Whether at home, at work, at a convention, or on social media, What If?.
There are more than a few unpopular opinions about Thanos out there, and fans can decide if they agree or disagree with those takes. Specifically, Reddit offers a platform for plenty of fan opinions, and there's lots of discourse to wade through. When it comes to in-depth Marvel character discussions, you can always count on Reddit to deliver the goods.
Thanos' Love For Gamora Isn't Believable
Gamora doubts that Thanos loves anyone just before he sacrifices her for the Soul Stone. Turns out, some fans agree with Gamora. GabrielStrange argues in the Subreddit "Marvel Studios" that the father-daughter relationship between Thanos and Gamora doesn't quite work. Comparing it to the fatherly relationships explored for Thor, Tony, Hope, and Quill, the MCU doesn't give fans that much of a look into this relationship.
The argument against this is that the first Guardians sets up a lot of Gamora's feelings regarding Thanos, even though they don't share a scene together. Besides this, the flashback to when Thanos met Gamora is impactful. If that's not enough, the tears from the otherwise intense villain in Infinity War show exactly what Gamora means to him.
Thanos Is Weak
The Marvel movies call Thanos "the most powerful being in the universe." So, it's unpopular to say Thanos is weak. But in "Character Rant," Derstoronius says that the basic version of Thanos is "basically a purple version of the Hulk." They surmise that Thanos has no long-range powers without the Infinity Stones, having only super-strength and durability in his power repertoire.
NDRL argues that Thanos also has a lot of agility, being more of a combination between Hulk and Captain America. And, Infinity Stones aside, the heroes do seem to have a tough time with Thanos. When trying to make him sleep, Mantis says he's too strong. When trying to hold him back, Cap (who held a helicopter in place once) is struggling. Clearly, the filmmakers don't find Thanos that weak.
Thanos Shows Mercy
In "Thanos Did Nothing Wrong," Hasny999 says that Thanos was merciful in his actions. They argue that Thanos could've killed Tony on Titan, and then everyone in Wakanda. This opinion is very unpopular indeed. Even in a Subreddit that s Thanos, this post has no responses.
Besides Thanos' big genocidal snap - which was anything but merciful - a textbook psychopathic maniac shouldn't get credit for sparing anyone's lives. Especially because he still took a lot of Wakandan lives with his snap. And while Thanos calls himself merciful, the Avengers obviously disagree.
MCU Thanos Isn't As Good As Comics Thanos
In "Marvel," Bobandjim12602 poses the question of which Thanos is preferred. Many fans mention the fleshed-out MCU villain with his complex plan and range of emotions. But some fans still prefer comics Thanos, who wanted to wipe out half of life to (more or less) impress his crush.
Comic fans still find comic Thanos to be well-developed, as he does have decades of history in the books. But MCU Thanos has the motivation (however misguided) of sparing people the fight over resources like his planet went through, and that overall has been more accepted than comics Thanos wanting to win over Lady Death.
Thanos Couldn't Beat Just Anyone
In "Marvel Studios," Hela, Ego, the Ancient One, and Odin. Many fans point out that Thanos didn't begin his real quest for the stones until after Odin died, which could likely be why he waited.
The problem with this team lies in its lack of chemistry. For starters, Odin and Hela wouldn't get along - and Hela couldn't even be freed until Odin died. Ego really has no interest in anything but his pet project, and he probably sees even Thanos as an insignificant pest. The Ancient One may have posed a threat, but if she looked into the future like Doctor Strange did, she'd likely give up the stone the same way she did for Hulk in Endgame.
"What If" Thanos Would Never Happen
There are fans who don't think the Thanos presented in "What If" is realistic. In the show, an alternative version of T'Challa convinces an alternate version of Thanos that his plan is unnecessary. Dottywine says in "Thanos Did Nothing Wrong" that they can't stand that version of the character.
Fans like Dottywine don't think Thanos would be that easily convinced. However, the key point Thanos mentions in the show is that there are indeed better ways of getting enough resources. Some fans have explained that Thanos could snap double the resources into existence. A chat with a defender of peace like T'Challa might just wake him up to that, and enough fans have excepted "What If" Thanos to prove it a popular theory.
Luke Cage Or Iron Fist Could Beat Thanos In A Fist Fight
A conversation on a good old-fashioned fistfight against MCU Thanos sprung up in "Who Would Win." In a post started by PeculiarPangolinMan, Cold_lightning9 picks Luke Cage and Iron Fist against Thanos, with or without his double-bladed sword.
While Luke Cage and Iron Fist have appeared in the Netflix shows, they've yet to crossover to the movies, though other characters like Daredevil and Kingpin are rumored to be slated for appearances. The two can certainly pack a punch, but is it enough to take out Thanos? It seems likely that Luke Cage might fare as well as Hulk did against Thanos, but again, Thanos is still the most powerful being in the universe.
Thanos Could've Conquered Earth Easily In The 80s
Thanos had his plan for the Infinity Stones for a long time. If he'd started getting the stones in the 80s, he might have had an easier time of it. That's what Gray-Diamond suggests in "What If Marvel." DungeonCanuck1 is quick to point out that he'd still have some heroes to face, namely Odin, Hank Pym, the Ancient One, and the Red Guardian. Hope VanDyne and various SHIELD agents would likely be involved too.
The Time, Space, and Reality Stones are on Earth, and since this is before Loki's war, Thanos already has the Mind Stone. Without an official Avengers team, and with four Stones in reach, the 80s might have been an interesting time for Thanos to try out his plan. But as was mentioned earlier, having to face Odin wouldn't go well for the Mad Titan, so the whole 80s theory doesn't pan out so well.
2014 Thanos Doesn't Match Up To 2018 Thanos
taking down all of the Avengers. At the beginning of Endgame, Thor kills Thanos, but 2014 Thanos time travels and faces the Avengers one last time in the end. In "Marvel Studios," Gamer0607 says 2014 Thanos wasn't as wise or as unstoppable as 2018 Thanos.
If Thanos gained wisdom in those four years, it mostly came from his 2018 search for the Infinity Stones. And as far as unstoppability, the biggest difference with 2014 Thanos is obvious. That Thanos doesn't have any Infinity Stones. That being said, there isn't enough separating the two to say 2018 Thanos is that much better than his 2014 counterpart.
Thanos Was Right
This is always the big one - the most unpopular opinion regarding Thanos. It's hard to process, but some people think Thanos was right to wipe out half of all life in the universe. ShizuoHeiwajima08 says in "Marvel Studios" that Endgame shows the benefits of Thanos have snapped away half of everybody.
Shizuo mentions the cleaner water, Tony finding a peaceful life, and Bruce embracing the Hulk. DeLaVegaStyle has the counterpoint that for Tony, Hulk, and others being better off, there's still Hawkeye, Thor, and Ant-Man. And in addition, Thanos even its he was partially wrong in Endgame, saying that this time he should make people forget what they lost. When it comes down to it, no benefits outweigh the sadness, chaos, and death that come from Thanos' actions.
