Red Hulk’s debut in Captain America: Brave New World could have been something special with just one minor tweak to the story. Listen, I understand there was more wrong with Brave New World than a lack of Red Hulk, or the way the character ends up being calmed down by Sam Wilson, but this isn’t about the numerous reshoots, scattered storytelling, and overstuffed plot. For me, and I imagine a lot of other people, Red Hulk was the part of this movie I was the most excited about, especially seeing how much they included him in the promotional material.

Now, having watched the movie, we know that that was the majority of his scenes, but even still, there was one aspect of the character that irked me more than anything else. Red Hulk is this terrifying giant who can topple buildings with a clap, and his skin literally scorches the earth where he walks. But when Sam Wilson manages to defuse the big guy and get him to revert to President Ross, it feels a little contrived and melodramatic as they walk into the road that is adorned with cherry blossom trees.

Thunderbolt Ross & Betty’s Captain America: Brave New World Story Is One Of The Movie’s Biggest Emotional Focuses

The Emotional Beats Of The Movie Needed More Room To Breath

Sam Wilson is the star of the film, and seeing him risk everything to help clear his friend Isaiah Bradley’s name is key to the story. But, at the same time, this movie felt like a Red Hulk movie smashed together with the Captain America plot, and Thaddeus Ross’ relationship with his daughter Betty was the driving force behind that side of the story. Ross was clearly frustrated with the way he burned bridges with his daughter, and her unwillingness to see and support him.

However, for most of the film, both Sam Wilson and Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross are separated from the people that they are fighting for. And often, their advances and efforts to help are met with frustration, distrust, and anger. This is a really great example of mirroring these two similar emotional cores of the movie, and teasing out the stories to make it into something worth following. But despite this, the way that Ross’ story is displayed is a little too over the top at times.

Red Hulk’s MCU Debut Story Makes Sense, But Is A Bit Too Heavy-Handed

Brave New World Could Have Been More Subtle

Thaddeus Ross talks about the pleasant memories he has walking with his daughter Betty through the cherry blossom trees near the White House. This is clearly an important memory for him, but the way the scene and idea are introduced very clearly sets something up for the latter half of the movie. Ross and Wilson walk through the trees, drawing attention to their significance, and highlighting that this is important and precious to the character.

So, later on, when the Red Hulk comes to the surface and begins destroying the White House and the surrounding area, Sam has a bright idea to lead the monster to this road. They fight for a moment, and Sam is very clearly weaker, but when he is able to engage the monster’s mind and draw attention to the trees, it puts Red Hulk at ease, and leads to him transforming back into Thaddeus Ross. All of that makes sense, and it works, but it should have been approached better.

Red Hulk’s One Weakness Only Would’ve Needed A Small Tweak To Really Work

Less Telling The Audience, And More Showing

In TV and film, the idea of showing rather than telling is a key piece of advice for creatives trying to make the best of the medium. It’s a visual format, so use that advantage and deliver engaging dialogue while displaying things that will be important later in the story. For instance, with this scene, the movie could have included a scene where Ross is walking through the trees with his daughter, and the pair are smiling and enjoying each other’s company. Or, include the trees in an even more subtle way that ties into their significance for Ross.

It just feels like the movie follows this path, and instead of trying to enjoy and take in the journey, the story moves in jagged lines to reach the end. Instead of dragging the audience to the conclusion, lead them down that path, and let them figure it out. Maybe it’s a nitpick, but this small change likely would have elevated the film from being a weird, rapid-paced muddle of action and espionage, and really helped those emotional beats to shine through. Whatever the case, Captain America: Brave New World had the makings of a good movie; it was just executed poorly.

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