The movie kicks off in Sokovia one year after the events of Captain America: Winter Soldier in which Hydra was exposed and S.H.I.E.L.D. dismantled as a result. The Avengers ‒ Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Thor ‒ are taking down a Hydra base in hopes of finally locating and capturing the alien scepter that Loki used during the battle in New York. They are successful, but they discover that Hydra has been experimenting with the scepter on people; they briefly interact with the only two successful subjects – Pietro Maximoff, who has superhuman speed, and his twin sister Wanda, who has telepathic/telekinetic abilities.
When Stark discovers that there is a type of artificial intelligence in the scepter and works with Banner on a peacekeeping program that Stark is developing called “Ultron.” They do not tell the other Avengers of their work, and when they are ultimately successful their experiment instead results in a self-aware program that believes humanity is destructive and beyond saving.
Stark and Banner had good intentions, but they hid it from the rest of the team and ultimately ended up creating Ultron. Although we might have good motivations, our actions can result in unintended consequences.
Ultron teams up with the Maximoff twins, and they work together to take down the Avengers – they are partially successful when Wanda uses her powers to make each of them see haunting visions; the worst of these is when her powers make Banner turn into the Hulk and destroy a nearby town. Shaken and discouraged by their defeat, the group retreats to a safe house – Hawkeye’s family home.
The Avengers hadn’t faced failure on this level before, and it rattled them to their core, forcing them to take a step back and consider their next move. Like the team, sometimes we need to pause and think about our past actions and future options before making any decisions.
The Avengers believed they were invincible, and when they are proven wrong it forces them to reflect; sometimes life deals us a tough hand, but we can use difficult circumstances to teach ourselves a lesson that will help us in the future.
Meanwhile, Ultron is using synthetic technology to create a new body for himself; while beginning to upload himself into the body, Wanda is able to read his mind for the first time and discovers Ultron’s true intentions ‒ to bring about human extinction. As a result, they turn on him and help the Avengers steal the synthetic body and bring it back to Stark Tower. Unbeknownst to the rest of the team, Stark and Banner begin to upload J.A.R.V.I.S. into the body, resulting in the creation of Vision. Although they are initially wary of this seemingly Ultron-like creation, Vision quickly wins them over by lifting Thor’s hammer (proving he is “worthy”) and joining their fight. Before they head off, Rogers reminds them “Ultron thinks we’re monsters, that we’re what’s wrong with the world. This isn’t just about beating him, it’s about whether he’s right.”
The Avengers, Vision, and the Maximoff twins head to Sokovia and face off against Ultron and his army of drones. They manage to save the people of Sokovia with the help of War Machine, Maria Hill, and Fury who show up with a helicarrier; however, Piedro is killed while protecting Hawkeye and a civilian during battle. His sacrifice is a complete shift from the beginning of the movie when he and Wanda were against the Avengers; his sacrifice and death prompts a wave of grief from Wanda in which her powers destroy all but one of the remaining drones.
In the aftermath, Ultron attempts to flee in the last remaining drone, but Vision catches up with him. Before destroying him, Vision says to Ultron, “Humans are odd. They think order and chaos are somehow opposites and try to control what won’t be. But there is grace in their failings. I think you missed that.”
When we can recognize the lessons that come from our mistakes, our failures can lead to future success.
The team is split up once again, with Thor off to discover more about the Infinity Stones and Hulk lost in space. Meanwhile, a new team has been assembled and Captain America and Black Widow begin training their new recruits ‒ Scarlet Witch, Falcon, War Machine and Vision.
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Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
