The new title card has been a subject of some controversy, especially since Marvel made a point to change Sam Wilson's codename and keep Bucky's the same. Many fans wondered why Marvel didn't change Bucky's MCU future will still involve his Hydra persona. Showrunner Malcolm Spellman, on the other hand, was reportedly surprised by the decision, citing an alternate "Captain America and the White Wolf" title card.

Related: The MCU's Biggest Bucky Challenge Is Finally Figuring Out How To Use Him

Ultimately, Marvel's decision to keep Bucky's name unchanged was a mistake. Calling Bucky the Winter Soldier undermines his journey during Falcon and the Winter Soldier season 1. The title, like the series, prioritizes Sam Wilson's character and leaves Bucky in the role of sidekick. Despite promises to explore Bucky's story more deeply, Falcon and the Winter Soldier handles his character clumsily and rushes the conclusion of his story arc. Not changing his name seems to be a tacit ission of this, implying that only one arc mattered. Though it was supposed to be a show with two equal co-leads, it was really a show with a lead and a ing actor, and the name change for Sam alone only underscores the imbalance.

Bucky spends a significant amount of time during Falcon and the Winter Soldier trying to overcome his bloody past. His story begins and ends with attempts to accept his history and make reparations to his victims. His confrontations with Zemo, although brief, raise questions about how much of the Winter Soldier is still alive inside Bucky. In the season finale, Bucky seems to finally achieve some peace, confessing his sins to the father of a young man he killed during a Winter Soldier mission. A subsequent scene shows Bucky has crossed out every name in his notebook, presumably completing his therapy. Although much of the action occurs offscreen, Bucky seems ready to leave behind his Winter Soldier identity permanently.

The title card casts confusion on that ending, raising the question of whether Bucky's rehabilitation is truly complete. Bucky's story about the struggle to become a better man is already weakened because it takes second place to Sam's superhero arc. The title card is the final nail in the coffin, burying his progress in favor of a nebulous future for Bucky in the MCU. There are a few reasons Marvel may want to keep Bucky's Winter Soldier moniker — they could be trying to lengthen his redemption arc or keep the Winter Soldier alive for the second season of Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But none of that is set up in season 1. The changed title card is a last-ditch attempt to keep the drama of Bucky's identity crisis alive, even though, by all s, it's mostly been resolved.

More: What Happened To Bucky After The Winter Soldier In The Comics