Captain America: Brave New World has addressed the worst criticism of the movie in the best way. The first hints of Sam Wilson becoming Captain America were found in Avengers: Endgame before the character did not fully accept the responsibility until The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s ending. Since then, audiences have been waiting patiently for his first big-screen solo movie, with this coming in the form of Captain America: Brave New World‘s story as part of the MCU’s Phase 5.

Despite the anticipation of many, Captain America: Brave New World has received some negative attention, with one prevalent criticism holding little worth. Some of the negative attention towards regular elements of the film’s story was lessened thanks to Captain America: Brave New World‘s impressive teaser trailer, though one remains in some circles of the MCU fandom. However, Marvel has perfectly responded to this criticism in a simple yet effective way, negating Brave New World‘s biggest criticism.

Captain America: Brave New World’s Trailer Comes With A Response To An MCU Movie Criticism

Sam Wilson Perfectly Negates An MCU Cap Critique

The criticism in question that has been raised since Avengers: Endgame is simple enough in a broader sense: Sam Wilson should not be Captain America. For a variety of reasons, the decision to pass the shield onto Sam Wilson received backlash from sections of the Marvel fanbase. One of the more unproblematic reasons for this included the overlooking of Bucky Barnes, whom many saw as the successor to Steve Rogers thanks to his redemption in the MCU. That said, Bucky’s shaky past sees him arguably unworthy of the shield, meaning the MCU followed Marvel Comics in making Sam the next Captain America.

Unfortunately, this decision drew some more unfavorable criticism. Since taking on the shield, there have been regular MCU criticisms that simply disregard Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as Captain America. As has been the case with Miles Morales as Spider-Man, some refuse to label Sam Wilson as Captain America and still dub him Falcon, despite a meaningful, powerful character arc that saw Sam earn the shield beyond doubt in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

These criticisms can often be attributed to underlying racism, as evidenced by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s story. Thankfully, Marvel Studios did not sidestep this reality and chose to interweave Sam’s journey to becoming Captain America with explorations of social equality for black men in America. Regardless, these criticisms have often not stopped – be they racially motivated or otherwise – with the MCU movie still falling prey to some refusing to accept Sam Wilson as Captain America.

Although these criticisms persist, Captain America: Brave New World‘s trailer offered the perfect response. In the trailer, Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross tells Sam Wilson that while he may be Captain America, he is not Steve Rogers. This links to similar criticisms by those who devalue Sam as Cap. However, Sam’s response is perfect: “You’re right. I’m not.”

Why Sam Wilson’s Captain America Response Is The Right Move

Marvel’s Captain America Response Is Simple Yet Effective

Despite being relatively understated, Sam Wilson’s response in Captain America: Brave New World is the right move. For one, it works in the context of the story and Sam Wilson’s MCU timeline. Sam Wilson accepting that he is not Steve Rogers is a perfect continuation of his character arc from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That story explored Sam’s unwillingness to take on the shield as he did not believe he could succeed Steve and uphold his legacy. By retorting that he is not Steve Rogers, it proves that Sam is not trying to be.

Instead, Sam is his own version of Captain America that is worthy of as much respect as Steve received. While this works with Sam’s story, it is also a great way of addressing the criticisms of him becoming Captain America. It is simple in that it conveys this reality; Sam deserves to be Captain America. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored that it was not Steve Rogers alone who could be Cap, and it only matters that whoever takes up the shield fights for what is right.

Sam telling Thunderbolt Ross, and through him the criticizing members of the audience, that he is not Steve Rogers is a subtle point of defiance. The criticisms of Sam do not matter to him or anyone else that supports him. They are rarely even worth addressing or fighting over, because Sam is not Steve, but is Captain America nonetheless. In Captain America: Brave New World, this will become more evident than ever as Sam embodies the stars and stripes to establish Captain America as the MCU’s focal point once more.