Why Bucky Still Has The Winter Soldier Nightmares

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1, "New World Order."

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1 reveals Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is still suffering from nightmares stemming from his dark past as the Winter Soldier, linking to the theme of PTSD within the MCU. Titled "New World Order," the pilot episode of Disney+'s second MCU series doesn't reunite Bucky with cohort Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), but it does provide insight into their post-Steve Rogers lives. As the series is set six months after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it heavily focuses on the void left by the original Captain America (Chris Evans), especially in the lives of his two closest friends.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's debut episode begins with Sam working for the U.S. Air Force as Falcon. Using his advanced tech, Sam is enlisted to track down a plane hijacked from Georges Batroc (Georges St-Pierre) and the terrorist group named LAF. Meanwhile, Bucky is setting off on more personal missions by finding surviving figures with previous HYDRA connections. Though he's pardoned, Bucky is required to go through court-mandated therapy, which is where he unearths his overall goal of making amends for his actions as the Winter Soldier.

One thing that Bucky refuses to talk about with his therapist is his presumably ongoing nightmares. Initially presented in the form of a flashback, the nightmare documents one of Bucky's past missions as the fully brainwashed assassin. After taking down his targets in what looked like a lavish hotel, the Winter Soldier catches the eye of an innocent bystander. He ended up killing that man, who is later revealed to be the son of Yori (Ken Takemoto). Even though Bucky was reprogrammed by Shuri (Letitia Wright) when he was granted amnesty in Wakanda, his time as Winter Soldier is having lasting effects. The MCU has made it clear Bucky suffers from PTSD, considering he was somewhat conscious of his actions under HYDRA's control. By not being cleared of those Winter Soldier memories, he's haunted when his mind is the most vulnerable: while he's sleeping.

How Bucky's Nightmares Connect To PTSD In The MCU

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Without Steve around, it seems as though Bucky doesn't have anyone to turn to about his deep emotional traumas. Steve's time in the war and first-hand experience pulling Bucky from HYDRA's grasp make him a fitting confidant. Sadly, Bucky is repressing those dark thoughts while closing himself off to everyone, including Sam. Considering the crimes committed by Bucky as the Winter Soldier, it makes perfect sense why he would have PTSD. His HYDRA involvement aside, guilt is common among the MCU's most prominent figures. Chris Hemsworth's "Fat Thor" transformation due to the character's crushing feelings of guilt was a much-discussed topic to come out of Endgame. The same went for Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlett Johansson) appearance, which was a sign of her distress. In Wanda Maximoff's case, as seen in WandaVision, her PTSD intersected with his overwhelming grief, which in turn, affected an entire town.

As confirmed in the MCU, PTSD can come in many forms. Though Bucky has an outlet to discuss his nightmares and guilt surrounding his past, he's choosing to overcome the trauma by making amends the only way he knows how. Aside from tracking down former HYDRA allies, Bucky befriended Yori to help him find some solace following the loss of his son. Granted, these methods probably won't solve his nightmare issues, leading Bucky to team up with Sam for a high stakes mission in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He may no longer be the Winter Soldier, but Bucky still isn't an ordinary human in the MCU.

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