Why It Took Marvel 10 Years To Make Bucky An Avenger In The MCU
Sophia Edwards The Falcon and The Winter Soldier confirms the world views Bucky Barnes as an Avenger, and it only took the MCU 10 years to make him a hero.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier confirms Bucky is an Avenger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 10 years after his debut. Sebastian Stan joined the MCU in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger where he played Steve Rogers' best friend Bucky Barnes. A full decade later and Stan is still playing the character, but The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the first time Bucky's story is at the forefront of an MCU project.
The version of Bucky featured in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a complicated mixture of everything he's been in the past. He's still coming to terms with living a life without Steve Rogers by his side and is infuriated that Sam Wilson gave up the Captain America shield, which allowed John Walker to take on the mantle instead. But, Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier is still very much something he's dealing with. Even though he is free of Hydra's programming, he is in therapy and taking steps to make amends for what he did in the past. Bucky might still be seen as the Winter Soldier for some, but the MCU has also officially declared him to be an Avenger.
When John Walker and Lemar Hoskins find Bucky, Sam, and Baron Zemo in Latvia at the start of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 4, Bucky asks how they tracked them down this time. Lemar says that two Avengers walking around won't go unnoticed by civilians. Sam was previously an official member of the Avengers after Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Bucky has never formally been part of the roster before. It appears that Bucky's time as a war criminal is over and he's widely viewed as a hero and part of the Avengers after Avengers: Endgame.
It is understandable that it took 10 years for Bucky to be considered a member of the Avengers. The superhero team had yet to be formed during his first appearance, and his return in Captain America: The Winter Soldier was as a mind-controlled terrorist. Bucky spent decades doing Hydra's dirty work, so his public image has not been in high standing. Even after he tried to start over, Bucky was still a wanted fugitive. His status as a criminal remained until after Avengers: Endgame when he received a pardon for his actions leading up to Captain America: Civil War.
As for when Bucky officially became a member of the Avengers, the technical answer has to be during Avengers: Endgame's final battle. Captain America declaring "Avengers assemble" theoretically means that all present superheroes could now be viewed as Avengers. Spider-Man: Far From Home confirmed Bucky was viewed by the world as a hero, but it is possible The Falcon and The Winter Soldier will provide further evidence for why. Bucky playing a role in taking down the Flag-Smashers or evil Captain America could help his cause and make him a heroic figure to the public.
