MCU: 5 Reasons Captain America Is an Underrated Character (& 5 Why He’s Overrated)
While Steve Rogers didn’t end his time in the MCU through a heroic death like Iron Man, he is, as far as we know, no longer going to appear in the franchise after going back to the past. However, the character was a significant part of the films up to this point and their success.
As one of the most well-known and well-loved Avengers in the MCU, Captain America has inspired many people with his brave spirit and desire to save others. However, there are some things about the character that don’t get enough acknowledgment as well as other things that get too much hype.
10 Underrated: His ability to adapt to the modern age
When Steve went under the ice in 1945, the world was a very different place than it is today. Many social movements such as Civil Rights haven't happened yet, and everything from food to technology to transportation was different.
So, the fact that he was able to adapt so well to the world in 2011 when he was found says a lot about his character and flexibility.
9 Overrated: Endgame Steve Rogers
Seeing as how Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of dozens of movies over a decade, fans were understandably both excited and nervous to see what became of their favorite characters.
While Steve might have had some great movie moments, they were mostly just pandering to the audience while his actual character development regressed in a way that didn’t make sense with past movies.
8 Underrated: The fact that he lost everything so many times
While Captain America is far from the only MCU hero with a tragic past, he did lose nearly everyone he loved and knew after going into the ice.
Then, after Peggy died in her old age but Bucky was finally returned to him, Bucky, along with Sam Wilson, was snapped by Thanos. Steve endured losing the people he cared about over and over, and the fact he was able to even cope says a lot about him.
7 Overrated: The idea that he’s some clean-cut boy scout
Given that the MCU films are directed by different people, characterization can change from film to film. In Age of Ultron, the “language” line was said, and ever since many fans have assumed the image of Steve has some old, fuddy-duddy who is this paragon of old school values.
This is overrated because it doesn’t even make sense with the character. He swears multiple other times in other movies. While he might have many high values and ethics, he also isn’t someone whose values are in line with traditional things all of the time.
6 Underrated: His edginess
While some fans just see Steve as a bit of a boring, stick in the mud, and he might seem like one compared to Tony Stark, he has a sarcastic and biting streak.
He also is easy to get angry or upset at people when he feels they aren’t doing the right thing. He definitely has a dark, jaded side. The fact that he can be a bit sarcastic and uppity in moments makes him feel more well-rounded.
5 Overrated: The lifting Mjolnir scene
Many people will probably disagree with this point as it’s one of the most-loved scenes from the entire film, and one of the most memorable. However, while it’s not a bad scene and it was a great cinematic moment, the obsession with this scene over other Steve moments is overrated.
Steve had already shown he was worthy long ago when he threw himself on the fake hand grenade, and while lifting Mjolnir was a great nod to his goodness, it wasn’t some big change to who he always was.
4 Underrated: His loyalty to people he’s close to
While Steve might make a lot of mistakes, especially with some of the ways he handled the situation with Tony in Civil War, he is very loyal to people. When it comes to his closest friends such as Bucky and Sam, he will go to the ends of the earth to help them.
While he also wants to save everyone and the world, he gets attached to certain people and is very protective of them.
3 Overrated: That is America’s ass scene
Once again, this is another scene from Endgame that many fans loved, but it’s even more overrated than the Mjolnir scene.
It might have been a funny moment, but it seems out of character that Steve basically made his past self into a joke and especially that he used the fact that Bucky was still alive as a casual, flippant moment to get the upper hand on his past self.
2 Underrated: His relationship with Bucky
While this might not seem like an underrated aspect to Steve’s character, given that the Steve and Bucky relationship gets talked about a lot, it still deserves even more attention.
This relationship should have been romantic, or at least should be recognized by more people as being possibly romantic. By basically ignoring this relationship in Endgame, Steve seemed out of character.
1 Overrated: His relationship with Peggy
This point might upset some people, but it’s a rather complicated one. While the relationship between these two was rather heartwarming and also extremely tragic for most of the films, the way their story ended ruined this relationship.
Instead of handling the grief of losing Peggy in a realistic way, and also acknowledging the full life she lived without Steve, the movies went back on established canon and character development to give them a “happy” ending. It didn’t make sense for Steve’s character, and Peggy also deserved better.