't stop fighting--which is more of a trait than a flaw, but I think Cap sometimes takes the trait to its extreme. Since before he became a super-soldier, Steve was always getting in fights with people he couldn't beat; during the war he disobeyed an order not to engage the enemy; in Age of Ultron his nightmare was the end of the war; in Civil War he resisted the idea of possibly being told not to join the fight. It never really has consequences because he is a good man, so we can always trust him to fight for the right cause, but his judgement has been flawed several times, ironically during several exchanges with Tony. I would think that in Age of Ultron he was just shy of worthy of lifting Thor's hammer, but as the first Thor movie taught us, a character's worthiness can change, and that was my take on how he was worthy to wield it in Endgame: he became worthy over time and through some character development. And while it speaks volumes to his character, Thor is a prime example of the fact that one can be worthy while still being far from perfect.
Steve is just playing a character. He has been since he got the serum. If you play a character long enough, you become them. Steve Rogers became a character. Steve Rogers became Captain America
@@n1ghtbreak not necessarily. Yes Steve does share an ideology somewhat similar Captain America, but they fight for different reasons. The only point Steve went to war was because of his personal ties to Bucky (since Bucky got captured). Steve goes of to save Bucky, but later loses him a second time. At that point in time Steve is completely stripped away of his previous life and identity since he lost his only family. At that point in time I feel like he fully embraced this character that everyone got to love. The became Captain America because that's what everyone needed. By Endgame I feel like Steve becomes Steve again. He quits being Captain America at the end and embraces being Steve Rogers.
I just want to put this out there, this is just an interpretation. Maybe Steve is the perfect human, but I don't think that's really interesting. I'm probably wrong. But that's the joy of art though, subjectivity.
Cap may not always do the right thing, but he always wants to do the right thing. He's not perfect, but he rarely if ever lets his ego get in the way. When he does make mistakes, he does what a good person should and tries to make up for it. Other heroes don't always do that.
Is Thor perfect? No. Is Thor worthy? Yes. Worthiness is not perfection. He's flawed, but he tries, that's what makes him worthy (My interpretation anyway). EDIT: Ah, watching the full video was definitely a better experience, should have watched it completely before commenting
The problem with Steve is that he's so perfect even his flaws can be framed as good. He just cares too goshdarn much, he feels like he has to save everyone and that he blames himself for things that aren't his fault. Those are Mary Sue flaws, specifically designed to make him look even better. In reality, at least in the MCU, he has a very judgemental, very hypocritical streak that nobody ever calls him out on. Not even the writers. That detracts a lot from his character because every other Avenger is allowed real flaws which they face responsibility and consequences for. Ultron said that Cap couldn't live without a war, that he needed a conflict to feel relevant. I wish they had explored that aspect of his personality more, instead of ignoring every questionable thing he's done and acting like he's some sort of star-spangled messiah.
Shiny Soroka Cap has rarely made mistakes in the MCU and when he has they are easily explained in his favor. And Cap doesn’t judge people nor has he being hypocritical of any of his core beliefs. That’s his entire character. He also isn’t a Mary Sue lol. I’d love to hear how you came to this strange conclusion
@@zayray4283 I didn't say he was a Mary Sue. What I said is, those are Mary Sue flaws. They are the kind of flaws you present at a job interview, there to make you look even better. Which is a shame, because Cap has real ones and they tend to parallel America's flaws. That's also where we first see his hypocrisy too. He chews out Fury in WS and brings down SHIELD and HYDRA because he thinks they have too much power and aren't accountable to anyone. But when his own power is challenged in CW, suddenly the safest hands are his own and if civilians die, well, that's just war, sometimes you can't save everyone. He doesn't like that Thor and Stark keep secrets from him, but he doesn't tell Stark about his parents until it's too late. He tells Snap survivors to move on, but goes back to Peggy, despite the fact that she told him the same thing. He keeps failing to practice what he preaches. He also tends to resort to hollow judgements and empty platitudes. In the first Avengers, he goes off on a judgemental tirade on Stark for no reason except to prove he doesn't like him. He mocks him for "always having a way out" but his plan on how to defeat aliens if they show up again is "Together." He always has a battle strategy, but never a preemptive plan because "when you try to prevent a war, people die." Except that they die after a war starts too... Those are all legitimate and good flaws, but the problem is that the writers love him too much to acknowledge any of them. Instead, they make up other, prettier flaws, instead of developing Steve as a character. Because they think he's already perfect and that blind love makes them write him as a stuck-up jerk. What's more, they expect the audience not to notice and love him too. It showed a lot when people called them out on Steve's ending in Endgame and neither the writers nor the directors could agree on what happened. They didn't expect the backlash, they all thought everyone would be happy for Steve, but when you give one character everything they wanted and nothing to everyone else, it tends to raise eyebrows. I'm not saying Steve's is a bad person. I'm just saying that he doesn't get called out on his flaws, when every other Avenger is.
Shiny Soroka Most of that is wrong. Steve is consistent in his beliefs and rarely contradicts himself. In WS he was upset with shield for keeping secrets and pushing the boundaries of order by spying and holding millions on gunpoint so they would act accordingly which is very fascist. That’s not freedom it’s fear, and Steve is all about people being free to do and choose for themselves. In CW the situation is has changed it’s not the same as WS argument lol this is about the Avengers and he was absolutely correct they are the safest people to have that power and we the audience knows this. Their freedom is just as important as the common man cause all people are created equal. The Avengers saved far more lives than any government would do in the same situation not to mention the villains cause those problems not the hero’s unless you count Tony. Steve was mad because of the weight of those secrets would affect the entire team not just one person. Tony’s secret caused Phase 3 as a whole with Ultron and he never really got mad at Thor cause he figured he was going to chase down a lead. Steve secret was kept to spare two people he had respect for from a dark truth. And it’s the only one he’s got. And he moved on, but Having the option to go back in time and live the life he lost and deserved was an obvious choice to make. He even tells Natasha that he and them never really do move on. He is perfect that’s his biggest flaw. That’s caps character. He is perfect in an imperfect world thus making him a target for everything Steve’s ending in endgame is fine, people who got upset can’t understand it cause they don’t have the IQ for it and I hate explaining it a thousand times a week. And Steve is a jerk? Who is your favorite avenger? I bet 10 bucks they are more of a jerk lol wtf
to contradict the title and ignore the Russo brothers, my friend told me (no idea what his source was) that Cap was unable to lift the hammer because at that point he was keeping Tony's parents murders a secret. unofficial or not i still think it makes more sense and makes Endgame's payoff much more satisfying.
I think, if anything, Cap didn't fully lift the hammer in that one scene because he didn't know he could. He didn't properly follow through. Outside of that, yeah, he needed civil war - endgame to be worthy
In all seriousness though, if we think chronologically about where he was in that moment in Endgame... he'd just seen Peggy for the first time in a decade, like, an hour before he lifts the hammer. Earlier in the movie he gives a speech about moving on, but now he's been reminded that he himself has not moved on. He was lying to himself, but now he's ready to admit his flaws and is going to take action to be happy (even if he hasn't yet made the decision to go back in time, he's there emotionally). The enchantment was intended to teach Thor humility - makes sense this would be the final straw for Cap as well. But of course there are a lot of things between Ultron and Endgame that could've allowed him to lift it.
nah he was already able to lift the hammer he was either worthy or not, there's no middle ground the fact that he could budge it indicates that he was able to lift it, just chose not to
Don’t forget what Captain America once said about Daredevil
“Few of us who choose this life are immune to tragedy or pain. Matt Murdock has suffered more of his share than most, but he keeps soldiering on, doing what he believes is right. The fact he has been able to take what most people call a ‘disability’ and turn it into his greatest strength, the fact a blind man takes to the streets every night to defend strangers, at huge personal cost-
Well. I know people look up to me.
I look up to Daredevil."”
What comic was that? Love me some daredevil and cap comics
That’s amazing. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this interpretation of Cap where he looks up to others for inspiration. I love it because it feels unexpected for him when he’s the one everyone looks up to. It’s a very neat idea for the character.
king muizz
It didn’t happen in a comic, but in a Facebook game
avengersalliance.wikia.com/wiki/Marvel_XP:_Dossiers/Daredevil
@@Chenso2099 Here is the thing. Cap doesn't look at himself as someone to be looked up to. He instead actually respects others.
I'm pretty sure I just seen a comic where batman and superman had a similar exchange.
Batman described how Superman was the perfect hero, being a symbol everyone could follow, which he couldn't do himself. It was as if he was a hero by design.
While Superman described Batman as the man that could have gone down a different road but used the things that happened in his life to become a hero which he felt meant more than being "perfect" because Batman made the choice to be a hero.
Edit: found a photo of part the comic www.reddit.com/r/batman/comments/7jpd70/batman_and_superman_both_think_the_other_is_the/
That sketch at the beginning didn't require makeup at all. Scott just wanted to wear makeup.
I can understand why He looks good in it.
What do you mean beginning? It’s throughout the whole video
@@me104th It's also at the beginning
Anyone else think he might go full drag in the future? Lol jk
Isn’t that a good enough reason to do so? Plus, he looked amazing. I just want to know if he did it himself (if I missed where he said that he did or didn’t, I apologise). If he did, he did an amazing job of it and should be very proud.
I love captain America because he is a man who tries to be the best he can be, no matter what happens and no matter what anyone else says.
He isn't perfect but he damn tries to be and when ever he falls down and everything falls apart he will always try to be the best man he can be and you can be damn sure that that's something I was inspired when ever life gave me a kick in the balls
...
No I didn't cry at the end.....nooooo you did
Agreed! One of the few things about Ultimate Cap that I liked was that he beat up Pym for physically abusing Janet and i'm pretty sure he told a African American that he was "a credit to his people", since in those moments he really felt like a guy from the 1930's/40's trying to do the right thing.
Nersync's reaction to the Russo's retcon of Cap and the hammer sums up how I feel perfectly.
@@tigerbread78 I don't think retcon is the word to use there since they didn't change anything. They just gave their interpretation about a scene open to interpretation
Nope. Once you start registering people for being different, you're already in the wrong.
Fabrisse ter Brugghe They were illegally crossing country borders.
As far as Cap being unable to lift Mjolnir in Age of Ultron, I always looked at it this way: Cap is actually worthy, so he's able to budge the hammer a tiny bit, but his motivation for wanting to lift it at the time wasn't worthy, and therefore he was unable to actually lift it.
"Worthy" doesn't just mean being righteous but also being the Son of Odin, the rightful heir to the throne of Asgard. I don't know why Cap could lift it in Endgame or him or others in the comics. I think its a departure from what the enchantment means, just to come up with a plot. Vision lifting it is no problem because he's a machine.
I don't think you can be slightly worthy, it's either you can lift it or you can't.
Grafight23 the enchantment states “whoever be worthy shall possess the power of Thor” both the comics and movies have other people besides Thor because they’re are no requirements for them to share blood. Otherwise there be no point in the enchantment
@@TheSly797 The point of the enchantment, according to the origin story of Don Blake (The Mighty Thor 158 -159) was to turn Donald Blake back to his true self as Thor, once he had learned humility and wisdom in Midgard. Odin tells Blake that he set up the events that led to him getting his power and identity back. I think future writers took advantage of the ambiguous nature of the phrase to allow others to lift the hammer and gain its power, but It was never defined what "worthy" really means. Could Aunt May gain the power of Thor? She certainly was pure of heart! What about Natasha? She thinks badly of herself, but she was trained as an assassin as a little girl. Like Bucky, she didn't really have a choice, yet she eventually turned to the good side. Thor was allowed to change, after all.
Grafight23 The enchantment makes complete sense, just pseudo intellectuals over analyze to the point nothing makes sense anymore
Captain America and Superman becomes super interesting because of the perception towards them as "perfect". It's why I love those characters, especially when they are handled well by the writer.
Patrick Imperial except it's easy to be perfect when you're indestructible, Steve is human.
Yeah leave Superman out of the discussion with Steve.
@@youngspooks lol kk
@@hrdkorebp lol I don't think u understood what i was saying. I wasn't taking about powers. I'm talking about their character. And also, Supes is pretty human for the most part
@@youngspooks leave me be
One of the best quality and unique channels on youtube. Not many people put in the effort that you guys at nerdsync put into your videos. Thanks for existing!
Indeed, Imaginary Axis is basically the only channel that competes as far as I'm concerned, and that guy uploads like twice per year if we're lucky lol.
Mr.E 2019 captain America vs. 2012 Captain America who will win in avengers endgame.
Patrick (H) Willems whose voice I swear I hear narrating Tony Stark’s speech bubble is pretty effortful. Granted, he’s a(n aspiring) film maker. Filmjoy’s pretty good, too. Lindsay Ellis. Et cetera.
That said, NerdSync is amazing in his own right and brings so much uniqueness to his videos. These videos are fantastic, ever improving, and phenomenal.
@@bluepowerranger9228 2023
@Arcana IX i miss 2015 NerdSync, i like these ones too but im a little nostalgic. Staying up late watching comic misconceptions was a blast back then, also i said in a comment that i loved him and got a responce so i was big fan after that lol
Taking inspiration from ContraPoints I see.
Its glorious, I stan this video
Will Scott get to join the LeftTube Cinematic Universe?
Quentin Marshall He already had collabs with PhilosophyTube!
HAHA! I love that he confirmed this with a heart. Scott embracing his true self.
You beat me to it, lmao.
I thought Kevin Feige said the same interpretation as Russos' in his AMA
But then again, it doesn't invalidate Cap's imperfection, because Thor was a total mess and still worthy, so it's about something else.
"Worthy" as defined by Odin...
Toa Tahu And (at least early) comics Odin is a fickle, raving lunatic
Are you implying the fatness should disqualify one from worthiness?
T Duke Perry I was more thinking the directionlessness and hiding, but it turned out otherwise (rightly so)
Basically every person involved whose opinion is worth anything to the MCU weighed in with the same basic idea. Cap was worthy in Ultron, but he refused to lift it out of respect for Thor's feelings. Whedon, Feige, and both Russo's all said it. The only thing I don't get is why it has to be Thor's feelings. Thor is already worthy, it's the other Avengers who'd be taking a blow to the ego.
IDK why but you in that eyeliner made me realize that you could pull off a pretty good Skurge the Executioner Cosplay
He's not a perfect soldier.
But a good man.
Yes...?!
That's make him best
He's a perfect soldier, I have never seen any soldier better than him
He's a Gary Stu
Steve Rogers isn’t great because he is Captain America. Captain America is great because he is Steve Rogers.
Its not that he could throw the shield far better than anyone else, its the generosity and kindred spirit he had, the ability to see the bright side when all hope was lost. Thats why i love Steve.
I'd be interested in a take on how the CW versions of Arrow, Flash, and Supergirl all contain this element of "everything is my fault" to an absurd degree. To the point where The Flash, faster than any human being could ever hope to be, constantly says "I wasn't fast enough", as if that's some kind of personal failure.
Great video as always, man. In fairness to the Russos though, Joss Whedon himself said years ago that Cap could've lifted the hammer in AoU but stopped himself
This.
Kind of wish it'd get more likes so more would see it as Scott's joke becomes moot with the extra context that the original film director said he felt Cap could have then years later those brothers agreed with him making it canon.
I mean his point is more that regardless of whst the director says he thinks its a better moment when anyone can interpret it their own way. Even if joss whedon says cap could have lifted it i think the point stays the same.
Leaf Finite It’s canon tho
@@zayray4283 i know, and he knows as well. In the video he is arguing that making it canon was a bad thing because 1) he likes a different interpretation of that moment, and 2) he thinjs its better for the moment to be open to interpretation. Your statement of "its canon though" is pointless because it has to be canon because otherwise hes disagreeing with nothing.
If i said "i think they should have made thanos blue" and you respond "yeah but hes not blue", then youve said nothing, because my initial statement only makes sense if thanos is not blue. So pointing that fact out is pointless. Same thing with the hammer thing.
To be clear thats just an example, i dont actually want a blue thanos lol
It's not canon though. WoG is not the same as canon. It is more optional canon. You are always free to ignore it, especially since WoG can be contradictory.
I would argue that even if the Russo’s interpretation is to be believed that doesn’t make him perfect, it makes him worthy. Thor is already worthy but he’s definitely not perfect
Well said. Thor's definitely not perfect now.
*when Scott lift Mjolner*
I KNEW HE WAS WORTHY!
Is Scott willing to kill?
@@Add183 No! It's one of his rule to not kill.
@@Add183 Scott is ANTIFA
I knew it
The point of Cap's speech in Winter Soldier was to prevent the ships being launched. Yes, he staked his reputation and future on it, but he was prepared to lose as long as they didn't get launched. Had I been at SHIELD, I would have refused to launch, too, not because I thought Cap was perfect/always right, but because the consequences if he were right were too big.
If I don't launch and am proven wrong, I lose my job and the project is delayed (also possible trial for treason, including risk of death penalty, but I think SHIELD wouldn't want that in order to decrease their embarrassment). If I launch, and Cap's proven right, I have personally been responsible for thousands of innocent deaths. As an Occam's Razor, I don't launch.
Honestly, Captain America very quickly became my favourite character in the MCU when it began. He was just such a nice guy. He's likeable. In today's world, having that one guy be as reliably virtuous as him feels rare and it was just so very nice to see. He was someone to aspire to be. I view Superman in a similar light, but writers seem to prefer dragging him down more recently, with the exception of Supergirl, which seems to have done him quite well.
2:56
He sure looks like... Wait! Chris Evans as Mr. Peanutbutter?! What is this, a crossover episode?
ArthurHLI oh man now I need to see Chris Evans in Bojack as a relentlessly optimistic upbeat guy who drives Mr. Peanutbutter insane with jealously. Maybe dating Jessica Biel?!?
@@michaelcarens-nedelsky2263 Cap would be an American Eagle
@@DoctorZisIN that's a clothing brand. Not an animal.
And Ironman should be Bojack, successful in his career, rich but a drunkard and miserable. Well at least before Infinity War and Endgame.
Is this video asking a question 60 years too late?
Just like Supes, this has always been Cap's mojo. He's All-American, milk and wholesome.
Frankly, after all the gritty reboots and cynical heroes of the times, it makes him endearing.
I'm all for Mr. Nice Guy Steve Rogers.
It reminds me of being a kid and when Cap and Superman were the shining beacons.
Chris Evans's Cap is what I wanted from a live action Superman
Jos also said, when asked about cap lifting the hammer, something to the extent of "do we know he couldn't lift the hammer. Did he fail, or did he stop" so it wasn't just the Ruso brothers hinting that Cap was also worthy.
Well he left it vague on purpose though. And the Russos were clear that it was their opinion, not a fact.
Personally I prefer the idea that he couldn't lift the hammer, because of the one secret he kept from Tony... Bucky killing his parents.
@@yoursonisold8743 I dunno, watching him actually answer the question, it sounds like he's hinting at cap being worthy pretty hard, and also someone being able to only budge the hammer, I've never seen or heard about that before. However, I do see what you are getting at, and I guess without getting a straight answer from Joss himself, we may never know.
Yourson Isold i agree with this theory too. The only thing literally weighing on Cap’s conscience is him holding the secret of Bucky killing Stark’s parents. The secret literally weighs on mjolnir and holds him back. Its only until after the truth comes out that he has nothing weighing him down and so he can readily summon mjolnir as he needs it
I think Cap was kinda morally perfect... which is different than perfect. He would do things well, but he would never do anything against his conscience, even if it would save half the universe. And that is Cap's flaw.
Also, if others feel inferior, that can't be blamed on Cap. In fact, it's the opposite. They should be using Cap as an ideal to be better.
If a person is too good, you can't say them being good is bad. Rather, it's the way they should be.
And in the MCU, Cap does nothing morally wrong. He is what people should strive to be.
And frankly, the Russo's version of Cap always being worthy makes sense. Or else, the hammer wouldn't have flown to him since he couldn't have made a connection previously and Thor said "I knew it"
Basically, yeah. We don't even know what 'perfect' means so how can we call Cap perfect when he's just trying to find the best way possible to go about things?
Russos' Cap was great but sometimes the people who like the other characters (Tony) become blind on why Steve's like that. Such as CW ending: while they pin it on Steve being 'uncaring' to Tony's feelings that Bucky basically murdered his parents, Steve operated on the fact that WS is not Bucky, therefore should not be exalted. Hell, T'Challa understood. Did Steve lie? Maybe, but we don't really know that don't we, fans just went with the flow and was brought by their emotions (Tony's side in CW) and not how logically the MCU went (Steve's side, aka, another "morally perfect" stance).
In the end, he was always worthy. Because he would always, always do the right thing, no matter how it would hurt more. He would defend a man who was manipulated and abused before a man who thought he was to be killed because of his actions. He would face Thanos one-on-one even if he knew it might end him. It's not because he's perfect. It's just he's trying to do his best to do the right thing.
@@forestgreenking I think it should also be noted that Cap is quite the simple person. I mean, he's complex as a character in some ways, but his core is quite simple, quite straightforward.
For a man like that, staying more "perfect" would be easier. He has less to worry about, and more to stick too.
I always interpreted the Ultron Hammer scene as Cap choosing not to life the hammer. But I've never really like the idea that he stopped to not hurt Thor's feelings.
Pride is a terrible thing. Thor is very prideful. Would you do something simple and not physically harmful that would hurt one of your friends?
@@sketchasaurrex4087 Well, me personally, yes. But also I don't Cap is worried about people's pride, I mean I don't think he's someone to beat someone while they're down. But I've always read the scene as Cap's just trying to pick up a hammer because that's what everyone else is doing and he's just having fun with his friends, when it starts to move it startles him cuz he's not expecting it, he loosens his grip, let's it slip, and decides he doesn't want that. He's not trying to be worthy, he doesn't need that, he chooses to be self effacing instead.
@@blumpth interesting view on the scene, I will have to rewatch it with that in mind
One fan theory states that Steve couldn't lift the hammer because up until civil war, Steve was keeping the fact that Bucky murdered the Starks secret from Tony and for no other reason than the selfish one to protect Bucky. At the end of civil war, Steve is able to apologize for his secrecy to Tony and thus finally became worthy.
@@Jdmenendez22 I'm aware, I don't like that one either.
Too quick to judge, too slow to forgive. This is my most iconic, famous and amazing quote of Captain America because that quote is really happening in the real world and we need to act to it before the time runs out.
The amount of creativity and effort that goes into your videos it just...
It blows my mind. Every time.
Great video from an ever greater Channel.
Cap was always the Superman of Marvel to me. Both are the apex of social and human ethics.
It is not them who are wrong. It's usually the world around them. And their struggle comes from watching them trying to keep their morals and sense of justice when trying to take on the wrongdoers.
They are usually the ones their respective universes gravitate towards. They are their beacons of hope and righteousness.
I see their role as one of extreme importance. The remaining characters need at least one person with that level of perfection in their universe that helps them regulate their behaviour.
Actually he is even better. Unlike Superman who just "is" the way he is because of providence, Steve Rogers was chosen to and granted powers because he was already believed to represent the values of his nation. Superman was born powerful, Steve Rogers was not so lucky.
In the MCU and future comics interpretations they improve this message even further because Bucky stops being just his sidekick and is instead this fellow soldier who was even stronger than him in some ways. And rather than being a strong man, all Steve had was a good soul, but his body was frail. Yet he still wanted to be good and help others. Thatmakes him superior to Superman in a way because he's a character who strives to be perfect and an idol for others, but began as a mere frail mortal like any other human being.
LeonGun8 . But doesn't Captain America strive to be that perfect representation of values as you stated, where superman is just a reflection of his true self because of all the reasons about powers being granted versus horn with, etc?
@@robertt9342 Cap doesn't strive to be good because he already is
@@friedfrog5447 that's really bad writing though. It's really really one dimensional. "He's good because he's good " is silly. You can try to make that sound deep all you want but it's not. Cap is never ever shown to have flaws or make mistakes and his "good" nature is never explained in any way shape or form. Superman on the other hand has a REASON for being the way he is. Who raised him being a big theme and the fact that he can't lose his temper or he could do insane damage to entire cities or on an even bigger scale or just accidently kill someone. And even with Superman's god like powers, he still makes mistakes that are framed as mistakes. Cap can pretty universally do no wrong. At least it's framed that way. That's the definition of one dimensional writing.
@@bobdylan1968 He was good because he was raised that way and had a passion.
The way I feel about Cap is that he may not be perfect but his tenaciousness is something we all have the power to achieve. The power to keep going. No matter what.
Nope, I don't have that power. Most people don't have that power. Resilience is one of the strangest things to find in people and I don't think you can just "achieve it".
92brunod True but I meant we all at least have the power to try or just be a good person. For me cap being just a human who’s a good person is part of what makes him inspiring to me. How about we all have the power to be good and try to do what we can?
I’m sorry if I’m wording this poorly.
I wasnt expecting for Scott to wear eyeshadow but pleasantly suprised
LeftTube is having an effect on him.
Samw
"I... I think I make mistakes."
That one line is so powerful and shows how human Captain America is.
Does anyone know the source of these panels? I know it's Civil War, but which issue? I'd love to read the entire exchange.
He might be the perfect hero but as a man, he still had his human baggage about what he never had the chance to experience.
you're not getting enough views man!
keep up the great quality!
This is also the core inner conflict for Optimus Prime.
Prime and Cap really are the same damn character aren’t they?
🤔 I guess so.
Prime is a super underrated character
Optimus Prime didn't however leave his friend to die in the cold
@@Jdmenendez22 neither did Cap. 😂
@@paulheap1982 "that shield doesn't belong to you!"
Does that refresh your memory?
I’ve never watched the captain America films and I’ve never really been a captain America fan
But from what I have seen Chris is very good at playing him
My best, iconic, famous and popular Marvel superhero of all-time is Captain America because he inspires me of what he says for the good result that the situation will be easier for everyone and everybody. I really love about Captain America is that he is not just wanting to be a leader but he accepts it just to become the leader.
Just for the record, there's vid of Whedon at a SDCC panel in 2015 insinuating that Cap might've just *chosen* not to lift the hammer. Also, Feige said it, and if Feige says it, it is law. That is all. Continue.
Edit: I also have no idea what this video is all about.
Steve Rogers isn’t always perfect in the comics but in the movie, they always shift the narrative to justify his mistakes. That’s why I like his comics characterization better than his MCU characterization.
You don't need to shift the narrative. Even in the MCU he isn't always right.
I really love the amount of quality your latest videos have, keep it up please!
Catching Scott videos on time is TIGHT
Cap as a "perfect" being, along with Batman and Superman and the moral dichotomy therein helped my grandfather cope with his morality when struggling with his PTSD when an industrial accident took away his main coping mechanism, exercise. Thats the point of aspirational characters. Thats the point of superheroes.
Yeah, the hero worship of Cap in the MCU always kinda irked me. Maybe it's because I've never understood the reason to hero worship anyone and because I don't think he's perfect at all.
He can be a bit over dramatic about things (I love when Peggy said this to him in WS). He's hard on himself when he doesn't need to be (self blame ain't cute), a bit naive and self righteous, and come off as having a bit of a savior complex. And that's probably because that's been put upon him by others and sometimes by himself. Either way he's got flaws but he's a good man. Not a perfect soldier but a good man.
Plus since he's an American hero (a HISTORICAL American hero at that), he's probably been in very school textbook and piece of media for the last 70+ years in MCU. So it's no wonder dudes like Coulson and Scott are in such awe of him. Historical figures are usually given the "hero" treatment until we learn about the REAL them. That and the Halo effect (yes he's a handsome patriotic boi but serum be damned, he's still an imperfect human being).
kids love captian america and superman . Men love batman and ironman (Mcu) . because they know life isn't about challenging your weaknesses and attaining the perfection . It is accepting whatever you are . it isn't about doing your best out against all the odds . but doing the necessary . it is not about standing for an ideal just situation but the knowlege of there is isn't any ideal justice
In the end you always need the imperfect ones to do the sacrifice
I feel the comics version (the "real" version) is as flawed as the next guy. He constantly battles with the weight of being a living symbol. He has depression issues (not as deeply as Tony Stark, but they're still present). At least twice it became all too much for him, and he walked away for a while. And, I almost fear to mention "Hydra Cap". Technically, he's still got that stuff hanging over his head because it was never properly resolved.
The complaint may hold more validity for the MCU adaptation of Cap, though. About midway through Winter Soldier, Cap really stopped growing as a character, and he coasted through another Cap movie and a half and two Avengers movies. Even Civil War ended up being more a Tony Stark movie than a Captain America movie. Cap just didn't do interesting things anymore, and he also had no flaws. He was just...there as a character. Other than the illusion of growth from becoming able to lift the hammer, he really didn't change at all in the last four years. I just don't think they knew what to do with him, and I think Chris Evans was bored with it all.
W K you don’t understand the character.
So the last video was of Superman. This was of Captain America. Both have been referred to as big blue boy scouts. Also both known as my two favorite superheros. Thank you. Your awesome and so is the channel.
I'd say, Cap pretty much got over the whole being perfect thing by Endgame. Especially when he got a good look at himself in the mirror. So to speak. 🤔
I think Cap didn't pick up the hammer because to himself, Cap is just a regular guy and he didn't want them to see him as something greater than he already was. The MCU shows cap didn't love all the attention that came with being " Captain America" and picking up the hammer would just have added more to that.
I always thought he never thought he was all that special and the hammer requires a little pride.
I love how many ways you play two different points of view (exaggerated one vs reasonable argument) in these videos!
Reasonable is not justification.
I've always (especially after Endgame) thought this, and in a way it makes me feel really, really bad for him. I've never been much of a Captain America fan, mainly because of him being 'too perfect'. I don't like him, but I do feel sorry for him.
I think one of the reasons people were so shocked at the end of Endgame when he goes back and stays with Peggy (I'm not defending him, he shouldn't have done that but...) was because that is (correct me if I'm wrong) the first truly selfish thing he's done. I know in Civil War he went against 117 countries for Bucky, but that wasn't really being selfish. I'm sure that factored into it but I don't think that was the lone reason; he wanted Bucky to be safe, he wanted justice for whoever had actually done it, and he didn't think the Accords were right in the first place.
Anyway, when he goes back to the 1940s at the end of Endgame, leaving Bucky, Sam, the Avengers and all the better things of the 21st century (internet, gay marriage, less racism and sexism) for Peggy (and in doing so essentially killing children and a man's relationship), this seems so out of character. And yeah, it is out of character. For the past five years he's basically become a grief counselor for heck's sake.
But he's been hurting; been thrown into a world he doesn't know and a world which only wants Captain America, he's made new friends but eventually they die and he's left alone again. The only person he has to open up to is a semi-stable hundred year old man, aka Bucky Barnes, who is so different from the kid who would save him in alleyways.
I'm not defending his choice, but he's hurting, and he hides it so well we forget, and so maybe it wasn't all that out of character; if you look back it'd really been coming for a long time.
Scott in eyeliner is something I never thought I needed in my life but here we are.
Goth Scott was weird "on a scale hitherto undreamt of." (to quote Doctor Strange)
(Iron Man impression) 'Hitherto undreamt', what are you, Shakespeare?
@@fduranthesee Doth Mother know you weareth her drapes?
It wasn't just the Russo brothers who confirmed Cap was worthy in AoU, Kevin Feige also confirmed it in a Reddit AMA.
I hate the supposition that Steve is always right, because Civil War is literally all about the fact that both Tony and Steve are wrong, their ideologies are both flawed, and neither of them can get past that.
But _even more_ the central focus of the movie is that Steve is willing to break most of the rules he upholds for his own entirely selfish reasons and that kinda justifies Tony's point about accountability.
You got it wrong, he never upheld rules. He upheld right. Rules can be and often are wrong, slavery was once OK by the rules, but a moral person doesn’t claim that makes it right.
Steve was not just serving his own interests by protecting Bucky, he was doing the right thing. Because the rules put in place were wrong and they were being used as a tool to justify bypassing justice for the sake of re establishing authority.
NO _ideologically_ Tony is right in Civil War, it's the *details* of the accords that are wrong.
Videos are happening so much more lately, and that make me a very happy nerd! Keep it up!
Love these videos so much Scott! And don't worry, I can sense the resentment coming from you about Cap in the video, but no matter how perfect he is, it's no match for those beautifully round, smooth cheeks of yours. Ditch the eyeliner dude, there's no need for it with the cheeks on display. Though I'm not very familiar with Cap in the comics, I love Cap's depiction in the MCU. I find him very inspiring and truly impactful with his sincerity, integrity, and pure good. I think it's great to have a few heroes like this. His character shined through most in the Cap sequels, where he stood steadfast against the government in his convictions. This also turned him from cheesy into a badass (along with his gritty, Bourne-esque fighting style). Smartly played Russo Brothers! For the record, I loved him already.
No, there is a balance in the universe... Before the serum Steve had a perfect character but his body wasn't perfect. Perfect morals but he had no way to inforce them. He was given a midly push to his true capabilities... A true good man.
Not a perfect soldier , but a good man .
In the comics have they ever made Cap a mutant? His ability is exactly what you mention in the video, he's able to basically make people do what he wants just by making some amazing speech because he's seen as this perfect figure.
I feel like there could be some interesting take to Cap where instead of it just be people idolizing him, it's an actual power.
I'm pretty sure that the more interesting take is that he is such a perfect, good person that people follow anything he says rather than some Kilgrave mind control wackiness. There are way more interesting themes to explore when we can make direct comparisons to leaders and dictators in the real world and how charisma can be used as a tool for good and bad.
I definitely disagree with the idea that cap in age of Ultron could have lifted the hammer but didn't. For one thing I'm not sure how you would fake the struggle...
I feel like it makes more narrative sense that through his struggle with Tony, his reaching out to Tony, then his subsequent standing down Thanos the first time that his worthiness grew.
I think I'm always going to call Winter Soldier Bucky. It's too good a name.
For me, the reason he wasn't able to fully lift thor's hammer in AoU was because his character arc was not developed at its fullest. He may have caught up with everything that is happening in this modern world, but yet again he feels lost. That is the reason why I believe cap wasn't able to lift thor's hammer until he saw Peggy again at the 70s. He finally found a way to go back, he found where he belongs and finally he is complete. He is worthy.
I agree.
The concept that he was ready to lift the hammer in AoU undermines the arc, not only in that movie, but every movie between it and Endgame. Him not being ready UNTIL Endgame (when he's accepted that some sacrifices for the greater good are totally called for, i.e. Whatever it takes) is the arc. That's the quality a king would need, to be worthy of the power entrusted to Thor.
Also that's why Nat totally could have lifted the hammer by the end of AoU, but she never got the chance to try.
I think all NerdSync has left to be fully inducted into the annals of BreadTube is to pour a liquid over his head. He has the beautiful lighting and penchant for makeup.
Short Answer: No
Long Answer: Heck No!
can I just say scott's make up game was ON POINT. those wings were sharp enough to slice paper
Cap is my favourite MCU character, but lets remember that in the Avengers, he threw a mind-controlled good guy off a helicarrier.
1. I suggest toning down the contrapoints, it doesn't really work here. Making the distinction of different characters with varying perspectives interacting with the subject matter is what makes her channel work. Maybe something to consider with more like these?
2. I really enjoy the thoughts in this video. Very interesting even if it feels a little directionless.
3. Cap lifting the hammer is because he's worthy, not perfect. Perhaps getting into why those things are different could have been a larger topic.
Hope you make more!
Man I love your videos. I don’t know how big your team is or whatever but you all deserve the best.
That’s the point of all his amazing arc since The Winter Soldier
I would say he made a big mistake in the Civil War movie, when he withheld that information from Tony.
Not really
These essays are getting better and better and better. Love your take and thoughts on all of this and the way you put these videos together is second to none!
You went a little far with the beginning skit, I loved it
So awesome to hear Patrick Willems in a Nerdsync video!
I love how this shows more of Captain America than just as a "good" guy and gives us more of his character being human... That line at the end,
"I... I think I make mistakes."
I love you guys! ❤️
My two cents: Worthy =/= Perfect. I don't think anyone can claim Thor as perfect, and he's been Worthy since Thor 1.
Dude if drunk thor is worthy that means being worthy has nothing to do with being perfect.
Joss Whedon also said the same thing about Cap being able to, but not wanting to.
Too perfect? Or simply a man of integrity? We need at least one character like that.
I prefer the interpretation that Cap wasn't yet worthy to wield the hammer during Age of Ultron because he was actively lying to one of his closest friends since Winter Soldier; that he knew that it was his Bucky who murdered Tony's parents. It wasn't until Endgame where both Tony and Steve put aside their guilt and resentment where Cap was finally worthy of wielding Mjolnir.
An amazing video, Scott. Your content has really become more artistic and beautiful recently.
NerdSync & Philosophy Tube are both getting super artsy lately. Still enjoy the content, I just wouldn't mind it getting dialed back a bit. Just an opinion, so don't go roasting me over it please. It's their channel, and to each their own. If you enjoy it more power to you.
I don’t believe the Russo’s are correct about the mjonir thing
He was good person, yes, but not worthy.
I think he needed civil war and even infinity war + the 5 years to develop a sort of 'worthiness', especially since we now know through Thor that worthiness is not the same as perfection. I even think that perhaps MCU Vision without the humanity of Bruce and Tony would not have been able to lift it as a perfect android
In the comics, he could only lift the hammer when in a battle rage. Not when he is just calm and standing around.
@@leavonfletcher4197 do you mean Vision here?
@@alphabettical1 no he means captain america
@@kalevikauppinen983 alright thanks
Cool a RUclips Cameo participation, Patrick H. Willems was here. Love his channel too.
So, I went for my own reason why C.A. couldn't lift the hammer; he was doing it out of hubris, he was competing, like anyone else, and although he might be worthy, wasn't trying to lift it for the right reason
If that were true, Arrogant Thor would have never managed to lift it.
@@politereminder6284anique wasn't that the plot of the first Thor, for him to learn humility?
@@netzach21 to an extent he learns to control his hubris, but you cannot compare him to Cap and insist that he is more humble than Cap at any point in the MCU. He maintains some of his insecure sense of superiority up till now.
@@politereminder6284 That's a fantastic point, I guess I'm stuck in trying to define what being worthy actually means, without that, I don't know why he didn't lift the hammer in age of ultron, I'll guess I have to settle on the explanation the Russo's gave that, he is just such a nice guy
@@netzach21 maybe only mjolnir knows what makes one "worthy". Therestofuscan only speculate. 😂😂Hahaha!
I like that paragons exist, even if they're usually not my favorite. I think that might be why I like Spider Man a lot: He's definitely not perfect, he's certainly not _seen_ as perfect but he tries his damn best and is, plain and simply, good.
When you were calling a philosopher, I thought it was going to be Zizek. He seems to be popular on Facebook these days.
Love the amount of detail you put in your videos.
While I love the video, I can't really approve of using the Civil War comic as evidence because so much of it revolves around characters behaving out of character.
Oh my god. Yes. MCU's Civil War was so irksome to me because it's based on comic dynamics, which, /hello/, we didn't get in MCU because it started with them being frienemies, which was never a thing in the comics before Civil War. I had an almost emotional detachment with the ending because it was so stupid; it really was correct that it was more emotionally 'sad' by dividing them on grounds that just pushed the two men apart. Still, Tony reacting and Steve lying?? lmao stop with the comic basis. they should've just based it on the movies... never showed anything like that.
My ex had a friend who dumped a guy who was way out of her league because he was too nice.
We live a world where if you're too nice you're judged cynically and you have to be full of drama and angst. It's not like being like Tony would be better since he's impulsive and aggressive.
No one says to be perfect. Steve doesn't try to do anything but be himself. But their is no harm in trying, it's like saying I'll never get a job as good as that perosn has so I'm going to judge them and not care or be cynical.
Bro, your exs friend sounds kinda dumb.
@@johnnystander3142 she is beyond words, she's a full time idiot
The reason they write Cap as such a Boy Scout is because the point of his arc is maintaining his sense of morality in an ever changing world.
Russo’s didn’t have anything to do w/ Age of Ultron, but Joss Whedon did and he’s the one that stated that Cap was worthy to lift the hammer. Russos were just backing him up
Actually the idea of Steve being able to lift it in AoU was first started by Joss Whedon, then continued by the Russo Bros.
I don't get why the cutaway to the "I like that interpretation" line. Joss who directed the party scene had the russos on set for that and explained it during the commentary for the film.
That face is beat fo' tha' GAWDS. YASS, MA'AM. YASS, KWEEN.
Extremely insightful video, as always.
I think there's another flaw that Cap has (at least the MCU version of him) that he alluded to at the end of Age of Ultron: he can't stop fighting--which is more of a trait than a flaw, but I think Cap sometimes takes the trait to its extreme. Since before he became a super-soldier, Steve was always getting in fights with people he couldn't beat; during the war he disobeyed an order not to engage the enemy; in Age of Ultron his nightmare was the end of the war; in Civil War he resisted the idea of possibly being told not to join the fight. It never really has consequences because he is a good man, so we can always trust him to fight for the right cause, but his judgement has been flawed several times, ironically during several exchanges with Tony.
I would think that in Age of Ultron he was just shy of worthy of lifting Thor's hammer, but as the first Thor movie taught us, a character's worthiness can change, and that was my take on how he was worthy to wield it in Endgame: he became worthy over time and through some character development. And while it speaks volumes to his character, Thor is a prime example of the fact that one can be worthy while still being far from perfect.
He's not TOO perfect. He's PERFECTLY perfect.
One of the best quality videos ever made. Keep up the good work
Steve is just playing a character. He has been since he got the serum. If you play a character long enough, you become them. Steve Rogers became a character. Steve Rogers became Captain America
Definitely not.
@@Phoenix-pb4sm the dude was literally playing a propaganda character at the instant he got the serum
He's not playing a character, his personality is the reason he's Captain America in the first place.
@@n1ghtbreak not necessarily. Yes Steve does share an ideology somewhat similar Captain America, but they fight for different reasons. The only point Steve went to war was because of his personal ties to Bucky (since Bucky got captured). Steve goes of to save Bucky, but later loses him a second time. At that point in time Steve is completely stripped away of his previous life and identity since he lost his only family. At that point in time I feel like he fully embraced this character that everyone got to love. The became Captain America because that's what everyone needed.
By Endgame I feel like Steve becomes Steve again. He quits being Captain America at the end and embraces being Steve Rogers.
I just want to put this out there, this is just an interpretation. Maybe Steve is the perfect human, but I don't think that's really interesting. I'm probably wrong. But that's the joy of art though, subjectivity.
Cap may not always do the right thing, but he always wants to do the right thing. He's not perfect, but he rarely if ever lets his ego get in the way. When he does make mistakes, he does what a good person should and tries to make up for it. Other heroes don't always do that.
Is Thor perfect? No. Is Thor worthy? Yes. Worthiness is not perfection. He's flawed, but he tries, that's what makes him worthy (My interpretation anyway).
EDIT: Ah, watching the full video was definitely a better experience, should have watched it completely before commenting
Great video Scott! The shrine was awesome, perfect for this video (you just made it for this video... right??) 😁
Captain America is the best avenger 😊😊
The problem with Steve is that he's so perfect even his flaws can be framed as good. He just cares too goshdarn much, he feels like he has to save everyone and that he blames himself for things that aren't his fault. Those are Mary Sue flaws, specifically designed to make him look even better. In reality, at least in the MCU, he has a very judgemental, very hypocritical streak that nobody ever calls him out on. Not even the writers. That detracts a lot from his character because every other Avenger is allowed real flaws which they face responsibility and consequences for.
Ultron said that Cap couldn't live without a war, that he needed a conflict to feel relevant. I wish they had explored that aspect of his personality more, instead of ignoring every questionable thing he's done and acting like he's some sort of star-spangled messiah.
Shiny Soroka Cap has rarely made mistakes in the MCU and when he has they are easily explained in his favor. And Cap doesn’t judge people nor has he being hypocritical of any of his core beliefs. That’s his entire character. He also isn’t a Mary Sue lol. I’d love to hear how you came to this strange conclusion
@@zayray4283 I didn't say he was a Mary Sue. What I said is, those are Mary Sue flaws. They are the kind of flaws you present at a job interview, there to make you look even better.
Which is a shame, because Cap has real ones and they tend to parallel America's flaws. That's also where we first see his hypocrisy too. He chews out Fury in WS and brings down SHIELD and HYDRA because he thinks they have too much power and aren't accountable to anyone. But when his own power is challenged in CW, suddenly the safest hands are his own and if civilians die, well, that's just war, sometimes you can't save everyone. He doesn't like that Thor and Stark keep secrets from him, but he doesn't tell Stark about his parents until it's too late. He tells Snap survivors to move on, but goes back to Peggy, despite the fact that she told him the same thing. He keeps failing to practice what he preaches.
He also tends to resort to hollow judgements and empty platitudes. In the first Avengers, he goes off on a judgemental tirade on Stark for no reason except to prove he doesn't like him. He mocks him for "always having a way out" but his plan on how to defeat aliens if they show up again is "Together." He always has a battle strategy, but never a preemptive plan because "when you try to prevent a war, people die." Except that they die after a war starts too...
Those are all legitimate and good flaws, but the problem is that the writers love him too much to acknowledge any of them. Instead, they make up other, prettier flaws, instead of developing Steve as a character. Because they think he's already perfect and that blind love makes them write him as a stuck-up jerk. What's more, they expect the audience not to notice and love him too. It showed a lot when people called them out on Steve's ending in Endgame and neither the writers nor the directors could agree on what happened. They didn't expect the backlash, they all thought everyone would be happy for Steve, but when you give one character everything they wanted and nothing to everyone else, it tends to raise eyebrows.
I'm not saying Steve's is a bad person. I'm just saying that he doesn't get called out on his flaws, when every other Avenger is.
Shiny Soroka Most of that is wrong.
Steve is consistent in his beliefs and rarely contradicts himself. In WS he was upset with shield for keeping secrets and pushing the boundaries of order by spying and holding millions on gunpoint so they would act accordingly which is very fascist. That’s not freedom it’s fear, and Steve is all about people being free to do and choose for themselves. In CW the situation is has changed it’s not the same as WS argument lol this is about the Avengers and he was absolutely correct they are the safest people to have that power and we the audience knows this. Their freedom is just as important as the common man cause all people are created equal. The Avengers saved far more lives than any government would do in the same situation not to mention the villains cause those problems not the hero’s unless you count Tony.
Steve was mad because of the weight of those secrets would affect the entire team not just one person. Tony’s secret caused Phase 3 as a whole with Ultron and he never really got mad at Thor cause he figured he was going to chase down a lead. Steve secret was kept to spare two people he had respect for from a dark truth. And it’s the only one he’s got. And he moved on, but Having the option to go back in time and live the life he lost and deserved was an obvious choice to make. He even tells Natasha that he and them never really do move on.
He is perfect that’s his biggest flaw. That’s caps character. He is perfect in an imperfect world thus making him a target for everything
Steve’s ending in endgame is fine, people who got upset can’t understand it cause they don’t have the IQ for it and I hate explaining it a thousand times a week. And Steve is a jerk? Who is your favorite avenger? I bet 10 bucks they are more of a jerk lol wtf
to contradict the title and ignore the Russo brothers, my friend told me (no idea what his source was) that Cap was unable to lift the hammer because at that point he was keeping Tony's parents murders a secret.
unofficial or not i still think it makes more sense and makes Endgame's payoff much more satisfying.
I think, if anything, Cap didn't fully lift the hammer in that one scene because he didn't know he could. He didn't properly follow through. Outside of that, yeah, he needed civil war - endgame to be worthy
I think it's because he lost his virginity to Sharon between Civil War and Infinity War. This is an Asgardian enchantment, after all.
In all seriousness though, if we think chronologically about where he was in that moment in Endgame... he'd just seen Peggy for the first time in a decade, like, an hour before he lifts the hammer. Earlier in the movie he gives a speech about moving on, but now he's been reminded that he himself has not moved on. He was lying to himself, but now he's ready to admit his flaws and is going to take action to be happy (even if he hasn't yet made the decision to go back in time, he's there emotionally). The enchantment was intended to teach Thor humility - makes sense this would be the final straw for Cap as well.
But of course there are a lot of things between Ultron and Endgame that could've allowed him to lift it.
nah he was already able to lift the hammer
he was either worthy or not, there's no middle ground
the fact that he could budge it indicates that he was able to lift it, just chose not to
He didn't know about Tony's parents murder tho....
His ability to rouse a crowd of soldiers has been said to be a super power of his.