At the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's explosive finale episode, the series changed its name to Captain America and the Winter Soldier to reflect Sam Wilson taking on the mantle of Cap. However, while Sam’s new name is in line with his arc on the show, some Marvel fans were confused that Bucky’s titular alter ego remained “the Winter Soldier” since that’s the name HYDRA gave him to carry out their assassinations, and it represents the past he wants to escape.
Series creator and head writer Malcolm Spellman has clarified that despite the name Winter Soldier remaining in the show’s altered title, Bucky no longer identifies with this alias. According to Spellman, Bucky went into the series “truly believing he is kind of the Winter Soldier, no matter what anyone says.” However, over the course of the series, he changes his mind about his self-identity.
Spellman specifically pointed to the scene in the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in which Bucky saves a handful of politicians from an armored van, which had been hijacked by the Flag-Smashers, and one of the liberated hostages thanks him. “That’s [Bucky’s] first time being a hero,” Spellman said to ComicBook.com. “So, by the end of this series, Bucky is emerging as having shed the burden of the Winter Soldier.”
The writer also mentioned the scene in which Bucky comes clean to the old man whose son he killed and the final scene with the Wilsons’ barbecue as moments that have helped Bucky to distance himself from his Winter Soldier identity. With the Wilsons, according to Spellman, Bucky has “found a new family.” Connecting with Sam’s sister and her kids allowed Bucky to realize that he can have a normal life after all.
While Spellman confirmed that Bucky no longer thinks of himself as the Winter Soldier and that “he’s now free to become something amazing,” he didn’t confirm what his new superhero name would be. He was assigned the name “White Wolf” while he was getting rid of his HYDRA brainwashing in Wakanda, but based on Sam’s mockery of that name, it doesn’t seem like it’ll stick. Plus, the name “White Wolf” is already being used by Game of Thrones and The Witcher – Bucky deserves a more original name. He might even be able to reclaim the Winter Soldier name and identify with the title without associating it with HYDR’s misdeeds.
Spellman was recently reported to be working on a script for Captain America 4 with Falcon and the Winter Soldier staff writer Dalan Musson. While the report has yet to be confirmed by Marvel Studios itself, it would make sense to follow up Sam’s glorious heroics in the season 1 finale with a solo movie.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is now available on Disney Plus.
Source: Comicbook.com