The title card at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which read Captain America and the Winter Soldier, confirmed that, at least for now, Bucky Barnes is sticking to the moniker fans are most familiar with. And though some have argued it would be better for him to go by the White Wolf title in his new life, there’s precedent to him remaining the Winter Soldier.
Behind the idea – or the desire – to see Bucky shed the Winter Soldier persona and step fully into the White Wolf mantle is the notion that the Winter Soldier was Bucky the assassin, the one that wasn’t in control of himself. The one that didn’t make his own decisions. Bucky Barnes didn’t choose to be the Winter Soldier; he was forced to become the Winter Soldier. The White Wolf, on the other hand, that’s a symbol of the new Bucky, the one who can finally make his own decisions. The one who made amends. The one who’s at peace with himself.
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The first encounter with the name came during the Black Panther post-credit scene, where a group of children jokingly refer to Bucky as that. During Avengers: Infinity War it’s T’Challa who uses the name, just as he presents Bucky with his synthetic arm, seemingly confirming Bucky is no longer the Winter Soldier at all. He’s now the White Wolf of Wakanda, a name comic book fans are familiar with, and one that had never been associated with Bucky Barnes before. Nevertheless, during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky is consistently addressed by his old moniker. There’s a particular moment in episode 2, however, that could be interpreted as Bucky wanting to evolve beyond that name. Sam, in jest, tells Bucky that Wakanda made him the White Panther, to which Bucky corrects him: it was the White Wolf.
The show ends without allowing Bucky to truly claim that mantle. He is still the Winter Soldier. This might just be because in that moment – with the final title card – Marvel chose to focus on Sam’s transformation from The Falcon to Captain America, something that isn’t just valid, it’s earned. This is Sam’s moment to shine, and he should get to do it solo. Perhaps the MCU has bigger plans for Bucky in store before he can finally leave the Winter Soldier behind. Or maybe, Bucky’s redemption doesn’t require a new name. Maybe Bucky is choosing to follow on Natasha Romanoff’s footsteps.
In many ways, Black Widow and the Winter Soldier have a comparably dark history. Natasha even tells Loki in Avengers that she’s got red on her ledger, and it is understood that working with the Avengers is her way to try to make amends. But Natasha is never anything other than the Black Widow, and her attempts at redemption, or at least penance, are always done under the Black Widow mantle. No one else ever calls her anything else. She never refers to herself as anything different. Natasha is the Black Widow, in good times and bad times.
Marvel’s intent might be to have Bucky reclaim the Winter Soldier title, just as Natasha did the Black Widow one. But whether that happens or not, the narrative going forward should allow Bucky the choice. It’s hard to argue he hasn’t made amends – especially considering the last episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – and that he doesn’t deserve to choose whatever comes next in his life. Considering how much has already been chosen for him, the MCU should be explicit about whatever name Bucky chooses being just that – a choice.
Interestingly, one possibility for that choice could tie into what Black Panther decides to do going forward. Chadwick Boseman’s passing left the franchise without its titular hero, and there are currently no plans to recast T’Challa. If the Black Panther franchise moves forward with a continuation of the legacy that nonetheless honors the character – and the performer that brought that character to life – this would be a nice way to bring back the White Wolf, as yet another tribute. Bucky Barnes owes Wakanda and its king not just his life, but his sanity.
Right now, as much as Bucky might not feel like the Winter Soldier, the truth is that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s agenda didn’t include establishing who Bucky would be going forward, they were too busy establishing who Sam was going to be. That means that the door is wide open for Bucky to renounce the Winter Soldier, once and for all, and embrace the White Wolf. But he could also choose to follow in Natasha’s footsteps and attempt to rehabilitate the Winter Soldier title. Either way, with the renewed interest in Bucky, fans would probably appreciate getting to see this decision, whatever it is, be made on screen.
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