#bucky's brainwashing

[stevebuckytimeline]

hello! you may have already answered this, but i just now found the steve and bucky timeline you have made (you've done a wonderful job and its very helpful. if only someone would do that with the entire mcu :/). Anyways, after bucky fell off the train and was captured by hydra, do we know if he was kept on ice until the brainwashing began or if he was just kept imprisoned? I had always assumed that the brainwashing began immediately after he was found post train fall?

Thank you so much! I'm sorry it took me so long to reply! I've been working on that part of the timeline (it is so confusing), but hopefully, I've managed to explain the order of events. Please check out the updated page! In short, Bucky fell from the train on February 1, 1945. He was then found by Soviet soldiers who were sympathetic to Hydra and taken captive not long after that. It is unclear what they did with Bucky until he met Zola again. They probably put him on ice. We know from Agent Carter and other references that Zola didn't get out of prison until August 13, 1949. He wasn't picking Bucky up right away, either. First, he got an official pardon and integrated himself into SHIELD. In August 1950, he finally traveled to the Soviet facility where Bucky was held. Zola operated on Bucky sometime between August 1950 and 1951. You can see Bucky's stump on the operation table; the wound looks relatively fresh, which would fit the theory that he had been cryogenically frozen since his fall. In the CATWS flashback, Zola still calls Bucky "Sergeant Barnes." Bucky also tries to fight back, which tells us that his mind and spirit are not fully broken yet, even after the operation. Zola had learned mind control in prison from one Dr. Johann Fennhoff, whom he met there in May 1946. Fenhoff had previously established the so-called Faustus method which includes the victim being asked if they are ready to comply, to which they respond with "happy to comply." It is possible that some of the Soviets he worked with knew about the method or had independently tried to brainwash Bucky before 1950 because his trigger words are in Russian, but I wouldn't count on it. Between August 1950 and June 1951, at the latest, Bucky gets brainwashed by Zola into becoming the Winter Soldier. We know this because TFATWS references a fight with Isiah Bradley in South Korea during the Korean War where Bucky already had the metal arm. The US Army sends Isiah over there specifically to deal with the Winter Soldier for killing their men. Considering that, June could already be a bit late for our brainwashing timeframe. Bucky keeps getting frozen and brainwashed over the years, first by Zola and the Soviets / the Red Room (Leviathan, which was led by Fennhoff before he was apprehended, was a Red Room predecessor) and then later exclusively by Hydra and their Americans.

[imposterogers]

one of marvel’s biggest issues is that writers/directors are just constantly writing ooc fanfic of each other’s work instead of using it as a foundation to continue a collaborative fictional universe off of. like. character development should matter. a character shouldn’t have a different personality in every single appearance. major plot points established by other installments shouldn’t be ignored. idk man. 

[vekovoysoldat-moved]

remember when bucky's therapist mocked him for the fact he doesn't call or text people much nor does he have many contacts?

[jamestasha]

In 1968, during a mission for Department X, Bucky takes the time to threaten a NYC commissioner to change the course of a highway after realizing it would prevent children from having a safe place to play.

Marvel Comics Presents (2019) #7

[astrxxnxmy]

My chaotic thoughts on Bucky in THAT What If episode because I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since I watched it

The scream I let out when Bucky first appeared though 💀

The intense eye contact with Peggy?? The way his gaze was so icy and emotionless while Peggy stared back in shock and sadness and then after, while talking to Howard, her voice shook.

(the drama is juicyy and i am all here for it)

And how he looks down when Hope says "Peter deserves our help as much as anyone." baby :( oh baby no someone give him a hug :(( and the help he clearly needs :(((

"It's just you and me, pal." "There is no me." BUCKY. BUCKY.

"You don't know me." AKSJKSFGHKS (that growl though)

"Steve Rogers did." THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT-- and the way Bucky's eyes widened. He knew, he recognized that name, he remembered, if only a little bit.

"And the man he knew, the friend he loved, would never take that shot." THE FRIEND HE LOVED IM SCREAMING I CANT DO THIS TODAY

PLUS HIS HESITATION JUST AT HEARING STEVE’S NAME GOD

THE WAY HE THEN BROKE FREE FROM THE PROGRAMMING AND WENT ON THE RUN TO REDISCOVER HIMSELF JUST LIKE AFTER CATWS

"The Winter Soldier may be out there, but I'm pretty sure Bucky Barnes is out there with him." 😭❤️

[bittersweet-in-boston]

Cold War Stucky, anyone…

[lost-shoe]

Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier

Whumptober 2022

No. 29 WHAT DOESN’T KILL ME...

[random-fandom-whump]

Whumptober Day 2: Caged ↳ Captain America: Civil War (2016)

[smallhorse]

[pleasetakethis]

New favorite ep of the season acquired the moment it opened. Some shippy rambling in the live blogging ahead.

If you know me at all, you know right off the bat that I AM UNHINGED ABOUT THIS EPISODE.

NATPEGGY YASSSSSSSSSSSSSS

THE BACKSTORY INTRO!

"What are new friends for?"

THEM SHOWING OFF THEIR MOVES TO EACH OTHER !!!!!

Wasp, too??? Yasss, all the ladies!!!!!!!!!!

Peggy and Nat already working so well together in combat and the level of trust that already exists between them, I just--slkdjflasdjfklajflajlfkjas

Them sassing Loki !!!!!!

Intro credits: Elizabeth Olsen???? Wanda's here, too????? Super spoiler alert: I waited so long for her to show up 🤣

Me and the Watcher feel the same about Captain Peggy Carter <3

The role reversal when Peggy picks up Nat in that slick ass car while Nat's running... guhhhhhh.

I am here for all versions of evil Steve, including brainwashed.

SCRUFFY SKINNY STEVE!

CA: TWS parallels got me in my feels, too. Peggy/Nat is THE SHIP for me, but there's something about Peggy/Steve that hits just right the same way as Tony/Pepper, Steve/Tony, and Steve/Bucky.

The framing of these shots got me--Peggy in the background pissed because she wasn't told about the rumors of the Hydra Stomper, while Nat (listening) definitely knew about Steve:

AHHH, PEGGY'S FACE WHEN SHE REALIZED NAT KNEW:

AND DIDN'T TELL HER:

SDALKFJLAKJFLAJS

Natasha quipping "Didn't see the point in breaking your heart twice," fucked me up, oh.

DILF old man Bucky <3 Bucky getting to grow old!!!! WIBBLES.

Guess it's gonna take both of the loves of Steve's Rogers life to get through to him? lmaooo

Peggy is the perfect mirror of Captain America Steve. In goodness, selflessness, AND their particular brand of self-righteous selfishness. I love both of them for it, but especially Peggy <3

Bucky standing up and saying Steve would be stupid enough to do the same for him. 😭 Bucky trying to get through to Steve. 😭

"What can I say, Peg? I'm a sucker for a good love story." Damn, that hurts for a million different reasons. oh, Nat. <3

UMMMM the way Nat sits back and says, "You know, I always wondered how you got all those G.I. boys to follow a woman into war? Question answered." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRAIN EMPTY! ONLY PEGGYNAT! And Nat couldn't be more obvious if she tried, but she does it so well and Peggy is distracted.

Are you kidding me with the framing of this shot?

I feel like it's foreshadowing but IT SCREAMS pining. A lot of pining:

Barton introduced Peggy to dad rock <3 fuck yes

Widow bites interrupting the kiss, lol.

Peggy being a weak point for Nat, to the point Nat gets nabbed by widow bites, JFC.

Peggy will die for Steve, the same way Steve would have died for Bucky--ughhh I do not like but I understand.

"Mission accomplished." !!! Hot damn, that was slick, A++, AND Nat tells Peggy she doesn't want to fight about it. 😏

THERE WAS A MUSICAL!

BAMF Melina. Love to hate her when she's on the wrong side, parent/child issues me in a weird way these days and this ep got under my skin.

But also: guhhhhhh these Widows.

"This isn't us! I am done fighting, Steve. [drops shield] I have been fighting for so long: to end the war, to forget what I lost. I'm… I'm tired." oh, Peggy.

oh, Steve.

oh, Nat.

This ep got me in the feels, all of them.

Peggy going back for Nat AND them running out together <3

Ugh, Nat and her transparent, "Okay. Let's hit the road." Just: THEM.

...and oops, Peggy's gone.

But then! OOOO, this Fury! AND FINALLY, WANDA!!!!!

Overall: similar in ep 4 in that it was close to the emotional impact of Stephen's ep in the first season but still missed the mark (and tbh the Tony ep hit harder, but more because of Tony's characterization--Peggy is fairly consistent, Tony is not, so getting him so right (for me) was incredible). I adore this ep, I love Peggy, I love Nat, I enjoy this universe, and I hope we visit their universe again (if not, there's always fanfic, my beloved).

[foxprints]

@whumptober no. 16 : Brainwashing

@buckybarnesbingo fill: winter soldier as a separate personality

[radiostranger]

what is that one old ship of yours that will turn you feral with a visceral jolt of intense nostalgia that brings back every emotion ever after seeing literally one single vague post or picture of them

[kangofu-cb]

I am FULLY UNHINGED about this art. This absolutely gorgeous/stunning/incredible work is by @wyxan for my Halfway House series.

BUCKY WITH A BABY I AM DYING!!!!!!!!!!!! The eyes! The little grey strands of hair! The shadows around his mouth that could! one day! be smile lines! THE BABY!!!!

Also, looking at it, you can fully appreciate why Clint Barton folded like wet paper when asked to hide a world-renowned assassin and his baby.

Anyway this art can be seen in-fic on chapter 1 of part 2: Unbreak the Broken, though it would just as easily fit into the first part.

Read all the parts, honestly, because Bucky (with a baby) shaking off his assassin programing and falling in love is just. My favorite thing! *pathetic whimpering*

[astrxxnxmy]

at this point i'm half convinced the writers of the last what if episode read some juicy post-catws fanfics because wow

[worstloki]

why does it feel like the mcu is trying so hard to cash in on making villains 'morally grey' because ancient artifacts/beings of power are influencing them (Wanda/the darkhold/Wenwu/the dweller in darkness/Gorr/the necrosword) but is also on-purpose side-stepping the OG Loki who was being affected by the mind stone in Avengers 1

[irondad-defensesquad]

man, i just can’t get into (mcu) stony. steve treats tony like garbage from the very first day they met - and it gets worse with each film -, and tony literally states his resentment of steve because his father wouldn’t shut up about him. this relationship never worked even as a friendship, i doubt they would work as boyfriends.