16 Reasons the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes Is the Best Avenger
“I’m with you to the end of the line.”
As you can probably guess, I think Bucky and Steve love each other. In the gay way. Specifically, the super-powered bisexual way. No one looks at their friend after 70 years of Soviet brainwashing and remembers them just because you’re “best friends since childhood”.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Via Giphy
We’ve seen Steve in platonic, close friendships with other men. He’s ride or die with Sam, who he literally just met in The Winter Soldier, bonding over their veteran status. He’s brothers-in-arms with Tony, however badly that ended.
Source: Marvel Studios
Source: Marvel Studios
Steve’s connection with Bucky fuels almost all of his choices. It’s his love for Bucky that creates the rift in the Avengers, not political divides. Everyone has their personal reasons for taking sides in Civil War, and for Steve, Bucky is the lynchpin.
Source: Marvel Studios
In The Winter Soldier, it’s his confusion over Bucky’s return that leads him to investigate SHIELD – and discover Hydra. You could even say his crusade to make Bucky remember is what makes Steve abandon his ties to the US government in the first place.
Source: Marvel Studios
Source: Marvel Studios
In the end, it’s literally always about Steve and Bucky. The last two Cap movies’ dramatic climax were scenes about their bond. Steve fights The Winter Soldier, pleading with him to remember and throwing down his shield, trusting that Bucky will remember. Afterwards, Bucky saves Steve by pulling him from the water, even though he can’t even remember who he is.
Source: Marvel Studios
It’s exactly the same in Civil War – they fight Tony until Cap throws down his shield, and walk into a new life together. The entire movie builds to this showdown, and it ends in a poignant moment between them. Steve is without his shield and Bucky without his arm, just two men with nothing but each other. This time, it’s Steve who doesn’t know who he is anymore, but saves Bucky anyway.
Source: Tumblr