Thunderbolts* Fans Are Sleeping on John Walker—The True Star the MCU Doesn’t Want You to Love

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*.

In this rephrased version, the team in Thunderbolts is a diverse group consisting of antiheroes, outlaws, and an unstable laboratory subject from various points within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They are compelled to work together due to their shared need for survival. Among them are Florence Pugh’s character Yelena Belova, a one-time Red Room assassin grappling with a crisis of purpose; David Harbour portrays Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, a former “super-soldier” who misses the glorious days of superhero activity in the Soviet Union; and Lewis Pullman plays Robert “Bob” Reynolds, a well-intentioned but mentally unstable powerhouse whose existence is linked to the success of Project Sentry, which is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s effort to rejuvenate the Super Soldier program.

Every character in the Thunderbolts team offers a distinct flavor of disorder. However, Wyatt Russell’s portrayal of John Walker/U.S. Agent particularly emphasizes the challenges involved in uniting troubled heavyweights with doubtful moral compasses into a single, effective group.

John Walker Is, By Far, The Most Relatable Loser In Thunderbolts*

He Was Originally Planned To Be The Film’s Main Villain, And For Good Reason

Yelena refers to the Thunderbolts, also known as The New Avengers, as a team of individuals who have faced setbacks. Given that every member, save for Bucky Barnes, has joined due to Valentina’s offer of purpose in their otherwise disjointed lives, her assessment isn’t far off. John Walker’s situation seems particularly moving in this context.

The 120-minute duration of Thunderbolts struggles to provide context for viewers new to the storyline of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series on Disney+, as well as Walker’s descent from grace. As a fallen super soldier who lost his Captain America title after publicly executing a terrorist who had killed his closest friend, Walker navigates the thin line between virtue and vice more authentically than others. Caught in a role working for Valentina as a covert American agent, he remains a man who believes that righteousness involves taking lives for the sake of his nation’s ideals. Despite yearning for recognition from his wife, superior, and the public, it consistently eludes him.

In the comic series Thunderbolts, the Super Soldier serum significantly enhances a person’s character traits along with their physical abilities. For example, John Walker, who is known for his arrogant and reckless attitude, exhibits these characteristics to an extreme degree. Despite this, he repeatedly risks his own life to protect his fellow misfits – during their escape from Valentina’s fortress, the limousine chase, and when Sentry redirected Bucky’s bullets back at him. It’s no surprise that writer Eric Pearson initially considered making Walker the primary antagonist of Thunderbolts, as he mentioned in an exclusive interview with ScreenRant.

Initially, drafts for this storyline featured John Walker as the antagonist in the climax. The plot twist suggested that Val deceived him into believing his serum was losing effectiveness, and she administered medications to sustain him. In truth, he was more like a ticking time bomb, analogous to the Hulk character.

The John Walker-Bob Chemistry Carried Much Of The Thunderbolts* Runtime

Who Didn’t Crave More of the “Walker Chastising Bob” Dynamic?

Bob and Walker.” Although Yelena might have been promoted as the highlight, it is indeed Bob and Walker who carry the weight in terms of team dynamics, chemistry, and genuine humor (unfortunately, Red Guardian fans may find his jokes contrived).

At first, Walker appears harsh and indifferent towards Bob and others in the movie, but gradually his tough demeanor softens, exposing hidden feelings of sorrow and remorse beneath. By halfway through the film, one can’t help but find oneself longing for more moments of Walker reprimanding Bob.

John Walker Would Be a Better Captain America Than Sam Wilson

Sam Is The MCU’s Official Post-Steve Captain America… That Doesn’t Mean He’s The Right One

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, John Walker mirrors Steve Rogers in a captivating way, if not as accurately, compared to any other character. Sam Wilson, or Falcon, may be noble, but he can’t quite match up to Captain America, a fact that President Ross made clear in “Captain America: Brave New World.” While Steve Rogers symbolizes the virtuous ideals of America, John Walker reflects its raw and complex reality, which is imperfect, assertive, and ethically ambiguous.

What sets Walker apart, yet also diminishes him, lies in his inability to excel as Captain America. His descent from grace and flawed redemption illustrate the paradox of being unfit for the shield but still aspiring to bear it. In contrast, Sam has never faced such turmoil, making him appear shallow when he dons the Captain America mantle.

As an avid Marvel fan, I’d dare say it would be both daring and shrewd to appoint Walker as Captain America in the New Avengers team. It could even be more captivating if we see him forging a bond with Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. Who else among the MCU characters can truly resonate with the journey of redemption from a troubled past better than he?

Wyatt Russell, a well-known actor in his own right, is the offspring of seasoned performer Kurt Russell, who played Ego – the Celestial and Peter Quill’s biological father – in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”.

John Walker Is To Thunderbolts What Harley Quinn Is To Suicide Squad’s Task Force X

Characters Walker from “Thunderbolts*” and Harley Quinn in both “Suicide Squad” movies share a striking resemblance beyond initial appearances. They can both be unpredictable emotional entities. In “Thunderbolts*”, Walker’s actions throughout the first half remain uncertain, raising questions about whether he will perform heroic deeds or commit heinous acts. Harley Quinn follows a similar pattern in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad”. She leaves Task Force X to reunite with her lover, the Joker. Consequently, neither character manages to gain the unwavering trust of their teammates.

Items initially designed for proper functioning but now malfunction? Examine. Walker is portrayed as he is in Thunderbolts* due to the rigid moral framework of American society that often struggles with complex ethical dilemmas. Harley transforms into Gotham’s Criminal Queen of Chaos, a result of systemic mistreatment within her institution and her abusive relationship with the Joker.

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2025-05-11 01:06