We hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially when it comes to some of queer fandom's most beloved figures, but unfortunately, it looks like today is going to be one of those days where we'll have to burst some bubbles...
Have you been dying to know whether or not beloved MCU hero Bucky Barnes (played by the oh-so cheeky Sebastian Stan) actually did come out as bisexual during that now-infamous scene bar scene in episode one of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Well, as it turns out, the answer is a big, fat, NO.
For context, in the first episode of FAWS which premiered back in March, Bucky is trying to live a normal civilian life, doing normal civilian things. One of those things includes getting back into the dating scene, and while on a date with a bartender named Leah, he reveals that, since he's rusty when it comes to the love department, he's put himself on the Dating Apps™.
The reason people think Marvel was hinting at Bucky's bisexuality is that, during his date with Leah, Bucky makes a comment about how, while on the apps, he's noticed a lot of people with profile pictures featuring tigers. Apparently, since men are more likely to have profile pics featuring tigers, fans have surmised that Bucky is perusing both men and women while on the apps and are hopeful that this is Marvel Studios' way of working being queer into Bucky's storyline.
But during a recent interview with Variety interview following the season one finale of the hit show, FAWS director Kari Skogland said Bucky coming out as bi was never intentional at all, and that scene was more of a way to show how confused he is by modern culture and technology.
"I think we just thought of it as an oddity of the times, because he’s so confused by it," she said. "Because don’t forget, he’s 106 years old. So he’s just confused by the whole thing."
"What we were really more trying to display was his complete lack of technical skills, as well as being part of any kind of community," Skogland continued, also telling Variety that she and Bucky actor Sebastian Stan never talked about the implications of the Winter Soldier perusing people with big cats profile pic on dating apps. "He doesn’t fit. So that was I think more our intention there that try to point to any one particular affinity."
While disappointment is something queer fans of superhero media who have been craving explicit, on-screen representation for decades is not something new, it doesn't make the hurt any less real!! Maybe one day, we'll get the bi superhero king we deserve!! Until then, I guess there's always fanart and fanfic...
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is currently streaming on Disney+.
