Recent Reddit discussions have highlighted growing frustration with the MCU’s treatment of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, particularly following his reduced role since the events of Captain America: Civil War . The character, who made his debut in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger before becoming a central figure in both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War , has seen significantly diminished screen time and character development in recent years, being often used as a ladder for other heroes personal journey. This conversation has intensified as Stan prepares to return in Thunderbolts * , where he’ll join an ensemble cast including Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and David Harbour’s Red Guardian.
Bucky’s journey from Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) best friend to brainwashed HYDRA agent to recovering hero made him one of the MCU’s most complex characters. In The Winter Soldier , the revelation that the feared assassin was actually Steve’s presumed-dead friend created one of the franchise’s most compelling narratives, with Stan’s performance bringing depth to both the cold-blooded killer and the traumatized man beneath. The film’s exploration of Bucky’s psychological conditioning and Steve’s desperate attempts to reach him resonated strongly with audiences, leading to high expectations for his future development.
These expectations seemed validated by Civil War , where Bucky’s struggle with his past actions and the question of his.
