10 MCU Fates Worse Than Death
2. Bucky's Mind Control
Throughout every one of Captain America's movies, it all seems to come back to the Winter Soldier. For as much destruction as Bucky Barnes has brought to the world as a killing machine, Steve Rogers always is willing to lay down his life if it means protecting his friend. However, the background behind the second great supersoldier is enough to leave even the hardest men in shambles.
For anyone who saw the ending of Captain America's first outing, it was bad enough seeing Bucky fall to his death in the snow, but what HYDRA ended up doing to him may have been even worse. Going into his mind and equipping him with superhuman strength, Bucky reappears as the Winter Soldier, acting as almost a slave to HYDRA's bidding.
Even when he finds compassion for Rogers at the end of his second outing, it only takes a few choice words to revert him back to his dead-eyed killing machine persona.
While it may be considered a throwaway line by some, Barnes' crack that he "can't control his own mind" is a lot more emotional than many are willing to give it credit for. It might be awesome to see Bucky kicking ass with his best friend again, but given all the turmoil he's gone through, it may have been better if he was left in the snow all those years ago.