(SPOILERS) An MCU Retrsopect: End of an Era (Beginning of Another)

If you've seen Avengers: Endgame. The hype. You get it. If you haven't...what're you doing here?

SPOILERS AHEAD 

The 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, running at a grand three-hour length, has shattered box-office records across the globe and received so much acclaim for the efforts of the Russo Brothers, Kevin Feige, and the collaborative cast and technical teams behind this decade-long journey beginning with a genius playboy billionaire philanthropist forced in a rusty suit, and culminating in Earth's  Mightiest Heroes fending off a massive purple megalomaniac. The buildup of so many films, superheroes, villains, and everything in between has resulted in an objectively epic universe. After Endgame, some characters' journeys will continue - the snapped returnees, with the likes of Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Falcon, Scarlet Witch and many others likely to pave the way for the new Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy continuing their wacky exploits, and the arcs of Endgame showing that Rocket Racoon, Nebula, War Machine and especially Ant-Man still have roles to play in the universe. Plus with the Fantastic Four and X-Men rights...exciting times ahead.

Now, however, let's play tribute to the OG sextet of Avengers. Some will continue on in different wavelengths, some have waved their final goodbye...we shall see.

'None of this makes sense' - Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)

Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) took a bit of time to find his niche in the MCU. It's tricky to find a place for an archer, albeit an exceptionally skilled one, within the parameters of the increasingly large scale scope of the MCU. But find it he did. While he might have been a bit of a plot device in the first Avengers, by Age of Ultron for all the faults of that film it must be given credit for developing him into. the quipping, wisecracking and all too self-aware everyman and family man we've grown to love in Clint. Endgame placed him into some truly dark times and it's remarkable how it struck the perfect balance between this darker, grim transformed Clint while still letting us root for the sympathetic individual looking to do right, no matter how overwhelming and ridiculous the odds may be. He may well pop up again sometime soon in some capacity, but I kind of hope he just gets his happy ending with his loving family.

'That's my secret Cap. I'm always angry' - Bruce Banner aka The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)

Now while I do think having Professor Hulk in Endgame might've deprived us of the crowd-pleasing Hulk antics we've all grown to love, it does serve as a pretty natural endpoint for a character whose transition into the universe, while not the smoothest, has ended up being one of two major re-casts in the MCU that really worked well. Ruffalo's take on the Hulk has been remarkable in making for such a likeable geeky presence juxtaposed with the unease and paranoia of a man constantly on edge about being on edge. The CGI has only improved all the more with each film with regards to the big green guy, with Ragnarok being a particular high point in its use of the Hulk, and with Infinity War and Endgame we've seen him come full circle into accepting both sides of himself into one. He might not have gotten a lot to do here, but don't forget that his ultimate task this film was essential in causing a snap change in the Avengers's stakes against Thanos.

'I'm only alive because fate wants me alive' - Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth)

No character has made a bigger leap from 'serviceable' to 'great' than Thor in my eyes, and so much credit has to go to so many collaborative efforts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hemsworth has always been rock-solid in the role, he really is Thor and no one else could've introduced the thunder-wielding, Mjolnir-thrashing character like him. Admittedly however, in his earlier films he was a tad overshadowed by his nefarious brother Loki, and in the Avengers film by the more dynamic arcs of the other heroes. Over his last three appearances however, he's become in short, an absolute beast. Ragnarok exploiting his natural talent for comedy and badasses so well,   Infinity War bringing such emotional poignancy to his characterisation, and Endgame merging the comedic and dramatic sides of our loveable, flawed yet WORTHY hero so well. I'm glad we'll be able to see more of him again soon enough in a Guardians of the Galaxy film. Though really. Have a salad.

'I have no place in this world' - Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) 

It's easy to forget how long Nat's been part of the MCU, since Iron Man 2 where she was the sexy, sultry, enigmatic undercover spy. She's always been a welcome part of the universe, but I will say that it's the Russo Brothers films where she's really excelled in. From being a perfect partner to Captain America in The Winter Soldier to her conflicting arc between doing what she thinks is right and what she feels is right in Civil War, and to her absolutely heartbreaking culmination of her arc in Endgame, Natasha has gone from steely assassin without a family and any real connection, to perhaps the most empathetic of all the Avengers. The ultimate tragedy of someone with no real familial connections and a haunted past, making the ultimate sacrifice for the family she found along the way. Her conclusion to Endgame was perfect even though it unfortunately left her out of the grand finale, and my only nitpick would be I'd have loved if she'd had a little more screen time with Banner.

'I can do this all day.' - Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans) 

Cap's been my favourite Avenger ever since his first solo film. While not without its own set of flaws, it was a great introduction to a man who's so much more than just the product of a bottle of super serum. No one could play Steve Rogers as well as Evans, a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who overnight becomes a national hero, yet never loses sight of what has always driven him: doing right by people, doing the right thing. Whether it's going to strength to strength in his old-values hero learning to adapt to modern society across the first two Avengers film, or showing how his optimism and will to do good results in an arc where he realises he can't save everyone, and how he simply can't compromise his ideals in The Winter Soldier and Civil War when it comes to his ol pal Bucky Barnes (a true bromance for the ages). In Endgame I thought Cap was just terrific, period.. By this point, you follow Steve Rogers wherever he goes. He just is unquestionably the hero everyone strives towards, sometimes without even saying a single word, in showing the simple yet brilliant resilience of the First Avenger. Evans in his portrayal manages to be heartbreaking, hilarious (his fight with himself is a particularly golden moment), and incredibly rousing in giving us some of the most goosebump inducing moments in the MCU, and I'm so glad he finally got his dance.

'I am Iron Man' - Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) 

The road for Tony Stark has both on films and within the film universe, not the smoothest. From the risky initial casting choice of RDJ and setting up a universe with a somewhat well-known yet not household name comic book character, to taking the risky approach of introducing Tony Stark as a damn charismatic, yet not immediately 'hero material' protagonist, 2008's Iron Man could've absolutely tanked. Luckily Jon Favreau, Downey Jr. and co absolutely nailed the terrific origin story Stark and while Iron Man 2 was a massive step-down in quality, both films helped to set up Stark and his iron-masked alter ego as the cornerstone of the film universe. Downey Jr.'s arc hasn't come in the most flawless of films sometimes, but he's managed to make every step count, from the PTSD afflicted Tony of Iron Man 3 and Age of Ultron naturally segueing into the Tony determined to keep heroes in check at all costs and avoid future collateral in Civil War. Going on from that he developed the growing family man in Tony with his dynamic with Peter Parker and his relationship with Pepper Potts finally blossoming into a marriage and in Endgame, a sweet child. In these past two films, Tony Stark has gone through hell and back. He's gone through the grief, anguish of defeat by Thanos, and the subsequent acceptance of the new life. And the sacrifice of that new life for the sake of the universe. It's never an easy journey for Tony, but he ends up finishing where he started: the man who started the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ends by, well, saving it. Because he's Tony, who will make the sacrifice play.

MCU Ranking so far: 

1. Avengers: Endgame
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
4. Iron Man 
5. Avengers: Infinity War
6. Thor: Ragnarok 
7. Captain America: Civil War
8. Doctor Strange
9. Black Panther
10. The Avengers
11. Captain America: The First Avenger
12. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
13. Iron Man 3
14. Captain Marvel 
15. Thor 
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming
17. Ant-Man
18. Thor: The Dark World 
19. Ant-Man and the Wasp 
20. Avengers: Age of Ultron
21. The Incredible Hulk 
22. Iron Man 2