ArtsCinema & TV

Life After Avengers: Infinity War

Spoiler Alert: If you have not watched Avengers: Infinity War, get out of here and read our “Before You Watch” guide here.

The Avengers: Infinity War ending title card slowly faded away, taking a part of me with it. Although it was the second time that I am witnessing it, its effect was equally as profound as the first time.

It is almost unheard of that a movie with such a huge global impact could leave such a strong impression on a personal level. Although most of us have been mere spectators in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), we became a part of it as well over the last decade.

The six infinity stones represent the six aspects of an individual’s own universe: soul, time, space, power, reality, and the mind.

And with the snap of a finger, my Universe, too, has been changed.

1. Soul

The Soul Stone has seen the least exposure out of the six in the MCU. According to the comics’ lore, the Soul Stone gives its owner the power to control over the lives and deaths of every soul in the universe. It also grants access to the Soul World, which makes two brief appearances in Avengers: Infinity War; the first time happened after the act of sacrificing Gamora, and the second time occurred after Thanos wiped out half of the universe’s existence. In both scenarios, the antagonist was responsibility for claiming the souls of others.

My soul was left with a massive void at the end of the movie. The film did deliver on the hype that was built up over 18 previous instalments; it exceeded expectations of its ultimate villain while balancing its heroes’ electrifying personalities.

But it came to an end.

And along with half of the world, I was left feeling empty and restless, banished back to normality.

2. Time

If I had the Time Stone, I would use it to travel forward by a year, to the premiere of the final Avengers instalment.

Ironically, all that I have between me and the next movie is time: and much time on my hands have been spent watching copious talk-show interviews and press-tour footages of the charismatic cast of Infinity War, and devouring Marvel-related commentaries, reviews, and reactions.

3. Space

Whoever owns the Space Stone in the MCU is able to teleport to wherever they want to in the galaxy.

To a follower of the MCU, space is not something of concern. We already have the ability to travel throughout the entire universe in a split second.

Since the second time that I have watched Infinity War, I have been journeyed to some of Marvel’s radiant lands – using their previous films as a vessel. I am not just craving to dive back into the world of the Avengers; I am searching for something.

4. Power

The effect of the Power Stone is rather self-explanatory in the context of the movie. In the world of skinny comic-book fanatics, however, knowledge is power.

I feel like I am a part of a ‘Ready Player One’-esque race, obsessed to find out the conclusion to the Avengers: Infinity War saga. First, I guzzled down the Infinity (2013) and Infinity Gauntlet (1992) comics, before beginning a reverse marathon of the films. If the franchise has already been planned out right from the beginning, there have to be some clues left around somewhere.

5. Mind

The final stone that Thanos acquires bestows its owner the capacity to read the minds of everyone in existence.

What my intellect would reveal is a psychedelic cycle of Marvel references accompanied by Alan Silvestri’s Infinity War theme music. What would be interesting, however, is finding out what the directors of the third and fourth Avengers movies, Anthony and Joe Russo, are thinking.

The Russo brothers have stepped up to the biggest stage in entertainment history and have taken unthinkable risks to the shock of millions of fans. It is also starting to seem as if the Infinity arc has been planned out from the very beginning, and there could be hints scattered throughout Marvel Studios’ nineteen films.

6. Reality

Let’s skip this one, shall we? It isn’t as important at the present moment.

Infinity War’s creative team now possesses infinite power over the MCU and the responsibility that goes along with it. That leaves us, mere spectators, with only the ability to wait and see.

Strangely enough, though, I do not envy the crew that bears the burden of power. Somehow, we – the audience of the MCU – emerged ahead in this particular deal.

Visuals courtesy of Film Frame and Marvel Studios.

Jeevan Vishnu

I'm 6'5, 220 - and there's two of me.

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