Did We See Bucky’s Trauma Room in Thunderbolts? It References an 11-Year-Old MCU Movie!

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Following Thunderbolts’ introduction of the MCU’s Void and the realm where he banishes his victims, a limited number of characters’ most distressing events were explicitly shown to viewers. However, I am now convinced that we may have seen a glimpse of Bucky Barnes’ most traumatic moment from an 11-year-old MCU film.

Despite earning just $382 million worldwide during its theatrical run, placing it as the fifth-lowest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, it’s clear that “Thunderbolts” resonated with both audiences and critics. It offered a distinct tone for the MCU, exploring complex themes of mental health, and introduced a New Avengers team that only loosely resembles the traditional lineup.

In this scenario, The Void’s disgrace-filled chambers played a crucial role. They compelled the eventual Avengers (and Manhattan as a whole) to endlessly revisit their most embarrassing moments during a low period. However, Yelena Belova bravely spearheaded the breakout from this mysterious dimension, ultimately succeeding by sheer determination.

In the Marvel series Thunderbolts, only the characters Yelena Belova and Bob Reynolds had their experiences in a special room (shame rooms) fully explored on-screen. However, it’s not hard to guess what happened to Bucky Barnes based on a specific scene.

Bucky’s Trauma Room Thunderbolts* Theory Explained

There Is A Glimpse Of Bucky’s Shame Room

As Bucky forced entry into Bob Reynolds’ hidden room in the attic, where a graphic portrayal of his father’s abuse was displayed, he playfully remarked that his life had been too idyllic to have encountered any hardships himself. However, for those familiar with Bucky’s history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is clear that this statement holds no truth.

It seems like, peering through the gap Bucky created when busting into Bob’s room of shame, I got a strong feeling that he might have been exposed to some memories reminiscent of what we movie-goers witnessed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. To be more precise, the steel bars, frosty ambiance, and gloomy decor bring to mind HYDRA’s lab for their Winter Soldier program – it’s a striking resemblance that can’t help but raise eyebrows.

In “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Bucky Barnes underwent another painful procedure to erase his memories, which is where they were initially wiped out. Fans on the internet find it plausible, given minimal evidence like a railing and lighting, that this sequence of events fits well with Bucky’s storyline.

Why It Makes Sense Thunderbolts* Would Reference Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This Was Bucky’s Most Shameful Moment

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d put it this way: In “The Void,” the guilt chambers make its hapless victims re-experience their most humiliating or distressing memories. For me, one unfortunate soul named Yelena was compelled to revisit her own deeply embarrassing past.

  • Luring a friend to her death while children
  • Outperforming her fellow Black Widow trainees and skipping the physical punishment they were subsequently subjected to.
  • Drinking until unconscious in a bathroom.

Prior to his capture by HYDRA, Bucky served as a Howling Commando and was the closest friend of Steve Rogers. In the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” it is shown that his memories were wiped out when he started recalling them again, which must have been an excruciatingly traumatic experience.

In my perspective, this very room was the hub of the malevolence that I, Bucky Barnes, have been grappling with throughout The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, and even beyond. Without the memory-erasing procedure and brainwashing, I wouldn’t be carrying nearly as much guilt on my shoulders.

It’s reasonable to infer that Bucky’s “shame room” mirrors the embarrassment he experienced when initially captured and controlled. His subsequent adoption of superheroism might symbolize an effort to correct past mistakes. On the bright side, his casual dismissal of the shame room incident could indicate that he has successfully overcome the trauma associated with it.

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2025-07-05 14:17