WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 1, "New World Order," now streaming on Disney+.
With the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier out, audiences get a better understanding of the Marvel Cinematic Universe post-Blip and where its titular characters stand. While Sam Wilson works alongside his sister to keep the family business afloat and deals with the repercussions of relinquishing Captain America's shield, Bucky Barnes attempts to make amends for his crimes as the Winter Soldier, which has led him to befriending an older man.
After his therapy session, Bucky runs into an older gentleman, Yori, and it's quickly established that the two have been friendly for some time, always getting food on Wednesday's together. They're also close enough that Bucky alludes to his actual age twice to Yori. The first time is after Yori remarks how no one made it past 90 this week in the obituaries, and Bucky responds by saying, "So young. Such a shame." Later Bucky says he hasn't danced since 1943, quickly adding that "it feels like it," trying to cover his tracks; however, it's clear these two are friendly enough that Bucky feels at ease most of the time around Yori.
Their friendship is sweet, with Yori even setting Bucky up on a date with their waitress, Leah. It also makes sense that Bucky would befriend someone "his age," as he is technically 106-years-old. While in his therapy session, his therapist even remarks how Bucky has less than ten people in his contacts and that he's isolating himself. While this is mostly true, he seems to have made a genuine friend with at least one person somewhat from his generation.
As audiences have seen with Steve Rogers, it's hard being a man out of time, especially when one is going through the modern world alone. This is also true for Bucky since he's only been himself for a few years, having been under Hydra's control for decades beforehand. However, unlike Steve, Bucky has found someone his age to relate to, with Bucky even backing Yori up that pinochle is a valid date idea for two thirty-something-year-olds.
Sadly, there is another tragic layer to this friendship. As the two share lunch together, Yori's mood sours after seeing a plate of red bean mochi. His son loved this food, and as Yori soon reveals, he was killed while working abroad, with the authorities never learning who murdered him. However, audiences and Bucky know what happened because of the nightmare sequence earlier on in the episode.
Back when Bucky was the Winter Soldier, he was sent on a mission to kill several people in a hotel. Yori's son happened to witness this, so the Winter Soldier killed him. Bucky wakes up from the memory in a cold sweat, clearly haunted by this death. As established in Captain America: Civil War, Bucky remembers everyone he killed as the Winter Soldier, but it appears the death of Yori's son is sticking with him a lot in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, likely because he is spending so much time with Yori.
As seen later in the episode, Yori is on Bucky's list of amends. As part of his pardon in America, Bucky needs to go to therapy and work on making things rights. While one way he's been doing this is by turning over former Hydra allies, Yori is another case as a grieving father.
It's likely Bucky originally befriended Yori so he could come clean to the older man about what happened to his son, but as they got closer, telling the truth got harder. Bucky is now personally attached to Yori, so breaking the news to him about how his son died would not only risk losing that friendship, but it would also take an emotional toll on both of them. While he already feels bad about killing Yori's son, now Bucky feels even more guilt for causing his new friend so much pain, as seen on his date with Leah.
She brings up how not knowing the truth about his son's death has messed Yori up, which prompts Bucky to leave. He arrives at Yori's apartment to come clean; however, after seeing the alter to his son, Bucky lies about needing to pay Yori back and leaves without telling him the truth. With the show setting up Bucky's motivation to make amends for the Winter Soldier's crimes, as well as establishing how important it is to Yori to learn the truth, Bucky prolonging this tragic secret is doing neither of them any good.
Directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly and Daniel Brühl. The series is currently streaming on Disney+.
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