#tfatws commentary

[faillen]

the fact that marvel villains have valid causes is not the win you think it is when the entire franchise operates under letting its heroes uphold the existing status quo just because they disagree with the villains’ means. there is an absolute refusal to actually engage with the structural questions that each movie/tv show brings up, and it is critical to recognize that before you praise it for being groundbreaking—they’re not trying to tell you that the villain’s issues are valid. they’re trying to convince you that the structural issues can’t be meaningfully solved without utter destruction of the current way of life, which is just so incredibly insidious.

any indication of incremental change that exists in the mcu never, ever, carries over into generative conversation and ends at the end credits of the given piece of media. the hero never truly takes up the responsibility of pushing for the villain’s objectives without utilizing the villain’s means. whatever the resolution is, it is always token and it never has true lasting ramifications for the foundational political and societal realities of the universe it’s built, and that is intentional.

[northlt]

Heard someone say "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier made Captain America political" and how fucking dense do you have to be to utter something like that?? truly?? do you taste shit with how far your head up is in your ass??

Captain America has always been political you fool!!! He was a character created as a superhero fighting the fucking Nazis during WW2. Steve Rogers would hate your guts btw!! He was created with H!tler as a nemesis in mind!! He was born to a single not-well-to-do mother!! He was frail and had a bucket load of conditions that made life really difficult for him!!!

If you think Steve Rogers would have stood for the racism and real life commentary in TFATWS you have severely missed the point of Captain America by miles

Steve Rogers has always been against discrimination!!

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[intrepidacious]

time after time: reread edition [3]

series summary: After what starts out as a fairly normal mission, you find yourself stuck in a time loop. Which would already be bad enough in itself if it didn’t also mean having to watch Bucky die over and over again.

pairing: bucky barnes x f!reader

word count: 10.1k 💀

chapter warnings: one last reminder to internalize the premise of the fic, i will just assume you know what’s up from this point on; canon-typical violence; mention of alcohol; some more permanent damage; even more banter. please note that my blog is rated 18+. minors dni. ageless/empty blogs will be blocked without warning.

read the full chapter here | series masterlist | reread masterlist

after an unexptected second week off (i got sick after going on vacation, yay summer!) we return for the third part of the reread event!! as always, if you're new, this is a reread commentary on already published chapters—an extended a/n, if you will. by clicking on the read more you're going to see spoilers up to and including chapter three 💚

every day's a holiday – tl;dr:

in the flashbacks, the reader officially meets sam and bucky for the first time. after hearing rumors about ULTIMATUM, a newly formed group taking after the flag smashers, sam wants reinforcements to find out more. he knows about twelve's time powers from steve, and cashes in an old favor she owes to steve to get her help. bucky, not knowing anything about her yet, is sceptical.

in the loop, twelve is getting nervous about being unable to stop the loop from repeating. experimenting with the timing of the mission doesn't help; neither does entering the downstairs labs through the tunnels as bucky investigates on his own and lands in an explosion. after more than a week on her own, twelve tells sam about her time loop situation. he insists that bucky be told as well. while going to get coffee, bucky writes a note to himself on twelve's arm and asks her to tell only him about the loop during its next iteration. she does, and they attempt to figure it out together—to no avail, as bucky gets shot through twelve and her wounds stay through the next loop. she decides that they're both going to involve sam again and that she will try to contact strange for help.

behind the loop

i'm not gonna lie to y'all, these chapters are getting harder and harder to summarize. there's a lot going on and i have work tomorrow, so let's just crack on.

believe it or not, when i started writing this fic, no way home wasn’t even out yet and i was absolutely convinced that my whole thing with the tower would be canonically impossible. and then we just never found out who bought avengers tower. so that was that.

Like a pesky little voice of conscience. And on your day off, no less.

the chapters i’ve recently been writing have been more serious as the loop continues, and i kind of miss this really fun narrative side remarks that tell so much about twelve as a character. i really love writing her and her concerning habits.

this flashback is the closest i come in the actual fic in tying the whole thing into canon chronologically, i think. the mcu timeline is an absolute mess, but since tfatws takes place in early 2024-ish and the time loop happens in 2025, that gives us about a year or so that the characters have known each other by the time the main plot starts. that is, in normal human time. at least that’s my headcanon.

“Ah-ah-ah.” You wrangled the mug out of his hands before he had the chance to move, barely resisting the urge to kick his shin for good measure.

even though they’re happening in consecutive chapters, a bit of time passed between me writing the nat flashback and this one. i thought it was very funny that my instinct clearly was that everyone would just start trying to break stuff around her to see if her powers were legit. and isn’t that poetic in a way? (there were no deeper thoughts behind this but wouldn’t it be fun if there were?)

despite me sending all of my characters to therapy in this fic (because let’s face it, they all need it desperately), they’re all so bad at expressing their emotions, honestly. then again, what kind of therapist would actually be able to really help you if you’re a super-powered person who loves going into emotional shut-down and guarding themselves with sarcasm? whoever they are, they’re not getting paid enough.

An entire conversation seemed to pass between the two of them without either saying a single word. Sam held up three fingers with a sly smirk; Bucky ended up rolling his eyes.

i loved that little subtle reference to the big three. i was so proud of that one. also continuing to develop sam and bucky’s friendship partnership next to the actual plot is always fun.

He ignored the question, but the way he looked at you and then crossed his arms made you decide to put salt in his coffee.

yay, another little callback to chapter one!! all these months later and sam still won’t let that one go.

“I’d like to see you try.” […] You’re trying. You really are.

this parallel i actually got complimented on in the past and that made me very happy. i’m always trying to make the shift from the flashback to the main plot the least jarring it can possibly be, and this transition just worked so well. also, bucky’s "oddly bright blue" eyes are a little nod to a wrinkle in time, so there’s another little chapter one parallel for you.

this is the first chapter where the first communication blocks are really starting to kick in. the fact that twelve won’t talk to anyone about what’s actually going on with her despite being stuck in a literal nightmare is so integral to her character. not to get to deep but that whole refusing to get help when you should theoretically be able to do something on your own is something we have in common <3 i’m also sending her through the rest of the stages of grief in this chapter, which was very much on purpose. unsurprisingly, anger was the most fun to write.

It’s not like you can google something like “time loop problem” and come up with a list of practical steps to follow. You know this because you did google, and if you have to read the name Phil Connors one more time you are going to scream.

the different approaches to trying to get bucky through the mission alive were also really interesting to come up with. i made a really bad drawing of how i imagine the setup of the whole facility, but i won’t show that to you because it’s embarrassing. anything you can come up with in your heads probably looks better anyway.

this is also the part where twelve officially gets her nickname!! finally!! why only now, you ask? well, on the one hand, bucky really does only use it in specific situations. on the other hand, i literally only came up with it by the time the first two chapters were already posted and i didn’t want to go back. i remember col was posting in the embers at the time and i loved her reader having a nickname so much i wanted to give mine a special little nickname too. i also had to text two friends to confirm it wasn’t stupid as hell. me? insecure? never.

you know when you’re doing a group project and you’re feeling really good about the work you put in and the direction it’s all going and then someone comes in and completely derails the whole thing? that’s bucky in this loop. i love him, but jfc.

"What the hell did you do, rob an ambulance and take a bath?" […] "I don’t know what your problem with them is, and I don’t need to know. But is it worth more than Bucky’s life?"

i love sam. i love him not taking things seriously until he realizes that they’re serious as hell, and then switching to compassionate and level-headed. i know this is a bucky fic but sam deserves all the appreciation and i truly hope i’m able to show that.

i also like the contrast between his reaction and bucky’s to twelve telling them about the loop. we don’t see the first time bucky gets told, but her incoherent rambling at him while he’s just trying to take it in means so much to me. but we’re not there yet. we’re getting coffee first.

holy shit, i just had to double check but i’m pretty positive that this is our first lucy scene. she was never supposed to be in the fic much, but i’m not gonna lie, she grew on me. she’s based on several of my favourite former colleagues of mine, and this is not the only fic of mine she’s infiltrated. we are all but living in the lucy cinematic universe. on a side note, she got her name because i like the name and also because i’m relatively sure there’s no super relevant lucy in a marvel … thing. i often like to include characters from different marvel properties in my fics (like ULTIMATUM themselves), but i just wanted someone without any obvious ties to anything.

“What do you want?” you turn to Bucky. “Coffee.” “What kind?” “Just … coffee.”

any ordinary days fans in the house tonight?

the coffee quest was another side plot i didn’t expect when setting out to write this fic, but it’s served me so well in establishing their dynamic a little bit more. also, the writing thing!! i’m so fond of twelve not being able to decipher bucky’s handwriting at first. and i like that he just comes up with something so practical on day one of the whole thing.

“Crazy?” His expression hardens somewhat, and an irritated flush appears on his cheeks. “Why is it crazy?”

is it just me or do these two seem to be having two entirely different conversations? :)

You don’t think, moving purely out of instinct.

ah, i do enjoy upping the stakes near the end of the chapter. as if twelve’s whole situation hadn’t sucked enough already. but don’t we all love a good 'patching each other up' scene? i’d say it was worth it but then again i know how it ends. also shout-out to sam once again for being a great friend and a good brother. sarah i love you i hope you’re having a great, calm july 4th. sadly, we have a wizard to seek out.

“What do you say, Barnes? Think you can trust me?”

and isn’t that the whole thesis of the story, really?

how it's going

well. not gonna lie but things are not going according to plan!! after my holiday (which was great by the way, thanks for asking) i went back to work for the two days i was scheduled that week, went home and immediately got sick for eight days. i've only been feeling significantly better yesterday, and so writing hasn't exactly been a priority. regrettably.

but fear not, because today i'm pretty sure i had a breakthrough with the thing i've been struggling with in chapter seven. i'm optimistic i'll be able to write the rest of it over the course of the weekend and then finally move on to chapter eight. which is hopefully gonna be a little shorter for a change. oh, i also wrote a bit of an unexpected bonus chapter today so look forward to that at some point.

i'm still not sure if i want to move my schedule backwards or if i'll try to squeeze in another reread chapter next week. i guess we'll all find out together.

until then, take care of yourselves and i'm always here if you're lonely and stuck in a time loop and just need someone to listen 💚

[logicheartsoul]

oh my goddd are you going to do an entire gifset of anthony’s scenes from brother to brother? 👀

Eventually, yeah! There's so many good moments in the movie and also there are some deleted scenes I'd like to gif too

This set though is technically a parallels set coz he literally says the same line (well, sorta) "Why don't you just stay here?" with a similar/same expression in tfatws, which kinda knocked me out a bit when I watched the movie. So there's that lol

But no, seriously, his scenes, and other scenes too in the movie are just!!! It's all wonderful really and reminds me I need to do my rewatch with Anthony's commentary track on soon

[captainpikeachu]

The Dora Milaje fight is multiple levels of frustration for me.

I understand the tantalizing concept of seeing strong badass competent Black women knocking down a peg against the symbol of white imperialism and colonization, except as usual, TFATWS plays with political and social commentary with no understanding of the nuance or the ability to actually follow through on what it wants a pat on the back for trying to criticize. And they end up making the Dora look like a bunch of politically unsavvy doofus who lost their target and nearly started an international incident for the offense of white arrogance.

Firstly, both John and the Dora want the same thing, to take Zemo into custody. Having a fight in the middle of all this literally did nothing except let Zemo get away and wasting their time to have to chase after him. They were lucky Zemo simply just went to the memorial and waited to be caught, what if Zemo had just wanted to disappear and they never found him again. They didn’t know what Zemo was going to do.

Secondly, numerous moves during that fight could have easily been fatal had John and/or Lemar didn’t have quicker reflexes and managed to parry off the hits. So did the Dora want John and Lemar dead? Or were they just messing around to scare them? If it’s the latter then it’s again wasting time to let Zemo get away. And if it’s the former, then I fail to understand how it helps Wakanda internationally if the Dora Milaje killed Captain America on foreign soil. Why would the Dora do something that purposefully puts their country in international crossfires in such a dumb and obvious way? It makes them look incompetent.

I get that John shouldn’t have touched Ayo, and if she smacked him, I wouldn’t have an issue with it. But the way this fight was done, it just makes little sense. And sure on a first glance maybe it’s a surface level cool fight scene of the Dora being badasses, but it just ends up on deeper analysis looking like the creatives simply needed a cool looking fight scene to knock John down a peg without considering how it makes the Dora actually look incompetent. They’re supposed to be spies and protectors who know when and where to strike, yet here we have them nearly starting an international incident by almost killing the new Captain America, which would have brought a political nightmare to their country’s doorstep — how are they protecting Wakanda by escalating trouble?

And that whole line about the Dora having jurisdiction wherever it finds itself to be — it’s deeply uncomfortable how that line is spoken and supported unironically by the narrative and fandom, effectively saying ignoring and invading other countries’ sovereignty is totally cool as long as it’s the people we like doing it.

Literally all they had to do to make that Dora fight scene work at the very least within the narrative is actually let John throw the first punch so the Dora has to get through him to get to Zemo. But for some reason they decided to make the Dora do it first when John is trying to de-escalate and come to a compromise and the whole thing lets Zemo escape and Sam and Bucky spends a part of that fight basically watching from the sidelines like it’s a funny joke. Imagine if John hadn’t been quicker with his reflexes, what if what happened to Lemar later happened to John then in that fight? Who would be laughing and mocking and finding the situation funny then?

For a story that certainly doesn’t hold back on critiquing John, it never takes a critical look at its own perceived heroes/protagonists. The show lacks so much self awareness.

[staying-elive]

Looking for fic recs!

Anyone know of some really good TFATWS rewrite fics? They can be shippy or entirely gen, don't care.

Basically, I annoyed myself thinking of all the themes, plots, ideas, social commentary, etc. that the show botched or didn't commit to and now I'm wondering if there's any great Fix-its, Rewrites and/or entirely Alternate-Plot we-could-had-it-all type fics out there in the ao3 wilderness.

Things I liked in the show:

- Sam grappling with taking up the shield, with it's history, it's legacy, America etc

- Bucky reconciling with his WS past

- Joaquin Torres. (My precious. You're perfect.)

- Sam's family and hometown. (Love you all. Except that bank dude. Fuck that guy)

- Isaiah Bradley and Eli. Love you. And obviously important for Sam to know about. Isaiah's story deserves to be heard.

- Sam and Bucky being a Team. Don't take my boat scene from me. 🤣😅

-Obviously Sam has to become Cap lol

Can still be used, but with discretion lol

- Zemo and John Walker. So long as we all remember they are Bad Dudes. Use sparingly and with a point, i.e. only to further Sam and Bucky's arcs since They Are The Title Characters.

- Sharon Carter. I'm on the fence with turning her into a baddie. Alts/Rewrites can obviously change that direction. But if a baddie, I just need it to make sense 😭

I could go on. But you get the gist. Basically fic recs that treat Sam and Bucky as active protagonists, and with respect. (I draw a distinction between characters in a story being disrespectful dicks and the actual Story being disrespectful to it's lead characters, if that makes sense.)

[booksandabeer]

Today in absurd Marvel merchandise...

!!!

There's so much about this that’s simply hilarious, the most obvious of course being that it’s so at odds with the story that TFATWS...let's say...attempted (?) to tell. Honestly, this is so bizarre it almost circles back to becoming rather pointed commentary on itself. 

So on second thought nevermind this is actually PERFECT.

[luna-rainbow]

I live in Canada where I'm catcalled regularly and yes it pisses me off. There was a lot of talk about that during the metoo movement and how most of us faced sexual advance from random men in the street since our early teen. We're conditioned not to show our anger in case these men retaliate because it happened that some women end in hospital after rejecting these kind of advance. I'm certainly not mad that they mention it on the show.

I’m sorry that that sort of behaviour is so common where you live. There’s broader themes to discuss about addressing where that mentality comes from and the need to reframe it as unacceptable. People have made good comparisons to bullying behaviours in children being seen as “cute” when a boy does it to a girl “cos he likes you”, or the idea that “no means she’s leading you on”, or even the idea that being told no means an insult.

That said…the series was very coy about any messaging. It wasn’t providing a social commentary that that behaviour is a social problem that needs change, but rather that’s just the way things are and women have to either live in fear of it or be able to turn green to protect herself.

It…feels a bit similar to the issue with tfatws. The world is unfairly tipped against the marginalised group represented, and the series has dropped in a few scenes of it as though to establish her social credit of being underprivileged for the sole purpose of an argument it sets up for later and then…never really address or acknowledge it again. It offers no introspection and at best a vague rebuke of the system. And the argument ignores the history of the person on the receiving end of the argument, which I think is often why these scenes feel shoehorned in.

I think YMMV, but I liked how in Black Widow, Nat and Yelena took a very common joke invalidating women’s anger (“are you on your period”), and rebuked it both for how inappropriate it was generally and how inappropriate it was specifically for the two women’s situations.

I wonder if I would feel differently if Jen saw another woman being harassed and tried to get that woman out of trouble. I feel then at least it is letting Jen make a statement that this behaviour is wrong and that we as a society need to put a stop to this, rather than offering only the solutions that women should try to walk away or have the ability to turn into a Hulk. I mean, when Jen was asked on a TV interview about her diet…even ScarJo did better by snapping back at the interviewer “why do the guys get the interesting questions and I get the rabbit food question?” It just feels like, so far, Jen isn’t really displaying much moral conviction of her own.

** While we’re here, what I did like about She Hulk was consent and communication, or specifically the fact that she spoke to Bruce first about her decision to help Blomsky. Yes, she didn’t need it (and I liked how he said that) but I feel like that it’s a little quirk that comes most naturally from socially conditioned females. Male-centered scripts will give you shit like a) Steve not discussing with Tony about his suspicions for SHIELD and his father’s death; b) Steve not telling Sam his intentions when he went back in time; c) Bucky not telling Sam he’s breaking out Zemo until after the fact; d) Sam not telling Isaiah about setting up a museum display even when Isaiah asked to remain anonymous. These are all potentially hurtful things…and seeing a character call up someone she regards as important and tell him that what she plans to do might be hurtful for him and she just wanted to check what his thoughts are…is just so nice for a change?

[littlemissidontcare]

TFATWS completely alienated both Sam’s and Bucky’s characters and actually pissed me tf off. I really appreciated their timely commentary on world issues, but they seemed to prioritize that over proper storytelling and maintaining the integrity of established characters. It is possible to do both. It is actually essential to do both in order to tell a good story. Bucky was basically an afterthought. And I’m sorry, but you’re not going to force me to feel sorry for a literal terrorist, Marvel. Even if you make her a cute kid with freckles, she’s still entitled and a straight-up murderer. She THREATENED SAM’S FAMILY. Instead of trying to make us feel for her, they should’ve invested some fucking time in Bucky’s story. I said what I said.

[sungbeam]

OML BEAM!! U DID IT!! U TOLD ME MY BIASES' POWERS 🫠🫠 this is so exciting i literally LOVE the fact that u associated josh w/ iceman & made hansol SO op 😭 i love the contrast between his personality & his power b/c u know he won't try to do anything like evil HAHAH & as for joshua, he just seems like such classic x-man (???) LIKE it just makes so much sense for him to be iceman i think it fits him well (also apparently iceman is practically immortal?? LIKEEEE if u break him in his ice form, he can just... control the molecules and put himself back together?? HUMPTY DUMPTY COULD ONLY DREAM!)

& IF U LIKE MATT IN SHE-HULK, THEN UR GONNA LOVE HIM IN HIS SHOW!! he has this sorta old uniform before the iconic red one and he looks so... MWAH 🥰!! it's like a black skin tight outfit & a mask over his eyes and *sighs dreamily*, matt murdock 💗💗 it's definitely darker than she-hulk, but i think it's worth the watch!!

speaking of darker shows, ur definitely right about tfatws! it was leaning more towards serious social commentary in some episodes & THAT john walker scene freaked me out 🫣 i think ur right, they weren't really friends in the beginning! so glad it developed & they got closer 🥹🥹 and i'm also 99.9% sure they WERE FIGHTING FOR CAP'S ATTENTION, but honestly if i were them? i would too b/c LOOK AT HIM 👀👀👀

I ADMIT. I WOULD STAY UP LATE TO READ DRUIG FICS... and i still do!!! but who's gonna stop me? not him 😌 everything about him just SCREAMS dream man & i searched for fics as soon as i stepped out of that theater 🫡

I DID !! I DID IT (^_-)-☆ yes omg im so glad u agree w me, im glad we can both see joshie as iceman 😼😼😼 NO BUT THATS SO INSANE OF HIM THAT HES PRACTICALLY IMMORTAL LIKE THATS SO OP !!!! classic, but still powerful asf we love to see it (HELPP HUMPTY DUMPTY CAN ONLY DREAM BAHAHAHHA THATS SO FUNNY OML—) yeah i was going thru the list of mutants and trying to see what fit vernon the best and i thought ,, why not make him super duper powerful 🤩🤩🤩 our king of low-key is now a dimension-maker and manipulator !! lol it's so funny thinking abt how i paired maknae line 😭😭😭 it's hard to explain but it's just so funny to me when i look back at my notes akcnsknc

OMG I THINK IK WHAT SUIT UR TALKING ABT THAT *IS* SUPER DREAMY UR SO RIGHT XNONIE !!!!! also he did the flippin walk of shame that was hilarious to me like plsss 💀💀💀 mans is so self confident that his walk of shame isn't even of shame skxnkwjc but yuh he can come back and take *me* out for dinner whenever he wants :D

the John Walker Scene™ scared me half to death skxkdbdkd but I also kind of lived for that kind of energy from marvel, like it was kind of a shock obviously but it was a good (?) shock?? dunno how to explain it, but it was like how multiverse of madness was a much darker tone than i anticipated as well !!! like there's something abt dark mcu films/shows that really pull me in yk? the mcu always nails humor, but being dark?? SHIVERS. (i think my mouth was open for like the rest of the night after i watched the infamous episode lol like,,, THAT BTCH STAINED AND CORRUPTED THE SHIELD TF)

i have only one thing to say abt capt america and that is ass 😔✨

AHAHHAHA I TRIED HOLDING OUT FOR A LITTLE I THINK BUT EVENTUALLY GAVE IN, BUT R WE SURPRISED?? ofc not (^_-)-☆ i think it was only inevitable tbh like that scene with him in his little community in the forest and he's fighting the deviants and he's in that gray tank top @_@ i mean COME. ON. ur just ASKING for a flood of thirst posts after that move—

[thisisjustmefangirling]

I have just finished watching the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and I really liked it. It takes the time to establish things, to let Sam do his thing, have action and also be with his family. We really see Bucky in his daily life, trying to adapt, trying to make amends, trying to connect to people. Hell, he got a date when Steve never could. But he’s also so lonely. We really see the fallbacks from “Steve” ’s decision to go live in the past and... It made me so sad and so freaking angry. Steve abandoned Bucky. It’s pure and simple. 

I might ship Stucky, but it doesn’t mean I don’t value friendship. Actually, friendship is one of the most important things for me. Steve and Bucky were childhood friends, then brother of arms. Steve planned to walk from Italy to Austria, with almost no training except basics, no bulletproof gear, no real shield, no real helmet, on the off chance that Bucky would still be alive and could be saved. Steve went from “I don’t want to kill anyone” to “I won’t stop until all of Hydra is dead or captured” when Bucky fell from that cliff. He mourned him. He crashed the Valkyrie while still being inside when Peggy was right there asking for his coordinates and he could have jumped. Steve was clearly suicidal, not trying to survive. He could have tried to have this life with Peggy after the war, and he didn’t try. He chose death. When he was defrosted, he couldn’t move on. He still acted recklessly, with little regard for his own safety. He couldn’t follow Natasha’s suggestions to find someone to date. He tried a bit with Sharon in Captain America : the Winter Soldier, but the deleted scenes and that kiss with her felt very forced and awkward and I died from second-hand embarrassment. He grieved Bucky until the Winter Soldier’s mask came off and Steve recognised him. Sam told him “He’s not the kind you save, he’s the kind you stop”. But Steve never gave up on Bucky. He fought him on the helicarrier, but always tried to bring him back, and never tried to kill him. He believed Bucky could return to him. He believed Bucky could recognise him, get his mind back, get his life back, be freed from Hydra and be with him again. Steve was defrosted in 2011. He spent three years in the present, without Bucky. After being saved from drowning in the Potomac, he looked for Bucky for more than two years. Then Civil war happened and Steve still believed in Bucky, he fought for Bucky. Steve lost half of the family the Avengers were, he opposed and fought half of his friends FOR BUCKY. He brought Bucky to Wakanda and they were surely happy there. Then there was the snap and Bucky was gone for five years (and Sam too !!!!) and Steve told everyone to move on but he couldn’t. Though he had evidently moved on from Peggy’s death. She had been dead and buried for years before Thanos appeared. 

And you want me to believe that Steve, who loves Bucky so much he did everything I wrote above, is going to go back in the past, fuck up a timeline or two, to marry someone who had had a full and happy life, with a husband and children, an amazing woman who had the time and strength to grieve Steve and move on from him ? That he is going to marry a woman literally living in the past ? A woman he saw in her last years and he buried ?

When Bucky has just returned, HE IS RIGHT THERE ? Bucky, unlike Peggy, didn’t get to live his life. He was brainwashed, tortured, turned into a killing machine. Bucky was given a second chance. Bucky can live the life he never got. Steve can be with someone he has deep affection for, someone with shared life experience, he can be with his best friend from childhood. The writers wanted to keep it heterosexual ? FINE. (No).  Steve could have perfectly returned to the present and found someone new to date. He would have been with his friends. He would have been with Wanda, with Sam, with Bucky. But that’s not the choice the writers made.

They made Steve abandon Bucky, his childhood friend, (one of) the person(s) he loves the most in the world, someone who was essential to his development as a human being but also as Captain America. 

I saw Bucky waking up from his nightmares, alone in a flat. There was no one there to comfort him. The entire time Bucky has scenes, I imagined how different it would be if Steve had been there. They would have been flatmates in Brooklyn. There would have been a bed, the appartment would have been decorated. There would have been pancakes on the kitchen counter. Steve could have helped Bucky. But no. Bucky is lonely. Trying to recover on his own. His therapist said she’s the only person he called in a week. You think he made a real friend but he’s trying to make amends because he killed his son. Guilt is eating him. He hasn’t replied to Sam (and I am so glad Sam is trying to take care of Bucky, at least check on him, since they were both Steve’s friends).

Steve abandoned Bucky. Bucky is lonely. And I am angry.

Friendship is so important. I met my best friend when I was 12. We became good friends when we were 14. We’re 26 now, going on 27. The age these two were when they went to war. If my best friend died, I would be devastated. If she abandoned me, I would be devastated and FURIOUS, I would be so angry at her.

I can’t imagine how Bucky feels about Steve leaving him alone in this new and surprising world, to fight off his own demons and nightmares. They said “til the end of the line”. Well mayyyyybe toxic masculinity and heteronormativity created the end of the line and ended the relationship for us.

Friendship is a kind of love. Amour. Amitié. I say “I love you” to my friends. In french, in english.

They made Steve abandon his friends, abandon Bucky, I am NEVER getting over it, and while I loved this episode, Steve’s absence is so obvious and heartbreaking. WHAT KIND OF DOUCHEBAG DOES THAT TO THE PEOPLE HE LOVES ?

We’ve all read the fanfics, since 2014. We know what it could have been like. Even without the queerness. But we’re not getting it on screen.

So, thank you, fanfiction writers. You are doing an amazing, necessary job. We love you. We are grateful for you. Every word you write is a gift.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[lifeofashieldagent]

THOUGHTS WHILE WATCHING THE TFATWS FINALE

1. Them saying "Seargent Barnes" and moving aside made me so happy.

2. The face changing mask is back!

3. ITS CAPTAIN AMERICA!! HIS NEW SUIT!! SAM WILSON I FUCKING LOVE YOU. WHAT AN ENTRANCE. HE SAID HE'S CAPTAIN AMERICA!!

4. He said "kid" like steve said "son" I LOVE THEM

5. BUCKY ON A BIKE BUCKY ON A BIKE

6. The caption just said "CAPTAIN AMERICA GRUNTS" Yes yes yes SAM IS CAPTAIN AMERICA

7. That was a very reluctant "one people" karli

8. That wings+shield covering him was so cool! And YES cheer for captain america!

9. Walker's here with his "shield"

10. Ah Bucky yes thank you for saving us

11. Bucky STOP FALLING OUT OF STUFF but nice superhero landing

12. SAM IS SUCH A GOOD CAP. using her skills!! I love him.

13. These hostages are on the worst rollercoaster ride ever

14. HI SAM you beauty AHHH BUCKY SMILING FOR SAM

15. "Nah that's captain america" FUCK YES

16. Walker's just casually with Bucky and Cap now?

17. Ok finally SHARON SECRETS TIME. so she IS the power broker. An actual theory proven true! Congratulations to us all.

18. Um?? The pat on the back. The random conversation. What's happening? Buck that's the wrong cap

19. Good bye Karli. I'm not as sad as Sam is. I'm more sad FOR sam. He had hoped this would end differently.

20. SAM I LOVE YOU

21. Isaiah watching sam DAMN IT IM CRYING NOW

22. I LOVE THIS I LOVE THEM I LOVE ALL OF THIS

23. Zemo just doesn't stop does he

24. "it's the same, but black" very good john, you know colours

25. AH is he gonna tell him about the son. I can't. This is gonna hurt. yep, that hurt.

26. AWW he crossed them all. thanks doc.

27. YES HE IS SPECIAL.

28. IM CRYING AGAIN ISAIAH IN THE MUSEUM

29. THIS LAST PART. THEIR SMILES. THE CASUAL SAM BUCKY HUGS. BUCKY PLAYING WITH THE KIDS. THE HAND ON THE SHOULDER. IM SMILING SO HARD I MIGHT CRY.

30. YES YES YES CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE WINTER SOLDIER kinda wish it said white wolf BUT STILL YES THIS THANK YOU

31. Welcome home power bro- I mean, agent carter. Wow she's just starting right away. At least wait till you get home.

OKAY THEN. THE END.

I loved this. Imagine a show that changes its title at the last episode. So perfect. I'm gonna go watch it again. And again. And again. YAY.

[intrepidacious]

time after time: reread edition [1]

series summary: After what starts out as a fairly normal mission, you find yourself stuck in a time loop. Which would already be bad enough in itself if it didn’t also mean having to watch Bucky die over and over again.

pairing: bucky barnes x f!reader

word count: 6.0k

chapter warnings: canon-typical violence, accidentally starting a time loop, banter, pretty angsty to start us off with ngl, reminder to read the fic premise. please note that my blog is rated 18+. minors dni. ageless/empty blogs will be blocked without warning.

read the full chapter here | series masterlist | reread masterlist

wouldn't you know it, it's friday already!! this is a reread of already published chapters, so if you're new to this story, i would highly suggest not starting here and reading the actual story first. please be aware that by clicking the read more you're gonna see spoilers for chapter one 💚

how it started

welcome to the reread. i'm pretty sure this is the part of the post i'll only do once, but we'll see how it goes.

i swear to god, i only wanted to write a fun little time loop fic. it was never supposed to be this huge thing; it just kept growing. it's two years later now and i'm still writing—granted, that's after taking several long breaks because this story gives me headaches like no other, but still. i've never poured this much love into one story, i think.

and we can all blame russian doll for it.

turn back the clock – tl;dr

we start with a mission. sam, bucky and the reader, soon-to-be nicknamed twelve, are checking up on a secret lab. against all odds, bucky gets killed right before the fight seems to be won. twelve uses her time powers to prevent this from happening, loses consciousness and wakes up in her bed earlier that day. she goes through the entire day again, thinking her reset worked as intended, only for bucky to die in a different situation during the same mission and her waking up in her bed again.

behind the loop

welcome to my first running commentary on my own story. you’re gonna be sick of me really soon.

depending on how new you are to this story, you might not know that the chapter titles are all taken from movies. sadly i haven't seen most of them but the ones i have seen do feature a little in one way or another. more about that when we get to that point, though. the title cards for this story were also so fun to make because i just recoloured the actual movie posters!!

i’m gonna be honest with you, i keep forgetting that this first flashback exists. but i lowkey love it?? i like how it sets the tone for the angst that’s stitched into the very fabric of this story while simultaneously being juxtaposed with the first actual, very blunt introduction of our main cast.

the start of that mission was one of the first things i ever wrote for this fic, but the whole transition from the upstairs lab to downstairs and the actual fight scene were the last parts before posting.

“Do you think I’d pass up the opportunity to hear the two of you scream in terror when the vampire puppets creep up on you?” “Gotta disappoint you, cap,” you grin and wait for him to check the map. “I only scream when there’s good reason.” “I don’t wanna interrupt,” Bucky interrupts over the intercom, “but they’re heading your way now, so get a move on.”

writing banter is one of my all-time favourite activities. i also already knew at this point that i was gonna write a lot of it over and over again, and so i needed to vary the interjections in order to not bore everyone to bits. i like to think it worked out, but you tell me.

my beloved nightmare flashmob was such a fun antagonist to include. they will be named in the next chapter but if there are comic readers among you, i feel like i have to apologise because i definitely haven’t read enough of them to properly do these guys justice. they did seem like a logical step up from the version of the flag smasher(s) we encountered in tfatws, though. plus, there’s just enough of them to be a realistic threat to three very capable superheroes.

And then his eyes glaze over. You scream.

i’m so evil lmao

You wake up with a start to the sun in your face and FRIDAY blasting The All-American Rejects at full volume.

spoiler alert, you’ll encounter that sentence a couple of times. and i still love it. fun fact, i genuinely set my playlist to shuffle to decide on the song that was going to play to wake her up, and this was the one i landed on. and i couldn’t have come up with a better choice. honestly, look at the lyrics and tell me i’m wrong. i love how things work out sometimes.

originally, the decision to set the story on july 4th was very practical because i needed my available settings to be limited. this isn’t punxsutawney, pennsylvania in the middle of a snowstorm, this is new york city after the blip. i wanted our characters to have at least somewhat limited options what to do during their ever-repeating day. (on a sidenote, do you think we’ll ever see avengers compound again in the mcu? how long are they going to rebuild that thing? anyway.)

“Feels a little … déjà-vu-y.” “I know the type,” Sam says. “Wanna talk about it?” You do. But the time stuff is your problem to deal with, and so you shake your head.

isn’t it great to have a full ensemble of characters who absolutely will not talk about their feelings to each other? (derogatory) is it more interesting from a narrative point of view? … i suppose.

i love twelve’s rings though. are they entirely useless for the duration of this loop? maybe. but i love that she has them to physically show her how stuck she is <3 other things that i love: bucky calling sam bud. it just makes sense.

A surge of emptiness goes through you, unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. Time seems to still for just the blink of an eye as Bucky’s head is thrown forwards.

and there we have it. ✨dread.✨ this is such an evil way to end a chapter, wow. i had fun, though. was it fun for you?

how it's going

well, actually. i've been writing chapter seven as well as a secret bonus chapter this week, and i've made reasonable progress on both which i'm quite proud of. i really hope i can report that i got started on chapter eight this time next week, but we'll see. i think the worst of my writer's block is gone, at least. and all it took was a little self-indulgence and an external deadline. who'd have thunk.

if you made it to this point of my rambles, thank you. lmk how i can keep these interesting for you to read, and if you have any questions about the story, you know where to find me!! also: please please please consider leaving a comment or a reblog on the actual chapter. it would mean the world 💚

[the-littlefangirl]

TFATWS episode 1 rewatch commentary

The first scene was so beautiful. I loved that we didn't start directly with the fight sequence. It feels way closer to the quiet beginning of CATWS and I love it so much.

The title is also SO NEAT, music's on point too but hey it’s Henry Jackman the one thing I’m sure it’s going to be great overall is the score.

The choreography is AMAZING, really well shot. Sam shielding himself with only one wing was MA-JES-TIC.

“WHAT'S UP” EXACTLY SAM EXACTLY

I did feel so uncomfortable in regards to the military aspect of it. Not that I was expecting anything else, but both here and in Captain Marvel the military we're good guys < 3 propaganda is so blatant and ugh:/ At least there wasn’t a literal recruitment spot like with CM. 

The yellow filter in the Tunisia scene BYE please stop with the yellow filters 2k21

"I've been working with the Air Force for six months now" So, did Sam even catch a break at all after Endgame? Or did he just throw himself to work like SOMEONE did after being iced for 70 years. Hmmm? Sam????

"Essentially, these people, they want a world that's unified without borders" OH NO! HOW AWFUL, how evil of these bad guys smh

Joaquin: SO about Steve

Sam: :)))))) nope

"Moon stuff" SAAAM

#1 cry with Sam's speech, full on chills.. Fuck. Me. His voice about to break before saying thank you bYE.

Shady politician: "It was the right decision" (FUCKKKKK YOUUU)

Rhodey: *press any key to doubt *

I need someone to analyze the different curation of the two exhibits pretty please

NOT THE PHOTO POST-AZZANO JFC. That photo is my weakness, Bucky sweetie (also I find hilarious that usually when there are articles about Stucky and/or #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend they aaaalways use that photo LMAO)

In case someone wants to read the transcription of the texts about Bucky: "In 1944, while on a mission to thwart a Hydra weapon transport in the Alps, Barnes was thrown from a train and believed to have been killed in action. It wasn't until 2014, over seventy years later, that it was revealed that Barnes was alive, having been found by Hydra operatives. Captain America himself (i can't read) the effort to bring Barnes in only to later aid in a escape from custody having been convinced of his innocence. Steve's loyalty to his old friend, coupled with his refusal to sign the Sokovia Accords, led to the dissolution of the Avengers and drove the Captain into hiding with other like-minded Avengers including Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, and Sam Wilson. The current whereabouts of Barnes remains unknown, habing been labeled a fugitive following his escape from custody."

"current wherabout unknown" but not the government, interesting. Also, pretty good summary of CACW from the public's perspective, although one of the things I always wanted to see explored was the public's reaction of the fallout of them going into hiding after Civil War (which I'm hoping we'll get to see a little bit of in Black Widow).

Interesting point about the 70 years without having Captain America. Clearly the sacrifice play wasn't enough this time to fuel the nationalism so they went with a squeaky clean John Walker instead.

Sam saying the shield belongs to Steve I'm going to cry now excuse me. Sam. Sam sweetie.

The No. 1 Captain America comic in the display ugH fuck yes

See this is how you do a cameo that has actual meaning. Thank god for Malcolm Spellman being a competent writer. That scene was so well written.

HAVE YOU PRAISED ANTHONY MACKIE'S PERFORMANCE TODAY?? Holy shit that last shot fucked me up.

I'm loving the use of the wide shots, especially in the flashback. The camera movements are in synch with The Soldier's state of mind and mission focus, so good.

EVERYONE STAND UP FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM aka The Winter Soldier theme composed by Henry Jackman.

Without a doubt the most brutal TWS fight scene there has been, People involved in Punisher and John Wick are involved in this and it SHOWS. 

For the record, still stands that the only time we've seen him chocking someone with his right hand instead of the metal arm remains the Maria Stark assasination. I know it's probably because of blocking and the way the shot was composed but the implications are still bone chilling. God.

Uhhmmmm I'm very ambivalent about the "Hail Hydra". On one hand, it was 100% fanservice and the internet is probably going to go insane over it, and the dead way Sebastian Stan delivered the line. Good shit. Buuut what I love about CATWS is the way Bucky never, ever ever, mouths Hydra rethoric, and even when Pierce tries to gaslight him with it, it's just an empty effort. The Winter Soldier isn't doing anything because of ideological loyalty to Hydra, even if it's product of brainwashing, it's just sheer dehumanization. They don’t need him to say the words because he’s just An Asset. There are people who have put it more eloquently but yeah, I rather go with the fanon interpretation of that aspect.

The music growing louder with the shot of the keys. GOD.

I'm fine this is fine.

#2 cry with the therapy scene of fucking course.

The government monitoring Bucky is noooot going to end well lmao.

"We need to know that you're not gonna * slowmo stabbing motions *

Bucky: * nodding along slowly * 

I laughed out loud.

"It's passive agressive" I love him.

The way this scene just sucker punched me in the face, made me weep and then had me cracking up. Amazing.

Therapist: You can't do anything illegal

Bucky: yup yup check checkity check. What IS considered illegal tho?

*aggresive tablet finger pressing *

"Then why isn't it rule number one?" Bucky your Steve is showing.

I love the close up shot. I'll keep saying it. It's so good.

"I'm James Bucky Barnes" yeah you are🥺

That smile is nightmare fuel LMFAO I love it.

Uhm the way I'm kinning Bucky it's not funny anymore damn

That whole “are you lashing out at me” rambling is really reminiscent of the bar scene in CATFA and how he lashed out at Steve after Peggy left. Uhm yeah fuck.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" "Peace"

"That is UTTER BULLSHIT" "You're a terrible shrink"

yeah ugly crying to ugly laughing speedrun for me

"You're free" "To do what?" jesus. That entire scene. #3 and #4 and #5 cries for moi.

Ugh that Brooklyn shot. Someone needs to do a gifset compairing it to the one in CATFA asap.

"It's like Monique but it's got a "U" in there for uniqueness" "That's absurd" LMAO

"You can't keep fighting with your neighbors" uHM * redacted redacted i'm shifting into 1940s mode abort abort *

"Nobody passed 90" "So young. Such a shame" FGADHGA

🥺🥺 yes flex those flirting skills good for you

"It's a dance to this things. You can't… you gotta warm up and I haven't danced since 1943. Feels like." #6 cry I completely broke down into tears with that.

This Yori storyline is going to punch me in the face with a metal fist. Great!

The TWS theme when he looks at Yori fuuuuuck.

GREAT LET'S GO TO LOUISIANA THAT WAS GETTING HEAVY.

Those shots of Sam in the car. Immaculate. Showstoping. Yes.

Marvel, what if instead of promoting the military industrial complex you put a lot of publicity about cars?

"Uncle Sam!" LMAO subtle.

Everyone trying to have the wings lmao same.

I've only had Sarah for a day but etc. Brooklyn 99 meme

Good mirroring about Steve and Sam family's legacy. Good shit. Goooood shit.

Sam is trying so hard ouch my heart. I can't imagine how painful the scene with them reuniting must have been. He 100% still feels a lot of guilt about being gone for those 5 years (and even longer before that).

"Maybe it is time for us to move on" uuuuuuuuuuh

"To the rescue" "Always" 🥺🥺 i love them so much already

That shot outside the restaurant is so beautiful. Can't wait to see the night scenes in Madripoor tbh.

"I tried the whole online dating thing. It's pretty crazy". Uhm well that is something that Bucky Barnes has now said. In canon. Damn.

"It's a lot" "You sound like my dad" LMAO

Every Bucky fanfic trope speedrun with this scene

"Wow you really can drink" OH you have no idea

Just realized we don't even know her name, well.

"You have any siblings?" "I have a sister" THE WAY I SCREECHED. We're definitely getting Becca

Well that escalated quickly. The important thing is to try?

I can't deal with this BUCKY SWEETIE #8 cry right there fuck

The wardrobe department is KILLING IT, there's such a difference between the outfits of the shows vs how ugly and generic it usually is.

"ThEre is NO such thiNg as on time. You're either EARLY or LATE . picK One" lmao the way he delivered that line

At first I thought the flag smashers had thrown two cars out of a window LMAO

"I don't know how jurisdiction works here, but I'mma have to place you under arrest" uhm yikes. The way they changed Joaquín Torres backstory to just random army nice guy #1 is not sitting well with me, what can I say.

Sam's wings motions I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR

Fuuuuck this guy.

"Funny how thing's always thighten around us" "Look, I'm on your side. After all, he's a hero". This script is C R I S P as hell, great fucking job.

"I don't care, I'm not gonna quit" "What are you trying to prove? And who you trying to prove it to" SHIT HSIT SHIT!!! UGH amazing. Look it's not necessary to say the show's questions out loud but how they flow between the conversations is still very satisfactory without feeling in your face about it. Inner conflicts have been set up fucking perfectly everyone * claps *

Ugh here we fucking go.  I knew this was how the episode was going to end but my stomach still dropped like a rollercoster. God.

The score is on point. Damn. Damn.

God, Sam.🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

The captain america franchise's visuals in the credits are always so amazing.

Also, does anybody know why Mackie isn't first in the billing?  Uhm what's that about?

ANYWAY CONCLUSION THAT EPISODE WAS SO FUCKING GOOD LIKE HOLY SHIT. I love them so much. The balance between the personal conflicts and the political aspect (although the military aspect is still very much yikes) was on point and it was overall a joy to watch.

[sadachmesarthim]

starting s1e1, doing dishes, v excited

don't fucking tell me this is the funeral scene

NAH I DONT LIKE OLD STEVE

god i love the falcon suit. oh my god torres is hot. YEAH TORRES YOU CALL HIM SIR. i need way more anthony mackie facecam. TORRES IS SO PRECIOUS

i love redwing STOP. god i hate the french. TORRES IS SO PRECIOUS P L E A S E. vasant is a whole mood. THIS IS BIRD ON BIRD VIOLENCE is redwing an ai🥺

SAM THATS MURDER??? stop that was so smooth & torres is so fucking precious i CANT HANDLE IT. wait when did sam get so good at tech shit what did i miss. stop talking about the blip im gonna cry. STOPPPP TALKING ABOUT THE BLIPPPPPPP. okay torres woah slow down. "moon stuff" GROSS WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT STEVE. WHYYYY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE BLIPPPP

hi rhodey babie 🥺 RHODEY BABIE :((( why are u thanking urself NO DONT. SAM??????? SAM???????????????????????? NO IT WASN'T THE RIGHT DECISION????? FUCK OFF????? buck :( hi babie. THATS NOT AN EXCUSE SAM. DONT MAKE HIM FUCKING ASK SAM. you stupid slut. no it's NOT he's a PUSSY. shut up rhodey this man has trauma too. i want to smooch his forehead has anyone asked if this man is okah

why does he have the muzzle on. bucky what are you doing can we. can we stop. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

i dont like his therapist. STOP LYING??? i fucking hate his therapist. PARDON??? bucky. you did tho. BUCKY. I CANT. oh my god. what is he doing?????

he doesn't. sound. right. i cant explain it. BUCKY. BUCKY I CANT. OH MY GOD. stip. stop. stop it. stop acting all. all broody. stop it. no you dont trust people shithead. i want to slap him. i want to slap HER. I HATE HER.

oh god i just caught on :( i hate the way they write dialogue. oh my god sam stop trying to just *fix fix fix*. yeah it's almost like he's old or something. 🙃 i want to hit him. i want. to hit him. oh my god who wrote the fucking. script for this. oh my god. i hate this. so much?? :(((( oh i cant. i cant handle this. i'm gonna throw up i can't. handle this. torres you fucking moron that's so obvious. UOU. STUPID FUCK.

oh my god. oh. my god. i hate??? white men??? fuck you buddy.

[logicheartsoul]

Anthony Mackie & Daniel Brühl in Marvel Studios’ Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (2021)