I've Now Seen A Fair Few Posts About Bucky's Change In Appearance And Seen People Offer Up In-universe

I've now seen a fair few posts about Bucky's change in appearance and seen people offer up in-universe explanations such as it's first time in his entire life he's been getting consistent food and water etc. I need to say one thing.

I find it abhorrent that people feel the need to critique/comment on the body of a real life person considering all we now know of what these super cut beefy actors go through (which btw includes extreme dehydration which is life threatening) just so a movie can have a "sexy shirtless scene" and what Sebastian Stan has said in the past about his body dysmorphia. And in the context of Bucky as a character, it's disgusting considering he spent almost a century with no autonomy over what he looks like or what he did with his time, he's not cattle to judge.

So yeah we can think up all the in universe explanations we like and post the most backhanded compliments in support of him, but the thing is we shouldn't be commenting at all. This isn't like what they did with Thor where it was part of a poor taste storyline and a costume that Hemsworth donned, this is a real person's body and after the horrible treatment the late Chadwick Boseman received for his body's changes undergoing treatment, I would've hoped people had learned that even "complimentary" comments about body weight changes can be inappropriate and unwelcome. Just don't say anything?? It's so easy to shut up.

Is it just me or does no one seem to remember that Bucky is an orphan? It's not even on the fandom wikis. I don't just mean the comics but in the MCU too, Bucky's always been an orphan, it's even mentioned in an interview. It paints him being the eldest of four and his protectiveness of Steve in a new light and generally how good Bucky is with kids too. The guy has serious "big brother who had to become a parent to his younger siblings" energy

I think even Walker would hate that racist smear considering his wife Olivia and child are mixed race, and his best friend was a black man who meant so much to him he went completely off the rails when Lemar was killed

If you’re gonna ship B*lly H*rgr*ve with anyone may I suggest him: 

just finished reading on the road to freedom and Bucky and Peter having a marriage of convenience after Far From Home so that Peter is granted diplomatic immunity through being married-in Wakandan royalty is hands down the greatest and funniest concept I've ever seen. Even in a strictly platonic sense that shit is hysterical

imagine the running jokes, the half assed threats to divorce each other for anything from siding with Sam over them, disagreeing on missions or liking pineapple on pizza, confusing the fuck out of people casually introducing each other like "this is my husband Peter/Bucky", getting asked why they haven't divorced yet since Peter's long since been proven innocent (because fuck the spell) and the best they manage is a shrug and say they "couldn't be bothered", "don't you have anyone else you'd rather marry? Girlfriends?" another shrug, or why didn't Peter just get adopted too why did it have to be marriage and he goes on a tangent because fuck you he has May he's not comfortable being someone else's adopted child

In a PeterMJ context, MJ finds it hilarious, you cannot tell me she wouldn't be down for screwing over the terrible justice system and fucking with heteronormative marriage norms. She'd be proudly introducing them as "my boyfriend Peter and his husband Bucky" in the most purposefully deadpan voice, or outright claiming them both as her husbands in every way except the shackles of the legal system or saying they're her harem, a package deal, marry one get one free... She and Bucky reply "it was funny" at the same time in the exact same blank tone of voice whenever anyone asks why Peter and Bucky stayed married or ask why is she okay with it

(since Bucky is canonically the MCU's White Wolf, who in the comics is T'Challa and Shuri's adopted brother, in the fic it's explained that being adopted into the royal family is what got Bucky let off with only mandatory therapy as part of his deal and it's genius)

when trying to write a nice little fic of Bucky cooking for Peter and end up writing about how much Peter reminds Bucky of himself as little orphan kid having to be a parent to his three younger siblings and breaking down crying in Sarah Rogers arms when she tells him "it's alright sweetheart"

Thanks for this!! Though I do want to add that I specified American citizens and the American government itself was among the ones Bucky was a part of attempting to topple, I don't know how much that would change things?

Many of Bucky's crimes as the Winter Soldier specifically targeted the US, so I was wondering if that would make a difference as I know that it's very lenient when it comes to other countries governments and citizens. Bucky is someone who has both unwillingly and willingly worked against the US on an extremely public level, which was mainly where my point lay.

I do think Bucky isn't in Congress willingly, there's got to be something else at play there, because there's nothing in canon to indicate he'd have any love for the US government (or any government anymore really, except maybe Wakanda), especially considering all Bucky knows about what the US has done to Isaiah, so similar to himself with HYDRA as it is, and want to become anymore of a cog in it. He looks like he's MISERABLE in the trailer and I'm thinking it must be because he doesn't want to be doing what he's doing.

as someone who knows very little about the American governmental system... is it even realistic that Bucky is a senator/candidate, outside of the simple fact that it goes against everything we know about his character for the last 13 years and is deeply ooc and weird?

Can someone with his history actually become a senator? Dude has killed like...a lot of people, specifically American citizens to keep it relevant to this context, and he's openly broken the law and gone against multiple governments in some of the most wild displays of anarchy alongside Steve and the Avengers. Also I don't think he's been a consistent enough resident of any state even if you take out the Blip?? At least 9 years right? Bro has maybe been on American soil for 3 years, pre AND post Blip, and that's being generous assuming Thunderbolts takes place in 2024-2025.

I don't know how realistic it is that he's even able to run for senate? I'm not an expert, not American, but it just seems absurd.

The main take really is that Bucky Barnes as a senator is one of the stupidest things, what the hell