Why Tony Stark's Death Is the Perfect Send Off in Avengers: Endgame

Tony Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame (2019), starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, is the perfect send off for the character. It's difficult to think of any way that he could have had a better goodbye. His final sacrifice pays off his whole arc across the MCU, from self-centered arms dealer to a hero who gives his life so others can have a better one.

The MCU is easily the most successful franchise in Hollywood, often imitated but never duplicated. Most studios struggle to make a sequel that feels like part of a unified franchise, yet Marvel crafted over 20 films that all tie together perfectly. Over that decade, the franchise turned complete unknowns into household names. At the center of all of it is Tony Stark, who became an icon because of Robert Downey Jr.'s performance. Casting him was a massive risk, and the role of Tony Stark seems like it was made for him.

Tony Stark's Iron Man arc begins in a literal and metaphorical cave

In the first Iron Man film, we meet a self-centered arms dealer happily selling whatever he can to the army so that those in the Middle East can carry out warfare. Then he sees the damage his weapons do firsthand, and he decides to use his talents to make the world better instead. That turn is why he's such a fascinating character.

In many ways, Tony represents us all, and that's why so many people find him easy to relate to. We're not billionaires living lavish lifestyles, but I'm sure many of us grew up putting ourselves first, even to the detriment of others. As we get older and our priorities change, we see how much of a negative effect that can have on the world and the people around us.

Tony realizing his mistakes and crawling out of a literal and metaphorical cave is what turns him into the hero Iron Man. That rebirth and resurrection is just as important as his death. When we look at the MCU as a whole, it's about Tony trying to improve the world around him and sacrificing himself so that others can have a better life. The first film shows that through him giving up the wealth and fortune he would have made from dealing weapons.

Tony Stark proves to Captain America he will make the sacrifice play

The playboy persona still had a foot in the game after that first film. This comes up in The Avengers, when Captain America says Tony wouldn't ever make a sacrifice play. Tony shows Cap that he would. At the end of the film, he flies up into the sky with a nuke, potentially to his death.

Tony manages to come back, but he shows that he would lay down his life if it came to it. For the next ten years or so, he's happy to throw himself into battle. Then the snap happens, and things change.

The snap gave Tony Stark what everyone else lost

Tony survives the battle with Thanos, but he ends up adrift in space for several weeks until he's rescued by Captain Marvel. Believing he's going to die out there, all he leaves behind is a recording for Pepper Potts telling her that he loves her. He's saved, and I think that journey changes him.

The snap took something away from everyone except Tony. While most people lost the ones they loved, Pepper survived, and because of that the pair got to have a daughter together. I think watching those around him die, and knowing that Pepper could have gone the same way, makes him realize what he almost lost, so he holds on to her even tighter.

Tony quits being Iron Man, and it's a safe assumption that he steps away from the persona for five years. He'd toyed with this before. At the end of Iron Man 3, he threw his arc reactor into the ocean to show he was done with the role so he could be with Pepper. By Captain America: Civil War, we discovered he couldn't quit, because he had a compulsion to go out there. After the snap, though, he realized she was more important to him than being a hero.

He retreated to a country home and raised a family. Tony had once more become the selfish, self-centered person, even refusing to help when the others said there was a way to fix everything. He just wanted to be left alone. Deep down, though, he knew he wouldn't be able to rest if it meant others wouldn't get to have the love he'd found with his family. With Pepper's blessing, he returned to the Avengers compound, buried the hatchet with Cap and helped launch a time heist to get the Infinity Stones.

Tony Stark knew he would be the one to stop Thanos

Black Widow died and Nebula was captured, but the mission was somewhat a success, and the Avengers managed to bring everyone back. Through the quantum tunnel, however, came an even more ruthless version of Thanos. Knowing what happens in the aftermath of the snap, he changed the plan to wipe out all of life instead of just 50 percent of it.

The final act of Endgame is an incredible one, with the two sides throwing themselves at each other until just two people are left standing: Thanos and Tony. Thanos feels completely unbeatable. Infinity War set him up as an inevitable force who would power through everything thrown at him because of his will to complete the snap. After he beats everyone, he gets the stones into the gauntlet so he can carry it out once more.

Throughout both Infinity War and Endgame, I feel like Tony knew he would be the one to stop Thanos, and that he'd likely die doing it. In Infinity War, Doctor Strange saw over 14 million timelines and said there was only one in which they won. The wizard even sacrificed himself and the Time Stone to save Tony's life, and deep down I think Tony knew Strange would only do that if it was necessary.

In the final battle, Tony asks Strange to tell him if they're in the timeline where they win, but Strange withholds that information in case it doesn't happen. Tony is a smart guy, and to me he clearly knows he's going to be the person who has to make the sacrifice play, no matter how painful it is. As Thanos collects the stones, Tony looks over at Strange, who holds up one finger to signal that this is the one timeline. Tony has one choice, and he throws himself forward and takes the stones from Thanos.

"I am Iron Man" and Tony Stark's hand pay off his MCU arc

Thanos boasts, then realizes he doesn't have the stones. It's a moment that still makes me punch the air, because watching his hubris lead to his failure never gets old. We cut to Tony, who now has the stones, and in response to Thanos saying "I am inevitable," Tony says "I am Iron Man."

That line pays off all the more because Tony said it at several key points. He said it at the end of Iron Man, his first film, and at the end of Iron Man 3, which concluded his trilogy. Tony's hand has also taken a lot of focus throughout the MCU, so having him hold it up in frame to carry out the snap means a lot more.

The first time we see Tony in the MCU, the shot opens on his hand holding a glass of scotch in the back of a Humvee. That represents his self-centered, hedonistic attitude and how he doesn't take things seriously. Tony holding up his hand to carry out the snap is the opposite of that image, and it shows how far he's come, from selfish to selfless.

Why Tony Stark's death is the perfect send off for the character

Tony perfectly capitalizes on his arc throughout the MCU, and it's the perfect way to say goodbye to the character. He embodies what it means to be a hero, and how the real ones will sacrifice themselves to make things better for others. He saves not only his daughter and wife but also those who lost the ones they loved. At a time when things fail to stick the landing more often than not, it's nice to see a character get the send off they deserve.

Tony Stark saved this universe, and seeing him be the one who saves it shows how important he is to everything. Robert Downey Jr. goes out in a triumphant moment with a character that gave him a second chance, and I love this scene for all that it stands for. Tony represents that even with our less admirable traits, we can still do good when it comes down to it. The ability to be heroic lies within us; we just need to make the choice to put others before ourselves.

Tony is an inspiration to keep that in mind when making difficult decisions. It's an incredible send off, I think it's definitely the perfect way for us to say goodbye to him, and it makes Avengers: Endgame one of the best comic book movies of all time.