Unworthy of being Captain

 

As Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility." That piece of advice was something Peter weighed each day as he served as Spider-Man. And it's something we've seen from heroes time and again. The power of their position and skill is a responsibility that must be weighed.

It's no secret I have been down on John Walker (Wyatt Russell) since his appearance in the first episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The actor is great, the character, and what he represents, are awful. And we saw it go off the rails for him in episode 4 as he took the Super Soldier serum and committed an act of violence from which he can't recover.

What made Steve Rogers such a great choice for Captain America was his selflessness. He didn't seek power. In fact, the act that convinced Dr. Abraham Erskine he was the right choice was jumping on a grenade. Steve didn't see power, he sought to be of use, to help those in need, with no thought of what it might mean for him. That sense drove him, even we we didn't agree with his path.

Even for Tony Stark, who was brash an arrogant, there was times of introspection and self-reflection, driven by what his powers meant and what using them in the wrong way could mean for others. He wrestled with the power he had, and whether it was right to have it.

Walker's internal struggle was driven of guilt and powerlessness. Even in last week's episode, it was him feeling powerless that drove him to want the serum, so he could take matters into his own hands. However noble he might have thought his intentions were, that inner drive was wrong, which made him the wrong choice for the serum and the position.

It reminds me more of Michael Corleone. There is a beautiful moment in The Godfather where Michael is with his father in the hospital. He holds his father's hand and looks at him saying, "I'm with you now." That line has a dual meaning as Michael is both physically present and, at that moment, making a decision to be a part of The Family. He does it because he wants to protect and save his family, but making that decision, ironically, ultimately leads to its destruction.

In the same way, Walker seemed to make a decision to enhance himself to preserve justice, preserve the shield as a symbol of good and protect his friends. Instead, he did the opposite. Now we'll see how much it costs him, and those who want to honor Rogers' memory.