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Ranking The Most Annoying Romantic Relationships In The MCU
- 1
Steve Rogers And Sharon Carter
Considering Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter’s romance is arguably the best almost-love story in the entire MCU, rooting for Steve to be with Sharon Carter – who is Peggy’s great-niece! – feels sacrilegious. Steve also seems slightly less into Sharon, but becomes increasingly more interested in her after learning she is related to Peggy... at Peggy's funeral. Fans really don’t need to watch Steve move on with Peggy’s relative.
Even Hayley Atwell, who portrays Peggy, stated she isn't a fan of this: "I just feel that, you know – I wouldn't want to date my great aunt's guy."
- 2
Peter Parker And Liz Toomes
The Peter Parker and Liz Toomes romance is an instance of adorable young love. However, it’s hard to get excited for a love affair that definitely isn’t long-term. Zendaya was cast as Michelle, who is nicknamed “MJ,” and any fan of Spider-Man knows Peter Parker’s long-running love interest is Mary Jane. So, it’s likely that Michelle will be a version of Mary Jane and Liz Toomes will be history. But hey, that's how young love goes sometimes.
- 3
Thor And Jane Foster
Jane Foster appears as Thor’s love interest in the first two Thor standalone films, and then she disappears from the MCU forever. Rumor has it that Natalie Portman, who portrayed Jane, was unhappy with the franchise parting ways with Patty Jenkins while filming Thor: The Dark World. So Portman exited, as did Jane Foster.
Jane’s disappearance is explained away the same way Pepper Potts’s absences are: an off-screen breakup. The whole thing is handled sloppily. Though, many fans complained that Jane and Thor lacked any chemistry to begin with, so some were just happy to have it tied up off screen.
Poor Thor has now been dumped, and he watches his father, mother, brother, and planet die. Thor, perhaps more than anyone else in the universe, could use a bright, romantic light in his dark life.
- 4
Bruce Banner And Natasha Romanoff
In theory, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff, two characters who see themselves as monstrous and often resent their abilities, should work as a lovely, perhaps darker romance in the MCU. But Avengers: Age of Ultron beats fans over the head with the romance and any kind of slow-building sizzle falls flat.
The pair meet in The Avengers, and their chemistry could be read as either amorous or friendly. Sometime between the films, the pair gets extremely close and it’s definitely romantic. The problem is the audience doesn't actually see that relationship grow. Avengers: Age of Ultron features a scene in which Natasha proposes they run away together. Again, when did they get to that point?
In Avengers: Infinity War, the brakes are pumped hard on this romance. It seems that Bruce and Natasha are either hot and heavy and about to run away together, or saying one very awkward hello. This is a shame because with a middle ground, they could work very well.
- 5
Bruce Banner And Betty Ross
For fans who value consistency in a cinematic universe, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk may be the most frustrating part of the MCU. Following the film, Edward Norton was recast, and Mark Ruffalo took up the role of Bruce Banner. Much of The Incredible Hulk was completely forgotten, but it also wasn’t. For example, William Hurt portrays General Ross in The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War. Yet, Ross’s daughter, Betty Ross, is never again mentioned in the MCU. Where is the continuity, Marvel?
On top of the fact the MCU would apparently like for fans to forget this romance ever existed, there’s been criticism that Betty’s character doesn’t offer much outside of being a love interest for Bruce.
