Iron Man And Spider-Man’s Moment In Avengers: Infinity War Is One Of The MCU’s Most Important Scenes

We’re now living in a post-Avengers: Infinity War world. Sorry, did I say living? I meant reeling...because wow, that film is an emotional roller coaster. Over those two hours and forty minutes, directors Joe and Anthony Russo took audiences on a tour of hilarity and goose bump-inducing awe. There are more standout moments than you can shake a vibranium shield at! It’s clear that many of those fist-pump worthy scenes (Thor’s arrival in Wakanda, am I right?) will be discussed by superhero fans for some time to come. One of these particular sections occurs near the end of Infinity War, and features a pivotal exchange between Spider-Man and Iron Man. But unlike its fellow scenes, it’s unquestionably the best part of the movie, and one of the most important moments in the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Read on to find out why... Let’s Talk About That Emotional Spidey/Stark Scene If you’ve seen Infinity War, you know the moment in question. Over the film's two hour plus runtime, we’ve watched as Thanos bats our favorite heroes aside to “balance” the universe. To do this, he wants to kill half of its population using the power of the Infinity Stones, thus (supposedly) improving the lives of the living remainder. As the battle of Wakanda reaches its climax, Thanos finally completes his mission at the cost of Vision’s life. Then, despite Thor’s efforts, the warlord manages to snap his fingers, and innumerable beings fade out of existence, including our favorites: Groot, T’Challa and Doctor Strange. But the worst is yet to come. On Titan, the Guardians of the Galaxy turn to ash, and the same begins to happen to Spider-Man as well. Perhaps warned by his Spider-sense, Peter realizes that his death is coming and begins a much slower disintegration. He grasps at Tony Stark, tearfully pleading “I don’t want to go!” Yet the wounded Iron Man can only watch in horror as his young protégé fades away in his arms. But what is it about this gut-wrenching scene in Infinity War that makes it stand out so much? It’s One of the MCU’s Darkest Moments With its glossier cinematography and quips about shawarma and Footloose, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is generally known for its fun and frolics. Though this humor has long been a point of criticism for some more serious-minded superhero movie fans, it's endeared Marvel’s output to countless others. However, it’s not always fun and games in the MCU. For every “twelve percent of a plan” gag, there's the death of Ho Yinsen and the twisted trauma of Black Widow’s origins to contend with. And behind every “puny god” we witness the disturbing time loops where Doctor Strange repeatedly sacrifices himself for humanity, and the goriness of Ego reassembling his body. The case of Spider-Man’s death in Infinity War joins this growing list of grim moments in the MCU, and it will no doubt stand tall among these sequences for years to come. Indeed, it’s a heartbreaking - and quite plausible - scenario, of a child pleading to their friend (and substitute father figure) to be spared from their inevitable death. It proves that for all their family friendliness, Marvel isn’t afraid to occasionally push boundaries with scenes of intense distress. It’s Showcases Some Phenomenal Acting – And The Enduring Strength Of These Characters Ever since he was cast in the role back in 2015, Tom Holland has wowed everyone with his youthful iteration of the webbed wonder. But because he's such a recent addition to the MCU, no one expected Marvel's most popular superhero to die in Infinity War. Many other characters were earmarked for death, but in an ironic twist, a lot of the heroes that were predicted to die ended up surviving Thanos' cull. As a result, cinema-goers were already horror-struck when Spidey began to disintegrate. Certainly, people care about Peter because his problems are so relatable, and because he always tries to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost. In Infinity War, he asks Tony: “How can I be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there’s no neighborhood?” This line is played for laughs, but it perfectly encapsulates Peter’s personal philosophy. He doesn’t necessarily want the wealth or fame of being an Avenger anymore – he just wants to help out no matter what. It’s therefore even more tragic that he pays the ultimate price at the end of Infinity War. Plus, you’ll probably already know by now that for this scene, Holland improvised his lines and performance. To convey such heartfelt terror on the fly is hugely impressive in itself, but in the context of the film it’s even more remarkable. Moreover, Peter accompanies Stark to battle the powerful alien Ebony Maw against his mentor's will. Throughout these scenes, Holland infuses Spidey with that sprightly bravado that we know and love about the character. When Spider-Man realizes that he’s fading out of existence, all of that nervous bluster disappears to reveal the scared teenager beneath. Holland channels the same youthful whimper that he utilized beneath the rubble in Spider-Man: Homecoming. In doing so, he ensures that the moment packs even more of a punch. It doesn't help that his simple, yet evocative cries mimic those of the Tenth Doctor's tear-jerking departure, either. What’s even more notable about this scene is that, thanks to Tom Holland’s efforts, so many people have connected with his version of Spider-Man, against all the odds. When Spidey was brought into the MCU, critics of the Sony/Marvel deal complained that we'd overdosed on the wall-crawler. How could we warm to a third movie version of the same character in such a short space of time? The fact that so many people were moved to tears by this scene shows just how much Spider-Man – and the rest of these characters - has resonated with cinema-goers everywhere. Audiences could have smiled in shock. Instead, they gasped in anguish and horror. It’s a testament to the talents of these actors, the production teams, and the strength of these stories that they remain as popular as they were upon their first cinematic outing – if not more so. It’s Crucial For Two Compelling Character Arcs With very few details about Avengers 4 on the ground, we can only guess as to how the remaining heroes will undo Thanos’ “snapture.” As such, Peter Parker’s role in Avengers 4 is very much unknown, but you can bet his passing will be a big part of it. From playboy to paranoid protector, Iron Man has been on a fascinating character journey since 2008, and Parker plays an important part of that. After he recruited him in Captain America: Civil War, Tony Stark has felt responsibility for the teenager, pivoting between encouraging and curtailing the fledgling hero. Stark hopes that Peter will do some good, but hopes he'll avoid making the same mistakes he did. Nowhere is that more evident than in that now famous conversation in Homecoming: “What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? 'Cause that's on you. And if you died, I feel like that's on me. I don't need that on my conscience.” In light of Peter’s “dusting” in Infinity War, Stark’s words take on a whole new meaning. Of course, Spider-Man would probably have disintegrated even if he hadn’t stowed away on Ebony Maw’s craft. Yet his death is going to weigh very heavily upon an already traumatized Tony Stark. The playboy/philanthropist is nursing a whole lot of guilt already, not just from Civil War but from his weapon dealing days. Add the death of his young protégé to that mix and you’ve got a very vengeful Iron Man on your hands. We can only imagine what lengths Stark will now go to rid himself of the “curse” of Thanos. And lord help the Mad Titan if Pepper Potts was among those who faded away in Infinity War...especially if she actually is pregnant! The film may have even set Stark up to make the ultimate sacrifice: to save Peter Parker and the universe at the cost of his own life. As for Spider-Man himself? Again, this is somewhat dependent on the story of Avengers 4. Yet it’s doubtful that he – and the millions of others who were wiped out by Thanos - will forget those events in a hurry. Indeed, with Homecoming’s sequel occurring mere minutes after the end of Avengers 4, it seems that Spidey will be dealing with the aftermath of this for some time yet. How would that kind of experience impact a young hero? And how will Spider-Man cope if his beloved mentor is a casualty of the reinvigorated conflict against Thanos? With Holland’s contract lasting for two more solo movies (and potentially quite a few more after that), the MCU is clearly preparing to detail the slow maturation of Spider-Man in more detail than his previous outings. In this way, audiences can witness how he becomes the sassy yet seasoned superhero and scientist that we love from the comics. In short, it’s safe to say that this defining moment of Avengers: Infinity War could have major repercussions for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.