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In the end of Endgame, we see Cap giving the shield to Sam Wilson.

So why didn't he give the shield to Bucky? Sam Wilson was already a great superhero without a shield, and Bucky obviously needed something more than a gun. Also, Steve and Bucky are best friends.

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  • @NapoleonWilson I approved the last edit, because it actually helps users to avoid spoilers.
    – Ver Nick
    Commented Jul 16, 2019 at 11:44
  • Let's face it, There is nothing super about Sam other than his personality, now with the shield, he just became a bit more super
    – Huangism
    Commented Jul 16, 2019 at 17:36
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    @PaulD.Waite Huh? In the end of Ciwil War Stark simply rips Bucky's arm off :)
    – Ver Nick
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 14:50
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    @VerNick: like anything, you can have it stolen from you by the capitalist imperialist dogs of profit!
    – Paul D. Waite
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 14:56
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    @PaulD.Waite Agree :D
    – Ver Nick
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 15:11

2 Answers 2

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Although they are Russo's words, I don't agree to their reasoning. I do, however, agree with their decision to pass on the symbol of Captain America to Sam.

Bucky is fighting for the right side now but that doesn't absolve him of the crimes he committed. Him being brainwashed doesn't erase his sins.

At the end of Civil War Bucky is still a criminal in the world. He has taken refuge in Wakanda and is healing. He doesn't leave Wakanda and fights with the Avengers and gets snapped. When he is blipped after 5 years and fights and wins with the Avengers saving humanity, however great his contribution may be, he still committed murder in his past and will be questioned as a criminal if not by law then by the media.

Bucky won't be an unquestioned symbol of integrity. His past and PTSD won't allow him to make the right decision at all times that is expected of Captain America.

Sam, on the other hand, fits the role perfectly. A retired war hero, who helps others with their PTSD, who got back into the field to help Captain America, when no one else would, was branded a fugitive and traitor, but did the right thing everytime no matter the personal cost.

He's the perfect candidate in terms of Steve because he sees himself in Sam.

He's the perfect candidate for the world, with unquestioned integrity.

Also, Steve had seen Bucky's mental and physical suffering and would rather let him rest and live out his days as a normal being. To get a life.

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    Your answer presents some excellent reasoning, but...isn't that pretty much what the Russos are saying, too? The answer still stands on its own, but I can't really see in which way it "disagrees with their reasoning".
    – Napoleon Wilson
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 15:10
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    @NapoleonWilson In the phrasing that "not necessarily the guy that you would want to trust with another weapon because he can always be corrupted". I don't get the impression that he can be corrupted and possibly become menace to society if made CA. My reasoning is that he is a broken man, who doesn't have the moral conviction to make right choices for other people like Steve. Also, media would be instantly against him for his past. So, public opinion can go against him
    – KharoBangdo
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 16:48
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    I see. I guess I took the Russos' statement less direct and more in the way like you describe Bucky, too.
    – Napoleon Wilson
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 16:52
  • Yeah, I took the Russo's statement to be implying this, although your answer is good to expand on it. For the corruption, I assumed they meant he's also at risk of being further brainwashed as who knows what triggers still exist in him.
    – IronSean
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 12:52
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Copying from my answer to the same question on SFF:

Because Sam was the logical choice over Bucky

Joe Russo explains it in the following interview.

"It made sense that it was Sam," Joe Russo said. "I don't think that there were significant debates at all. Bucky is portrayed in the films as very damaged, and not necessarily the guy that you would want to trust with another weapon because he can always be corrupted. And Sam, if anyone matches Cap's integrity over the course of the last few films, it's Sam. From the time that they met on the mall in D.C. through the end of this film, and he just seemed like the logical choice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We don't have all of the context that the comics have, we can only bring completion to the stories that we've been telling and that seemed to make the most sense."

Comic Book, Avengers: Endgame Directors Explain Why Captain America Chose Sam Over Bucky

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    "Bucky is portrayed in the films as very damaged, and not necessarily the guy that you would want to trust with another weapon because he can always be corrupted." - this isn't a great reason at all. Presumably, they were able to remove Bucky's conditioning in Wakanda, since he requested to be asleep until that happened. And such a statement that he's" damaged" is a pretty bad message about PTSD.
    – Mithical
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 9:55
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    I think the angle they were going here is that Bucky undeniably has some darkness in him, and despite (presumably) being no longer affected by the conditioning, he's still been left somewhat damaged and cynical by the whole thing. Captain America (as a persona) is optimistic and never gives up ("I could do this all day"). Sam's outlook is definitely the closest to Cap's attitude to life. Plus, I can't help but spot the parallels between the post-Snap therapy session that Cap was running in Endgame, and the PTSD therapy session that Sam was running back in Winter Soldier. He's a natural choice.
    – anaximander
    Commented Jul 16, 2019 at 9:58
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    they wanted a black cap
    – Pemba Tamang
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 7:57
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    @Mithrandir: Bucky isn't damaged by PTSD. He's damaged by experimentation and brain-washing that turned him into one of Hydra's deadliest agents.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 13:53

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