Naëth

Dogtags explication

I just got it when watching the last and least episode of TFATWS. And unfortunately, those dogtags are Bucky’s.

Lemme explain. Sadly explain why.

The type of dogtags between the movie Captain America: First Avengers and the show TFATWS changed.

Look at Steve’s and Bucky’s in the movie: two lines dogtags. Which was the style of dogtags delivered in 1943 (source here)

And there are Bucky’s in the show: five lines dogtags. It is the current design of dogtags delivered by the US army.

So, how could he have his? He definitely didn’t get them back after hydra. In his flashback from experimentation, he already didn't have them anymore so far. Maybe it can be a mistake of Marvel, just a bad connection between the movie and the show. But it isn't.

The answer stands in a single line of the show « Sergeant Barnes ».

Bucky has simply been reintegrated into the army and those dogtags are his new ones.

I'm the first one disappointed, it could have been such a powerful symbol of their couple friendship.

I didn't see anyone analyze this scene this way and I want to share my analysis of those few seconds with you.

Firstly, indeed I tried to read the dogtags impossible, then I analyzed those in Captain America: first avengers but their designs changed between the movie and TFATWS. But this answered my wander "Is Bucky a believer ?" and yes he is.

Secondly, I saw in various analyses which concludes it would be impossible for Bucky to keep his own dogtags through his time under hydra's control and I agree with that. Link. I would add to this analysis that in Captain America: first avengers, Steve woke up wearing his dogtags and we won't ever see him wearing them anymore after this.

Thirdly, Let's be honest, I really would like them to be Steve's but I will just bring objective information. Tell me what you think of them! I have two analyzes for this scene, a diegetic and an extradiegetic.

- The diegetic analysis - In the show, Bucky almost never shows his dogtags is in front of people. We can see the chain around his neck but only once the dogtags. Until there, it would be a common behavior. But when he woke up, the dogtags on his chest and the chain is still in his clothes. My conclusion is simple, he pulled them out of his clothes to watch them before sleeping.

No matter if it is his own or Steve's, it is a strong information about his constant nostalgic thoughts. But what is he the most nostalgic about?

- The extradiegetic analysis - When the camera leaves Cap's shield to go back to Bucky, we see how much he still thinks about Steve and how much he misses him. And then, the camera focuses on the dogtags around his neck.

The analysis is: for once he seems happy, the shield remembered him Steve as he would need it to do so, he misses Steve, the camera focuses on the dogtags.