10 Best MCU Endings

The beginning of Phase 1 of the MCU was one of the more awkward periods in the series’ development. As opposed to one film playing off another like in the early days, each of the first instalments of Iron Man and Thor serve as great little character portrayals before getting into the meaty bits that would come later on. The directors may have still been working out the bugs, but Captain America’s first go around had one of the most impactful final shots in superhero history.

Knowing they needed to bring Cap to the present day after the events of World War II, Steve Rogers defeats Red Skull in the nick of time, only to guide a HYDRA ship of explosives into the frozen tundra below. This would have had to happen eventually, but the rapport that was built up between Steve and Peggy Carter makes it absolutely gut-wrenching when you know they’ll never be together.

After setting up a date that will never transpire, Steve presumably dies, only to wake up back in Brooklyn of his youth. Once he gets his wits about him, he realises that he is in a simulation, which he tears down only to find himself in the middle of Times Square with Nick Fury.

While Cap was grateful to be alive, all he can muster is “I had a date,” showing that the Avengers’ great Star Spangled hero is still torn up about being separated from Peggy Carter, his love interest in the film.