The MCU's Old Captain America Theory Makes His To-Do List An Accidental Gag
Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode 1.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier fueled the debate regarding Captain America's fate — and teased a moon-based theory that makes his previous to-do list into a retroactive gag. Played by Chris Evans, Steve Rogers served (chronologically) as the MCU's first superhero. Starting out in World War II, he eventually found his way to the present day. Joining The Avengers, he frequently put his life on the line in service of humanity. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, however, Cap finally sought out a long-overdue reward. Now able to time-travel, he reunited with Peggy Carter. As well as enjoying a long-awaited dance, the pair seemingly lived out their lives together. Having reached old age, Steve returned just long enough to pick a replacement Captain America in Sam Wilson and pass to him his shield.
As seen in the show's first episode, however, Sam rejected the idea, returning the shield to the government. While Sam intended for it to be included in the Captain America museum display, it ultimately made its way into the hands of John Walker. Where this will lead Sam (and even Bucky) remains to be seen. Something that's been equally up for debate has been what happened to Steve Rogers after Endgame. A common theory stated he died at some point within the six-month time-jump. That could indeed be the case. Until it's definitively answered, though, the question was one as much on the minds of the show's characters as it has been for fans. As mentioned by Sam's new ally, Torres, there was even chatter on the internet that Steve was now stationed at a base on the moon and "looking down over us."
Sam predictably shrugged it off as nonsense. Regardless, the idea was an amusing one to contemplate. Furthermore, it potentially painted a moment from Captain America: The Winter Soldier in a new light — making it accidentally hilarious. Acclimatizing to life in the modern-day, Steve had an ever-growing list of things he needed to catch up on. The nature of the list differed from country to country. Alongside Star Wars and the Trouble Man soundtrack, though, a staple was the 1969 moon landing. Obviously, at the time, that referred to watching the "giant leap for mankind" undertaken by Neil Armstrong. However, if Steve Rogers indeed ended up on the moon, his to-do list would become retroactive foreshadowing. Instead of something to simply watch in traditional awe, "moon landing" could be construed as something he directly wanted to experience.
It would make an odd kind of sense if that was the case. It was never made clear what Steve actually accomplished from the list. With advanced knowledge and all the time in the world, however, it stands to reason that a lot could've been ticked off. Equally, it'd make sense for the list to subsequently evolve. With years steadily advancing, that original catch-up list could've turned into a bucket list. Given the direction of the MCU over the years, it would certainly not be outside the realm of possibility for watching the moon landings to have shifted into participating in his own. After all, Captain America went to space multiple times en-route to retirement age. The experience could've left him equal parts more experienced at space travel than most and in want to see more of it. As such, it's amusing to imagine that he merely seized an opportunity to do something he'd long desired.
There would even be a storytelling precedent for this, with the aged Steve potentially usurping a role embodied by Nick Fury and Bucky Barnes in the comics. That being said, as super-powered as Steve may still be, it wouldn't be much of a way to spend the remaining years of one's retirement. As such, it's more likely that, if alive, he's either settled somewhere closer to home or generally wandering the Earth — helping people along the way. Still, while Falcon and Winter Soldier retconned Bucky Barnes and broke the continuity, it accidentally made things better and retroactively more amusing in terms of Steve Rogers.
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