Episode five of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is in the bag, my friends. This week, the show opted for a quieter, character-driven episode after last week’s extreme jingoistic display from John Walker. We are at the penultimate episode, and the show still has to resolve some plot points. Or perhaps they don’t? A second season has not been mentioned for this or any of the MCU’s streaming series, but it certainly has room for more. Given the show’s themes of displacement, racial inequality, and acceptance of one’s place in the world, six episodes aren’t nearly enough to close out a lot of this.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier continues to impress, both in the realm of action-oriented episodic television and more character-driven storytelling. I will admit, this show was not one I was all that excited for. Now five weeks in, it’s one of my favorite Marvel outings, right along with WandaVision. The show has succeeded in blending old characters with new ones, introducing compelling characters like Isaiah Bradley and Madame Hydra (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to you), not to mention John Walker, the Captain you love to hate. Let’s hit these Five Thoughts so you can go about your day, shall we?
1. Can we get Sam an exoskeleton?
The opening battle between our titular heroes and John Walker was a brutal display of superhero power. Then there is Sam, who can hold his own, but ultimately the only combatant without powers in that scenario. I appreciate and admire Sam’s refusal to take the super-soldier serum. It’s akin to an MMA fighter not juicing up. It’s noble as all hell, but maybe not the best decision if you plan to fight some juiced-up enemies. I offer a solution. Can we get Sam a Vibranium exoskeleton of some kind? Something to protect his spine at the very least. After watching Lemar get chucked into a concrete pillar by a super soldier and, you know, die. Maybe it’s time we give The Falcon a little protection. After all, if you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to get thrown into a concrete pillar and die dressed as a metal bird.
2. Anyone else feels sorry for Walker? Yea, me neither
To be honest, I do feel a little bad. John Walker is simply a product of the government. He is, as he said, the animal they created. His declaration of “I am Captain America!” indicated his most significant character flaw, entitlement. Walker has been built up as the ultimate patriot by his superiors, friends, and family. To him, he’s owed the shield and the status of America’s greatest hero. Having anyone, including the government, question his authority and decision-making is an absurd notion to him. As everything is stripped away, you can see disillusion set in. Walker’s whole life is turned upside down, and what does he do? Build his own shield. *sigh*. Entitlement. Credit to Wyatt Russell, who is playing the crap out of John Walker and displaying all the raw crazy living inside J.W.
3. They dragged Elaine into this
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine debuted this episode, and what a comic book pull she is. The double/triple agent known as Madame Hydra has entered the MCU, and what a casting choice. Everyone’s favorite Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has picked up the mantle of the ruthless Secret Agent, and she already has plans for our friend JW. The Contessa is essentially the catalyst for the birth of U.S. Agent, complete with a blank business card and snarky attitude. Ms. Dreyfus completely commanded the screen in her first appearance and, given her character’s background in the comics, could be a significant player in Sam Wilson’s tenure as Captain America. This goes back to my previous point that there has to be something else dealing with Falcon and Winter Soldier. You don’t just introduce Madame Hydra into the mix and not revisit her at some point. Especially when you have Elaine in the role. I believe she is also part of the upcoming Black Widow movie, so this isn’t the last we will see of the Contessa.
4. “Pledge allegiance to that, my brother”
Watching Sam have a sit-down conversation with Isaiah was some of the strongest acting we have seen in Marvel to date. The weight and tragic nature of Isaiah’s life is an essential lens for Sam to view the world through, especially now that he has the shield back. After hearing how the Black super soldiers were forcibly created and treated, can Sam truly reconcile being a symbol of the country that carried out such atrocities? Heavy stuff for a Marvel show, eh?
Continued belowBy the end of the episode, Sam chooses the shield and all its baggage because he is a good man devoted to doing the right thing. The country needs Captain America. The one the country chose was wrong—time for the one selected by Steve Rogers to step up. Sam looks ready to carry the weight of the shield, the legacy of Isaiah, and the hopes of America on his winged back. He also has a new suit, apparently. Please be an exoskeleton. Please be an exoskeleton. *crosses fingers tightly*
5. Boat bondin’ & and shield chuckin’
This was a slow, character-driven episode. It was nice to catch up with Bucky and Sam as they worked on that broken-down boat together. This was an opportunity to revisit the dynamic of our heroes after that emotional, impromptu therapy session from a few episodes back. These two have come a long way from their time during Captain America: Civil War. We also find out that Bucky was entirely in favor of handing the shield over to Sam from the start. A genuine friendship has formed between these two, exchanging brotherly jabs and Buck taking time out to flirt with Sam’s sister. There is no more “we are totally friends” moment than telling someone to stop flirting with your sister. It’s a T.V. right of passage.
Also, they throw the shield around a bunch. I would like to revisit a comment I made about how easy everyone throws that shield around. This episode takes it to a new level of insanity. These two jokers are bouncing it off trees to one another, and the dang shield slides right onto both their arms after each throw. I am convinced that big-ass frisbee is magical. There is no other explanation. Not to mention, after Bucky leaves, Sam can’t seem to catch the damn shield again until he runs a bunch and does a ton of flippy nonsense. As with the commercials in WandaVision, I fear there is no explanation coming for my confusion. So, magic it is.
The wrap-up
One episode left and more reveals are happening at the zero hours. I am excited to see Walker’s bullshit shield made of hopes and dreams. What was in the Wakanda-ass box Bucky gave Sam? It better not be another set of wings because, dammit, who wants that? It better be a box full of super-soldier serum. Not encased in vials or tubes. I’m talking loose juice poured directly into the damn Vibranium luggage. Dunk your head in Sam and sip deep, my friend. Then go punch Walker in the chest and send HIM flying. Madame Hydra is in play, and we still need to find Karli and put a stop to her shenanigans. We did get a nice close to Zemo, though how it was so easy to track him down, we will never know. He is headed to The Raft, so we can assume we will see him again, perhaps leading his own team of “reformed” villains *cough* Thunderbolts *cough*? There is still a lot to do and only one episode to do it in. I suspect a WandaVision style cliffhanger, leaving us wanting and questioning everything until the next time we see these characters. Still exciting. See you next week for the final episode.
Noteables:
- Did anyone else not buy John Walker’s fighting prowess against two Avengers? It was bogus, but we got a busted-armed Walker out of it, so….yay?
- The Contessa can’t afford a sturdier business card? That thing was floppy garbage.
- It’s easy to forget the government doesn’t own that shield. It’s Stark Tech. Tony famously told the government they couldn’t have his stuff. Now, here we are.
- It’s a nice nerdy joy to watch The Patriot from Young Avengers unassumingly playing basketball outside of Isaiah Bradley’s place
- Aaaaaaand Agent 13 is the Power Broker. Obvious, no?
