The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s happy ending further solidified Sam and Bucky’s friendship and have signals to a bright future for MCU phase 4.
The season finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, “One World, One People”, had an incredibly happy ending which solidified the bond of friendship between Becky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the New Captain America– Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). In the finale, Sam, Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), Bucky, and even John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Sharon Carter(Emily VanCamp), after saving the Global Repatriation Council’s members from the Flag-Smashers in New York City, are finally seen in better places than they were when the Disney+ series began.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has able-handed set up an intriguing new world order for the MCU in Phase 4. It must be noted that prior to the pandemic, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was supposed to kick off Phase 4 but since Wanda Vision was nearer to completion, it debuted first. Arguments can be made that the Disney+ series had too many plot lines which could not be tied perfectly within its 6-hour runtime but we believe the series’ main motive was to lay before the fans a sufficient groundwork that can later be explored by upcoming Marvel Movies and shows. The focal point of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was Sam Wilson asking the difficult questions regarding Steve Roger’s legacy and the hidden sins tied to it and Sam himself choosing not be given the role of Captain America.
Criticism that followed the ending
Along with the praise, a fair share of criticism also followed― some fans claim that not enough time and attention was given to service Bucky’s expiation for his crimes as the Winter Soldier and many questions were left unanswered about John Walker’s new sponsor, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss). However, Marvel Studios’ calculated announcement of Captain America 4 shortly after the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier suggests that their stories will continue and so will Sharon Carteras a shadowy villain (her new role) infiltrating the Intelligence services U.S. Government after Sharon was unmasked as the Power Broker.
Although not a flawless series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been successful in elevating and giving justice to the characters of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, who for years served as supporting characters in MCU. It also solidified the fact that these two heroes came together only because they “had a mutual friend” but now they share their own friendship. The “happy ending” of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier finally set Bucky and Wilson free from their past traumas, mistakes and regrets and made them ready for a brighter MCU future.
Sam Wilson’s perfect tribute to Isaiah Bradley
One of the most heart-warming moments in MCU history was when at the Captain America Smithsonian exhibit, when Sam revealed to Isaiah Bradley the statue and memorial of Bradley’s service to the United States, which was forgotten. Bradley was an incredibly tragic figure, who existed in the shadows with his own pain, sorrow and bitterness, and was ignored and tortured by his own government, which he diligently served, for years. Infact it should not be forgotten that Isaiah was one of the key forces behind Sam accepting the role of Captain America. This was not so much because Sam was afraid his fate will be similar to Bradley’s but more because Captain’s Shield represents something much darker to the people who were marginalized by what the symbol represented (this was also articulated by Karli Morgenthau). Renewing Bradley’s place in History was a small step taken by Wilson to right a wrong that was done in MCU.
This small gesture also proved that Sam Wilson is a man of his words. When Bucky confessed to Wilson that his sins as the Winter Soldier still haunts him, Sam, who is a trained counselor for veterans with PTSD, advised him to do the work and service the people that he wronged. Wilson abided by his own advise and chose to right the wrong that was done to Isaiah Bradley by the US Army, for 60 years. This truly showed that the new captain has the qualities for a real hero and If worthiness tests to be Captain America were conducted, Sam would pass with flying colors.
Sam and Bucky becoming real friends
After achieving victory, Captain America and The Winter Soldier leave New York together, Bucky is seen patting Sam by tapping on his shield. Earlier, Bucky had told Sam that “all the family” he had left with him, was the shield (the last remaining symbol of his best friend, Steve Rogers). By tapping on the shield Bucky also in a way paid tribute to Steve, who was there with them in spirit. At the beginning of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky was seen alone in Brooklyn after 100 years was removed from the city he grew up in. While trying to escape his sins as the Winter Soldier, Bucky was trapped shackled in his nightmares. We must also not that Bucky and Wilson did not even have a liking for each other and Bucky resented Sam’s decision for ‘retiring’ Captain’s shield, this made Bucky question Steve’s judgment about Sam.
Since Captain America: Civil War, Bucky, and Sam have bickered with each other and claimed that they were not more than acquaintances, who have a “mutual friend.” It is indeed scrumptious to see Wilson and Barnes finally becoming genuine friends by the end of the Disney+ series, and this time it was not because of Steve but because of the respect and love they share mutually. We also got a glimpse of Bucky becoming the person that he has not been since the Second World War when he visits Wilson’s family in Louisiana. He could finally laugh, relax, flirt with Sam’s sister, play with the Wilson nephews, and be comfortable. The friendship between iconic superheroes has always been MCU’s niche and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier solidifies yet another ideal MCU friendship with Sam and Bucky.
Bucky leaving his past behind
By the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the fans witness Bucky finally leaving his alter ego behind and along with it his disturbing past. Although it is true that the series could’ve focused a bit more on Bucky’s atonement, but comic book action was prioritized more. Instead of this, the two different sides of Bucky are represented by his victims like Yori Nakajima (Ken Takemoto), whose son was killed by the Winter Soldier, and the villains who were enabled by Bucky when he was under Hydra’s spell, like Senator Atwood (Rebecca Lines) and Helmut Zemo.
The ending of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showed that Bucky’s list and everything it stood for did not matter anymore. Bucky Barnes will always be the Winter Soldier and his metal arm will be there to remind him of that, but now he is finally free from all that baggage he carried around from the sins he committed years ago as a robotic assassin and he is finally ready to move on and look forward to what future holds for him. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier finally freed Bucky and made him somewhat prepared for the journey laid ahead of him in phase 4.
The rare happy ending of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Marvel has a history of unhappy or butter-sweet ending. The MCU movies usually either end with a shock or heart-wrenching sadness for example Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) declaring “I am Iron Man!”, or Thanos’ ship preparing to attack the Asgardian refugees in Thor: Ragnarok, Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) secret identity publicly outed in Spider-Man: Far From Home, conclusions that indicated that more is to come like all three Captain America movies, and the darkest ending of all, Avengers: Infinity War where the heroes failed and half of the universe perished.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s ending was different and upbeat, although it did leave certain shock factors to look forward to, like establishing John Walker as a US agent and Agent Carter establishing herself as a threat, the series also gave both heroes some time to breathe and reflect on the wins in their journey. The show’s ending cemented Sam and Bucky’s brotherhood. Instead of seeing Wilson and Barnes in costume ready for more action, the fans saw Sam and Bucky get a feel-good ending, hinting that the Winter Soldier, Captain America, the fans, and MCU as a whole have a bright future to look forward to.
