johnwalkerirl

[johnwalkerirl]

I hate to be argumentative but honestly I truly am not a fan of how some fans are characterizing John Walker and Bob from Thunderbolts.

John is not as big of an asshole as people are making him out to be. He is a very well written character, which I think Marvel writers didn't mean to do. He was supposed to be the anti-hero but in every instance of the TV show he and Lemar are the only ones doing their jobs correctly. In Thunderbolts, at first he is rude to the others, but so are the other characters - they have all been sent to kill someone. As time goes on in the film, he is honestly one of the most helpful people in the movie. He is helpful even when others are rude and demean him.

Bob is not a UwU character at all. He is a grown man who is suffering from mental illness and people who are making him act like a child are continuing the stereotype that people who have mental illness are not to be taken seriously. Bob in the movie is sarcastic, rude, and also wants to be helpful. He is a wonderful character, and should not be treated as if he cannot take care of himself or others.

Please don't over generalize these characters because they really deserve more than just becoming caricatures.

[johnwalkerirl]

John listens to Kim Petras while training... it's giving people ideas

aka I bumped into a post that is a masterpiece by @galafanxy and I just had to draw it immediately

[johnwalkerirl]

has anyone done this yet

[johnwalkerirl]

johnnayyyyyy

[johnwalkerirl]

this actually happened i was yelena’s left earring

[johnwalkerirl]

[johnwalkerirl]

[johnwalkerirl]

do you guys think john will also hug bob every time he succeeds at something (ofc he will)

[johnwalkerirl]

thunderbolts as a concept is hilarious to me lmfao like imagine your DAD is a part of your friend group

[johnwalkerirl]

bob will actually fall asleep anywhere. he’s in the living room? asleep on the couch. in the hallway? probably asleep on the floor. they found him asleep in the pantry once. the only place he won’t sleep is his bedroom. at night.

[johnwalkerirl]

So. The polar opposite takes on Walker got me watching TFATWS. I honestly didn't expect to come out of this event feeling so conflicted and so impressed with John's arc at the same time. So, what follows is my take. More ramble than take, really.

What bugs me with this show most is that if you look closely, you can see some good ideas, but the execution? All over the place. I often see the claim that John Walker was intended to be the villain of the show, and that he became a good character by accident, despite the best efforts of the writers not to.

But can you "accidentally" write a scene for your despicable villain where he, alone with his best friend and his wife, admits that he's not sure he can be a worthy successor to Captain America, and that he's afraid of letting people down? Can he "accidentally" say that he got his medals for doing horrible things, and only after receiving the title did he felt like he could start doing something good? Can you "accidentally" write a scene where he, at rock bottom, disgraced, and motivated only by revenge, faced with the choice of taking that revenge or saving lives, chooses to give it up in favor of helping people?

Why do these scenes go unnoticed, and after the show, many people are left with only John Walker as an arrogant, bloodthirsty jerk who got what he deserved?

The first reason: because the show has a rather complicated relationship with nuance, especially in the visual part. The second reason is much more interesting: because from the very first glance, the viewer can't stand John Walker and waits for him to stumble and prove his unworthiness. And Walker stumbles, all the time. John is straightforward, nervous, rude, surprisingly arrogant and insecure at the same time, and if he tries to play a nice guy, it looks fake.

And this is weighed down by the visuals.

A cheap-looking suit with an uncomfortable helmet. Angles that make Walker's face look either stupid or predatory - always rough, uncouth. Walker himself, grinning crookedly, tilting his head to the side like a dog, easily exploding ugly when provoked. And, yeah, it is quite difficult to feel sympathy for such a person, especially if this person is trying to replace someone, who was better at everything.

And this works very well for John Walker, the character.

Because despite all the repulsive qualities, this is a man who is trying. To be worthy, to be good, to be better. And fails miserably. And makes things worse. And then tries again and again, even when no one will appreciate or notice.

I really like the scene where Walker tries to pull hostages to safety, and especially the fact that he fails to do it. Because he wasn't letting go until the very end, even when attacked: he was literally torn away from the van. And when Walker throws down his shield to try to save a life, it doesn’t mean that he becomes worthy or unworthy of the title of Captain America, it means that he becomes something else and something of his own.

[johnwalkerirl]

honestly might be the most reasonable crashout in the movie ✌️💔

[johnwalkerirl]

And it really was...

[johnwalkerirl]

[johnwalkerirl]

[johnwalkerirl]

"so what are we gonna do? just like.. ride bob into the sky?" yeah you would be the one to suggest that, john...

[johnwalkerirl]

draw john walker pregnant