The Humble Beginnings

So, you've got this character, right? And he's introduced in a supporting role, but he's interesting and compelling and has potential as a lead. He leads his own subplots every now and then, but there's room for more.

Then, over the decades, he gets more and more neglected. His characterisation and visual portrayal somehow gets worse and even more racist despite supposedly improving attitudes. But what's this? 2014? And he's captain America. He is declared to be important, a main character. Finally, a chance to shine!

Of course, then, the avengers stories don't focus on him and only some of the writing is good... then they discard him after the secret wars stuff. But what's this? 2022? He's back? He's cap again?

Well, not really. Steve's cap. Sam is off in the background somewhere, in an underwhelming solo run, sequestered from most other comics.

But what if we turn to live action? Sam is introduced as a supporting character but he's fun and he's interesting. What's this? 2019? We're told directly that sam is important, that Sam's going to matter.

2 years later we get a series that's a mixed bag, with his co star getting the more fawning writing and the overwhelming majority of the audience response. But don't worry, he's getting a film.

4 years later, the delayed film comes out. Its release is tarnished by a bonkers decision to adapt sabra and by a reactionary, anti-woke media ecosystem. Despite this, it does well financially and is pretty good. Sam wasn't focused on in the marketing, and his co star bears more thematic focus in the film, but it's promising. Sam as the lead. Sam as important.

2 months later. They say nah again. He doesn't matter. He isn't important.

It'll be another year at least before we see him again. In a film where he is very clearly not going to be the lead.

when the war was over

Never understood the appeal of "didn't know they were dating" but fwiw I think sam is the one who would be in denial about how much this thing between them means to bucky

Like, sam is a bit "we're friends. People sleep with their friends sometimes that's cool. We don't even always get on that well. It's fine. It's cool"

And bucky is "I love sam so much but I'll just drag him down. He is literally the sun but I can't look away" and throw in a bit of 1930s/40s repression.

That's a recipe for a 10 year situationship right there

Cannot believe it's canon that Sam Wilson finds the most serious person around him, teases and prods at them until they smile, and then they fall in love with him. Sunshine personified. Makes everyone's lives better. 15/10 would also fall in love

I’m convinced that people who keep saying “oh what would Sam’s avengers roster even consist of” just haven’t been paying attention. Anyways.

- Joaquin Torres aka The Falcon. Obviously. Feel like that goes without saying.

- Ant man and wasp. Scott would drop quite literally anything for the chance to gain Sam’s respect. He’s Sam’s number one fan and was mentioned several times in BNW. He and Hope would be there in a heartbeat.

-War machine: also goes without saying. We’ve seen their bond throughout all the movies and his cameo in FATWS. Rhodey has Sam’s back.

- Black panther/ the Wakandans. Sam has kept an incredibly good relationship with the Wakandans (something Bucky somehow fails to do repeatedly) given how he is fully backed by them and they have no problem gifting him suits.

- Hell, by extension of the Wakandans, we can even add Ironheart to the list.

- the young avengers. Not only through Eli Bradley (who I am still holding out hope we are seeing again.) but I have no doubt Clint passed the word about Kate on to Sam as well.

- Thor. most purely because of the recent picture of the 2 of them together, but they were also avengers together at the same time, went to the same parties and trained together. Same can be said about Bruce. Speaking of:

- Bruce and Jen. Sam’s connected to the hulks now, after the whole ting with Ross I think it would be pretty obtuse to believe that Bruce didn’t immediately talk to Sam afterwards. Plus i firmly believe Jen will be the legal consultant to Sam going forward for the new avengers. She also such a fan girl it’s almost impossible for me to believe she would miss out on this opportunity.

- Carol Danvers. Fury respected Sam, Carol respects Fury. It’s not that hard to imagine they would eventually cross paths with one another even after the battle of Endgame. (If ANYONE is co leading the avengers with Sam its her, even though Sam doesn’t need a co leading at all I’m just tired of the Bucky co lead narrative)

- Shang Chi. Mainly because he’s in the cast for Doomsday, there is no where else I can imagine him really going other than with Sam. And why wouldn’t he?

Let’s not pretend that Sam wasn’t fighting side by side with countless of hero’s. He’s a man about connection and finding commonality, you really think he wouldn’t introduce himself to his fellow avengers after the dust settles? There are plenty more I can add to this list, but I’ll leave that up to yall.

Let’s stop pretending like Sam isn’t a well connected man.

anyways sam wilson hate is actually illegal if i sense even an inkling of dislike it’s ON SIGHT

BUCKY BARNES 🎬 letterboxd series [insp, template]

i’m always thinking that sam is constantly being left alone, either by choice (steve) or as a consequence of death (riley, nat, his mother and father), like until tfatws where he lived with sarah, every time he is on screen or mentioned he is alone, since the moment we meet him. in dc when he meets steve, in age of ultron he mentions looking for bucky alone, in infinity war he is snapped alone and when he comes back what he receives from steve is a job (it is honoring but it’s a job) and leaves him do deal with it alone because at the time bucky also left and ignored sam when he tried to reach for him.

like most of sam’s interactions with other ppl until tfatws was ppl needing him and he helping them. like for someone as outgoing as sam, he had few real friends and even fewer deep connections— and even the friends he has were formed by sam trying to help them (isaiah) or taking care of them (joaquin) and ppl talk a lot about how bucky found himself someone that can fly after his trauma of falling but sam found someone that will stay with him, no matter what. like bucky’s ass is not leaving, he goes out of his way to make sure sam is okay, promises to always be there, says sam can call him anytime, but i bet my left tiddie he doesn’t even need to cause the moment sam is not okay bucky is there (that’s not even me saying, that canon!) but more importantly in bucky sam found a relationship where he is not always giving something of himself like he always is but actually receiving the love and support he is constantly giving other ppl