This episode got me super hyped for the rest of the show.

I feel like this episode finally got us to where we wanted to be. While understandably the first episode was setting a lot up, this episode finally at least saw Bucky and Sam together, which really helped keep the show alive. With this being said, we have a lot to cover, so let’s talk about it.

I think the first thing that needs to be said is: screw John Walker. I love that the show began with trying to make us feel somewhat positively towards him, but in the end, he’s just a guy who thinks too highly of himself and who is just the right type of character to walk the good/bad line. I think we can count on him becoming our underlying villain of the show, similar to how Agnes was not seen as the main villain right away, even though we knew she was Agatha. He made a point to say that he was pretty much everything Cap was, with the exception of having the serum. Now take a look at our main bad guys as of right now: new super soldiers. They could provide Walker with the ability to be just like Steve, someone who he will continuously live in the shadow of, especially with people like Sam and Bucky around to remind him that he will never be Steve, or Captain America in general for that matter. I expect to see some ongoing issues with this guy and a changing of alliances. Since we know Sam and Bucky do eventually get the shield (and while I don’t think they took Bucky’s suggestion to steal it), I do have to believe Walker most likely has to mess up in some way for them to give it back to Sam. Not to mention, who the heck is this guy to talk to Sam and Bucky, two actual Avengers and super heroes who have fought Thanos (twice!! and they’re 1 for 2), the way he spoke to them? He is nothing Steve was, but his ego definitely makes him think he has some authority over Sam and Bucky, which he doesn’t. I really could rant about him for this entire post, and I might consider creating a John Walker hate post at some point, but for this one, I will decidedly move forward.

Now speaking of our main villain, the Flag-smashers, something is definitely up. Karli, their leader, is being threatened by someone, who, to our knowledge, isn’t someone we know yet. They said she took something from them, which I bet above anything else that it is the serum. As of right now, it doesn’t appear the Flag-Smashers have any scientific home or testing areas, which means that it is likely she stole the serum from someone who does (my bet is going to be a government). Many places worked to replicate the serum and with the Snap causing absolute chaos, government facilities were likely invaded in some places or attacked.

Speaking of the super soldier serum, running across Isaiah proves that there have been successful super soldiers after Cap and Bucky. While we obviously already knew this thanks to Civil War, it meant that America was able to get it right at least one other time. Isaiah’s importance really runs the race issue that the show is trying to also convey as a second plot line, as we see with how Sam reacts to the knowledge that there had been a black super soldier decades before. But he also is there to show that the super soldier serum has been a running issue throughout history and therefore the possibility and likelihood of the Flag-Smashers being super soldiers is not out of pocket. To wrap this up, the boy who answered the door is likely Isaiah’s grandson, who actually becomes Patriot in the Young Avengers, which we have been gearing up towards.

Before I forget, I have to touch on the most important part of this episode: Zemo. First I want to say, go Bucky for having confidence in going to see a man that used his trigger words against him and caused war between the Avengers. But also, I need to point something critical out. With now having the knowledge of WandaVision and some of the TFAWS, I think it is important to point out that what we get from the trailers means nothing. Marvel purposefully is putting together these trailers in certain ways that have us thinking one way, but really they are almost backward plans. Zemo is the key to TFAWS trailer change. Obviously due to his history, we know Zemo is a villain. However, he won’t be the key villain of this show and may even end up being a good guy and help Sam and Bucky out. Think about it, he’s got nothing to lose. The Avengers barely exist right now and who does Zemo hate more than literally anyone? Super soldiers. So I’m sure the guy wouldn’t be thrilled that there’s a bunch of young super soldiers running around stirring up trouble. From the trailer, we see him free from prison, so if this holds up, I would like to think that our guys let him out. Zemo also has endless knowledge of Hydra files, so this could definitely be helpful in understand where the serum came from or who may have been working on one themselves.

Clearly a lot to handle in this episode, but I will say, I am happy to see Sam and Bucky together. I also am ecstatic that they finally showed Bucky’s super speed, which we all knew he had. I think the reason they left it out of the Infinity War scene where we see Steve and T’challa running is because that scene specifically was meant to be a passing of the torch moment. It makes me super happy, though, that Marvel didn’t forget this key super soldier ability for Bucky in this show. Also, the jumping out of the plane scene? Loved. I definitely think Marvel is entering back (slowly, but it is happening) into the more comedic and lighter tones of their movies. We are obviously still dealing with big issues, but there is a lightness to it. After all, we are essentially starting again with a new set of heroes. I can understand why this show especially, was supposed to be the first one out, and unfortunately Covid shifted that. Either way, I am pumped for next week and I hope you all have been enjoying the show as much as I have. Find your way back here next week for a new post and don’t forget to comment your own thoughts or message me privately!

Image: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 2”, Gavin Jasper, Kirsten Howard, Mike Cecchini, Jim Dandy, Den of Geek