With recent technological advances, science fiction has leaned harder into the terrifying topic of artificial intelligence gaining consciousness. While there are plenty of successful TV shows and movies based on that idea, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s depiction of A.I. villain Ultron, unfortunately, fell short in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Tony Stark brings Ultron into existence with the hope of creating an A.I. to protect the “very vulnerable blue” planet Earth. At this point, Stark feels the Avengers have been fighting against forces from other areas of the universe for long enough. This decision not only causes division between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, leading to the events of Avengers: Civil War, but results in mass destruction caused by a sentient Ultron. Humans are terrified of robots coming to life. A computer that develops the ability to think for itself represents the ultimate mechanical power. However, Ultron, with his empty threats and vague proclamations, never quite seemed scary. So what went wrong?
Ultron’s Decisions Seemed Forced
There was no real character progression for Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Right after his creation, Ultron analyzes the world around him and deems humankind unworthy of existence. The immediacy of his shift — from protecting people to pursuing the destruction of humanity — felt forced. While it’s logical a robot with A.I. would be capable of instantaneously analyzing data and coming to an emotionless conclusion, human viewers cannot keep up. There’s no tangible, or gradual, transition Ultron’s character into evil. In a split second, the audience is thrust from Tony Stark’s dream of global safety to a near-apocalyptic nightmare.
Ultron Didn’t Cause Large-Scale Destruction
Over the course of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ultron doesn’t actually cause that much damage. As opposed to the comics, movie audiences are never visually let into Ultron’s mind to see the full level of devastation he seeks. Viewers are left to imagine the potential effects of genocide through large-scale industrial demolition and the death of Pietro Maximoff. And while the mourning of Quicksilver is an effective plot point in Wanda Maximoff’s evolution as Scarlet Witch, his murder feels unjustified because Ultron is defeated so quickly afterward. Most people are able to escape Ultron’s wrath, with the help of the Avengers. Sokovia’s capital is ruined, but the population is saved.
The ‘Major’ Threat Was Easily Defeated
The ‘Major’ Threat Was Easily DefeatedIn the end, Ultron simply isn’t that great of a threat. He is easily overpowered, both physically and mentally, by strategies the Avengers should have implemented at the beginning. After he kills Pietro Maximoff, Wanda rips out Ultron’s robotic heart. The gesture is intended to be metaphorical, but it causes significant physical damage. Thor and Iron Man then finish the job by destroying the entire landmass of Sokovia’s capital, and Ultron’s machinery with it. In a sunset, almost romantic final scene, Ultron’s last remaining sentry is defeated by Vision.
Ultron Failed to be Frightening
The fallout from the events in Sokovia, as shown in Avengers: Civil War, is centered around Tony’s divisive actions. People seem to quickly move past the fact that not one, but two A.I.s have become sentient. Wouldn’t the public be terrified of this new reality in which robots can gain consciousness and act on their own?
But even the limitations placed around Vision, who some Marvel fans believe possesses A.I. capabilities, don’t seem to accurately reflect the trauma caused by Ultron. The blame is primarily placed on the Avengers involved in his creation. That brings the circle of denial fully to a close, both for the characters and for the audience. Why be afraid of a conscious artificial intelligence when the robot has been destroyed and the people who created it are imprisoned? Ultron’s failings, plus the fact that people could not find a reason to be afraid of him, resulted in an MCU villain that missed the mark.
