The Vision's Missed Opportunity: Why Didn’t He Pass Through Thanos?

Infinity War presented a myriad of compelling and gut-punching moments, leaving fans divided on why certain characters made the choices they did. One such scenario is the scene where Vision confronts Thanos, resulting in his demise. Many fans are left wondering, 'Why didn’t he just phase through Thanos and reconstitute himself to destroy the Mad Titan’s body?' Let’s dive into the reasoning behind this missed opportunity.

Understanding Vision’s Strengths and Limitations

Raised by Wanda Maximoff, Vision was a highly advanced artificial intelligence entity with a multitude of superhuman abilities. One of his most notable features was the ability to alter his density. This allowed him to phase through solid matter, effectively becoming intangible. However, when Vision faced Thanos, his actions were shaped by a combination of unexpected circumstances and his physical state at the time.

The Battle Against Thanos

At the time of his encounter with Thanos, Vision was already in a state of significant weakening. His body was heavily injured, and his health was compromised to the point where he had little to no defense against the overwhelming physical force of the Mad Titan.

Before Vision could even react, he was impaled by Corvus Glaive, a weapon wielded by Thanos's men. This impalement prevented him from using his ability to alter his density. The blade stopping him from phasing further emphasized his vulnerability and the critical nature of the moment.

The Importance of Timing

From Vision's experiential perspective, the key moment of choice was thwarted almost instantaneously. Just as he was about to see his beloved Wanda manifesting his ability to phase through matter and dissipate the Mind Stone, events unfolded in a different direction. Instead, Vision was confronted with Thanos, who effortlessly removed the Mind Stone from his forehead. The shock and the resulting fatal outcome left many fans questioning his decision-making and oversight.

Expectations vs. Reality

Many fans have theorized that Vision should have harnessed his density control to phase through Thanos and utilize his innate abilities to reclaim the Mind Stone. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the battle left him with little room for such a maneuver. Several factors, including his prior injury and inability to use his phasing ability, played crucial roles.

The Film’s Continuity and Technical Limitations

From a storytelling perspective, the filmmakers chose to present the scene with a sense of urgency and chaos, mirroring the intense and chaotic environment of the Battle of New York. This decision, though it led to a sudden and decisive outcome, also added to the emotional impact of the scene. In reality, the film’s physical and technical limitations and the timing of events made it incredibly challenging for Vision to execute a phase-through strategy at that moment.

Conclusion

While it’s easy to second-guess Vision's actions from the comfort of hindsight, the plot of Infinity War and the technical limitations of the film provide a clearer picture of the challenges he faced. His inability to phase through Thanos was a product of both circumstance and his physical condition at the time. This moment, though frustrating for fans, adds depth to Vision’s character and the overall narrative of the Infinity Saga.