Captain America: Civil War Didn't Need Zemo 

I don’t know if “I don’t care what you did in the past under mind control, what you did in the present led to my friend getting paralyzed” rolls off the tongue as good as “I don’t care, he killed my mom” lol

On my opinion, Zemo was merely a drop that made the glass water break.

you completely ignore the fact that Zemo is thematically and literally connected with the Sokovia accords. the avengers caused the death of his family. Zemo is a victim of their actions, they created him. the antagonist is kind of the victim of their wars. I think it works really well and better than your version.

Well, done, Nando. Your new version makes it now Steve's story by focusing on his conflict, and not an Avengers tale, justifying the title "Captain America: Civil War."

I'd have had Ant-Man on Iron Man's side only to switch sides creating the moment in the comics where Spider-Man switches sides. I know Peter's in this film but it makes more sense to me for Scott Lang to fill that role. He joins up with Tony so he can show Cassie he's this big superhero on the right side of the law and when he finds out what's going on turns on Tony so Cap can go save Bucky because he gets going to extreme lengths to save the people you care about.

The problem is most of these modern ish event Comics being adopted is that they're all basically trying to be the next Watchmen and subvert the superhero genre and none of them are anywhere close to that level of skill in terms of writing.

I think you’re forgetting that there was a pretty major b-plot in the comics where the villains, particularly Red Skull, are taking advantage of the heroes fighting to manipulate things still. That b-plot results in the most devastating part, the death of Captain America. Zero fills this role by manipulating things in what seems to be the b-plot, in the confusion of the Sokovia Accords and his result is the death of the team. Zero is the villain who won.

Maybe when iron man, cap and bucky are at the bunker, bucky can start apologizing about all the people he killed, he can let howards name slip. Tony says "what?", cap realizes what bucky admitted to doing, puts himself between the two, protecting bucky, everyone goes silent, and then tony says "you killed my dad?", his visor covers his face and he starts walking towards them, "you killed my mom?", and cap and bucky run from him, and then the fight happens. Edit: Also later cap and bucky find panther, whos found the diaries of buckys handlers, and understands that bucky was in fact mind controlled, changes sides, vouches for bucky, and speaks against the accords

Black Panther in Civil War was dope. “WHAT ARE THOOOSEE” joke in his own movie

You could also say that while they're in the final sight, the chances of Rhodey surviving are still in question

Actual Civil Wars can have villains though Nando. Say, and this is just off the top of my head, one side wants to keep owning people and the other doesn't.

27:32 never noticed the Bucky stunt double with the party city wig before. I’m never gonna unsee that when I watch this now.

War Matchine doesnt say to Steve this the the United Nations, not shield, not Hydra

i get that 15:25 is meant to be black panther (i think) but how about iron man is duped by ross and tchalla, and his technology is partially used to find bucky, under the pretense that they were going to bring bucky in for a 'fair trial'

U can see it as the perfect storm Of terribly divisive things splitting the team

18:24 If that's the case, why would T'Challa wait this long to go after Bucky?

Still a little sad that Wanda never has a scene where she directly confronted Tony for his role in the death of her parents. To this day, I cannot understand why she would want to stay with the team after Ultron. Helping them stop Ultron, ok. Why would she STAY? Why would she trust these people? Why would they want her around?

Nandi: “Joey JC Lance Chris & Justin.” Me: “...Ready to comply.”

I'm a simple man: I get a notification for Nando V. Movies, I click it.

you have no idea how long i’ve waited for this.

I think a good way to make the Accords more of an issue would have been for enhanced individuals to have a lot of their rights stripped away. A problem many governments could have is that lots of these enhanced people seem to be coming out of nowhere and they don't know what their powers are or how to contain them, so many countries would not want to release them upon encountering them. This actually works fantastically with the Agents of SHIELD early Season 3 storyline happening around this time, in which the terrigen crystals were leaked into ocean and made their way to seafood products and fish oil vitamins. So many Inhumans were gaining their powers out of nowhere, leading to increased panic. Steve's issue could be with this as well. Also it would give a good reason for Tony to bring Spiderman into the Avengers, so he can protect him to some extent.

This idea also makes watching the Marvel Netflix shows important without needing to see them. The plot of Jessica Jones about the guy that mind controls people establishes mind control as a serious problem. So if this was the plot of the film the show doesn't have to me mentioned but it is rewarding to get further context by watching the show.

I think civil war should have come later on in the mcu. Civil war should be a huge event with so many more characters akin to the infinity saga not just a one time film.

I love Zemo in Civil War. He is created by the Avengers own action. And after the superheroes fighting gods and superrobots and supersoldiers, it is the ordinary human that succeed in tearing the team apart. And his backstory is so tragic you have sympathy for him.

why does civil war look so nice and vibrant in this video

Perhaps the connection between T'Challa and Bucky is Clau? If Hydra funded and assisted in the theft of the Vibranium.... that would be great tie in to Black Panther.

Nando! I want you to get hired on for a Marvel What If on Disney+. GGGGGEEEEEEEEEZ! Fantastic. I've learned a lot about story structure from following your stuff. Thank you!

Civil war was my favorite MCU movie. When this is made into a movie this will then be my favorite.

Am i the only one who hears "The Winner Soldier" when Nando says it?

I liked the fact that you pointed out that Zemo is almost like a plot device to push the plot forward and hence remove him to give the Accords more weight. But even your treatment, kinda runs into the same problem. Then again it's not the ideologies that rifting them apart but that Steve has to save Bucky only this time the accords has more or a say in his punishment. Again the ideologies arent driving much of the plot and conflict here. And also Black Panther sounds pretty one dimensional in your treatment as well. But then again come to think of it I don't think there's much saving this movie, not that it's horrible or anything, it was like a last minute change to setup the infinity war conflict and whatnot, coz they were gonna go with serpent society. But hey appreciate your effort

At least the Accords were kind of present in Ms Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp?

Zemo are the accords if they where a character (if that makes sense) he’s the physical representation of what the accords are trying to stop. If the accords had exited he may never have walked down the path of revenge. It shows that in the end the avengers where reacting to something they themselves caused

Eh, Think it's better with Zemo honestly. The accords were never meant to carry the conflict and I think the writers knew this, which is why the opening of Civil War is so padded with scenes set up to put Stark and Wanda etc on the spot emotionally, just enough manipulation to get the audience to accept it's big deal just long enough until Zemo and winter soldier plot threads are picked up. The weird thing about the accords in marvel films is that both the original Avengers and Age of Ultron put a big focus on minimizing civilian causalities, its a massive plot thread in Age of Ultron with the helicarrier showing up etc and the original avengers has a big people of new york bit after the battle to push it through. So Civil War needed to put in new material (the wakanda embassy and the mother vs Tony Stark) and retcon sort of the perspective people had of those events to even make the accords work. I dont think trying to rework them would have carried the film, there's only so much suspension the audience can have before someone calls out that Civil war is gaslighting them over the events of the avengers films.

What makes black panther forgive and help heal buckey in wakanda?

Myind is blown every time I watch your videos.

maybe the movie didn't need Zemo.. but I needed Zemo. If only because I love the way he says "my name is zemo"

The main flaw with Nando's plan is the MCU is a consequence free zone. The hook of Civil War is that actions now have consequences... but yeah not really. Before Civil War the laundry list include Ross taking his rendition squad to a Brazilian favala, a college campus and the heart of Harlem and he's "demoted" to Secretary of State. The Council firing a nuke at NYC and they stay on the council to oversee completion of project Insight. High ranking members of the Senate, Intelligence committee and more exposed as Hydra but if low ranking goons like Crossbones can skip town who knows who else escaped. Tony and Hulk tear up downtown Cape Town and they sit around and feel bad about it. Tony builds a super robot that destroys a country and no one even bothers taking his tools. The hook with the accords is that there are some consequences, but that is immediately undone because there are no consequences. Tony doesn't even bother to trust the Accords before suiting up and lighting off to Siberia.

Personally I would’ve had civil war post infinity wars and endgame due to how many more heroes there’d be, that’s my big change.

Zemo is my favourite mcu villain, so exited to see him back in “falcon and the winter soldier”

In your new plot, you don't need the Sokovia Accords either. Your plot is driven entirely by T'Challa wanting revenge. Which he can do under existing international law, and it's not interesting because we don't yet care about T'Challa. Try this: The Sokovia Accords turn the Avengers into a branch of S.H.I.E.L.D (H.A.M.M.E.R.?), the Thunderbolts. Tony is on board because they'll make him the Director. But to seal the deal, he has to deliver the superassassin, Bucky, for a show trial. And they have to work with Crossbones and other operatives. So several heroes who were ok following Tony as free agents, start wondering who he'll sacrifice next. Both sides lose their tempers and escalate, just like in the comics. At the end, one of Tony's people kills Bucky, Cap almost kills Tony, and goes Nomad, is taken prisoner, and/or is shot in the head in the last moment.

I would make the potential case that the threat in this movie of 'white guy getting shipped off to African nation where who knows what will happen to him' might get a little rough if it wasn't handled correctly.

Honestly, I find the original 'Civil War' comic extremely contrived and the further the movie moves from it, the better.

I hate one thing about this movie! The free market capitalist argues for government oversight and the epitome of military service argues for freedom from the government. This in my mind is so wrong of both characters it wrecks the movie for me (I take your point about about Cap being skeptical of modern government). To this day I cannot watch it without disgust of that point! Now to find out there was a graphic novel with the same error????? Wow! Thank you for your video, nice job!

next video: "why Avengers: Infinity War did not need the infinity war"

Nobody needs such essays.

Why you answering your questions First you say black panther and Bucky fight you didn’t know what they were fighting for it’s literally cause he killed his dad wym it’s unclear why there fighting and then black panther realizes at the end that he won’t let vengeance over power him any more

Iron Monger (Iron Man 1)👎 Abomination (Incredible Hulk)👎 Whiplash (Iron Man 2)👍 Loki (Thor 1, Avengers 1)👍 Red Skull (First Avenger)👍 Killian (Iron Man 3)👎 Malekith (Dark World)👎 Pierce (Winter Soldier)👎 Ronan (Gaurdians 1)👍 Ultron (Age of Ultron)👍 Yellowjacket (Ant-Man)👍 Zemo (Civil War)👍 Kaecilius (Dr Strange)👎 Ego (Guardians 2)👍 Vulture (Homecoming)👍 Hela (Ragnarok)👍 Killmonger (Black Panther)👍 Thanos (Infinity War, Endgame)👍 Ghost (Ant-Man & Wasp)👎 Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel)👎 Mysterio (Far From Home)👍 Zemo wasn't needed but still a good effective name. Bad Villains: Abomination, Killian, Malekith, Kaecilius, Yon-Rogg Okay/Bad Villains: Iron Monger, Piece, Ghost Okay/Good (fun) Villains: Whiplash, Ronan, Ultron, Yellowjacket Good Villains: Loki, Red Skull, Ego, Zemo, Vulture, Hela, Killmonger, Thanos, Mysterio

Ooh, it's painful to see someone come *so* close to "getting it", and completely miss the mark. -_-* The Sokovia Accords aren't compelling enough to propel the narrative because they're not supposed to. They're a narrative smoke screen. The marketing pushed the comic storyline's focus of idealogical division, with the Accords at the center, so that the film's *real* story about it all being about Zemo, and how he pulls at the loose strings already frayed, can blindside the audience as it does the film's characters. "Captain America: Civil War" isn't actually *about* the "Civil War" story from the comics. It's closer to an "Avengers: Disassembled" story. We didn't get the story we wanted, but instead got something better. Which I appreciated.

Aye someone referenced marvel ultimate alliance

I kind of disagree. I think zemo is used In the story to make this conflict from an ideological conflict to a personal one. It also shows what Tony stark really is. Every decision he did was made of an feeling or an moment. An at the end of civil war he made also an impulsive decision, a wrong decision. In this moment he is not the hero he is just a person filled with rage. And that is what makes zemo great for me. I think he knows about this trade of tony, this impulsiveness and he uses this trade to destroy everything tony has built with his own hands. For me zemo is the best and most important villain in the MCU. Zemo is no one. He is an ordinary person with just the tool's and the hatred to create this Chaos. He an ordinary person with just his one hands an was able to destroy what other more smarter and stronger people failed and just because he is human and knows what breaks humans.

You went crazy with making heroes villains against Cap.

3:09 *Timber starts playing*

Hey... I like that you brought Sharon in for the fight, that’s like the first time I’ve seen someone go “how bout more Sharon?”

Zemo was needed to show how forgiving Black Panther is. He understood Zemo's reason for revenge. This carries on to the Black Panther movie where we see T'Challa empathizing with Killmonger just like he did with Zemo. Both times kinda betraying his father's legacy.

To me, the problem with Civil War was that it didn't show the public opinions and reaction to the Avengers damages

Nando might’ve just unknowingly killed N-Sync with the Death Note

* Remove HYDRA from The Winter Soldier. * Remove Zemo from Civil War. I feel the same way about both of these fixes. Yes, it might streamline the stories a bit...but it also makes them a little less epic. Zemo is a red herring. He's there to give you someone who you THINK they're going to unite to fight together, only at the last moment there's a twist and they fight each other. Without that twist...eh.

If you're going with the "Tony wants to kill Bucky because Rhodey is paralyzed" route, you're just setting this up for a Martha, but with James instead.

Unnecessary? Yes. But is Zemo still a sympathetic villain with human motivations, who fits into the movie thematically and narratively and (after the Accords legally divided the team), won at the end by successfully tearing apart the leaders without even touching them? Hell yes.

I like a lot of this - but my favorite moment of the film was T'Challa and Zemo having that talk at the end. "I'm done letting it consume me" is T'Challa's best character moment and I don't know if his inclusion in the film feels as central to the story without it. It would sort of feel like Hawkeye's introduction in Thor as opposed to his super interesting arc in the film. Also how does he end up with Bucky at the end of the film/during infinity war?

I think Zemo is Lex Luthor from BvS done right. We finally get the mastermind behind the scenes manipulating both sides of the conflict, with no one realising until it's too late, sparking the divide between Tony and Steve. He is what Lex should have been. Plus, there is a complaint against Zemo that his plan is too convenient. I don't think so, as his plan technically fails and he adapts, allowing the fight to happen.

Zemo was like a physical representation of why The Accords were made. That being the collateral damage left in The Avengers’ wake. He was essentially their ghost haunting them for not being able to save Sokovia and instead having to blow it up. In this version of the story though, while The Accords fit more into the narrative, but I feel like you lose the bystander element in it.

(Keep in mind, I love NvM) Nando: Civil War minus Zemo Me: Note to self, make Iron Man 2 rewrite without Justin Hammer

“Should they wear masks?” Yes. They should. We’re in a pandemic.

"joey, jc, lance, chris, justin" nando: i don't like justin hammer

If nando fixed the phantom menace he would be like "no, we needed to focus MORE on the taxation of trade routes"

I can certainly get behind this edit though I liked Zemo's presence for one key point, he's human. Among all the potential gods that after "enhanced" individuals, Zemo literally exploits the weaknesses of the invincible avengers as humans, not superheros. I'd love to see more of that flawed humanity in all the cast, Ross and others affected by the very thing the accords are "meant" to protect.

There remains something unresolved here - T’Challa doesn’t forgive Bucky, so him and steve do not have a positive relationship going into infinity war.

Longing, Rusted, Seventeen, Daybreak, Furnace, Nine, Benign, Homecoming, One, Freight Car

I actually loved Zemo. A "normal" guy (Just armed with determination, patience, adaptability, and a deep hatred towards the avengers). As a way of showing even a "normal" guy could break a group conformed by the strongest humans in the planet, by exploiting their psychological vulnerabilities. He was the personification of all the collateral damage and lost lives, and that made it more personal and visceral. Civil war is about an inevitable conflict in ideologies, yes, but zemo was that little, bitter and angry drop that filled the cup. Also he was essential for Tchalas Arc. If anything spiderman wasn't necessary, antman wasn't necessary, sharon carter wasn't necessary, 80% of the movie wasn't necessary!... So whats your point?? Want a barebones story with 120 minutes of just Steve and Tonny in a room fighting over the Sokovia accords? Hail Hydra.

Sokovia Accords: *stop moving the plot along* Zemo: Fine, I'll do it myself.

The thing with Zemo in this film is he’s a red herring for the finale, he’s there to show Black Panther that revenge while sympathetic is not the way, and his entire plan to divide the Avengers is incidental to the Accords. Ironman and Cap may well have argued over the accords but they likely would have come to some sort of compromise because that is what people do (although at the end Cap does say he wishes they’d agreed on the accords so maybe they would have split anyway), but the personal element of the story (mainly Bucky) is the final thing that drives Cap and Tony apart

I like this but one big problem I have with it is that Black Panther is far less interesting in this version because he doesn't get an arc. At the end of the original Black Panther chooses to give up on revenge and saves Zemo because realizes he has become like Zemo. In this rewrite, you lose all of that. Even if Black Panther got an arc where he forgives Bucky it would still be less interesting than what we originally got.

Oh Nando, that title is a pretty bold claim

I think you're also sitting on a really great motivation for Clint here. Stick with your mind control stance and suddenly Clint has crimes to pay for 4 years prior. It makes his involvement with Wanda and team Cap personal

You know, the reason I like Zemo being in civil war, despite it making the story a bit more cluttered is that it allows for them to include a bit of a longer running antagonist. See, unlike most 'smart, scheming' villains, Zemo both unequivocally wins, survives the film, and his actions have lasting impacts on the story (hence the scattered avengers of infinity war). Honestly, the biggest waste is if they don't bring him back, where he would constitute a real threat, having more or less destroyed the avengers the first time. Given the only thing he failed to do in civil war was die, you can have a 'cunning mastermind' villain who's actually pulled off a cunning plot successfully- it's much easier to believe that a 'bad-punching-man' might pose a threat if unleashed again, but a guy who's only advantage is that he's smart really needs to have shown that he can outsmart the heroes to be taken seriously, and Zemo did.

Peter shouldn't join Iron Man because he likes him. He should join in because to the public Barnes has been revealed to be an assassin for Hydra. Peter is naive and young and doesn't think "Hey Cap probably has good reason for it. Peter instead sees that something is going on at the airport where "Nazi assassin Bucky Barnes" is being held. Peter looks at the TV and we cut. Peter swings in and grabs the shield (because he sees Cap is breaking Barnes out) Peter lands and says "Hey everyone" Iron Man will instead be like "Who the hell are you?" Peter: "I'm... Spi---" Iron Man then cuts him because he didn't really ask him who he was he just said it as an expression. The fight then continues. Spider-Man and Cap's fight is gonna be different Cap: Look kid there is alot going on here that you don't understand Spider-Man: You are breaking out a mass murderer! Cap: He didn't do it Peter: "Then why are you breaking him out. If he really didn't do it then why can't he stand trial". Peter doesn't know that Barnes will be killed. This way Peter is less of some dumb-ass. He actually has something to do. Bla bla fight continues Cap: Where are you from? Peter: Queens Cap: Brooklyn

That was always my main issue with Civil War. It felt more like two friends being pitted against each other by a third kid on the playground and in the midst of a little tussle just one kid gets seriously injured but recovers nonetheless. There's no lasting consequences to the story, and within the story the only consequence is 'we've split up for now' which is kind of rendered pointless considering Age of Ultron and Iron Man 3. Not to mention Thor's not even around when Tony says Avengers split up at the beginning of Infinity War. Civil War could have been much more special if Marvel and Disney were bold in taking some risks that they eventually took with Infinity War.

This is literally what I’ve been saying for awhile. I really like Civil War but I have the same problem with this movie as I do with BvS: a villain causing a rift between the superheroes. I don’t mind them being a catalyst, but there should’ve been more films building up to Civil War and escalating the tension between Steve and Tony’s ideologies. It’s WAY more compelling to have the heroes willingly fight one another over differing perspectives. Like I said, I really enjoyed Civil War and I do think it’s one of the better MCU films, and I think it makes total sense to have this come out before Infinity War, but more build-up and more detail given to the characters’ progression would’ve been nice.

Love this alternate Civil War but I can't give up the "he killed my mom" line.

My "one small change" would be to have Zemo - a military officer and member of the Sokovian aristocracy - be the key driver behind the Accords. It would tie both plot threads together nicely and also allow for a massive heel turn by Zemo at the end of the first act.

I would rather have made Zemo been responsible for the accords, either by setting up the crossbones incident through funding or by having been a known political figure in the UN, almost a Palpatine level of playing both sides, just to connect the two plots better

This may be the wrong place for this but - the airport scene in Civil War is really hard to watch for me. Firstly, the CGI on Iron Man looks... off. It looks wrong. I don't know why, but it is the case. Secondly, the airport itself is lifeless. I know they evacuated anyone but it's like playing on a really boring warhammer or dnd battlemap. Watch "Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement" by Every Frame a Painting for more on this idea.

Before finding your marvel rewrites I was finding myself disillusioned with the franchise after realizing all the amazing missed opportunities,bad choices and loose plot threads that disconnected me from overall themes and storyline I thought would be explored but you have rewoken some kinda of love for the series again

I LOVE the idea of Bucky killing T’Chaka in the past (maybe the early 2000s) because T’Challa entering the MCU as black panther already is smoother IMO. this, of course changes the Black Panther movie. He only gets one challenge fight with Killmonger but then the end battle could be the two of them fighting again with no suits or weapons. Beautiful.

It seems to me that Zemo is there to create continuity between the films, since his motivation is revenge for his family dying during the events of Age of Ultron. It helps create the sense that what the Avengers do has ramifications in the world outside of the immediate action of the movies.

I think this should have been two movies. One with the accords and one with Zemo cuz neither are used to their fullest potential imo.

I agree with all this except the reasoning behind why Iron Man would hate Bucky is a little shaky imo. The airport fight lead to Rhodes being paralysed, which is more Steve's fault than Bucky's. Unless you can chalk that up to Tony's emotions or ignorance of the situation. It could be an effective build up to him realising Bucky murdered his parents under mind control, however.

Hydra: Hahaha! We've been spending the last 65 years infiltrating SHIELD! Avengers: So, you've been risking your lives saving the world for the last 65 years? And that was the evil plan? Hydra: You are mistaken about our intentions. Half the conflicts we fight we actually started! HAHAHA! Avengers: Us too. Hydra: Touche.

the most impact the accords had in the mcu was in Agents of SHEILD.

I just want to say, Captain America 3 planned as a different movie, and Zemo was the main villain, But they took the opportunity having Civil War in Captain America's last MCU movie title which sound like the American civil war. They made this movie, and brought Zemo because it was in the original plan The risk everything because they thought BVS would be better (and it is VERY BAD) I think one of the major plan of having Civil War is building a Cap Vs Iron Man MOST IMPORTANT FIGHT 'cause they're always fighting in Avengers 1 & 2 but not so much physically as Civil War in the comics.

The comic book was not imperfect, its absolutely terrible.

I still think this movie would have been the perfect time to introduce inhumans. It would have shown the conflict reaching over more of the world vs just keeping it internal to the Avengers. As well as having some actual masked people with powers.

Problem: There's a setup at the beginning of the movie where they reveal the trigger words to control the Winter Soldier. The payoff occurs when Zemo breaks Bucky out. In this version, there's no payoff, and that buildup is just tossed aside.

If i could add one scene to your one small change, starks scene where he’s introducing the BARF technology (which pretty much only serves the purpose of fleshing out his relationship with his parents before being guilt tripped) would be converted to another Stark Expo. Except this Stark Expo takes place in New York. Starks opening day speech will hammer in the point that Tony misses his parents and that this is their legacy (which will hit a little harder when it’s revealed it was Bucky who did it) and if you really want to use the barf tech, here’s your chance. But the real reason for this scene is for Iron man to have an organic reason for running into Spider-Man. Peter Parkers gonna enter something into the Stark expo, Tony’s gonna have a cool nerd moment with Peter and they’re gonna have instant on scene chemistry. Tony might make a joke about Peter building it with his dad and the awkward silence will kinda let both characters share a moment where they both know they’ve both suffered significant loss. As Tony moves on to another exhibition, Vaiola Davis will be there with something her son created and when Tony asks where her son is, she’ll drop the guilt trip hammer on his ass about his son inventing this before he went to sokovia. And then boom. That awkward Peter Parker recruitment scene won’t be as forced as it was in the original movie. And if you wanna cut that aunt may / bed room scene out completely, it still gives a great opportunity for Tony Stark to put 2 and 2 together when he sees Spider-Man jumping in on the fight in New York. Tony might notice something on Spider-Man’s suit that reminds him of Peter Parker and the Tony will piece it together after the fight. Peter still gets a chance to have a secret identify from the rest of the team

What happens with black panther in this version? He is never wrong in his accusations here and has no reason to question if his aggressive actions are the correct ones or not.

In my personal opinion, Zemo was absolutely necessary to Civil War and it doesn't matter whether he was a villain or not. When we were watching the victims of the superhero collateral damage, we didn't really feel that much about them because we didn't really know them but Zemo was an up close analysis and result of all the recklessness of the Avengers. We saw all the pain and misery that all the civilians were going through all the actions of the Avengers and it pained us. There is the rule in film making of " Show, don't tell " and I believe that Zemo's one appearance encapsulated all the suffering that the normal person was going through and the themes of the film much better than all the rest of the Sokovia recordings, preachings, and Miriam Sharpe combined could ever hope to achieve. For the first time, we all felt the pain that the common man was going through due to these supposedly godlike privileged beings and we understood all their angst and contempt. It was quite admirable how such an insignificant man, who was the underdog, completely broke apart and defeated the Avengers more successfully than any of the other villains in the MCU before him. Civil War was about friendship, accountability, vengeance and how destructive hatred and vengeance could be for everyone and Zemo was the personification of all these themes.

I think it would also be interested if the Accords targeted Wanda for the mind control too, along with her powers. The accident in Lagos was just that - an accident - but proving that she mostly-willingly mind controlled the Hulk into his AoU rampage would look bad, and it would give Steve more reasons to not agree with them. But I'd also say that CW could be improved if Tony also posited them as a "necessary evil" in the beginning (which arguably he kinda already does, but it should be clearer), something that is going to happen whether they like it or not. With Ross going after Banner, and with the govt trying to take his suits in IM2 and then the vice-president working with Killian in IM3, he also shouldn't have a reason to trust them. But, to make it more in line with the comics, he does trust Steve, so having Steve go rogue to protect Bucky and then the reveal about his parents would make it more of a personal betrayal for him. Especially if Steve almost killed him, kinda like Obadiah did.

The words in your book activated an N'sync fan Manchurian candidate... I'm still on the run. Thanks.

Title should've been "Losing Zemo", like Finding Nemo