What's my name? DMX and I be the best
You see the rest they lookin' like they need a rest
One more time, I'm a spit at you some shit
That's goin' get at you be fuckin' with your mind
- “What’s My Name” by DMX
SPOILER WARNING
Identity is a tricky thing. We base so much of WHO we are on WHAT we are. John Walker, the new Captain America, is in the midst of trying to grasp who he is now. Is he a soldier, friend, patriot, celebrity, icon? There is a plethora of things to take in as Walker prepares to meet a crowd at his old high school. His friends give him some much needed emotional support before trotting out for a televised interview in front of a large crowd. Walker may not be sure who he is as Captain America but we know he is not Steve Rogers.
Yet he seems to trying to emulate Steve, even down to the black sidekick. Walker expresses that he doesn’t have tech or super strength but he shares the intangible “guts” that Steve also exhibited. Which is obviously by design, there are reasons why the government chose John Walker as the new Cap. Walker himself says he is not trying to be Steve after losing a skirmish alongside Sam and Bucky. Prior to Walker saying this Bucky stated that wearing the shield doesn’t make Walker Captain America. It can be confusing for us comic fans watching Cap and ex Bucky argue with Cap and Cap who was Bucky.
Walker didn’t arrive at the skirmish alone, with him is his friend from the high school rally. That friend is fellow soldier Lemar Hoskins, aka Battlestar. Comic fans will remember that Hoskins fought alongside Walker’s Captain America as Bucky. But soon changed monikers from Bucky to Battlestar due to the racist history of the term Buck and black males. Comic Battlestar learned there is a lot in a name yet still became very token. The name lesson is one of many lessons FAWS Battlestar and John Walker are likely to learn soon.
It's all about me me me me me
Forget about you you you you you
So what you gonna do do do do do
- “It’s All About Me” by Mya
Episode 1 showed a layer of selfishness in Bucky Barnes with how he is dealing with Yori and the death of his son. Episode 2 starts right up with more selfishness. After watching Walker’s rally on tv Bucky shows up as Sam and Torres are about to leave on mission. The first thing Bucky says isn’t Hi Sam, good to see you; it isn’t Bro, I missed you; it’s “You shouldn’t have given up the shield.” If you remember Bucky has been ignoring Sam’s texts. Sam and whatever is going on in his life isn’t on Bucky’s mind at all. Bucky is focused on what relates to him and the only thing that connected him with the present was Steve.
Sam is not with the drama and has more in life to deal with, like the Flag Smashers. Bucky can’t believe anything is more important than the shield. It takes Sam explaining who the Flag Smashers are to shut Bucky up about the shield. Bucky then drafts himself onto Sam’s mission in pursuing the Flag Smashers. While on the mission. and before the aforementioned skirmish where the Flag Smashers beat up everyone, Bucky exhibits more self centered behavior. Sam is trying to do recon and Bucky wants to go punch things. Bucky sees two people and is eager while Redwing’s heat detection shows five and Sam urges Bucky to hang back. This arguing during the recon nearly gives them away.
Bucky not only double downed on his selfishness this episode but triple downs on the plane. Bucky is visibly frustrated after their failure and uneventful conversation with Walker and Hoskins. He suggests to Sam that they take the shield and “do it themselves”. Sam recounts the results of the last time they stole the shield and the people it harmed. Bucky has zero thought on how others would be effected.
Light nigga, dark nigga, faux nigga, real nigga
Rich nigga, poor nigga, house nigga, field nigga
Still nigga, still nigga
- “The Story of OJ” by Jay-Z
We avoid the use of the n-word at Jeek Nation but this was to poignant to ignore. While Sam is trying to exist as a man, hero, and brother, he is consistently being reminded that he is still black. Starting with the very real tension between Sam and Bucky. It is often mirrored in our current society from the pages of the comics to the scenes of FAWS.
Bucky has the gal to tell Sam he had “no right” to give up the shield and Sam was quick to check him. Especially with the timeframe Bucky comes from “rights” is the last thing he should be telling a black man about.
Remember the airplane convo about the shield? Well Bucky tells Sam there is someone he needs to meet. They arrive in Baltimore and as they approach the house Sam interacts with a young boy who calls him Black Falcon. Sam replies that it’s just Falcon and the kid retorts that his dad says it’s Black Falcon. Sam stops and asks the kid “Is it because I’m Black and I’m the Falcon?”. The kid says yes and Sam asks him, “So are you like, Black Kid?”. Identity politics creeps into Sam’s life just walking down the street. Sam operates as a man who is black and proud without wanting to overemphasize his blackness.
Sam and Bucky reach the house and are eventually let in to see Isaiah Bradley, the Black Captain America. Isaiah is not happy to see them as he and Bucky fought as Bucky was the Winter Soldier. Isaiah reveals the inhumane treatment he received after being a hero for the country. Sam is visibly shaken at the display of the elderly Isaiah’s super solider power. Isaiah demands they leave and his grandson Elijah escorts them out. Comic readers can tell you that Isaiah Bradley is an OG. The blackest Marvel event ever in the wedding of Storm and Black Panther had Falcon pushing Isaiah in his wheelchair and the black heroes were awestruck to see and meet him. Let's hope the MCU establishes that level of respect for the character. Which was so dope to see Carl Lumbly portray Isaiah. PLUS sneak peak at Young Avenger Elijah Bradley? I hope this leads to the blood transfusion from the comics.
As FAWS leave Sam tears into Bucky for not telling him or anyone else about Isaiah. Bucky admits he didn’t tell anyone, not even Steve. As the argue in the street the police pull up and surround Sam. They ask Bucky if Sam is bothering him and Bucky yells no and asks if the cop knows who Sam is. One of the cops whispers to the other that they are Avengers and now it’s sorry Mr. Wilson. Superhero or not, unless he is recognized as Falcon, he’s still just another nigger. In a twist of fate, Bucky is arrested as he skipped his therapy session.
Bucky is released by the influence of John Walker and Sam is pulled into a therapy session with Bucky and his doctor. This session reveals more of Bucky’s self centeredness. After some more buddy cop hijinks Bucky reveals he is still hung up on Sam giving up the shield, the symbol of Steve’s legacy, and Sam “threw it away like it was nothing”. Bucky continues to rant saying maybe Steve was wrong about Sam and if Steve was wrong about Sam then maybe Steve was wrong about Bucky. Sam’s response is perfect, when he asks if Bucky can accept that giving the shield up was the right thing in Sam’s mind. Bucky doesn’t answer as he is swimming in his “it’s all about me” feelings. Two episodes in Bucky is nothing more than a selfish punk.
Episode 2 was very good and yes I purposely left out the development of Karli, the Flag Smashers, and the Power Broker. I’m too intrigued by MCU interpretations to dissect