#pretty much every film and character has it used as a baseline for plot armor outside of realism at varied points

[blindtaleteller]

Okay, this is gonna be a long one, even summarizing at spots: but hm and yeah.

I agree with almost everything in @valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn post, excepting " The only character in the MCU next to Thanos to have absolute narrative protection is Stark " which.. just plain is not the case; either in the respect of of narrative protection, plot armor from basic repurcussions, or the hero/villain coding that lets that hypocrisy pass in the MCU, or in the scope of Tony's and Wanda too, in particular.

Not in terms of ethics and morality, or other terms either.

Realistically; Wanda, Tony and Cap, along with the entire team they were a part of ? All of them have that going on: and by Civil War in particular; well.. their world recognizing that was literally the main driving part of the political end of Civil War's entire plot, before Bucky Barnes or Zemo is put on screen.. this is true of the majority of the team throughout their varied films too.

Incidentally, this is a well observed problem that goes well and past singular characters; and one I and several others have mentioned and been mentioning in the past regarding Hero and Villain coding in Marvel and the MCU in particular for well; years. While some of it was patched in the films to a semi-believable degree and it's a particular aspect of the MCU in particular that's been gradually been getting worse since 2014-2015? That doesn't change the fact that it is very present, to have to be patched and or overlooked/grazed past at all or in the first place.

I'm going at some of the examples here, but there are a LOT per character; and even more when you take military and intelligence agency structure, policy, the reasons those exist (especially the portions protecting the populace they're meant to serve from exploitation etc) and punishments that come from breaking those? Yeah I am not going to list every single instance; just the first and maybe second. That said, I think I'm going to only cover three anyway because.. well as I said, there is a LOT of that going on: and in most cases the plot armor starts in their first appearances and films.

Thor's immunity well before even Avengers is even larger within their universe; starting in 2011 at an interstellar if not intergalactic level. (See the peace treaty he broke, his status as a traitor and warmonger on a domestic and interstallar level: remember.. the Frost Giants are not another brand of Asgardian nor are they even on the same planet as a separate species already ravaged by war that Asgard had a standing 1000+ year uneasy peace and no contest/trespassing treaty with until 2011: this is why even going there as Asgardians is not just 'illegal' is treason all on it's own: the likes of which is punishable by death sentence: and that is stated several times in the film both before and after Thor's banishment. Though very subtly hinted at in TDW, this is a very plainly stated fact in the first film; and pretty obviously why Heimdall doesn't go for a fourth count of treason for himself as an immediately enabling accomplice by the time TDW does roll around.) This is continued in his unlawful return during the beginning of that war he started, too; and that disregarding fact is also stated just as plainly when Sif & the warriors three head to Earth. On the personal grade.. Thor is also pretty darned glaringly irresponsible, lacking in levels conscience or ownership that comes with it along those lines; and carries on through the whole of the MCU franchise along those lines. While this is a part of his character flaws; it's also carried to stupid levels as part of his plot armor, and more so when you take into account he's done just as bad if not worse than Loki by the time TDW hits.. Thor has absolutely no consequences for any of this or his inherited disregard for other cultures/ruling bodies or their representatives (see his appearance scene in A1 as well as his dialogue through the carrier argument in the lab) and is still about his business while Loki comparatively, is immediately initially sentenced to death without trial post Avengers, a sentence which is then 'downgraded' to 3500-4000 years minimum in solitary confinement.

Steve.. oh boy. Well, honestly and with his very first: he should have ended up in jail before he even met Erskine, with the more than half a dozen charges of falsifying his government documents alone. The implication that he gets off on the 'poor precious sickly wannabe patriot bean' is a bit of a stretch after the sixth time.. which is again a thing he and Bucky tell us on screen themselves. Add in endangering levels of desertion and disobeying orders that would have resulted in the maximum punishment for a violation or failure to obey lawful general order or regulation being dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for two years: and well. CA:tFA alone honestly would not have happened if not for that plot armor. Steve has huge, huge plot armor: especially as an enlisted man, and later as an employee with an intelligence agency of all things.

Tony.. well lets be real here; his plot armor generally consists of having money, fame; a lot of it, and knowing how to use it: or, in the case of Civil War in particular, those using him learning how to use that and his conscience to forward their own political BS. The strange and or hypocritical if interesting bit about Tony is, while he seems among the most aware of it and reprimand is attempted as early as IM 2 (see the court scene & governmental request to hand over his weaponry) he also rarely takes any responsibility outside of quickly brushed aside dialogue, and the rarity of him handling or plannning any correction well in the realm of that conscience is frankly half assed until after the fact: as Tony generally jumps the gun and the rest of the thought process of weighing pros and cons when it and his anxiety post Avengers nuke-fuelled space trip weigh in (as well as it's results: this is a major part of his snap-judgement reasoning for even trying to loose Ultron from the Scepter; which ultimately does result in both Sokovia falling and Zemo's reasoning in his eventual bombing Kiev in CW: remember, Zemo's motivation is ultimately revenge using the Accords after the Avengers part in Sokovia falling resulted in his remaining family among hundreds if not thousands of other people also dying, while the Avengers continued on without proper consequence for their parts whether that was direct fault like Tony, or negligence, and accomplices etc) gets poked and not changing course when needed is a major flaw of his that causes the majority of his major mis-steps and screw ups, all the way into and yes past Civil War in particular: and he tends to not think about how this affects others around him until again.. good and well after the fact. This is an ongoing theme with Tony as a major flaw; and it's well done to a degree if you're paying attention but yes.. lots and lots of plot armor in the hero coding all around that does not just belong to him for the majority, either. And less so in an aftermath put face-first in Civil War the fact that none of the restrictions or consequences otherwise affect how the Avengers operate afterwards put in plain example with the Nigeria bio-weapon scene.

(Sort-of side note: That whole Nigeria biological weapon theft opening scene, it's premise, it's follow up and framing has issues all over the place in this realm too that I've covered both here and in fic form; but yeah. It does weigh in here as another example in both directions I'm not getting into again. I could write a whole 500 page book about CW and I would still need to write a sequel detailing the breakdowns alone. Ultimately it's a mess even if it is a decent catalyst, and one of the points I don't think they detailed a proper response to in story at all. If you're curious about the baseline as to how it's screwed? Why was Nigeria building biological weapons in the first place; why wasn't it better guarded; and especially why would either of those first two questions be a thing in a major and heavily populated city or even close to it; never mind within walking distance of a VERY busy street market, after Hydra including members of it's defunct cells like Brock have been outed and made desperate to raise the chances of someone taking it in particular should definitely have that kind of dangerous and infectious product in need of being protected by outside agencies at all whether they're the Avengers or not? Yeah, badly handled; that. But fiction/narrative/plot armor on an international scale so.. meh.)

As far as CW in particular goes though; that plot armor in-universe and the incorrect ways both sides take to correct it literally is the point on display in CW, and; has been said and pointed out repeatedly by the creators and the actors themselves during official and BTS documenting interviews given around and during the time of it's release.

The entire premise of the split in is stated openly as being neither 'side' is entirely in the right, or entirely clear of responsibility for events prior; or of the events displayed as current in Civil War either. The debate/argument at the conference table puts this on display fairly well; but doesn't cover the obvious rebuttal of Rhodey's arrogance comment being equally as arrogant in dismissing basic human rights and autonomy, or the fact that from start to finish of that scene; the nukes Ross is referring to are people who absolutely should have some of those under the governments he is representing there; both human and not.

(Missed opportunity there and side note again: that one they should have taken, especially to remind the audience & set up for the 'habeas corpus' mention from Rogers that is pointed that out later in after Bucky is framed for Kiev and caught in Bucharest as part of Zemo abusing that exclusively corrupt and prejudiced system to manage it.. but yeah. The Geneva Conventions as protection of basic human rights are a thing for a reason; and something the Accords and team Ross regularly put aside. Rogers does not go about things properly at all no, but that is again a thing that everyone involved is responsible for not doing in the film in differing degrees and from differing angles. It's ultimately their egos and unwillingness to recognize that or work together and compromise on both sides, that ultimately causes the most issues and damage: all the way to the ending scene. Incidentally, in the aftermath: this is also why dismissing the Accords is one of the few things to make sense post-Civil War. The Accords as presented and especially carried through by those entrusted with it, are every anti-human rights: to the point that it does line up with Hydra's Nazi agenda run 'Project Insight's' goals and intents from CA:tWS at scary and creepy levels.)

The film basically tries to tackle the subjects of the incorrect/downsides and correct/upsides of conformity and oversight under often corrupt officials willing to sacrifice a portion of basic human rights to achieve it (Ross, backed by Tony under guilt after being confronted by Spencer, along with Zemo using his position among those officials to bomb Kiev and frame Barnes thanks to that oversight failing as a result of that dismissal of human rights policies etc) versus; the incorrect/downsides and correct/upsides of full and sometimes ego-driven autonomy without a regulation or full moral checks that include those affected in the resulting event or aftermath (Bucky Barnes framing, Steve).

Personally I don't think they went a little too complex with that theme and story; so much as they simply didn't state or display some of it quite as well as they should have to acheive it for general viewers and those unable to perceive those issues well, or take into account favoritism in the fandom that's rampant in allowing that coding to apply only to their individual favorites.

I've re-watched and broken this film and those leading up to it especially down so many times (dozens and that is not an overstatement), from so many differing angles it's hard for me to miss: but I do understand why and how most tend to forget or graze over the varying points along those lines.

That doesn't change the facts of the film attempting that; or plot armor and the hero/villain coding heavily embedded in it or the MCU as a whole either though. Most of that can and does pass under the 'fiction' rule yes, but I have to point out.. that those who apply that to one fictional character and refuse to do so with the next in line; especially when they exist in the same universe and film/s?

That, is just plain hypocrisy and favoritism.

'Team Cap' and Team Stark' in particular as a concept is yes and in fact a fan made hype machine that they ran with as a company outside of that for promotional reasons shortly after screening and polls related made it clear that was a popular take they could promote Civil War with on this side of the screen: and even during the interview stages they poked fun at that fact in skits and more.

One of the most famous being the doughnut skit with Taylor, RDJ and Evans. The video provided below also has clips after the meme-worthy promo skit from some of Evans' offical notations, that; right away tell you exactly that. One of the most to the point statements in that regard was documented in Evans' and RDJs interviews during that 'VS' promotional: one example of which I'm putting here for y'all...

There are versions of that entire interview set from both main-focus actors and more, out there (especially documented on youtube) but yeah and again.. neither 'side' is 'right' or 'wrong': recognizing that in universe, was part of the point and a huge part of the story of Civil War in particular.

There is no character on Civil War's screen or in the MCU that isn't affected by that plot armor and hero/villain coding. Every single one of them have a bare minimum of one or two instances and examples of it, and those involved are very aware of it to state as much.

Just sayin' and, again; playing favorites with that concept in afvor of any character is hypocrisy, falling into that coding with favoritism as the flavoring; and always has been, hands down.

There are, absolutely; limitations to which that and things attached should be allowed under the fiction rule. The problem and arguments start when those limitations aren't followed through with or applied evenly from character to character by the creators and viewers both.

The baseline rules related to this that especially hasn't been applying in recent phases and has been a major factor in screwing over the story over all can be broken down to two simple sentences:

1. A hero is not a hero without the clear and consistent application of a conscience and it's effect in any event: before, during and after said event.

2. And yes, this should include guilt as a more than momentary thing, and especially consequence; or the lack of both or either where keeping that hero title is concerned.

Again, just sayin':

For those who pull this stuff...?

It doesn't matter which character is being bashed or upheld over another in the process as a favorite; doing the same thing in reverse and ignoring this kind of thing character by character in the same universe especially: isn't gonna get you anywhere or prove anything other than that the coding issue is yes a stronk one, and that favoritism, othering it enables, and hypocrisy; is a thing.

Also tags.

It genuinely saddens me how desperate people are to tear apart the one relationship Wanda has with a still-living person

Gotta love how this fucker even tries to claim that Wanda might be lying about how her parents died. I bet they headcanon that SHE killed them and then altered Pietro’s memories.

I couldn’t see the date on this post, but I’m assuming it was from 2019. That “happy ending” claim aged like milk.