WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Eternals, in theaters now.
Unlike other Marvel Studios projects, Eternals tackles the idea that there isn't a true villain. Instead, the film tackles conflicting ideologies and how they can change a person's loyalties, whether for love or belief. However, in classic Marvel fashion, the film makes sure to do this on a massive scale, with a battle taking place during the birth of a Celestial. As all hope seems lost, the Eternals get help from an unlikely savior. As a result, a new theory presents the idea that the very being the Eternals were trying to stop actually played a role in its defeat.
In the film, the Eternals learn that the reason for their existence isn't to help advance humanity and protect them from the Deviants. Instead, they are meant to nurture their growth so that the energy from a sufficient population will fuel the birth of a Celestial planted in the Earth's core. When the emergence happens, the Celestial, Tiamut, will be born, destroying Earth in the process. However, a new theory from New Rockstars presents the idea that Tiamut aided in its defeat by helping to form the Uni-Mind.
During the final battle, the Eternals' numbers are lowered thanks to battles with Ikaris (Richard Madden) and the inability for each member to form the Uni-Mind. Nevertheless, Sersi (Gemma Chan) uses her transmutation abilities to try and turn the massive golden god into marble. As Ikaris has a crisis of conscience and realizes he chose the wrong side with the Celestials, each Eternal is placed in a trance as the Uni-Mind is formed. Finally, with Sersi given a massive cosmic power boost, she falls back onto Tiamut and turns the being into a massive marble statue. Following their victory, the Eternals believe that Tiamut gave the team the necessary energy for the Uni-Mind.
In the comics, Tiamut is known as the dreaming Celestial. Like the film, he is born beneath the Earth, and at first, he chooses to be the one to judge its fate. However, when the time comes for Earth to be judged, Tiamut instead sides with humanity and asks that the planet be spared. In his time standing judgment, he grew to appreciate humanity and what it could offer to the galaxy, making him one of the few Celestials to feel this way. While he only appears for a few moments in the film, a similar mindset could be apparent due to his sacrifice.
The film supports this theory with the understanding that Celestial life cycles are nothing like a human's. What is years to humanity, may only be brief moments to a Celestial. As a result, their understanding of situations could be much faster than a human's. Therefore, when Tiamut awakens, he is witnessing the very beings meant to usher in his existence fight to prevent it. Doing so could have made him realize that humanity may be more important than his birth and deserves a chance to be seen to the end. This leads to his decision to sacrifice himself and either perish or fall back asleep.
During the video, another idea is presented that challenges Tiamut's sacrifice by stating that if Tiamut fell asleep instead of dying, his energy and essence would exist throughout the planet. This means that every living being used to power him remains a part of him, and, should a person die, that energy would revert back to Tiamut. However, whether this leads to his rebirth or the never ending cycle of life remains to be seen. Ultimately, the theory provides unique ideas into the reason why Tiamut would make the ultimate sacrifice. While nothing is confirmed right now, it offers a unique perspective that will likely keep audiences pondering until the next adventure.
To see more traditional Celestials, Marvel Studios' Eternals is now in theaters.