Warning: this article contains one of the biggest spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War! If you read this, one of the film's biggest scenes WILL be spoiled, not to mention other minor spoilers. Consider yourself warned!
In Avengers: Infinity War, pretty much every major hero gets his or her time to shine. Thor shows up to save the day during the Battle of Wakanda, Steve Rogers and his team rescue Scarlet Witch from the Black Order, and Iron Man's plan to take down Thanos is surprisingly successful (at first). However, there's one specific hero who gets the short end of the stick in the movie: Peter Quill. The character makes an impulsive decision after the wrangling of Thanos on Titan, and it pretty much dooms half of existence; therefore, we really need to talk about the aftermath of his choice.
First, let's make sure everyone is up to speed. The moment comes towards the end of Avengers: Infinity War's second act when Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and a handful of Guardians manage to beat Thanos -- who, up to this point, has only obtained a few Infinity Stones -- on Titan. Victory seems assured for the group until Star-Lord notices that Gamora is missing. Suspecting the worst, his fears receive confirmation when Nebula explains that he left with Gamora and came back without her but with the Soul Stone, the implication being that he murdered her on Vormir to obtain the mysterious gem. In a rage, Quill attacks The Mad Titan and creates an opening for Thanos to get the Infinity Gauntlet back and finish his mission.
The Gamora moment was very impactful on the big screen, but the Quill moment that follows has led to some debate. Specifically, some fans have expressed annoyance that Star-Lord would do something so foolish and impulsive in a moment of crisis. It's not necessarily out of character for Peter Quill, as he similarly decided to open fire on Ego upon learning of his mother's murder in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but frustrated fans seem to think that Quill should've kept it together for a few more seconds to make sure that Thanos couldn't get the Infinity Gauntlet back in his possession. This obviously would have taken the film in a different direction, but it still needs to be pointed out.
On the other hand, another segment of the Avengers: Infinity War fanbase sees Peter Quill's attack on Thanos as a far more justifiable course of action. After all, the guy had just lost the love of his life shortly after she finally admitted her feelings for him. Moreover, many have called attention to the fact that Doctor Strange did nothing to stop Peter Quill from attacking Thanos, despite the fact that The Sorcerer Supreme likely had the power to do so. With that context in mind, there's also the conclusion that Quill's decision to punch Thanos was actually part of a much larger play by Stephen Strange, who would later tell Tony Stark that trading the Time Stone for Stark's life was the "only way" to achieve victory.
Regardless of your opinion on the matter, one thing is clear: Avengers 4 is going to need to do something to redeem Peter Quill for his impulsive mistake. Even if the move was part of a larger play by Doctor Strange, there's no way that Star-Lord knew that when he threw the first punch against Thanos. The character faded away from existence when Thanos snapped his fingers at the end of the movie, and he seemed relatively resigned to his fate. If we're to assume that Quill will return (we know at least some of those dead heroes have to come back, given their commitments to other movies) then he needs to acknowledge the impulsivity of his action in Avengers: Infinity War and make amends.
This acknowledgment could involve a notable moment of self-sacrifice, or (at the very least) a scene of self-reflection in which he apologizes for what he did. No matter what, it will be interesting to see how Quill (along with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes) acknowledge the fallout and grow from the devastating losses of the third Avengers film.
What do you think? Is Star-Lord beyond redemption for his impulsive mistake in the battle against Thanos, or is he merely a wheel turning in a much larger machine? Let us know what you think in the poll, below, and make sure to check out Avengers: Infinity War (after you have gone through our full review and To 3D guide) in theaters for yourself! Looking ahead to the future, Avengers 4 will debut on May 3, 2019.
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