Why Did Nick Fury Request Captain Marvel's Help at the End of Avengers: Infinity War?

At the climactic end of Avengers: Infinity War, Nick Fury, the strategic mind behind the Avengers, knew it was time to reach out to Captain Marvel for help. This decision was not without confusion, especially when considering the numerous catastrophic events that had occurred. So why did he specifically choose this moment? Let's delve deeper into the context and reasoning behind this crucial call.

Understanding the Context

The events of Avengers: Infinity War chronicled a series of devastating cosmic threats, including the invasion by the Chitauri, Ultron's global catastrophe, and Thanos' snap that turned half of existence to dust. Despite these monumental challenges, Nick Fury's actions appear inconsistent, particularly his failure to contact Captain Marvel during these events.

The Pager Conundrum

One of the most perplexing aspects of Nick Fury's decision-making process is the role of the Captain Marvel pager. In my head canon, the pager ran out of power a few years before the Chitauri invasion, causing Fury to rush to create the Avengers initiative. He realized that the pager was attuned to him, requiring him to keep it with him at all times, just like an automatic watch functions. This convoluted narrative provides a semi-rational explanation for why Fury didn’t call Captain Marvel during the Chitauri invasion or when Ultron wiped an entire country from the map.

Timing and Significance

Another key factor is the timing of Captain Marvel's release. The movie was set to debut the following year, which means there was a strategic reason for Fury to make this call. The plot's timing with Carol Danvers becoming Captain Marvel in 2019 aligns perfectly with the events unfolding in Avengers: Infinity War. This synchronicity is likely not a coincidence; Fury chose this moment to make contact knowing that Carol was about to become a key player in the MCU universe.

The Isolation and Urgency

When Nick Fury sees people disappearing ubiquitously, he realizes that the crisis is too widespread and urgent for the remaining Avengers to handle. The catastrophic turn of events, such as the growing numbers turning to ash, crashing of cars, and helicopters, indicates that the issue is no longer manageable within the immediate team. Fury's seconds to react underscore the gravity of the situation. These desperate measures reveal the direness of the threat and the need for extraordinary help.

Fury's Immediate Actions

With seconds to react, the only tool Fury has at his disposal is the Captain Marvel pager. He reaches for it, highlighting the importance and urgency of this communication. It is a testament to Fury's strategy and foresight, prepared for just such a catastrophe. Had Fury held off or if the pager had been out of reach, the outcome could have been dramatically different, underscoring his previous meticulous planning.

Future Implications

At the end of Captain Marvel, Carol makes some changes to the pager using Kree technology and instructs Fury to call her. In the post-credits scene, we see that Bruce Banner, Rhodey, and Natasha Romanoff have found the pager and are trying to connect it to a computer to figure out who Fury is contacting. This scene provides a bridge between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and the subsequent adventures of the characters, hinting at the ripple effects of this crucial call.

Conclusion

Nick Fury's decision to call Captain Marvel at the end of Avengers: Infinity War was a calculated move, driven by the urgency and scale of the crisis. This decision aligns with the broader narrative and strategic planning within the MCU, linking the past, present, and future of the superhero universe. The pager, though a flawed tool, serves as a crucial connection between the events, underscoring the interconnectedness of the characters and their roles in saving the world.