Captain America: Civil War takes place after the events and battle in Sokovia during Avengers: Age of Ultron. The movie starts out with a flashback to 1991; in a Russian compound, a soldier is reading a sequence of words from a red book to the Winter Soldier, AKA Bucky Barnes, and gives him a mission to extract the last five vials of the super soldier serum made by Dr. Abraham Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger.The Winter Soldier successfully crashes a tan car carrying the vials and reports back to base.
The movie brings us to the present day, where Wanda Raminoff is in Lagos with some of the Avengers staking out near a nearby Institute of Infectious Disease Center building. Captain America is leading the operation with Sam Wilson (Falcon), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), and Wanda Maxinoff (Scarlet Witch) as his subordinates. A dump truck is used as a battering ram to enter the compound. Brock Rumlow and his operatives break in and obtain a red bioweapon vial; Rumlow gives the red liquid vial to one of his soldiers and tells him to take it back to headquarters. Three additional men are also able to escape, and the four operatives run in different directions to confuse the Avengers; however, the bioweapon is recovered by Romanoff. Captain America and Rumlow fight each other, and Rumlow is losing, so he decides to blow himself up. Wanda is able to use her powers to contain the explosion, but she throws the blast upward and the orb she made explodes into a building, killing and injuring many people. Maximoff feels guilty for trying to save people’s lives, only to kill over 30 other people with the explosion.
Back in the United States, Tony Stark goes to MIT and funds all of the students’ projects to help ease his conscience. He is in a bad place; he and Pepper are currently separated, and he is feeling the weight of the repercussions from being a member of the Avengers. His faith in the team has been shaken by all of the destruction and pain they have left behind while “kicking ass.”
(Photo Credit from Marvel Studios)
How do the Avengers, especially Maximoff and Stark, cope with the guilt of their past mistakes?
We can feel personally responsible for events that are out of our control, such as our home being destroyed by a hurricane. We can also feel guilty when the results of our healthy actions for individual growth and progress affect others in a negative way, or when others do not like it because it causes them to feel badly about themselves. We should remember that our progress in life isn’t dependent upon other individuals, and we do not need to live according to the standards of others.
The mission in Lagos was added to the reason for the Sokovia Accords, which were also brought about because of the events in The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Back at the Avengers compound, the team meets with Secretary of State, Thunderbolt Ross, who we first met in the Incredible Hulk. He tells them that the Avengers now have an oversight committee that was approved by the 117 countries that make up the United Nations. If the Avengers do not agree with the Sokovia Accords, they have the choice to either retire or be arrested. While the Avengers are fighting over whether they should sign the Sokovia Accords, Peggy Carter passes away, and Captain America leaves to attend the funeral.
In Vienna, the Sokovia Accords are signed by the 117 countries, Romanoff, Vision, Stark, and Rhodey. Meanwhile, Zemo sets out to use the red book seen in 1991 to control the Winter Soldier. Zemo, impersonating the Winter Soldier, sets off a bomb at the signing of the Accords, and the leader of Wakanda, King T’Chaka, is killed. His son, T’Challa, becomes both King and the new Black Panther of Wakanda. An international special forces unit finds the Winter Soldier, and tries to take him captive. He gets away with the help of Captain America, but eventually both are captured by Black Panther and War Machine.
Barnes is brought in for a psychological evaluation by a psychiatrist, who is Zemo in another disguise. Zemo uses the red book to activate the Winter Soldier, who escapes from captivity with Rogers after defeating other Avengers. Zemo finds out that there are five other Winter Soldiers that were made by Russia in 1991 using the serum from the crash shown at the beginning of the film. Stark is tasked to bring in Wilson, Barnes, and Rogers; he decides to bring in Peter Parker, known as Spider-Man, to help capture them. Parker reveals that he became Spider-Man because all he wants to do is help the little guy.
How did each Avenger’s conviction that they were doing the right thing split the team and lead them to fight on different sides?
Other people in our life may disagree with which side of the aisle we’re on or a subject we agree with. When this happens, we should remember that others cannot help us achieve a peace of conscience; it is something we have to do for ourselves. Also, our decisions should be our own and not what someone else says or does.
Scarlet Witch, Antman, and Hawkeye join Captain America, Falcon, and the Winter Soldier to escape at an airport and stop Zemo from waking the other five Winter Soldiers. Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Vision show up to bring the aforementioned “vigilantes” to justice. An impressive battle between the two sides of the Avengers commences. Captain America and Winter Soldier manage to escape using a twinjet while the others are holding off Iron Man’s team. Black Widow switches sides during the battle to help Captain America and Winter Soldier escape. Scarlet Witch, Antman, Hawkeye, and Falcon are captured by Iron Man’s team. War Machine is knocked unconscious and part of his spine is damaged in the process of trying to catch the twinjet.
The vigilantes who were captured end up in the Raft, a floating maxim security prison. Stark goes to the Raft to find out where Rogers and Barnes went because he knows now that he was wrong. Black Panther also makes his way to the bunker. When Iron Man catches up with Rogers and Barnes, Zemo traps them and Black Panther in the underground bunkers that are fortified to withstand 100 missile blasts. Zemo then shows a video of the death of Stark’s parents, who were killed by the Winter Soldier when he was brainwashed, and then he leaves them to fight each other. Iron Man attacks Winter Soldier, but Captain America tries to stop him. They end up hurting each other to the point they can’t attack each other. Stark tells him he doesn’t deserve the shield made by Stark’s father, so Captain America walks away from his shield.
Although Tony Stark and Steve Rogers parted ways over their actions against each other, will they still be there for one another when it truly matters?
After parting ways Rogers sends a letter and cellphone to the Avengers compound for Stark. He says, “Tony, I’m glad you’re back at the compound. I don’t like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours, maybe more so than mine. I’ve been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the army. My faith is in people, I guess. Individuals. And I’m happy to say that, for the most part, they haven’t let me down. Which is why I can’t let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn’t. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself, and I’m sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand. I wish we agreed on the Accords, I really do. I know you’re doing what you believe in, and that’s all any of us can do. That’s all any of us should. So, no matter what. I promise you, if you need us, if you need me, I’ll be there.”
At times in our life, we may need to walk away from someone, a group, or a situation due to the results of our own or others actions, or because of the emotions caused by the event. The most important thing to do is take action and pursue things that are best for our well-being, but while also letting others know we will be there when they really need us.
Individual Online Therapy in Florida, Idaho, South Carolina, and Utah
At Calming Transformations Counseling, our therapists understand life can be hard and can affect our emotional and mental health. We also serve those with anxiety, stress, depression, or relationship issues, who may be religious. Sessions can be held through online therapy in the states of Florida, Idaho, South Carolina or Utah, or walk and talk therapy in Hillsborough County, Florida. Contact us today to schedule a session and take the first step toward a more peaceful life.
About the Author
Chad Thompson, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing Christian Counseling in Tampa, Florida and telehealth services across Florida, Utah, Idaho, and South Carolina. With a unique background in cinema studies and over a decade in hospitality, Chad brings a distinctive storytelling approach to therapy that helps clients see their struggles and growth through new perspectives. He specializes in faith-based counseling that integrates clinical expertise with Christian values, offering services including anxiety therapy, depression treatment, and support for military families. Chad’s warm, authentic style creates a safe space where faith and mental health can work together toward healing. Learn more about Chad’s approach to Christian Counseling and cinema therapy at Calming Transformations Counseling.