The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 5 Best Moments from “The Star-Spangled Man”
By Liam Clark
3. Isaiah Bradley
The introduction of Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley is an important moment for both Sam and Bucky as well as the overarching story and themes for the series. It is revealed to Sam that Bradley had a fight with Bucky during his time with HYDRA, and was the reason Bucky has a metal arm.
Bradley being the first black Captain America and the mistreatment he received derives from the source material and comes at a time where Sam is struggling with his own identity (the “Black Falcon/Black kid” conversation comes to mind). It turns out that being a black super soldier resulted in Bradley being imprisoned and tested on and completely disregarded by society.
This aggravates Sam, as Bucky did not tell him or Steve, which leads to another uncomfortable moment where the Police hassle Sam because he is arguing with Bucky and will not speak to Sam directly until they discover he is an Avenger.
These scenes showcase the show’s willingness to join the conversation about racism and prejudice around the world, presenting real world issues through the eyes of one of the titular protagonists and a compelling new character. As Sam grapples with the idea of being a black Captain America, the story of Isaiah Bradley and the social commentary will likely continue going forward – and it will certainly continue to resonate with viewers.