Beloved characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) like Gamora, and Loki have made lasting impressions on groups like the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy. While they all differ in motives and looks (Gamora is green), they all have one thing in common: They’ve died, just after having major character development. Gamora had just let herself love Quill. Loki stood up to the person he had feared the most, Thanos. Following the events of Endgame, Marvel has revealed that both Gamora and Loki are still alive – but from alternate timelines – meaning that all of the character development and relationship building that has occurred in the films before it has been scrapped. Marvel is doing a disservice to fans and the characters by eliminating the back stories we are familiar with, and starting over.

It is very dissatisfying to see a character die after achieving any degree of personal growth, and even more frustrating to see the same character return without any of it. While it is nice to see a favorite character or actor return, it is unlikely that they will be the same as they were before; if a character dies, and then returns exactly how they did before, the death is without purpose.

Marvel has the opportunity to ‘Avenge’ these lost characters in upcoming films, like in Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG) Volume 3. The Russo brothers, who directed Infinity War and Endgame, decided to bring Gamora from the past back in Endgame, but have yet to completely confirm her survival at the end. They are leaving that decision to GOTG director James Gunn. If Gunn takes a page out of the comics, Gamora will be back but not nearly the same.

Loki has also been a fan favorite since his debut in the first Thor. He became the first villain the Avengers faced as a team. Marvel later said that he was under the influence of the mind stone, one of the six infinity stones, doing Thanos’s dirty work. Loki, who once was considered a villain, became an honorable man after battling alongside Thor against the Dark Elves of Malekith, and saving Thor in Infinity War after the fall of Asgard.

I hope Marvel does these characters justice, and does not feel the need to rewrite them again. As phase four of the MCU kicks off with Spiderman: Far From Home in July, Marvel has an opportunity to stop killing off characters just to bring back a new version.