Eternals (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ikaris betrayed the Eternals because he was fiercely loyal to Arishem and the Emergence. He believed that allowing Tiamut to be born was the greater purpose of the Eternals, even though it would destroy Earth. When Ajak decided to tell the team the truth and try to stop the Emergence, Ikaris saw her as a threat to their true mission and fed her to the Deviants.

Foreshadowing: Ikaris's departure from Sersi thousands of years ago hinted at his willingness to prioritize Arishem's will over personal relationships.

• ikaris
• ajak
• betrayal
• arishem
• deviants
• loyalty

The Emergence is a cataclysmic event where a new Celestial, Tiamut, is born from within Earth. This birth would destroy the planet and all life on it. The Eternals' true mission was not just to defeat Deviants but to prepare humanity for this event over thousands of years.

Foreshadowing: Ajak's secretive behavior and the Deviants' sudden return served as warnings of the approaching cosmic event.

• emergence
• celestial
• tiamut
• arishem
• earth destruction

Ajak was killed by the Deviant Kro during the Eternals' reunion. Ikaris had deliberately led Kro to Ajak's location, fulfilling his plan to silence her before she could reveal the truth about the Emergence to the other Eternals. Kro, now capable of absorbing Eternal powers, killed Ajak to gain her abilities.

Foreshadowing: Ikaris's mysterious absence during the reunion and his delayed arrival at Sersi's apartment hinted at his secret coordination with the Deviants.

• ajak
• kro
• death
• ikaris
• deviant

The Mahd Wy'ry is a psychological condition that affects Eternals who carry overwhelming memories of past civilizations and cataclysms. Thena developed violent episodes due to memories of her home planet's destruction and previous Emergences. Gilgamesh remained her protector, refusing to let Ajak erase her memories.

Foreshadowing: Thena's sudden violent outbreak in 1521 foreshadowed her deeper connection to the cyclical nature of Celestial birth and destruction.

• thena
• mahd wyry
• memories
• gilgamesh
• trauma

The Uni-Mind is a collective state where all Eternals connect their consciousness and power into one being. Phastos designed a plan for Druig to channel this combined energy through his mind-control abilities. The Uni-Mind allowed Sersi to access enough power to transform the Celestial Tiamut into marble, stopping the Emergence.

Foreshadowing: The Eternals' long history of fighting together as a unit built toward their ultimate synchronization in the Uni-Mind.

• uni-mind
• druig
• phastos
• sersi
• celestial power

Gilgamesh sacrificed himself in the Amazon rainforest when the Deviants attacked. He saved Thena by pushing her out of the way as Kro attacked, taking the fatal blow himself. His sacrifice was the culmination of his centuries-long promise to protect Thena after she contracted the Mahd Wy'ry.

Foreshadowing: Gilgamesh's vow in 1521 to never leave Thena's side foreshadowed his ultimate act of protection.

• gilgamesh
• thena
• sacrifice
• death
• kro
• amazon

Ikaris flew into the sun consumed by guilt over his actions. Despite his loyalty to Arishem, he couldn't bring himself to kill Sersi when faced with her during the final battle, torn between his love for her and his duty to the Emergence. Unable to live with his betrayal of both the team and his love, he chose self-destruction.

Foreshadowing: Ikaris's hesitation when facing Sersi and his conflicted emotional state during the battle revealed his internal struggle between duty and love.

• ikaris
• sun
• suicide
• guilt
• sersi
• betrayal

Sprite wanted to become human because she was stuck in a childlike body for over 7,000 years while her mind matured. She grew weary of being perceived as a child and wanted to experience a normal human life with aging and freedom from her eternal childhood. Sersi granted her wish after the battle, turning her mortal.

Foreshadowing: Sprite's longstanding resentment about her appearance and her desire for independence were hinted at throughout her interactions with Sersi.

• sprite
• human
• transformation
• immortality
• childhood

Arishem took the three Eternals to judge whether humanity is worthy of survival. He was angered by their decision to stop the Emergence and sabotage his plan for a new Celestial. Through their memories, he wanted to determine if humans deserve to continue existing or if they should be destroyed.

Foreshadowing: Arishem's earlier warning about judging humanity's worthiness set up this ominous conclusion.

• arishem
• judgment
• humanity
• space
• sersi
• phastos
• kingo

The Deviants returned in modern times with a new ability to heal themselves, making them far more dangerous than before. This evolution was likely a response to their near-destruction by the Eternals in 1521. Kro specifically could absorb the powers of Eternals after killing them, as seen when he killed Ajak.

Foreshadowing: The Eternals' initial confidence in defeating the Deviants was undermined by their unexpected adaptive evolution.

• deviants
• healing
• kro
• evolution
• power absorption

Sersi became the new Ajak because Ajak chose her as her successor before dying. Only Ajak could communicate directly with the Prime Celestial Arishem, and this ability transferred to Sersi upon Ajak's death. Sersi's deep empathy for humanity made her the right choice to lead the team in this critical moment.

Foreshadowing: Sersi's unique bond with humanity and her questioning nature prepared her for the burden of leadership.

• sersi
• ajak
• leader
• arishem
• successor

Druig isolated himself in the Amazon rainforest because he grew disillusioned with humanity's endless conflicts and violence. He broke away from Ajak's policy of non-interference, choosing to live among humans but apart from his fellow Eternals. He used his mind-control abilities to protect a hidden community from outside threats.

Foreshadowing: Druig's growing frustration with human violence during the 1500s predicted his eventual withdrawal from the team.

• druig
• amazon
• isolation
• humanity
• disappointment

The Ebony Blade is a legendary enchanted sword from Dane Whitman's family ancestry. In the post-credits scene, Dane opens a mysterious chest containing this blade, which is traditionally wielded by the Marvel character Black Knight. The mid-credit scene with Eros (Thanos's brother) suggests connections to the broader Marvel universe.

Foreshadowing: Dane's hint about a family secret and his relationship with Sersi built toward this revelation.

• ebony blade
• dane whitman
• black knight
• credits
• eros

Phastos lost hope in humanity after his technology was used to create weapons during World War II, contributing to devastating destruction and genocide. The horror of seeing his inventions misused led him to abandon his role as the team's tech innovator and live in isolation, rejecting further involvement in human affairs.

Foreshadowing: Phastos's guilt over technological misuse was hinted at when he refused to help Sersi initially despite his skills.

• phastos
• world war 2
• technology
• hopelessness
• guilt