Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 10 MCU Mistakes It Repeats

6. Arbitrary Romance

It might seem nitpick-y to suggest that the romantic plotline hinted at throughout The Winter Soldier - between the Captain himself and Black Widow, no less - shouldn't have ended up in the movie, because we all like a bit of flirty banter, don't we? Thing is, though including another arbitrary romance plot seems harmless, it also complicates a cinematic universe that is already super complicated as it is. "Hasn't Black Widow got a thing with Hawkeye?" we find ourselves pondering as our protagonists spend every free moment amping up the sexual tension. In a singular movie, this would be fine, but here there are implications. Because now we have questions regarding the nature of Black Widow's romantic interest in both the Captain and Hawkeye - who will they have her flirting relentlessly with next? Bruce Banner? He doesn't have a love interest right now, so why the heck not? Without trying to sound Grinch-like, then: the MCU already has far too many arbitrary love stories. Though the banter between Black Widow and the Captain was entertaining to watch, we do have to wonder: what, ultimately, is the point?