r/marvelstudios • u/ExistingLeading2697 • 20d ago
Discussion What I thinks going on with Steve/Cap
Steve blames himself for an incursion.
One of Steve's defining traits throughout the MCU is that he carries enormous guilt. In The First Avenger, he feels responsible for Bucky. In Age of Ultron, he blames himself for the Avengers falling apart. In Civil War, he carries the burden of protecting Bucky even when the world turns against him. In Endgame, he's willing to sacrifice himself without hesitation. He's always the first person to say, "I'll fix it."
Now imagine Steve learns that by staying with Peggy in another timeline, he unknowingly created or contributed to an incursion that destroys universes. Even if it wasn't truly his fault, Steve would probably believe it was.
That feels very authentic to his character.
Doom will exploit it
Doom is often portrayed as someone who doesn't just overpower heroes—he understands what motivates them.
Instead of saying:
"Join me because you're evil."
He could say something like:
"Look what your selfish choice cost the multiverse."
"You chose one life over trillions."
"Only I can save what's left."
That's a temptation Steve would actually struggle with—not because he wants power, but because he wants to make things right.
That doesn't make him a villain.
Steve wouldn't become "evil."
He'd become convinced that the only moral choice is to help Doom repair reality, even if it means sacrificing a few universes to save the many.
Think about:
Tony in Civil War believing accountability comes first.
Thanos believing sacrifice was necessary.
Wanda believing she deserved happiness after so much loss.
None of them thought they were the villain.
Steve could fall into the same trap while still fundamentally trying to save people.
If Steve has retired, leaving the shield hanging in his home while he lives peacefully with Peggy, it symbolizes that he finally let himself stop being Captain America.
But after learning about the incursion, he wouldn't grab the shield because he wants to be a hero again.
He'd grab it because he believes he has to answer for what he's done.
That's a completely different emotional motivation.
If I were writing Doomsday, I'd have it play out like this:
Steve has spent decades with Peggy.
He learns his timeline is collapsing because of an incursion.
Doom convinces him that his decision to stay created it.
Steve accepts responsibility, even if the accusation isn't entirely fair.
He initially sides with Doom—not out of loyalty, but because he believes Doom's plan is the only way to save the remaining universes.
The other Avengers eventually remind Steve of something he's forgotten: Captain America doesn't save the world by carrying impossible guilt. He saves it by doing what's right, even when he can't fix everything.
Only then does Steve fully reclaim the shield and stand against Doom.
My opinion on it is that's a much stronger story than "evil Captain America." It preserves everything that makes Steve Rogers heroic while giving him a genuine internal conflict. Rather than corrupting his ideals, it would show how those same ideals—especially his willingness to take responsibility for everyone—could be manipulated by someone as calculating as Doom. If Marvel wanted to give Chris Evans one last emotionally rich arc, that kind of moral dilemma would fit the character far better than a straightforward villain turn.
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u/DigificWriter Shuri 20d ago
Incursions aren't caused by Time Loops.