So a month or two ago I watched G.I Gio's review on Brave New World where he does make a good point. Why NOT have Sam take the Super Soldier Serum?
From a writing perspective I guess it makes him unique from the MANY Super Soldiers in the MCU. I do like the explanation given in Falcon and the Winter with the speech Sam gives at the end.
John Walker at first seemed like a perfect fit. He was military trained, highly decorated, and more than willing to sacrifice his life for his country. John is never shown to be a bad person or malicious intent when taking up the mantel. He's actually extremely aware of the huge shoes he has to fill that requires support from his friends and family.
Unfortunately, this idea of feeling Steve's shoes is what leads to him breaking under the pressure. Steve was never trying to be a symbol, rather just be the best person he could be. This is why Steve was often at odds with organizations like Shield. Steve always did what he thought was right while Walker tried to be what he felt like others wanted to see out of Captain America.
Which eventually leads to him not just losing the shield but also his best friend. It isn't until he's faced with a choice to stop his best friend's killer or saving a bus full of people that he is reminded on why he wanted to be Captain America in the first place. In his own words:
"Everybody in the world expects me to be something. And I don't want to fail them."
Captain America can be anyone who tries to do the right thing. Regardless if they're women like Peggy Carter, regardless if they are black like Isaiah Bradley, or if they have no super powers like Sam Williams.
I LOVE what Sam is meant to stand for when it comes to him not having a serum. But from an in-universe stand point, it makes it more difficult to save lives.
Admittedly a super soldier serum wouldn't have made much of a difference in both his aerial battle at sea and his fight against Red Hulk in Brave New World. But against semi-normal people (those he fights more often) it would have majorly helped.
Let me know if there is any in-universe explanation in the MCU as to why Sam doesn't take the serum that I'm missing? Other than the serum being destroyed.
