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The Falcon Captain America and the Winter Soldier Episode 6 Review

Doggone it, Marvel. You’re hitting us right in the feels with this one. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been an eventful six-week ride. It’s had a lot of ups, lot of downs, and even moments that will live in meme infamy. However, it was all worth it in the end to see Sam Wilson get to the spot that Steve wanted him to reach. Sam Wilson is our new Captain America, and he owns that shield!

The New Captain America

Picking up where the last episode ended, Karli and the Flag Smashers raid the GRC meeting and hold everyone hostage. Just when it looks like she’s going to get away with it, who shows up? Sam Wilson, the new Captain America!

When I saw Sam in the new costume that Bucky got him from Wakanda, part of my brain wanted to squeal like a little kid. We’ve been waiting since Endgame to see Sam as the new Captain America, and he does not disappoint. I loved his costume. In addition to paying tribute to his Captain America costume in the comics, the white overlay over the red and blue really contrasts with Steve’s blue over red and white. It makes being Captain America his own. And he manages to kick the Flag Smashers butts in an extended action sequence that does the MCU proud. Sadly, it also ends with Sharon Carter killing Karli Morgenthau. However, this was the only way that things could end for Karli.

But kicking the bad guys butts is only half the job of being Captain America. The other, more important half is inspiring people to be better. And when the dust settles and Karli’s dead, Sam gives an amazing speech that calls out the GRC for their apathy to the people they’re supposed to be helping

Standing up for the Little Guy

This is the kind of thing that Steve Rogers would do. It doesn’t matter who they are. If Captain America sees someone failing to help those in need, he will call them out on it. Because beneath the Stars and Stripes, that’s what Captain America is all about. It’s not about serving the US government, but embodying the ideals that America was built on. Fighting to make sure that people are living up to them. And above all, helping those who can’t help themselves.

Ever since last week’s episode, I had been watching Captain America: The First Avenger several times. And it reminded me that Cap’s meant to stand up for those who can’t help themselves. Karli only managed to do what she did because too many people felt powerless about their lives. It’s a reminder of the problems we face in the real world. And instead of ignoring what Karli had to say, Sam learned from it. As a result, it helped him grow to be the hero Steve knew he could be.

Everyone Gets Some Kind of Happy Ending…

Once the dust settles and Sam embraces his new role as Captain America, most of the characters get a happy ending.

Bucky begins to make peace with his past as the Winter Soldier, and I can’t tell you how satisfying it was to see it happen. Watching him apologize to the old man whose son he killed was painful, but in a good way. Like ripping the bandaid off an old wound now that it’s begun to heal.

As for Isaiah Bradley, the cynical super-soldier, he gets his own happy ending. Granted, he was already living with his grandson, but he was a man haunted by his past. However, thanks to Sam, the truth about his deeds comes to light, and he gets acknowledged for it in the Captain America exhibit in the Smithsonian.

I loved this scene, and what it represents. Isaiah was right: America had treated him unfairly, and he had every right to be mad at his country. At the same time, though, Sam was right. If they gave up, then all the pain would be for nothing. It’s a powerful reminder: never forget the past, but don’t let it define you.

Heck, even Walker, of all people, gets a kind of happy ending. He avenges Lamar, and he gets a new start as the US Agent. Most importantly, though, he seems to come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t the right guy to be Captain America. He even works with Sam and Bucky without any arguments. Honestly, I think he’s happier this way, and I hope he gets a chance to redeem himself.

Even Zemo gets a happy ending, as his butler kills the remaining Flag Smashers.

…Except for the Flag Smashers

The only ones who don’t get a happy ending are Karli and the Flag Smashers. But there was no way that they would get out of this alive. Karli had driven herself into a corner with her actions, and it ends with her and the Flag Smashers dying.

In hindsight, I think Karli was Marvel trying to repeat the success of Erik Killmonger. People loved Killmonger, because out of all the villains in the MCU, he was right about he was fighting against. I think Marvel hoped that lightning would strike twice with Karli. However, I don’t think it did. At least Karli inspired Sam to live up to his role as Captain America, so there’s that.

The Power Broker

The mystery of the Power Broker had been a recurring question throughout the series. And, in a surprise that I did not see coming, we get the reveal of the Power Broker. It’s Sharon Carter!!!!

I was genuinely surprised by this revelation. I had no clue that it was Sharon! So it seems that Peggy’s niece became even more cynical in her time on the run than we thought. And as a result of Sam, she’s been pardoned and got her old job back. In other words, now she’s got more resources than ever.

I am torn about this revelation. On the one hand, I liked the big surprise and want to see where this goes. On the other, I wonder if Marvel plans to redeem Sharon in the future. Only time will tell. However, it’s made clear that this isn’t the last we see of the Power Broker.

The Adventure Continues

Unlike WandaVision l, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier doesn’t hint at any concrete stories in the future. However, it does change its name to Captain America and the Winter Soldier. So, I think it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing more of Sam and Bucky.

As a whole, I really liked The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It may have stumbled at times, but it’s a worthy addition to the MCU. Definitely worth binge-watching!

I Give “One World, One People” a 5/5

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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 2 Review

It’s never easy to accept when someone new steps into an iconic role. No matter how good people say the new person is. There’s going to be the critics and naysayers who say “You’re not good enough”. I’m of the opinion that its best to reserve judgement until we see the new person in action. And having seen New Cap (that’s what I’m calling John Walker, the new “Captain America” until further notice,) in action , I can safely say…that this isn’t going to work out. At all.

New Cap’s Already Cracking

On the surface, John Walker seems like a worthy successor to Steve Rogers as the New Cap. He’s got three Medals of Honor, top marks in every category, the trustworthy face, and good with the shield. And he does make an effort to reach out to Sam and Bucky, asking to work with him. Altogether, he seems like a decent guy. On the surface.

I could already see the cracks forming, though. From the outset, Walker recognizes how monumental a task it is to become the New Cap. How everyone has high expectations of him to fill Steve Rogers’ shoes, and it’s tearing him apart. On the one hand, he wants to meet the expectations everyone’s got for him and be the best Cap he can be. On the other hand, he knows that he can’t live up to Steve’s legacy. In addition, we see how frustrated he is at being at the beck and call of the US Government. Unlike Steve, though, who chose to embody the best ideals of America over being just a soldier, Walker allows himself to be shackled to the bidding of the government. The contradictions are eating away at him.

Even the way he talks to Bucky and Sam after fighting the Flag-Smashers is off-putting. Despite their obvious distrust of him, Walker acts respectful to the two and wants them to work with him. It feels like someone who knows they’re in over their heads asking for help from someone who knows what they’re doing. But at the same time, it feels condescending, with Bucky and Sam thinking he only wants them to help legtimize his role as New Cap. And when they make it clear they’re not interested, he drops the niceties and tells them to stay out of his way.

Bucky and Falcon Tensions Brewing

Bucky and Sam have had six years to build up their character dynamic, and it’s one of the best things about this show. They both have similar personalities (I think) and hold Captain America in high regard, and the trailer for show makes them out to be vitriolic best buddies. However, this episode demonstrates just how high tensions are between the two.

It all comes down to Falcon’s decision to give up the shield. Bucky continues to tell Sam that he made a mistake doing so, and while a part of Sam thinks so, too, he tries to justify it by saying it was the right thing to do. Bucky doesn’t see it that way, though. He thinks Sam turned his back on what Steve stands for, that he made the wrong decision to make Sam his successor. And as he points out during their joint therapy session (which is hilariously written like couples therapy), does that mean Steve was wrong about Bucky?

I see right through Bucky, though. Even though none of what he did as the Winter Soldier was his fault, he still blames himself. And now he’s projecting his guilt onto Sam. It’s uncalled for, and it takes until the end of the episode to realize that he was out of line. The two even agree to part ways for good after dealing with the Flag-Smashers. I really hope they don’t, though.

Legacy of Racism

It goes without saying, but even fifty years after the Civil Rights Movement, America’s still trying to move past its history of racism. Recent events in society have made that obvious, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier brings it to the forefront just how bad still are.

Firstly, there’s the unspoken issue of why Sam turned down the Shield. He’s afraid that no one’s ready for an African-American Captain America. I mean, he can’t even get into an argument with Bucky in public without some cops racially profiling him! Bucky had to outright tell the cops that he was the Falcon to get them to back off.

In addition, we see another reminder of the legacy of racism present in the form of Isaiah Bradley, a Korean War veteran who got a version of the Super-Soldier Serum. This man was a war hero that even fought off Bucky and ripped off half his metal arm. And what happened to him? He got jailed for thirty years and used as a guinea pig by the government and HYDRA. It’s unfair, it’s cruel…and it sounds like something that the US would do. And I hate every part of it.

The Return of Zemo

The big, overlying issue that the episode talks about is the Flag-Smashers. Their members were able to fight off Bucky, Sam, Walker, and Battlestar (Walker’s partner). There’s no doubt about it-someone’s making more super-soldiers. And we don’t know how. The name “Power Broker” gets dropped by the Flag-Smashers, but that’s about it. Bucky’s only idea on what to do is to go see the one person who knows more about HYDRA than all of them: Zemo.

Zemo may not have powers and he’s no Thanos, but he came closer to tearing apart the Avengers than anyone else. I hoped to see him again in the MCU, and now that wish is coming true. And the fact that he’s back is bad news for everyone.

So, in short, I liked this episode. I think it’s doing a great job at building the post-Endgame MCU, and giving us a lot to look forward to. I can’t wait to see what happens next week.

I Give “The Star-Spangled Man” a 4.5/5

Stray Observation

• We got to see Isaiah Bradley’s grandson, Eli Bradley, in this episode. In the comics, he’s the superhero Patriot and leader of the Young Avengers. Like I said in my post for The Game of Nerds, the Young Avengers are coming!

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