Now that Captain Marvel is out I really need to talk about THAT SCENE with Yon-Rogg. And since itâs International Womenâs Day, I think itâs a really good day to talk about it.Â
This may get long, but itâs important. Iâve tagged this with spoiler warnings, but if you havenât seen the movie yet and donât want to know some of the big twists, come back to it later. Hereâs a gif of Brie Larson conveying so many emotions in a single moment of blowing her hair out of her face.
Before I get to the scene in question, itâs important to note Carolâs backstory and how it unfolds during her big confrontation with the Supreme Intelligence. (This sequence represents her going up against the system, while her exchange with Yon-Rogg is more personal.)Â
What we see in that scene is a replay of all the moments in her life where she fell or failed or crashed in the wake of harsh words from those around her. âYou canâtâŠâ âYou arenâtâŠâ âYou donâtâŠâ Sheâs had similar flashes of memory throughout the movie, but it just seems to be a confirmation of what sheâs been led to believe for as long as she can remember: that she is too emotional, too undisciplined, basically nothing without the power bestowed on her by the Kree. This is, of course, completely false. The Kree have been inhibiting her power, lying to her, and controlling her for their own purposes. Sheâs been gaslit by an entire race.
The truth is, in her former life on Earth, she couldnât help but be influenced by a culture constantly reminding her that she was not enough, didnât have what it took, would inevitably fail. And sure, she did fail at times. BUT, what she realizes in this moment is that she never let that stop her before. She overcame those doubts. She got back up. That is the answer to the question sheâs been asking all along: who am I? She is Carol Danvers, who gets knocked down and then gets right the fuck back up again. And from that moment on, she never doubts herself again.
Now, letâs get to the most insidious five words in the entire film. âIâm so proud of you.âÂ
This comes during her fight with Yon-Rogg, when itâs clear she has the advantage and will surely defeat him. Now that her power is at full strength â the very thing the Kree have been afraid of and trying to avoid this whole time â he knows he canât beat her through sheer force. But rather than admit that and accept his fate, he makes one last-ditch attempt at self-preservation. And what an attempt it is. He puts down his fists and says in the most patronizing way, âIâm so proud of you.â
This is him trying to take away Carolâs agency, to give himself credit for all of her growth and power. âIâm so proud of youâ is such a poisonous, condescending phrase in this context. âIâm so proud of youâ establishes an authoritative dynamic in which he is firmly on top and she is his inferior. Itâs an unequalizer. And itâs not even true. Heâs not proud of her. Heâs terrified of her. Terrified of the power thatâs finally been set free, of those emotions heâs been trying to keep in check.
But sheâs already had her epiphany and she knows who she is now. Sheâs not having it. So he tries one last gambit. He dares her to prove herself without using her powers. Conveniently (actually, by design) this levels the playing field for him. His only chance at winning this fight is if he convinces her to hold herself back. And once again, this fails spectacularly. Because she finally sees his bullshit for what it is. And thatâs when we get that sure-to-be-iconic line, âI have nothing to prove to you,â as a last fuck you to her former oppressor. After which, she literally drags him across the desert and sends him home in dishonor with a warning to the Kree that sheâs not playing anymore.Â
And thatâs why this film is so important and so special, for women in particular. It teaches us to trust ourselves, and when thatâs too hard, to trust that other women, like Maria Rambeau (loved her!), will have our back. It encourages everyone to use their powers to the fullest extent, to not be afraid to be guided by emotion, to never let someone elseâs false boundaries define you. Thatâs such a powerful message.
And no one, not even whiny fanboys, can take that away.
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