Several MCU villains underwent a redemption arc throughout the years, almost making them likable even more than the few heroes. As their character arcs developed, the fans shed tears and poured in more sympathy almost giving these villains the motive behind their destructive and cruel acts.
MCU villains often have surprising depth and moments of sympathy, adding emotional complexity to the franchise, almost making them humans. Some of the most tear-jerking moments in all MCU movies are courtesy of the villains.
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10. Death Of Gorr’s Daughter
Amidst all the humor and laughs, ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ delivered one of the most sympathetic Marvel villain moments. Gorr the God-Butcher is seen in excruciating pain at the beginning of the film. Incapable of withstanding torment conditions, his daughter dies in her father’s arms after telling him she’s tired. The scene ends with Gorr sobbing quietly as he holds the lifeless body of his daughter. Gorr’s vulnerability makes it one of the most tear-jerking sequences in the franchise’s history.
9. Zemo Pours His Heart Out About His Family’s Death
He is one of the most underrated villains in the MCU. His plan for the Avengers was to get them to fight amongst themselves. To avenge his family, Zemo, intentionally and unintentionally, killed many people, put global security at risk by engendering infighting amongst the Avengers, and broke their years-long trust and friendships. The story about the death of his family because of Avengers’ negligence is heart-breaking enough on its own. However, T’Challa’s refusal of Zemo to escape the consequences of his actions is a profound revelation for both characters.
8. The Winter Soldier Breaking Free From HYDRA
The Winter Soldier’s tortured past is what made him evil. Every action of his was controlled by HYDRA with specific keywords implanted within him. Watching a hero undergo immensity pain and perform destructive actions that are out of his control is painful within itself, but the Dora Milaje general Ayo was the one to test the words on Bucky for a final time. Although the test was stressful for Bucky, it was finally confirmed that he was free of the influence of HYDRA’s programming, causing him to weep tears of joy.
7. Killmonger’s Death
Erik Killmonger had the best final line for MCU villains. He was the victim of a worldview defined by a country that destroyed the history, heritage, the identity of an entire people. However what makes his acts redeemable is his actions, like he’d rather die than be held captive like his ancestors. He may have lived a life of violence, but these final moments that turned him into who he is make him a sympathetic figure.
6. Kingpin’s Breakdown
Kingpin’s entry in ‘Echo’ was highly anticipated by the fans. Similar to Daredevil, Echo makes the audience sob especially when Wilson Fisk utterly breaks down upon Maya’s attempts to heal him of his trauma. Wilson Fisk is one of the most captivating characters in Marvel media. With Kingpin’s recent transition to the MCU, it’s clear the character has changed a lot since the early days of ‘Daredevil’.
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5. Thanos Having A Vision Of Young Gamora
Before the multiverse began, Marvel was haunted by Thanos, the purple giant that turned half of the heroes into dust. He not only events to destroy the Earth, but also wipe out the entire civilization. But behind the murderous monster was also a father’s guilty conscience. The most powerful and possibly captivating villain Thanos’ final vision of his daughter after being able to enact his plan at last is one of the most heartfelt moments in the entire MCU. This vision’s implication of his guilty conscience was a fascinating look into the Mad Titan’s mind, displaying that while he may be remorseful.
4. Doctor Octopus’ Farewell Conversation With Toby Maguire’s Peter Parker
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ featured the iconic Spider-Man meme with Andrew Garfiled’s Spiderman, Toby Maguire’s Spiderman and Tom Holland’s defeating the villains of their past. Apart from the iconic return of Spiderman, it reinforced the idea that most of Spider-Man’s villains are victims of circumstance more than anything else, needing rehabilitation and cures to their conditions rather than death or imprisonment. Hence the emotional scene between Toby Maguire’s Peter Parker felt like a wave of nostalgia, which picked up from‘ Spider-Man 2‘.
3. Loki Begging His Father For Validation
Loki has had one of the most remarkable stories of any MCU character, let alone among the villains. From the very beginning, all his mischievous actions are nothing but a desperate plea for validation, begging his father, Odin, for worthiness. After truly witnessing his character development, it is appalling to see the God of Mischief as anything but a victim of this circumstance.
2. Scarlet Witch Says Her Last Goodbye To Her Kids
Constantly oscillating between hero and villain, the Scarlet Witch’s journey through the MCU has been characterized by grief. Having lost her parents, brother, and partner, it is obvious that she desperately held on to her kids, and their loss was what tapped into her villainy personality. However, her ultimate decision not to go through with her plan of taking the place of another version of herself, getting back her kids, was the utter culmination of all the loss she’d experienced. Not knowing how to cope with the pain, Wanda’s variant tells her to know that her children will be loved, even if Scarlet Witch can’t be the version of herself to do so. Through the MCU, Wanda Vision comes off as a tragic character who lost everyone she had gaining absolutely nothing in return.
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1. Loki Finds Out He Is Adopted
He was always separated from his brother, Thor by feelings of unworthiness and alienation, he never had a solid explanation for his differences until the events of Thor. Finally discovering that he was a frost giant taken from his home as a baby and adopted by Odin, he’s understandably devastated, asking “So I’m no more than another stolen relic?”, enough to make every fan burst into tears.
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