Okay, so those of you who are watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier step over here with me in this corner because we have much to talk about. Can I just say that this is giving me life right now? As dead as I thought The Avengers universe was after endgame, I feel like we are returning to life. Let’s be real for a second; I never saw this show as anything. I felt that Bucky Barnes was really not much of a character without Steve Rogers. He needed Steve Rogers’ Captain America by his side to bring him to life. I love the Idea of Sam Wilson as Captain America. I love the idea of an African American Captain America in today’s world. However, we hadn’t seen enough of Bucky and Sam together to know if they could be the team we needed.
Then we saw them together in the second episode. If I cant have Tony and Steve then for the love of everything beautiful in this universe I will take Sam and Bucky bickering all day long.
While this is filling a much-needed Avenger-sized whole in my heart this show is so much more than that. The topic of racism and blindness to racism in our society is presented in such a beautiful way. Every-time I get done watching it, I want to hug the writers. Of course, the delivery from the actors deserves huge credit. As a writer though, I’m going to go ahead and give a bigger shoutout to Derek Kolstad (if the rumors are true I guess) and I really should say, Ed Brubaker.
Did you catch the scene when Bucky shows up out of nowhere to berate Wilson for giving up the Shield? Wilson has got enough shit to deal with. He doesn’t need the guilt. Did you see the whole episode summed up in that one scene? Bucky says, “you had no right to give up that shield.” The response, “this is what you’re not gonna do. You’re not gonna come here in your overextended life and tell me about my rights.”
Later on, we see them arguing on the street and cops gather around them.
More than a hundred-year-old white man telling a black man what he can and cannot do no matter how well-meaning, does not sit well. The cops automatically assume that Sam is in the wrong, Bucky gets riled up because they are disrespecting Sam yet it doesn’t faze Sam (at least on the surface, remember he has real shit to deal with) in the slightest. Hell, we were riled up. We wanted to punch the TV. Bucky wants to talk to Sam about *rights*. These are those rights that he didn’t want to talk about.
This show is needed, these issues need to be talked about. I can’t even begin to know what it feels like to walk the streets for black people but I have been walking around a brown woman in a hijab and that hasn’t been fun at all.
People don’t want to be saved by anyone that doesn’t fit their own description of what a hero should look like. That’s why it’s difficult for people like Sam Wilson to accept that mantle. That’s why its so easy for people like Bucky to accuse him of doing something wrong because they don’t understand the undeniable burden of proof that comes with being someone who is always considered an outsider. Someone who is always suspicious to the naked eye, people do a double take because they just don’t know if they can trust you. These are all those feelings that someone like Bucky or any other white person wouldn’t have to grapple with.
How do you make a decision like this? How do you explain to the world that you cant be her savior because she doesn’t want you.
I know, I know its just a show, calm down. Life, art..art, life. Who can tell anymore.
The issue is greater than two people who have super strength and can fly around. It’s about two people whom society is refusing to accept. Two people who are trying to do right by the world but the world sees it very differently. The only person who seems to be doing anything right and has all the answers is the one with blonde hair and blue eyes. Coincidence? You know it. Of course in the world of the comics there is so much more to John Walker and we are not exploring that side of the show today. We don’t even know where they are taking that storyline. I am super intrigued by the way, and cant wait to find out but speaking strictly in terms of the topic on hand, this show is getting everything right.
P. S. Dam right Cap is back. Cap was back when Steve Rogers handed that shield to Sam Wilson!
#avengers #falconandthewintersoldier #capisback #theteam #samandbucky #newcaptainamerica #theheroesweneed #marvel #racismandtheavengers
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