Relationship Spotlight: Sam Wilson & Capt. Steve Rogers (The Avengers)

Yes, I know Sam is military, too, but I’m not sure what his rank is, so he doesn’t get a title (sorry, Sam!)  I’m also aware that this is about the 4,000^th Relationship Spotlight I’ve done on a Marvel hero and their nonpowered close friend.  Really, though, as long as the MCU keeps giving them to me, I’m going to keep loving them.

Cap and Sam have their friendship version of a meet-cute in The Winter Soldier, where both guys are out on the National Mall for an early-morning run and Steve laps Sam repeatedly, much to Sam’s chagrin.  It’s a funny bit, with Steve just doing his thing and Sam reaching increasing levels of “come on!” as Steve keeps passing him.  Immediately afterwards, though, they introduce themselves and start discussing their respective military experiences.  Sam is quick to pick up on Steve’s struggles readjusting to the world after being on ice, and he invites Steve to stop by the VA hospital where he works.  His ostensible reasons are 1) everyone there would love to see Steve, and 2) it would score Sam major points, but a more serious reason is unspoken but evident:  it can be hard coming home, and everyone deserves some help on that front.

I really like this aspect of their friendship.  At this point in the franchise, Steve is feeling pretty isolated.  Virtually everyone from his time is dead or dying, and he’s having difficulty connecting with people because they can’t relate to his experiences.  Now, Sam is from a different time and fought in a different war.  He was never given superpowers, and he was certainly never frozen for 70 years.  But on an emotional, psychological level, war is much the same no matter what the era, and there, at least, Sam can understand some of what Steve’s going through.  It’s good for Steve to have a friend who doesn’t necessarily expect him to be okay, someone who offers support and a friendly ear.

On Steve’s side, I like that he meets Sam, finds him to be a standup guy, befriends him, and approaches him as an ally all in a very short span of time.  Someone as famous as Steve is bound to have short encounters with strangers all the time, and I’m guessing Sam doesn’t expect him to actually drop by the VA, but that’s just what Steve does.  It’s a nice demonstration both of Steve’s judge of character and of the way he shows people his estimation of them.  Later in the movie, when Steve and Natasha are on the run and there’s seemingly no one to trust, Steve turns to Sam, sure that he can be relied on.

With Steve and Sam, the military dynamic is definitely there, and although Sam has no official Avenger affiliation until Age of Ultron and thus isn’t beholden to Steve in any formal way, he still approaches Steve as both a friend and a commanding officer.  When they undertake something together, Sam gives his input, but usually in more of a “this is what I think, but I’m with you either way” sense.  He frequently defers to Steve and is incredibly loyal to him, risking physical injury as well as incarceration on Steve’s behalf (anyone who complains that Cap is a perfect boy scout should wonder why he’s so often on the wrong side of authority.)  Steve doesn’t ask for this and in fact repeatedly checks in with Sam and offers him outs when Steve is planning a big move; Steve takes on a lot of responsibility for the welfare of the people who follow him and never wants them doing anything they’re not comfortable with.  However, the fact that Sam is so all in with Steve, despite Steve’s tendency to get them both into trouble, is a testament to Steve’s power as a leader.  Following him isn’t easy, but those who do never regret it.