The Falcon and The Winter Soldier confirms Bucky Barnes as an Avenger?
Bucky Barnes is finally confirmed as an Avenger, ten years after his debut into the marvel cinematic universe. Bucky Barnes was first seen in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, as Captain America’s best friend. Although he is still playing the same character even after ten years of debut, the Falcon and Winter soldier gives more importance to his story and it is the first time an MCU production is keeping his story in the lead.
After Avengers: Endgame, it seems like Bucky is not viewed as a war criminal anymore and is widely perceived as a hero and part of the Avengers. The Falcon and the winter soldier puts forth a very complex version of Bucky. The viewers witness Bucky struggling to come to terms with the fact that he has to live a life without Steve Rogers. He is also seen struggling to deal with the experiences he has had as a winter soldier. Although being free of Hydra’s programming, he is taking steps to amends with his actions in the past.
We also find him enraged that Falcon’s alter ego Sam Wilson gave up the shield, which lead to John Walker taking on the mantle instead. It is almost as if he has become an amalgamation of everything he has gone through in the past.
At the beginning of the fourth episode of The Falcon and the winter soldier, John Walker, and Lemar Hoskins finds Bucky, Sam, and Baron Zemo in Latvia. When asked about how they were able to find them out this time around, Lemar answers, “two Avengers walking around won’t go unnoticed by civilians.” We know that after Avengers: Age of Ultron’s, Sam was already an official member of the Avengers which was not the case for Bucky. Thus this scene, in particular, confirms that Bucky from now on will also be recognized as an Avenger.
Why it took marvel 10 years to consider Bucky as an Avenger
During Bucky Barnes'(Sebastian Stan) first appearance in the 2011 marvel movie, the superhero team was yet to be formed. In Captain America: Winter Soldier, he returned as a mind-controlled terrorist who spent years doing Hydra’s dirty business which heavily affected his public image. Bucky has been a criminal escapee even after he tried to start with a clean slate. It was only after Avenger’s Endgame that his status as a criminal faded and he started being perceived as a hero. Thus it is not a shocker that the marvel cinematic universe took 10 years to consider Bucky as an Avenger. Bucky contributing to taking down Evil Captain America or the flag smashers furthers his cause of becoming a heroic public figure.
When Becky became an official part of the Avengers is still a point of contention but many claim that it was during Avengers: Endgame’s final battle when Captain America summoned “Avengers assemble” which means that all superheroes present there could be viewed as Avengers, including Bucky. However, we are positive that The Falcon and the winter soldier will offer more proof in the future.
