But the Soul Stone sequence in particular reveals him as so much more than that.
His ultimate goal may be horrific and nightmarish, but he’s also brimming with conflict, captured in the tears he sheds as he kills his daughter.
Beyond featuring the murder of a beloved character, what makes this scene so remarkable is an extension of the key quality that makes Avengers: Infinity War special on the whole: the immense and surprising emotional depth built into Thanos’ character and narrative.
The worst version of the Mad Titan to depict on screen would have been the version seen through the eyes of Gamora — one who craves nothing but death and dominance over the universe.