I don't know if it's just me, but I'm seeing this trend ALL over FB where people are like OMG that Rat saved the universe. I'm of course all like "Ha ha, very funny, but what you're neglecting to mention is--" "I mean that rat saved us all!" "Yes, I heard you the first time! If I may continue pl--" "That rat is the REAL hero of Endgame!" "Shut up about the damn Rat already!"
Here's my point, this was the same thing I have had to point out to people about Infinity War. People were blaming Star Lord for losing his shit and Thanos getting all the stones. Here's the thing: There are a LOT of links in this chain, or if you prefer the chain of events leading up to Thanos completing the Gauntlet. First, Loki, if he didn't give in, Thanos would not have acquired the space stone. Secondly, if Nebula had simply taken her own life on the ship, Thanos would never have acquired the Soul Stone. Third, if Star Lord didn't lose his shit, they might have gotten the Infinity Gauntlet back, right? WRONG because Doctor Strange already went forward in time and saw all outcomes. Even if Peter had NOT lost his shit, Thanos may have still maintained the gauntlet. Fourth, Doctor Strange is the key to all this because he is technically responsible for Thanos getting both the Time and Mind stones. So that leads me to this question: Why the eff doesn't anybody ever blame Doctor Strange for what happened? Simple, this was the ONLY way. Now... after seeing Endgame I still don't quite understand. I'm assuming Thanos would have gotten the stone from Doctor Strange sooner or later so it doesn't really matter anyway? What if Doctor Strange tried to commit the ultimate sacrifice himself? Would Thanos have used the glove to keep Stephen alive? We may never know.
Now, Endgame. The first and foremost important link in the chain of events is Captain Marvel. Without her, Tony doesn't get back to Earth. He would have died in space and half the universe stays dead forever. The rat switching on the machine and spitting out Scott is of course important, but it doesn't mean shit unless Tony is still alive and back on Earth. Did all the people who keep making this joke about the rat just conveniently forget Strange bargained to spare Tony's life? He did that for a reason, not just because they suddenly became BFF's. Then of course there's the mega complicated chain of events, the original six Avengers along with Rhodey, Ant-man, Nebula and Rocket all have important roles in acquiring all six infinity stones in the past. Nat dies so Clint can get the Soul stone. Clint picks up and runs with the gauntlet, evading Thanos's forces. Later on, Black Panther, Spider-man, Captain Marvel all have a role in getting the gauntlet to where it's supposed to be. And of course, finally Tony's tech yanks all the stones out of the gauntlet so Tony can use his own gauntlet and snap Thanos and his entire army into oblivion.
Wait, why am I composing this post again? Oh yeah... the rat. or as many have affectionately come to call him... Splinter, which makes a lot more sense if the events of Endgame took place sometime in the 1980's.