The Falcon And The Winter Soldier: 5 Memorable Moments

With a little help from Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), Sam and Bucky’s search for the super soldier serum lead them to Madripoor, a fictional island-state and sanctuary for scum and villainy said to be inspired by Singapore (superficially, that is). (Per Marvel Database website, Madripoor is located in the south of Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.) Once linked to the X-Men, Madripoor’s presence on the show suggests that the mutants are coming to the MCU… or have they already arrived?

You can’t mention the ‘Power Broker’ episode without once bringing up Zemo’s meme-able, adorkable dance moves in a Madripoor club. Marvel satisfied fans pining for more Zemo footloosing footage by releasing an extended cut — and looped it for an hour. (That will shut them up.) Zemo is a curious, charming figure: the Captain America: Civil War villain starts out like a Hannibal Lecter to Sam and Bucky’s Clarice Starling and as the show progresses, he turns into a Leo Getz (but less annoying) to their Riggs and Murtaugh.

In the same ep the new Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell) is introduced, we also learn of the heartbreaking story of Isaiah Bradley (Alias' Carl Lumbly), a Korean War vet and super-soldier who once crossed paths with Winter Soldier. Instead of given a hero’s welcome, he was jailed and experimented on by the US government and subsequently forgotten by time. (That’s another Disney+ spin-off waiting to be greenlit.) Isaiah’s tragic backstory makes Sam wonder if the world is ready for a Black Captain America.

As one story winds down, another is being set up. For a while, we’re led to believe that the fabulous Veep star’s Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the Power Broker but turns out she isn’t (that’s Sharon Carter). It’s unclear what Val gameplay is now (is she Madame Hydra?) but whatever it is, she has John Walker’s newly-minted US Agent at her beck and call. Val was supposed to debut in Black Widow but the pandemic screwed that up royally. Maybe the movie will shed light on her role.

After five episodes of soul-searching, Sam decides to step up to the plate as the new Captain America, wearing a Wakanda-made suit, to stop the Flag Smashers from carrying out their terrible plan. He saves the day and even gives a rousing speech (“Look, you people have just as much power as an insane god or a misguided teenager. The question you have to ask yourself is, ‘How are you going to use it?’”). To mark Sam’s ‘promotion’, the end title card is changed to Captain America and the Winter Soldier. The next time we see The Captain, it’ll be on the big screen.