The Returned: Safe from the Snap or Peril?

In the movie Spider-Man: Far From Home, when people start returning from the snap, it is natural to wonder: would some individuals not have died, and are they indeed safe? Let's unravel this mystery with a closer look at the magic and intentions behind the Infinity Stones.

Genie Wishes and Infinite Loops

The concept of wish-fulfilment, where genies grant wishes with unintended consequences, brings us to a key question. Would the gotcha! type of wish, like those promised by genies, have any place in the Marvel universe's logic?

For instance, as seen in stories like The Monkey's Paw, genies will always find a way to grant the wish, no matter the loophole, even if it leads to disasters. However, the Infinity Stones and the Snap are different. They are not bound by such unforgiving magic; instead, they honour the intentions of the wielder.

The Humility of the Stones

The first principle of the Infinity Stones is their understanding and accommodation of the wielder's intentions. When Smart Hulk used his power to bring people back during the Blip, he was not manslaughter. He was returning to a safe and healthier state. The Stones were not unknowing, they knew what he wanted. The same can be said for Thanos's Snap. The Avengers knew that Thanos accomplished exactly what he set out to do: erasing half of all life without any misread intentions.

Based on this, the Stones are respectful towards the wielder's goals and do not trick or mislead. This principle is fundamental in understanding their behavior and the events that transpired.

Why Didn't Spider-Man Return?

Another key question arises: if Spider-Man didn't return to New York, why should anyone else?

The original answer posed by fans suggested that Hulk brought people back in a safe manner. However, this question draws even deeper when we consider that Spider-Man didn't reappear in New York. If the concept of returning to a specific place, like home, is not a given, then the idea of people reappearing in mid-air or buried in a wall is even more problematic.

Endgame's Plot Holes and Fan/Theory-Based Continuity

The issue with the plot in Avengers: Endgame is not new; it has been criticized for its numerous plotholes. The director's solutions, though often creative, often lead to bigger problems. For example:

Steve Rogers' Timeline: The simplest explanation that the director gave was that Steve was always in his timeline, meaning there were two Captain Americas. This resolves the issue but opens up other questions. If there were two Captain Americas, would the original Captain America have allowed Hydra to take over SHIELD, would Bucky have been captured and tortured, and would Howard Stark have died? Would Sharon Carter have kissed her uncle? Distinct Timelines: Another proposal is that Steve kept his own timeline hidden from his family, ensuring his safe return while others did not. Yet, this proposes a level of secrecy and deception that impacts the story's integrity.

Ultimately, the answer depends on how strictly one follows the on-screen events or whether one accepts the retroactive continuity designed to fix these issues. If we stick to the on-screen events, then people did indeed die. If we accept the retroactive continuity, then people are safe, but the overall continuity problem in Endgame becomes even worse.

In summary, the events in Spider-Man: Far From Home and Avengers: Endgame challenge our understanding of the Infinity Stones and their behavior. While some find comfort in the magic of the stones, others may view it as a more complex scenario filled with moral and ethical dilemmas. The ongoing debate around these films highlights the importance of consistency and intention in storytelling.