Steve Rogers has been one of the MCU’s more beloved characters. Chris Evans’ portrayal of Captain America is one that many people have loved and grown to appreciate. While many people are excited to see Sam Wilson take up the mantle, some are still upset that Steve Rogers could be gone from the MCU for good. While there is no indication that he will return, some fans are thinking of ways this could be possible.

Even if this could happen, another question is whether the MCU should bring Steve Rogers back or not. We’ve put together a list of five reasons why they should and five why they shouldn’t.

SHOULD: THE TIMELINE IS CONFUSING

One of the biggest reasons to bring Steve Rogers back is to simply clear up some questions. Avengers: Endgame’s time travel portion left many feeling somewhat confused, particularly Rogers’ conclusion.

The directors and writers can’t seem to agree on the mechanics behind the entire plot point, with many different explanations being provided. Bringing Rogers back could establish a more official answer for this big question that so far feels almost nonsensical.

SHOULDN’T: OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE MCU TO FOCUS ON

While Steve Rogers is a great character, he’s not the only one in the MCU who deserves attention. Seeing as how he already got his own trilogy, although many feel the Captain America: Civil War doesn’t exactly count, it might be time to focus on other characters. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series should shine a spotlight on Falcon’s Captain America, and bringing back Steve Rogers would just distract from that.

SHOULD: Steve & PEGGY’S RELATIONSHIP

One aspect of Steve Roger’s story that divided fans was the ending, especially the handling of his relationship with Peggy. Many felt it was out of character and somewhat forced.

While it’s true that Peggy was an important person in his life, the MCU should have focused more on her if this was going to be Steve’s endgame. Including him in future projects and showing more of their relationship could help bridge this gap.

SHOULDN’T: Old Man Steve

Depending on how the MCU brings back Steve, fans might not be too thrilled about it. One of the best options would probably be to have flashbacks. Otherwise, all of the scenes that happen post-Endgame would have Steve as an old man.

Having Chris Evans in old-man makeup and CGI all the time might not be super practical, so this doesn’t seem like the best solution. And, fans would be even more disappointed by another actor taking on the role so soon after Evans’ departure.

6. SHOULD: BECAUSE HIS STORY GOT RESOLVED TOO QUICKLY

Endgame provided closure for the stories of half of the original Avengers. Unfortunately for Captain America, Tony Stark’s story arc was focused on the most, which left less time for Steve (and even less for Natasha Romanoff).

Consequently, Steve’s ending seemed almost rushed, with the whole thing happening over just a couple minutes at the very end of the movie. For one of the most crucial characters in the MCU, this resolution felt forced and disappointing.

SHOULDN’T: Steve’s ENDING WAS ALREADY BOTCHED

Another reason why the MCU should leave the character alone is that certain fans are already unhappy. The ending written for Steve has been somewhat controversial. Many feel the character wasn’t given enough closure, with some even suggesting it felt out of character for Captain America.

By bringing the character back, regardless of the execution, this could just make these existing questions even more confusing. It might just be best to leave things alone and move onto other things.

SHOULD: FOR MORE SAM & STEVE SCENES

One of the best friendships in the MCU is between Steve and Sam. While they might not share a ton of screen time; when they do, it’s clear that they are there for each other. Steve passing the shield to Sam was definitely an important moment.

While some fans might have mixed feelings about old Steve, seeing these two friends interact again and Sam receiving even more personal closure regarding Steve’s decision to head to the past would be great.

SHOULDN’T: THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER SERIES

If there’s one thing many Steve fans are confused about, it’s why the Steve/Bucky arc was dropped so abruptly and with barely a mention in Avengers: Endgame. While some are upset about this, it also might be time to move forward.

Sam and Bucky are both side characters with a lot of potential and interesting backstories. While they have not been focused on too heavily so far in the MCU, their own limited series should provide more than enough opportunity to establish Sam and Bucky as unique individuals rather than extensions of Steve’s character.

SHOULD: Steve & BUCKY

As a counterpoint to the one above, there definitely is something to be said for resolving this relationship in a better way. Bucky was a big part of Steve’s arc for his entire trilogy, but in Endgame, the Winter Solider was overshadowed by the massive cast. In the end, Steve and Bucky’s friendship deserved better.

Scenes between these two, whether flashbacks or in the present, could fill in some of the gaps. If nothing else, the MCU should provide a more satisfying conclusion for this important dynamic.

SHOULDN’T: SAM WILSON IS CAPTAIN AMERICA

Probably the main reason to retire Steve Rogers from the MCU, at least for now, is to make room for Sam to shine. Sam Wilson has been Captain America in the comics, and seeing him take on this role in the MCU is quite exciting.

While the character has often been relegated to quippy sidekick, Sam has more to offer than that. Bringing back Steve would hinder Sam’s emergence as the new Captain America, especially since the latter is already likely to struggle to escape the former’s shadow.