The Non-existent Hug in CA:CW

Captain America: Civil War has been quite rightly criticized for its lack of physical affection between Steve and Bucky, even when a hug would have made perfect emotional sense in the storyline.

There were several logical places where a hug would not have been out of place, like here when they share a moment before heading into danger at the Siberian stronghold where Bucky had been imprisoned for so long as the Winter Soldier --

[by gryzmoly]

Or how about on the escape flight to Wakanda when Bucky is so seriously wounded?

[by thecannibalfactory]

But the most logical moment was when Bucky is about to enter cryo again, leaving Steve alone and lonely in the world once more. The lack of any physical contact whatsoever in this scene is glaring and emotionally dishonest.

[gifset by stevies]

Of course, there was one hug in CA:CW -- the defensive move by Steve and Bucky to fit both of themselves behind Steve's shield when under attack in Bucky's Bucharest apartment. The underlying message of this scene is that hugging is allowable under threat of death but not to express genuine emotion between Steve and Bucky.

[gif by chubby-dumpling-384]

Even then, the embrace is fleetingly observable and easily missed. I like this representation of what their momentary embrace looks like from above --

[by unbefreakinlivable]

Tomorrow's post: Some images of the hugging scenes that should have been in CA:CW.