Bucky's "Happy Ending" Means An Avengers Return Would Be A Mistake

Sebastian Stan's comments about Bucky Barnes' arc in the MCU indicate that a return to service as with the Avengers would have to undo his happy ending. Arguably, one of the questions he gets asked most is "Do you feel Bucky Barnes got justice?" Recently, Sebastian Stan reflected on Bucky's MCU arc and emotional journey, saying that Bucky's "had plenty of moments and we got him to a good place, so that's what I'm happy about." While Bucky's MCU future is still unknown, if he were to suit up again as an Avenger, it could result in a step backward for his recovery.

Bucky Barnes has been part of the MCU since 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger and has been through a traumatic journey to reach his happy ending. He was presumed dead after falling down a mountain on a mission with Steve in World War II, but was actually captured by Hydra, fitted with a metal arm, and brainwashed into becoming the Winter Soldier assassin. Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War slowly brought the war hero back from the brink after a lifetime of Hydra-sanctioned murder, only for him to be snapped from existence by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. When he did return once again in Avengers: Endgame, he ended up having to say goodbye to his one true friend.

With the Disney+ show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Bucky finally managed to work through his pain and make amends with everyone he hurt as the Winter Soldier. The show ends with Bucky joining the new Captain America Sam Wilson and fully re-entering society. Even when he was recovering in Wakanda there was a stoic seriousness about him, but now the weight of being the Winter Soldier has been lifted, and for the first time since the 1940s, he seems like his old self. As Sebastian Stan says, Bucky is in a good place. Returning to the life of an Avenger would inevitably bring his numerous traumas and pain from being the Winter Soldier back to the surface. They'd be no way to avoid it when fighting, and it would be a constant reminder of his time on the other side of the hero's life.

Sebastian Stan has expressed interest in Bucky returning to the MCU for the right story. There are certainly emotional and narrative avenues to explore further for with Bucky as a character, and numerous Marvel movies and shows where he could fit in, including Captain America 4. It's just that having gotten himself to a good place after all he's been through, Bucky deserves his retirement. Phase 4 is the transitional period of the MCU, with a lot of the original Avengers passing the baton to the next generation of heroes. Given everything he’s been through, Bucky should really follow in the footsteps of Hawkeye. Clint Barton also has firsthand experience of trying to balance a normal life with the cost of being the Avenger, Hawkeye (while being haunted by previous misdeeds), and he’s found his happy ending by training up his successor in Kate Bishop.

While it would be unfair from the character's perspective to return Bucky to the Avengers world after finally finding peace, he's also not the sort of person to turn his back on what's right. The MCU is about to come under serious threat in Phase 4 from the likes of the Multiverse, vampires, Celestials, and a Skrull secret invasion. With all that on the horizon, Bucky Barnes may have no choice but to give up his happy ending, and suit up and join the MCU Phase 4 Avengers once more.

Next: Bucky Should Return In The MCU, But Not In Captain America 4