WHO COULD BUCKY BARNES SAVE IN THE FINALE OF THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER?
The question becomes who could Bucky save in the finale?
Sam, while seemingly the most obvious choice also feels counterintuitive. With Sam finally taking on the mantle of Captain America, and without the super soldier serum, Sam needs to prove that he can handle the responsibility, including on the battlefield. If Sam needs to be saved by Bucky it detracts from the impact of Sam’s decision to become Captain America.
Bucky Barnes could sacrifice himself to save Sam’s sister, Sarah, in the finale. Karli indicated that she no longer has any reservations about attacking her enemies and has shown her reach when threatening Sam’s family. And given the fact that Bucky actually seemed happy while helping Sam and Sarah with the boat this would be an opportunity for Bucky to save an innocent who, like he once was, is caught up in a war she didn’t volunteer for.
Bucky could also potentially risk himself to save Sharon Carter. Sharon’s life fell apart when she risked everything to help Sam and Steve save Bucky in Captain America: Civil War. Not only is she the niece of Bucky’s once ally and Steve’s great love, she was forgotten by the Avengers. An ally who was overlooked when pardons were being given away and although the audience has seen her suspicious behavior, as far as Sam and Bucky know she has been an ally to them since they found her in Madripoor.
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The third and perhaps most intriguing option could be Bucky choosing to save Karli Morgenthau. Zemo warned him that Karli would need to be killed to stop her, but Bucky rebuffed that by saying he and Sam would figure it out their way. Sam has identified with Karli’s motivation from the start and the catalyst to her becoming more radicalized is something that Sam could feel responsible for. If Bucky does sacrifice himself to save Karli Morgenthau, it would allow Bucky to do something he was never able to as the Winter Soldier, spare the life of another and stopping the war that the Flag Smashers and John Walker have started.
Bucky Barnes’ search for redemption has been an external journey, but in truth it will only be something he can find internally. Sam himself tells Bucky to stop looking to others to define himself. Since the moment we met Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The First Avenger he has been a protector. That was stripped from him as the Winter Soldier. So if Bucky Barnes could reclaim that piece of his identity in one final act it could be a tragic, yet beautiful way to close out the character’s arc.
In many ways it feels like the narrative has been leading to this point all along. Not only in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, but Bucky Barnes’ entire arc within the MCU. A man who wants to find a way to atone for the sins of his past that haunt him and finally rest after a lifetime of fighting. Bucky choosing to save another person’s life by making the ultimate sacrifice would prove Steve Rogers right. And given the fact that Bucky has been questioning that, he deserves to find redemption and prove Steve was right to believe in him.
Steve Rogers swore he would be with Bucky Barnes to the end of the line and his belief in Bucky could be exactly what is needed. Leading the once Winter Soldier to finally fully return to his Bucky Barnes’ identity once more, by saving another person’s life at the cost of his own, could be exactly the way Steve fulfills his promise.
Watch the finale of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier on Disney Plus Friday April 23. Do you think Bucky Barnes will make the ultimate sacrifice in the finale of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media.
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