Why The New Captain America Is Like Homelander

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier features a new Captain America who seems to parallel The Boys' Homelander in a few ways – here's why. After Sam donates Steve's shield to the Smithsonian in episode 1, effectively relinquishing the role of new Cap, it comes as a complete surprise when John Walker is announced as the new Captain America. Despite an amiable façade, Walker could be the MCU's less deranged version of Homelander.

Homelander is the strongest and most powerful member of the Seven, an elite group of superheroes under Vought. While these superheroes function primarily to promote goodness and drive high ratings, Homelander is the least moral of the team and shows his true psychotic nature whenever the cameras are off. Homelander exists to keep everyone else on guard and to develop conflict.

In the same vein as Homelander, John Walker as the new Captain America functions as a symbol of hope the U.S. believes the public needs. His introduction also develops Sam and Bucky's already fraught relationship and Bucky's reckoning with Steve's absence. Both Homelander and John Walker are all-American blonde and blue-eyed boys, oozing charisma and patriotism. They stand as the face of public institutions and largely for marketing purposes – Homelander is Vought's creation and Walker is the U.S. government's. Both are meant to stand for American values and their small-town origins are heavily publicized. Though Homelander's origin story is fabricated by Vought for the press, it still parallels the importance of wholesome appearances and John Walker's upbringing and storied career in the military.

John Walker laughing in Falcon and Winter Soldier

In terms of their public personas, Walker still seems to be grappling with all the events he must attend as the new Captain America. He wants to do the actual job, but his sidekick Hoskins, also known as Battlestar, warns him that the part he plays comes with expectations and that he "can't punch [his] way out of problems anymore." This suggests that Walker has a darker side like Homelander and Hoskins was privy to this. Whether Walker's true past will be revealed in future episodes remains to be seen. Similarly, Homelander cares too deeply about his score with the public rather than the actual people he's supposed to inspire. This, coupled with his psychotic tendencies, make him a force to be reckoned with.

If The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows John Walker's comic-book arc, he will have more in common with Homelander by the end of the series. In the comics, the Power Broker gives Walker the super-soldier serum. As Compound V gives Homelander super-human abilities, so too does this serum. Walker also becomes unhinged when he takes on the mantle of Captain America, disposing of criminals in fits of rage and wreaking havoc on the foundation laid by Steve Rogers. In the show, Walker is already showing resentment towards Bucky and Sam after they refuse to join his efforts. It'll be really interesting to see Walker's continued character development and if The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will bring him closer to sharing more attributes with Homelander.

Next: Who Is The Power Broker? Falcon & Winter Soldier’s Secret Villain