WandaVision revealed that Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers have a strained relationship, with Rambeau actively dismissive of her. In Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, viewers saw Carol preoccupied with something far away from Earth. In Episode 1 of Ms. Marvel, fans have received the most explicit evidence that Captain Marvel is ill.

Despite Kamala’s denial, Ms. Marvel does not portray Carol Danvers in an entirely positive light, even if the sequel, The Marvels, provides an explanation. Despite this, Carol’s absence from the MCU isn’t brand new; in Avengers: Endgame, it’s shown where Carol’s responsibilities lie.

Duty to the Galaxy

Rhodey asks Captain Marvel, “Where the hell have you been all this time?” during her introduction to the Avengers in Endgame. Carol responds to this by saying, “There are a lot of other planets in the universe. And unfortunately, they didn’t have you guys.”

During a meeting with Earth’s remaining heroes five years after failing to bring everyone back, Carol tells Natasha that she will be unavailable for “…a long time.” Rocket, clearly agitated, inquires as to why the hero in space would not be returning to Earth with Carol, saying,”… I’m covering a lot of territory. The things that are happening on Earth, are happening everywhere, on thousands of planets.” This answer implies that Carol is monitoring and visiting thousands of planets throughout the galaxy on her own.

There was no point in Carol returning to Earth because she was never needed, as she explained to Rhodey. To be prepared for any eventuality, she gave Nick Fury the pager. Although her homeworld could use Carol’s return, she has shown no sign that she would return if her family needed her.

The Death of a Loved One

Monica’s enmity towards Captain Marvel isn’t explained to the audience in WandaVision. However, it’s a safe bet that it has something to do with her mother’s death. Assuming Carol never met Maria before she died of cancer, Monica returned from being blipped and learned this information.

Anyone would be resentful of someone they consider family for abandoning their mother to die with hardly a phone call or a visit. Because of this, Monica’s attitude toward WandaVision’s superhero, WandaVision, is not surprising at all. Monica quickly shifts the conversation to Captain Marvel when Jimmy Woo mentions “We are not talking about [Captain Marvel]. We are talking about Wanda.”

In The Marvels, Carol and Monica will meet again, and the existence of Kamala Khan will only heighten the tension between them. Carol’s strange behavior wasn’t just revealed by WandaVision; even Shang-Chi was able to shed light on it.

Every Moment Is Spent Somewhere Different

A potential origin for the Ten Rings is raised by Shang-Chi’s hero and Wong in the film’s post-credits scene. Carol has to be whisked away because neither of them is able to provide an adequate response. Bruce has her phone number. She apologizes, saying “I have to deal with this,” and runs out the door to tell Shang-Chi.

“She does this all the time,” Shang-Chi says, as Bruce denies that he has ever done this before. In light of what Carol has said and done thus far, and in particular her apparent duty to the galaxy and the thousands of other planets, the film pointing this behavior out is telling.

Does Carol’s hectic schedule mean she has no time for her family or the planet?

Leaving the planet?

Following both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Ms. Marvel finally reveals how long Carol spent on Earth, which was not very long.

“I know some of you think, ‘Well, she abandoned the people of Earth.'” said Kamala in a mocking tone in her homemade video about Carol Danvers’ absence from Earth. There are even speech bubbles of people asking questions like, “Where is the Cosmic Avenger?” and “Has she left us?” that the young hero shows.

Captain Marvel’s Opening Speech Bubbles by Ms. Marvel

When confronted with the idea that Carol abandoned Earth, Kamala dismisses it and proceeds to defend her absence in an unconvincing manner. We don’t know what Captain Marvel has been up to, according to Kamala, who says that “we don’t know exactly what she’s been up to.” Kamala is an eternal optimist, while Monica is bitterly cynical about Carol. Both lack a nuanced view of the woman they despise and admire.

Carol’s departure from the planet, on the other hand, could have some nuances.

The ‘aholic’ is for work

Due to Disney’s restrictions, the MCU had to substitute Tony’s alcoholism with PTSD and panic attacks in order to portray him as an alcoholic. As with Stark, Carol Danvers’ inability to cope with her trauma led to her becoming an alcoholic.

It’s possible that Carol Danvers’ alcoholism could be replaced by a new battle. It’s clear that Kamala’s speculation about why Carol hasn’t returned to Earth is the most significant clue. Carol’s recent appearances and mentions suggest that she doesn’t take breaks and has no plans to do so.

Rather than having Carol be an alcoholic, the MCU could transform her into an obsessive workaholic, sacrificing her health and relationships in order to serve the interests of thousands of planets across the galaxy. Her health hasn’t yet taken a hit from this. However, any remaining bonds she has with Monica have been severed.

As a result of her delusional behavior, Carol missed the death of her best friend. What prompted this?

Driven by Guilt

Over the course of the past five years, Carol had helped the Kree Empire carry out its crackdown across the galaxy. As a result, when Carol saw the surviving members of the Kree’s genocidal crusade, she was almost in tears as she offered an apology to them for her lack of knowledge of their history.

“My hands are filthy from it, too,” Talos tells her, empathizing with her but noting that the war isn’t over yet. This is just the beginning, says the Skrull general. “There are thousands of us separated from each other…scattered throughout the galaxy.”

Carol Danvers not only declares war on the Kree Empire by the end of Captain Marvel. However, she also offers to assist Talos and the other Skrull survivors in finding a new home. Carol’s influence on the Kree can be traced back to when Xandar signed a peace treaty in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Kree attacks on other worlds under the pretext of liberating them from the Skrulls have no doubt resulted in harm to people other than the Skrulls. However, what happens when Carol goes too far in her efforts for others and for the greater good?

In Carol’s own words, she appears to be blaming herself for everything that has gone wrong in the galaxy. For both Monica and Kamala, seeing Carol as the galaxy’s one-woman Avengers team on the get-go would be an eye-opening experience.