Avengers: Endgame definitely opened up a world of theories and debates among fans surrounding a ton of the film’s events and scenes. One of the most hotly contested aspects of the film was surrounding the logic and circumstances surrounding Steve Rodgers final time jump(s) to be with Peggy Carter, and then to hand the shield off to Sam Wilson as an old man. Was his life with Peggy an alternate timeline? Did he go back to the world we’ve been following throughout the MCU? If it was the prime timeline, did he just ignore all of every crisis with which he could have helped since there’s no record of Cap being active in the 50’s-2000’s in the prime timeline? Finally, someone was able to get one of the Russo brother’s to give us their intention. Joe was a guest on the Lights, Camera, Barstools Podcast and was asked to clarify. Some of the argument on the subject has come from differing takes presented by writers Markus and McFeely and the Russo’s. That being said, I think the argument was settled within the film itself by way of The Ancient One’s discussion on the effects of time travel with Bruce Banner, hell…she even made a nice little magical presentation showing that when anything changed in the current timeline a branch timeline was immediately created. So, when Cap stayed in 1945 instead of returning to the prime timeline a branch would have been created with a reality entirely separate from the one we knew. That’s the logic the Russo’s are following at least, here’s what Joe had to say on the subject:
“One thing that’s clear that Anthony and I have discussed, I don’t know that we’ve discussed this publicly at all, Cap would have had to have traveled back to the main timeline. That’s something that, yes, he would have been in a branch reality, but he would have to travel back to the main timeline to give that shield to Sam Wilson.”
Still…does this put the argument to an end? Not really, it’s still a matter of perspective, who would have the final word, the directors or the writers? Truth be told, it’s you. Movies, and all art in general for that matter, is subjective.
