Tony vs Steve- Who Was Right and Who Was Wrong In Captain America: Civil War?
In the 13th MCU film, two of the original Avengers members were at odds with each other. One approved oversight of the Avengers and the other opposed it. Let’s delve in as to what was driving their instincts to approve or oppose the Sokovia Accords.
When the Secretary of State visits the Avengers compound in upstate New York, he presents them with legal documents to sign which would be ratified by 117 countries in the U.N. in Vienna a few days later. These documents state that the Avengers would be a government-policed unit that may only operate when the U.N deemed it necessary. This culminated after the tragedy in Lagos, Nigeria where Wanda Maximoff accidentally killed Nigerian citizens after trying to send the bio-bomb airborne. After the Battle in New York, the Triskelion incident in D.C., Sokovia, and recently Lagos, the world governments decided that the Avengers needed to be regulated and for them to sign the Sokovia Accords which incorporates everything I’ve mentioned above.
The team was divided in how to respond. Sam, who had fought alongside Steve before but never with the Avengers as a team was loyal to him and trusted his judgment in opposing the Accords. Sam also knew that agendas could change and the Avengers would be powerless to stop the status quo from shifting as they experienced that first-hand when they discovered that S.H.I.E.L.D. was having its strings pulled by Hydra. It was the same deal with the Accords- the safest hands were still their own as Steve said. Widow, who told the goverment to kiss their asses 2 years prior, sides with Tony and signing the Accords as she feels it’s the right decision to win the trust of the people back. Vision believes oversight is a good idea as he believes that the more enhanced individuals join the Avengers, the more strength the more challenge the more conflict the more catastrophe will be bred. Rhodey has absolute faith in the Accords as it’s a directly U.N-sanctioned law and not from a subsidiary like S.H.I.E.L.D. . Wanda sides with Steve because she didn’t believe it was right that Tony wouldn’t allow her to leave the compound for her own and others’ protection, Hawkeye simply sides wtih Steve because Steve asked him to, and Scott Lang sides with Cap because he’s always idolized him and because Hank Pym indoctrinated him against trusting Starks.
After showing the team a photo of Charles Spencer who was a casualty during the Battle of Sokovia, Tony believes the group should be put in check. Had someone come to him and told him that they lost a son/daughter during the Battle of New York, he would’ve felt this way much earlier but as it so happens, Charles’ mother personally approached Stark one year after the Battle of Sokovia to blame him for her son’s death and because she was the first person to personally approach an Avenger to hold them accountable for thier actions, it gave Tony clarity that perhaps they do really need to be on leash. This way of thinking directly contradicts Steve’s philosophy that they should trust no one except themselves which Rhodes expresses is dangerously arrogant. Tony states that if they can’t accept limitations, then the Avengers are no better than the bad guys.
Perhaps Tony was a bit overzealous and too quick to accept the would-be new status quo. It’s not clear how much time Tony had to think clearly about his decision but what is certain is that a strong driving force behind it is the fact that Tony was once responsible for manufacturing and distributing weapons of war which he ceased once he saw how others capitalized on that and caused destruction and death so it’s the same principle when the Avengers are unable to operate in a safe manner and unable to prevent loss of life. As Tony’s weapons are dangerous, so are the Avengers as Ross declared and Tony agrees. Of course, the biggest thorn in Stark’s rosebush is Steve himself who is his most vocal opponent. While in London after attending Peggy Carter’s funeral there, Natasha approaches Steve to give him comfort and after asking who signed the Accords, Natasha tells him herself, Rhodes, Vision, and Tony after which Steve tells her that he cannot and would not nor would Sam or Wanda evidently. Clint is ‘retired’.
Steve and those who did not sign would have been fine if not for Zemo’s actions of framing Bucky for destroying the U.N. building in Vienna. Everett Ross’s Joint-Counter Terrorism Strike Team is dispatched on a manhunt for Bucky in Romania but Steve’s interference (both because he’d be the one least likely to die trying in detaining him and to prevent them from killing Bucky) earns him a slap on the wrist as Bucky is put into a containment module and are both taken to Berlin, Germany along with Sam who aided and abetted Steve. They are both branded criminals now as neither signed the Accords. When Bucky is again free after Zemo’s actions, Steve interferes again and hides Bucky with Sam. Bucky tells them that Zemo intends to fly to Siberia to supposedly release 5 more Super-Soldiers. The 3 plan to get there with the help of Wanda, Scott, and Clint.
At Leipzig/Halle airport, the 6 are intercepted by Stark and Rhodes who were given 36 hours to bring Sam, Bucky, and Cap to Ross. With Stark and Rhodey are Black Panther who is there for his own self-interests to kill Bucky who he thinks killed his father; Spiderman, who was simply recruited for numbers’ sake and who Tony won over by basically bribing him; Natasha; and Vision. Neither side will back down and when Cap tries to explain to Tony that his team are going to Siberia to take down other Super-Soldiers and that Zemo is pulling the strings, Tony isn’t hearing any of it and even loses his temper with Steve. With that, both teams get into a pulled-punches scrap and Tony’s team vehemently try to stop any of Cap’s team from accessing a Quinjet.
Once Tony learns that Barnes is innocent, he leaves to find Cap and Bucky to tell them he believes them. All would have been well until Zemo’s machinations again where he perfectly staged a played recording of the Winter Soldier murdering Tony’s parents. At this point, Tony lost all rationality and reason and was bent on killing Bucky. Even though Steve told him that it was Hydra’s doing and in control of Bucky at the time, Tony did not care- Bucky killed his parents and Tony was going to make damn sure that he paid him back in full. A tragic fight breaks out and Tony ends up bruised and emotionally broken alone in the Siberian base as Steve helps his oldest friend out. Steve did not want to fight Tony but was forced to protect his friend’s life. This angered and hurt Tony as he felt betrayed that Steve would still protect this murderer and seemed like he was justifying Bucky’s actions and making excuses for him.
To conclude, I got to say that now that I’ve truly and deeply examined the ideals of both sides that I’d have to go with team Captain America. While Tony does want to do right by his past actions of manufacturing weapons and be held accountable to a higher power, I felt like he made the decision because it was the easiest thing to do. He didn’t really take the time to outweigh his options and think of what would benefit the team better thoroughly. He’s always been that way however, to go with the first decision that comes to his mind. Steve is right, that the safest hands are still their own. The entire time, Tony was adamant that the team should agree with him and that it was the right way to go and became very overzealous with it. He never once questioned the higher-ups or took the time to listen or wanted to listen Steve’s story. I understand that Tony wanted revenge against Bucky for the murder of his parents. Everything before was professional but then it became personal and Tony threw reason out the window. In a way, Tony brought his loss of friendship with Cap on himself because he was stubborn and arrogant and so sure his way was the correct way and had he caught himself and was willing to understand Bucky and reasoned with him instead of rushing to attack him, Civil War would have been resolved more peacefuly but of course, the plot could never have been that way.