Fans already knew some favourite characters were going to die. Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Infinity War director Joe and Anthony Russo all warned that not all the Marvel Cinematic Universe characters were going to make it out alive.
Even so, it was particularly cruel that one beloved figure had to die, be resurrected and then killed again in way that seems unlikely to be fixed.
Even worse is the certainty the second much more brutal death was an essential part of what must happen in Avengers 4 to save the day for everyone else, but probably not bring this tragic hero back.
If you have already seen Avengers 3, did you spot the moment when one single superhero revealed that he alone knew the only way to defeat Thanos and why one Avenger’s death was necessary for that to happen?
If you haven’t seen the film yet, do not read any further: MAJOR SPOILERS
FINAL WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS BEYOND THS POINT
There are only two moments in the entire movie when it looks like Thanos could be stopped. Two keys scenes which might prevent the Mad Titan from possessing all six Infinity Stones and being able to end half of all life in the universe with The Snap.
Thanos’ victory in both scenes is thanks to one Marvel superhero who intentionally ALLOWS it all to happen.
Why does Doctor Strange give Thanos the Time Stone and why does he allow Thanos to kill Vision?
When Scarlet Witch heartbreakingly kills Vision to destroy the Mind Stone, this is immediately reversed by Thanos because he can use the Time Stone to rewind what has just happened. He takes the Stone before it is destroyed and kills Vision again the process.
Strange hands over the Time Stone to Thanos when he really doesn’t have to. The Mad Titan may threaten to kill Iron Man, Spider-Man and Star-Lord or even take the Sorcerer Supreme’s own life while they are stranded on his home planet, but none of this would convince Strange to reveal how he had hidden the Stone. Thanos has also lost his own sorceror Ebony Maw, so has no way of breaking Strange’s magic concealment of the Stone.
Strange intended all of this to happen. But why?
AVENGERS INFINITY WAR ENDING EXPLAINED: WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOL MEAN?
During the scenes on Titan, Strange uses the Time Stone to view literally millions of potential futures. He tells Iron Man that there is only one single future path which ends with Thanos defeated.
If Strange gives Thanos the Time Stone is must be because he knows it is necessary. Whatever happens afterwards is essential because it must be following that single solitary timeline which might, in the end, be able to reverse the unimaginable horrors which end the movie.
Vision must die twice so that Thanos can complete the Gauntlet and erase half of all life. Somehow, Strange has seen this is the only way that leads to victory.
But don’t expect any kind of happy ending in Avengers 4…
It is also chillingly clear that whatever this all leads to in Avengers 4 next year, this does not mean everything will be magically fixed and all lives restored.
Strange may have seen the only way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat but he never reveals how or what the cost of that victory will ultimately be…
AVENGERS INFINITY WAR IS OUT NOW. AVENGERS 4 IS OUT ON APRIL 26, 2019
