Warning: some spoilers for Captain America: Civil War follow…
Captain America: Civil War is an unequivocal critical and box office hit. It stands at 90% on the review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes and has earned over a billion dollars in worldwide box office sales.
There was, however, one aspect of the film that left many fans scratching their heads, and some retching in their mouths: Captain America macking on Peggy Carter's niece soon after Peggy's funeral.
As a reminder, Peggy and Cap developed a romance in Captain America: The First Avenger. Unfortunately, their budding relationship was cut short when he was frozen in a block of ice. She was, ostensibly speaking, the love of his life, though.
Later, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Peggy's niece Sharon Carter went undercover to both spy on and guard Cap for S.H.I.E.L.D. There was fairly strong chemistry between the two, but they didn't have time to explore it before the s–t hit the fan with Hydra nearly taking over the world and such. Cap discovered Sharon's relationship to Peggy when they both attended the elder Carter's funeral in Civil War.
That didn't stop him from kissing Sharon a hot second later. (Okay, it was longer than that.)
In a recent interview with IGN, Peggy Carter herself, Hayley Atwell, agreed with the fans who were unnerved by Steve's affection for the Carter women.
“Well, first of all she”d be turning over in her grave,” Atwell joked when asked about Peggy's response to the kiss. “She”d be like, ‘No.” And she”d inject herself with the blue serum and become a supervillain. She”d break out of her coffin and ground [Sharon]. She”d ground her. Then she”d kick Steve”s ass as well.”
The actress went so far as to question whether it wasn't a bit incestuous for Cap to be moving on to Sharon in the films despite their history in the comics. What works on the page, doesn't always translate…
She also brought in the recent comic book reveal that Captain America is Hydra, saying, “Now with this whole ‘Hail Hydra” business, I don”t know if Steve”s good enough for her. So on all levels, it”s just a big fat no.”
To be fair, comic book Cap and movie Cap are not the same thing. I tend to think that a man who's been through as much as Cap has deserves to move on with his way in any way that he can.
What do you think? Agree with Atwell?
Is a “big fat no” on Steve and Sharon for you as well?