By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The After Party •

MOMENT# 33

MOVIE: Avengers: Age of Ultron

DIRECTORS: Joss Whedon

WRITERS: Joss Whedon

In Marvel’s first team-up film, The Avengers, the six heroes introduced in the previous five films united to stop a threat none of them could stop alone. In the final two team-up films, the heroes of the Earth were scattered and forced to face a villain they weren’t prepared for. Only one film prior to that showed the heroes as a team, and more than that, friends: Avengers: Age of Ultron. 

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony and Bruce are working with Loki’s scepter from the first film to find a way to harness the power so they can finally activate Ultron. Ultron was meant to be a protector program. “I see a suit of armor around the entire world”, Tony tells Bruce when he’s trying to convince Bruce to help him. After many trials, it doesn’t look like it’s going to work, so the two of them join the party happening in Avengers Tower. Many friends and heroes are at this party, but by the end of the night, it’s just a few close friends sharing a drink.

Before Ultron crashes the party, the gang is trying to figure out the secret to Thor’s enchanted hammer and Thor invites them to try and lift it. One by one, the men of the group try to lift the hammer while Natasha and Maria Hill sit back and watch them, amused. Stark and Rhody use parts of their armor and Banner pretends to Hulk out but Thor can’t help but laugh at his friend's attempts. It’s all in good fun as they continue to laugh and drink and throw playful jabs at each other. They’ve been fighting Hydra together since the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and earned this fun. None of them were able to lift it…almost.

This moment also has the distinction of teasing the audience with the most excellent bit of fan service yet to come: Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer. When Steve gets up to try his hand at lifting the hammer, it moves ever so slightly. Its movement is signified by a squeak of the table and Thor’s changed expression from joyfulness to confusion. Could Captain America also be worthy of Mjölnir? That answer wouldn’t come for a number of years, but it was enough to make audiences very excited for what was to come.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has the only scene in the franchise where the Avengers have fun goofing off together. Every time they’re together from this point onward, it’s because something has forced them together. This after-party scene shows them as friends, not co-workers who get together every once in a while to save the world. They enjoy being around each other. It’s a simple scene but it sets the tone for the team. When you see them banter with each other on the battlefield, like Thor and Captain America do very often, you understand that it’s coming from a place of camaraderie. With all the world-ending stakes the Avengers have had to deal with, it’s a shame more scenes like this weren’t peppered into the rest of the Infinity Saga.