the day people stop dropping brain dead john walker (mcu) takes is the day i will finally know peace
like he’s such a morally complex and interesting character who was a perfect narrative foil to sam and the long-standing arc of what it means to pick up that shield and be captain america. he perfectly displays the sentiment we got back in the first captain america movie “not a great soldier, but a good man”. the us government picks a great soldier, the greatest one they have available. they do not understand that being captain america is so much more than that. a guy like john walker thrives in the morally grey environments of war but you make him the beacon of morality and goodness that is captain america and he crumbles. he was not made for it. the us military made him into a soldier, a weapon, and asked him to be something else. he acts the way that a soldier acts, does what a soldier would do, but captain america was never supposed to be a soldier, so he fucks up and makes the wrong decisions at almost every turn. he’s doing his best but he wasn’t built for this so it isn’t enough
his character is also such a good commentary on the us military, how the government asks terrible and life ruining things of its soldiers and then leaves them behind at its earliest convenience.
like john walker is the definition of “i am what you made me”. they made him exactly who he is, he lived his life by their mandates, he did everything they ever asked of him, and it wasn’t enough because they asked him to do something he could never do, stop being a soldier
Family, friends, deadly assassins...
Ok so with Bucky driving and crashing that van into a building in thunderbolts, Is it too much of me to ask/ imagine that:
Bucky just wordlessly takes the steering wheel with him after. It’s not like they’ll need it anyways, the vans likely not drivable after that, so Bucky just rips it off its hinges so casually and carries it with him out the van, leaving the rest of the thunderbolts kind of confused,
Because really, who just does that??
Bucky notices their confused faces, looks down at the wheel in his hand as if he hadn’t even realized he’d done it, and just shrugs “oh, it’s an inside joke.” And we don’t get an explanation for it at all, very IYKYK
And the last scene in the movie is just bucky coming home to sam, “got you a souvenir since you missed all the fun.”
Me being crazy over small things lets go
So we all know about The Gun
but you know what else is similar?
their hair
Yes, several arguments could be made
that's a common hair style for guys
it looked that way before the war too
it's just hair you're over-analyzing way too much!!!(hey, I need to do something)
I can't think of anything else, it's solid /j
First one: Common hairstyle
Yeah, I can't refute that, it's kinda a fact. But you know what? There are So Many Other Hairstyles too! Maybe it's common, but it doesn't seem that common, especially in the movies(don't quote me on that, it's been a while since I've seen them). If he looked at a book and pointed to something random(like I've seen in a few fics), there's a good chance it wouldn't have been that.
Second: It looked that way before the war
No it didn't! Bucky's hair in TFATWS is way more similar to Brock Rumlow's hair than it is to his own in CATFA
Captain America: The First Avenger:
Longer on the sides and top, both are swept to the side and back.
Longest front prices are swept up and to the side, making an arch and curve
Softer, lighter brown, and well taken care of
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier:
Shorter all around
Spikier, messier but still nice
hair in front is swept forward and spiky(very similar to someone else...)
Okay, it's similar, why?
I don't know, lets think
During the depression and during the war Bucky seems to take care of his hair, he makes sure it looks nice.
While he was the Winter Soldier, there was a good chance his hair wasn't cut at all, if it only grew when he was out of cryo that could be it. He didn't have a choice and no one did it for him.
Then he was freed. When he was on the run he obviously didn't care, it was unwashed and long and he didn't take care of it.
But in Wakanda. His hair is nice now, it's washed and wavy and looks like he got ready to see Steve.
But He Didn't Cut It.
Why? I don't know. Hair is said to carry memories, was he too afraid of losing his again that he didn't want to cut his hair? Was it because He wasn't ready to let go of a part of himself like that when he just got himself back? Was it because he knew he looked really good with long hair? I don't know. But he didn't cut it.
Now, TFATWS.
He cut it. He decided that he would make a choice to cut his hair, and he chose That.
Did he remember Rumlow fondly? Is that why he carries a part of him in his hair and his gun? Did he have a vague memory that his hair looked close to that and just went with it? What was he thinking? Did he want to look like Rumlow for a reason or just because?
And Thunderbolts*
his hair is long again
we're back to the Winter Soldier y'all
TLDR: Bucky's hair looks very similar to Rumlow's and I don't know why but it seems like it has some sort of significance because of his past hair choices.
How good are all of the Thunderbolts(Yes I'm still calling them that I don't care) at sparring? This is what I think. List is from worst to best(Bob not included)
5. Alexei Shostakov: Yes, I know he's a super soldier, here me out. Alexei is very strong, but in a group like this, being strong isn't as big of an advantage as you would think. He can throw someone around yes, but does he seem like he has the amount of training everyone else has? No. Against unenhanced people he's amazing, when fighting with trained assassins? I actually think he would lose first.
4. John Walker: Yes, he's like, the best in the military, that's also not super cool compared to some training the others have. I do think he would beat Alexei in a fight because he has the same strength but more training, but he would lose to some of the others because they are trained better, have different skills, and have more control over their strength. I do like to think he's somewhat still learning how to control his strength. Even though he has military training, with the serum he seems like he would rely more on his strength than skill to take down an opponent.
3. Ava Starr: She would be so much higher if she could throw a punch better. With her skillet, she doesn't even need to fight and she would be absolutely amazing at dodging. I think she would easily beat John and Alexei by dodging and trowing a few well aimed punches. Though I don't think she is the best and hand to hand fighting. With a weapon? Amazing, you're probably not winning. Hand to hand? She probably needs a little bit of practice. She seems more of a spy with a gun than a soldier.
2. Yelena Belova: She's a widow, what else do you want? I think she would be able to beat both previous super soldiers because her fighting style is so different and she's very quick on her feet. I think she could also beat Ava because quick enough reflexes would be able to get her before she phases again. She was an assassin, she could definitely beat around a lot of people.
1. Bucky Barnes: I headcannon that he trained the young widows in the Red Room so yes, I think he could beat Yelena in a sparring match. Maybe it would go back and forth a bit, but for the most part I think Bucky would be able to win. He was an assassin for far longer, has the super soldier serum, and has a vibranium arm.
These are just my thoughts and how I write the characters, I would love to hear how anyone else interprets their fighting styles!!!
a small collection of recent sambucky doodles
bucky in fic: steve u asshole u could’ve been killed! what were u thinking? let me bandage u up and get u a nice cup of tea, i love u so much
actual bucky:
Because they're a family and you can't change my mind.
Bucky: Mom. But also older brother to Yelena, Ava, Bob, and John. Friends with Alexei. Ava and Bob are the youngest siblings, he protects them at all cost. Yelena is the younger sister that can take care of herself and beat him up but he still likes to look after her. John is the brother he makes fun of but still loves. Alexei is trying to co-parent Yelena and it's working somewhat.
John: Older brother to Yelena, Ava, Bob, younger brother to Bucky, some kind of cousin to Alexei kinda deal. Loves the girls, will protect them with his life because they're his little sisters. Bob is the younger brother, he is very protective and loves him, but he also gets quite a bit of the teasing. 100% goes 'you're not my mom' to Bucky, then rebels, then finds out Bucky was right. Is annoyed with Alexei a lot but sees that he's a useful member of the team and respects him(most of the time).
Yelena: Older sister to Bob, best friends with Ava, younger sister to John, daughter of Alexei, little sister of Bucky. Protects Bob with her life because he's just a little guy and she feels responsible. Ava is her go-to person for gossip and all matters of family drama, they make fun of John together, besties forever. John is the annoying older sibling she makes fun of but secretly is very fond of him. Alexei is her dad, like literally. Bucky is the older brother she's very close with because they have similar backgrounds.
Ava: Friend of Yelena, older sister-in-law of Bob, tries to ignore Alexei, little sister of John and Bucky. Gossip bestie/mock John together type of friend with Yelena, they share everyone else's embarrassing secrets. More distant with Bob, but is a friend in law and ends up getting to know him better and caring for him. Thinks Alexei is ridiculous but secretly loves watching him bother Yelena so she has blackmail for later. Bothers Walker non stop sibling like but will protect him. Mocks Bucky for being a mom but does listen to him.
Alexei: Self-proclaimed team dad. No one else thinks so. Father of Yelena and Bob, tries to be father of Ava and John(not working), biggest fangirl of the Winter Soldier. Even if he's a little eccentric he does care for Yelena, and adopted Bob too because he sees how much they love each other. Tries to help Ava and John but he's just a bit much at times. Acts like Bucky is his best comrade and will tell him every story he can think of. Is team morale, but no one wants the morale.
Bob: Younger brother to Yelena, Ava, and John. Son to Bucky and Alexei. Tends to look to Yelena for support and questions, will also look to Ava if Yelena isn't there. Despite bickering and teasing, he has grown closer to John and does see him as a brother(bother) figure. Likes Bucky and Alexei and loves that he has father like figures in his life who care for him and actually want him on their team.
This is how I write/interpret their relationships and these are just some of my thoughts, I would love to hear yours!
"It's character building!" I say as I put him in the worst situations imaginable