Characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe undergo a great deal of exploration and development. The audience gets to see different sides to their character, or they are given the chance to demonstrate the ways that they have evolved and changed due to their experiences. The films have many different ways to express this.

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The dialogue of the MCU has typically been one of its most praised bits, with characters firmly identifying their traits and their archetypes through their speech. However, sometimes, when it comes to characters' personalities, the filmmakers behind the MCU allow their actions to take center stage instead. Whether their actions override what they say, or simply reinforce it in an undeniable fashion, sometimes they communicate things more clearly than dialogue.

Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok

Throughout Thor: Ragnarok, Bruce Banner's struggles with his alter-ego The Hulk increase. Whereas previously he would change back through various means once the Hulk had finished dealing with their threat, in Ragnarok, the Hulk spends two years at the forefront. As such, when he returns, Banner worries that the Hulk is taking control, and refuses to transform even when it could help Thor.

This relegates Banner to a more supportive role through much of the film's second and third acts, which Banner appears to prefer. However, when Hela's attack dog Fenrir is preparing to attack Asgardian refugees and nothing even harms it, Banner can't ignore the situation. After a few words with Valkyrie, he throws himself from their ship, mortally wounding himself and becoming the Hulk to save the civilians.

9 Tony Promises To Give Up Avenging, But Can't

Iron Man and Pepper Potts

One of the more subtle storylines running through the Iron Man film series is the effects that Tony's superhero lifestyle has on him, and those around him. A vocal opponent to his heroics throughout is his assistant, and later partner, Pepper Potts, who frequently has to deal with the collateral.

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At the end of Iron Man 3, Tony pledges to give up being an Avenger to save their relationship, blowing up his Iron Man suits. By the time of Age of Ultron, however, he's back fighting alongside his team, with an entire Legion of autonomous probes. As revealed in Captain America: Civil War, ultimately Tony being unable to honor his promise sees him and Potts separate briefly.

8 Thor Offers His Life To Save Others

The Destroyer vs Thor in the first Thor film

Thor, at the beginning of his titular movie, has many of the qualities of a classic Norse hero. He is brave, good-natured, and charismatic. However, he is also reckless, self-aggrandizing, and utterly lacking in humility. During his film, his time on Earth affects him, causing him to express more humility and regard for others.

None of this makes Thor worthy of Mjolnir, which has since been enchanted to only let him wield it when he has improved himself. Thor becomes worthy again when he willingly walks in front of the Destroyer and invites it to kill him, in order to spare the lives of the Warriors Three, and his human friends. It is this act of self-sacrifice that truly shows Thor as a hero worthy of his powers.

7 Bucky Makes Good On His Promise To Not Kill

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes Civil War

When Bucky Barnes is accused of bombing a UN Conference in Vienna, Captain America reaches him only seconds ahead of an anti-terrorism task force. When the fighting starts, Steve implores Bucky not to kill anyone, and Barnes promises he won't.

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This could easily be just a way to get Steve on his side, but Bucky makes good on his promise by sticking to non-lethal methods, even when he is attacked with guns, grenades, a chopper, and the Black Panther himself. Despite one slip-up where he throws an opponent over a banister, making good on his promise nonetheless seals his different character from The Winter Soldier.

6 Howard Demonstrates He Truly Did Love Tony

Howard Stark in Iron Man 2

Another recurring theme throughout the MCU is Tony's difficult relationship with his father, Howard Stark. Howard was an incredibly forward-thinking man, who focused on his work over his family and was blunt enough to make it clear when he wasn't happy with something. These traits led to a frosty and sometimes hostile relationship with Tony, to the extent that Tony doesn't remember his father even saying he liked him.

However, in Iron Man 2, when going through his father's old things to improve his Arc Reactor and save his life, Tony comes across a tape of his father preparing a presentation. After an argument with his father in the video, Howard records a separate clip for Tony, where he reveals that he knows he is limited by his time, but that Tony will go on to do amazing things, calling him "his greatest creation," and showing that he loved his son after all.

5 Loki's Actions Aboard Statesman

Loki Attacks Thanos

When Statesman is attacked by Thanos at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, Thor and Loki are among the last defenders left facing Thanos and his Children. Despite vocally continuing to be snide, callous, and even offering to join Thanos, Loki's actions show his development.

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He begins by refusing to allow Thor to be tortured to death, even at the cost of the Tesseract, and then ends by attempting to betray Thanos and kill him with a sneak attack, to end the threat for good. Loki likely knew that this would lead to his death, and it's a clear sign of how much he has changed from his early villainy.

4 The Hulk Flying Away From Earth

Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron

In contrast to the verbose super-genius that is Bruce Banner, the Hulk tends to be a largely non-verbal character, who mostly communicates through actions anyway. Nonetheless, through what little dialogue he has, he tends to give off the impression of enjoying violence and wanting to be better than others in a fight.

At the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, however, the Hulk chooses to fly away from the ongoing battle and into self-imposed exile, over shame from his previous rampages in the film. This simple action shows that the Hulk has deeper potential than just a violent monster.

3 Pepper Joins The Battle For Earth As Rescue

Pepper Potts comes to the rescue in Endgame

Pepper's reluctance to be actively involved in the world of superheroics is shown throughout the MCU, acting at best tangentially to the Avengers team. When she is first given superpowers, with the Extremis virus in Iron Man 3, she actively has them removed as early as possible, and she laments that the only thing she couldn't do was make Tony give up his own superhero lifestyle.

When Earth comes under attack at the climax of Avengers: Endgame, however, Pepper shows her heroic side by suiting up in the Rescue suit Tony made for her, and joining the fray.

2 Wanda Maximoff Ends The Hex For Good

Westview residents confront Wanda about the Hex Wandavision

Wanda Maximoff's morality is confused throughout WandaVision, with her being the active force behind the horrifying situation much of the town of Westview finds itself in, but only doing so out of grief and a desire to avoid her own pain.

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After the battle fought in the town, Wanda chooses to let go of her fake life in Westview, slowly destroying the Hex. She later apologizes to the people enslaved within, promising she didn't mean to harm them. This isn't believed, but Wanda has already proven her regret and ultimate benevolence by giving up her family and her dream life so they can be free.

1 King T'Challa Follows Through & Reaches Out

King T'Challa gives a speech to the UN about Wakanda's true nature

One of the key conflicts in Black Panther is between the senior figures and previous Kings of Wakanda. They believe that they are to isolate their nation from the rest of the world to protect themselves and prevent their vibranium from falling into the wrong hands, and Erik Killmonger's proactive view that Wakanda should arm minority groups throughout the world to fight back against their oppressors.

King T'Challa ultimately cannot agree with Killmonger's violent ends, but neither is he comfortable with maintaining Wakanda's isolation. He denounces the policy to the spirits of previous kings and tells others that he plans to help. In the film's denouement, he does as promised, revealing Wakandan technology to the world and opening an outreach center in the US.

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