Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Episode 6: One World, One People

In the midst of darkness, only the glow of a foreboding emergency red lighting illuminating the sanctum, guarded and taken by the Flag Smashers, delegates and diplomats cowering out of fear. A bright light beams from one of the skyscrapers windows, piercing the veil of red that has held fast the talking area. With shining light behind him does Sam Wilson fly in, elucidating the scenery and the viewer, for he is no longer The Falcon, but in his new garb and uniform, he stands tall, Vibranium shield in hand, as the new Captain America! What an introduction to the last episode of the season! 

After a reunion fisticuff dance with Bartroc, Sam commands the scene of search and resume of the diplomats with help from Bucky and Sharon Carter. It becomes a split tactical rescue, with Sharon, Bucky, and surprisingly John Walker chasing after an armored truck of hostages, and Sam flying after a helicopter holding them. John Walker, aka the new “US Agent”, is out for vengeance against Karli for his partner Lamar’s murder. After catching up to her Karli nonchalantly mentions that Lamar’s death didn’t matter. Walker responds in rage, going after Karli with all his Super Serum strength. She manages to outmaneuver him and escape. Bucky is left fighting the other suped-up Flag Smasher in a construction pit. The two ensuing fights happen near each other and the hostage truck, leading to the truck being placed in a precarious position: tipping over the edge of an unfinished building fifty feet in the air. 

Sam shows his mettle as the new Captain America, and that he is worthy of its mantle with his quick tactical decision-making in saving the helicopter of hostages. As he performed advanced aerial maneuvers and deployed his tech, I thought to myself, ‘Steve wouldn’t have been able to do this.’ It was a good thought to have. After saving the helicopter safely, the truck is about to fall, with no heroes in sight to save it, until Sam shows up, using all he has to keep the truck from falling to the ground. During the show, a massive group of pedestrians show up, and begin to proclaim that Sam is the new Captain America.

A chase after Karli and the rest of the Smashers occurs, with Karli branching off from the others. The heroes run after them, with Sharon being the one to catch Karli first. It is then revealed that Sharon was the Power Broker all along, which we all knew from the beginning anyway. Makes you wonder why in Ep 2 she decided to fight all the mercenaries out to kill Buck and Sam on Madripoor, when she was the one who hired them to begin with? Anyway, Sam finally shows up and tries to not fight Karli. He becomes forced to choose when Karli points a gun at him ready to shoot, until the choice is taken from him by a shot from Sharon that takes Karli’s life. 

We come upon the aftermath; medics and EMTs running about, victims and survivors being cared for, police trying to create control in the chaos. Like an angel from on high, Cap shows up, holding the dead karli in his arms, and lightly glides to the ground. After some time he gives a quite lengthy speech to a live and televised audience around the world, on the merits of what matters most in a world post-Blip. He says that he’s just a black man, with no serum, but he’s still here. Powerful words. 

As for an epilogue, Walker becomes a rogue agent for a shadow organization, Sharon is given US citizenship again, and Isiah Bradley is given his monument at the Captain America museum. Overall the “super” of the “super-powered” plot was subpar at best. The overarching themes of legacy, American Iconography, Black America vs White, and overcoming ghosts of the past were portrayed in a good way. Showcasing what the world would say to a Black Cap in a racist world was ballsy, but right to do for the show. Seeing Bucky learn to face his demons with vulnerability instead of violence was great as well. With the announcement of a Captain America 4 film, I look forward to seeing where Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes will head off to next. 8.5/10