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The plot of Eternals (2021) is set in motion by a sequence of interconnected actions spanning both backstory and present-day events:
Primary Catalysts:
The Blip (2023) - The restoration of Earth's population following Thanos's Snap brought the global population back to the threshold necessary for the Emergence. The Snap in 2018 had delayed the Emergence by halving the population; the Blip completed the requirement, giving the Eternals approximately seven days until Tiamut's birth would destroy Earth.
Ajak's Change of Heart (circa 2024) - Inspired by the Avengers' heroic efforts during the Battle of Earth to undo the Snap, Ajak decided to oppose the Emergence and save humanity. She told Ikaris of her plan to stop it, asking him to help tell the other Eternals.
Ikaris's Betrayal (approximately 6-7 days before the London attack) - Loyal to Arishem and the Celestials' plan, Ikaris rejected Ajak's plea. He brought her to Alaska where Deviants had been frozen in ice for centuries and were recently released due to melting ice (caused by Earth's core heating up for the Emergence). Ikaris pushed Ajak to the Deviants, and Kro killed her, absorbing her healing powers in the process.
Inciting Incident (Present-Day Plot):
The London Deviant Attack - Sersi and Sprite, living in London, were attacked by Kro. The Deviant displayed unprecedented healing abilities (absorbed from Ajak), which alarmed the Eternals since they believed Deviants had been extinct since 1521. Ikaris arrived and chased the creature away. This attack prompted the trio to seek out Ajak for guidance.
Discovery of Ajak's Death - Traveling to South Dakota, Sersi, Sprite, and Ikaris found Ajak dead. The Celestial Communication Sphere transferred from Ajak to Sersi, making her the new Prime Eternal and granting her direct communication with Arishem. Through this connection, Sersi learned the Eternals' true purpose: to ensure Earth's population grew large enough to fuel Tiamut's birth, which would destroy the planet.
Key Plot Mechanics:
The plot ultimately hinges on Ikaris's betrayal as the hidden catalyst that both eliminated opposition to the Emergence and inadvertently empowered the Deviants, while the Blip serves as the cosmic trigger that set the timeline in motion.
The plot of Eternals (2021) is set in motion by a combination of cosmic events and specific character actions that occur both in the distant past and the immediate present.
The most significant event that triggers the movie's present-day timeline is the return of half the Earth's population (the "Blip" from Avengers: Endgame).
While the Emergence is the underlying threat, the plot officially starts for the characters through a surprise attack in London.
Following the attack in London, the trio travels to South Dakota to consult their leader, Ajak, only to find her dead.
As the movie progresses, it is revealed that a specific, secret action by Ikaris actually set the present-day tragedy in motion before the film even began.
The AI Summary mentions Deviants in Alaska but doesn't explain that they had been frozen for centuries and were released by melting ice caused by the planet warming up as the Emergence approached. This is an important environmental/causal detail.
While the summary mentions Ajak 'had grown to love humanity,' it misses that her specific inspiration came from witnessing the Avengers' heroic efforts to undo the Snap. This is a meaningful connection to the broader MCU.
The film shows an earthquake occurring in London before the Deviant attack, which is later revealed to be a symptom of the approaching Emergence. This foreshadowing detail adds to the building tension.
The summary states Ajak told Ikaris about the Emergence six days before London, but Ikaris had actually known about it for centuries - Ajak had told him long ago. What happened six days before was Ajak telling him she wanted to STOP it, which was the change.