#bukybarnes

I always felt that something was off in CA:CW. It sends quite mixed message. And Endgame shed new light on it.

Stay tuned.

I do think that studio didn’t really like all this hoopla with #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend and #stucky in twitter trends. Well, publicity is good promotion but it had a certain tinge. Of course in the interview everybody was very supportive, like “we support different interpretation of Steve/Bucky relationships” and that was pure queer-bating because they never confirmed anything, never made it a canon even off-screen, never gave a direct answer. Well actually, they did by shoving absolutely unnecessary forced as fuck love line with Sharon Carter. That was the answer.

What’s with the mixed message then?

I think that initially the idea of CA:CW was about “Steve opposes the whole world for Bucky”. But after CA:TWS and all this stucky-hype they added as many masculinity and heteronormativity and less Steve/Bucky interaction as they could. CA:TWS had non of these imposed details thus it felt natural, but CA:CW has plenty of this alien things that stand out from the picture and feel misplaced like selfie-stick in hands of Mona Lisa.

Let me give you a list of this “sticks”:

1. Thick (THICCCCCC) Sebastian. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind this bear in red shirt but the thing is Bucky’s image was changed in order (maybe) to make him more manly. More facial hair, more muscles, less of those soulful emotional eyes which speak more than any words could express. CA:CW got rid of every hint on Bucky’s femininity (though it wasn’t a hindrance in CA:TWS and Winter Soldier was a real threat despite his neat figure)

and possibility to express strong emotions. Men don’t cry, right? That one tear in the scene with Tony’s parents murder is for very attentive viewer.

2. There is no real reunion between Bucky and Steve in CA:CW. At first Steve met Bucky and they had SWAT on their backs, no time to talk. Ok, I got it. But when Bucky woke up after the fall with helicopter, Steve spoke demanding and flat despite the fact that this was actually the first time when Bucky was showing that he ACTUALLY remembered Steve! This scene in the first trailer was more emotional because of the way Steve called Bucky by his name and the way he reacted on Bucky’s words. They changed it in the movie and put more distance (physical and emotional) between Steve and Bucky again.

On the jet later we got at least one short talk in which Steve doesn't look at Bucky when he says: "I don't know if I'm worth all of this, Steve." and he doesn't answer. Plus they cut out this scene.

3. Forced bromance between Sam and Bucky. I don’t mind Sam, rly, he’s a good guy but he’s more Cap’s pal. And for me it looks and feels unnatural when instead of Bucky and Steve they try to feed me Sam and Bucky.

4. Forced heteromormativity. As mentioned above, instead of emotional Steve/Bucky reunion we got this - a talk about a girl whose name Bucky doesn’t remember and the most awkward kissing scene with Cap and Sharon. And Bucky approved. So no one out there would dare have a slightest thought that they are gay.

5. Flat goodbye before Bucky goes into cryo in Wakanda. My heart was broken from lack of emotion and connection there.

But then we have this fight in Bucky’s apartment with this shot

and we have this

and this

and we have Cap fighting Tony and dropping the shield once more for Bucky.

A lot of action but no talks.

So the mixed message is in contradiction between the whole idea “I will stand against the world for you” and lack of emotional connection in the process.

And I felt where it was going. I was afraid of it.

...to get soul stone?

Me (nothing original): I think they would fight over the right to jump (as Nat and Clint did) and though Steve is stronger, Bucky would fall anyway, because he is not the main character and he needed redemption for his crimes Hydra made him commit.

My friend (decided that I haven’t suffered enough because of Endgame and the way it trashed Steve-Bucky arc): Well, actually Steve could read activation code and order Bucky to stay still or even to throw Steve from the cliff...

Me (gasping): WHY DO YOU HATE ME THAT MUCH????

Bucky deserved so so much better…

While I’m thinking to fix the final of the Endgame, I watch this old video. The winter soldier inspired me so much, I couldn’t resist the urge to do something about it!