And I'll admit, I walked INTO the movie with a heavy emotional investment in Peggy being mentally lucid.
But yes, oh god, you're right; Steve just does not ever let people see how hard on him it is. He's very grin-and-bear it. So when Sam went, "It's the bed, right?" the counsellor in me went, oh come ON, he's probably heard that schtick so many times he'll bounce you off cynically. And then I realized... no, probably not. Fury probably wants to keep him operational and is therefore deliberately engineering Steve's self-perception as America's Hero (because that museum display is great for the public, sure, but I've got this sneaking suspicion that it was constructed for Steve's eyes alone).
So the intimacy and vulnerability of that early-morning run... that Steve sees this guy's power and weakness, that he's strong and tough and vigilant, that he relaxes when Steve announces his presence from behind and then swears to cover it up, is part of why Sam can slip that powerful bit of empathy in. Sam lets himself be totally seen, keeps his defenses down, just stays in that moment, because he can put up with Steve lapping him, and still keep going; he can measure himself against Captain America and not feel diminished; so even by the time they sit down Steve has a sense that this guy is safe enough to let in.
Sam (to carry on the identity discussion below) is the master of changes, the gatekeeper; he can be all of himself at once. His secret identity is a natural part of his civilian one, and vice-versa. And what do we see him doing at his job? Teaching heroes to transition into civilians.
So I see Sam and Steve turning into a beautiful relationship.
Edited (I don't even know where I am anymore. Lost in the land of squee. ) 2014-04-05 02:53 (UTC)
He's very grin-and-bear it. So when Sam went, "It's the bed, right?" the counsellor in me went, oh come ON, he's probably heard that schtick so many times he'll bounce you off cynically.
I do think he's grin-and-bear it, but not in a faking-it kind of way. I mean, even if Steve didn't have a sense that this guy is safe to let in, I still think that Steve would think, "Ah, this person is attempting empathy with me, and ever though a part of me just wants to say 'that's not gonna work', that would be a rude counter to this genuine offer of empathy, and therefore I will share a bit of myself even though it's not what I need--because that's what this person wants from me." You know?
've got this sneaking suspicion that it was constructed for Steve's eyes alone
That's interesting. I never would have thought of that.
he can be all of himself at once
Can he, though? Because what he really seems to want to do is pal around with Cap and put himself in terrible danger, and he can't really do that at the same time as the life he had. He'd put Falcon away, and when he picked it up again he dropped a lot of ground he'd gained. At least that's the way I read it.
I commented this below, but I want Sam and Steve living together as friendly roommates (or as a ship! not picky!) because they've both Been There Done That with war, nobody's stepping on anybody's triggers, and there can be breakfast and workouts forever.
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But yes, oh god, you're right; Steve just does not ever let people see how hard on him it is. He's very grin-and-bear it. So when Sam went, "It's the bed, right?" the counsellor in me went, oh come ON, he's probably heard that schtick so many times he'll bounce you off cynically. And then I realized... no, probably not. Fury probably wants to keep him operational and is therefore deliberately engineering Steve's self-perception as America's Hero (because that museum display is great for the public, sure, but I've got this sneaking suspicion that it was constructed for Steve's eyes alone).
So the intimacy and vulnerability of that early-morning run... that Steve sees this guy's power and weakness, that he's strong and tough and vigilant, that he relaxes when Steve announces his presence from behind and then swears to cover it up, is part of why Sam can slip that powerful bit of empathy in. Sam lets himself be totally seen, keeps his defenses down, just stays in that moment, because he can put up with Steve lapping him, and still keep going; he can measure himself against Captain America and not feel diminished; so even by the time they sit down Steve has a sense that this guy is safe enough to let in.
Sam (to carry on the identity discussion below) is the master of changes, the gatekeeper; he can be all of himself at once. His secret identity is a natural part of his civilian one, and vice-versa. And what do we see him doing at his job? Teaching heroes to transition into civilians.
So I see Sam and Steve turning into a beautiful relationship.
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I do think he's grin-and-bear it, but not in a faking-it kind of way. I mean, even if Steve didn't have a sense that this guy is safe to let in, I still think that Steve would think, "Ah, this person is attempting empathy with me, and ever though a part of me just wants to say 'that's not gonna work', that would be a rude counter to this genuine offer of empathy, and therefore I will share a bit of myself even though it's not what I need--because that's what this person wants from me." You know?
've got this sneaking suspicion that it was constructed for Steve's eyes alone
That's interesting. I never would have thought of that.
he can be all of himself at once
Can he, though? Because what he really seems to want to do is pal around with Cap and put himself in terrible danger, and he can't really do that at the same time as the life he had. He'd put Falcon away, and when he picked it up again he dropped a lot of ground he'd gained. At least that's the way I read it.
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