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In Episode 4, “The Whole World Is Watching,” Sam’s story as a veterans counselor resurfaced as he tried to get up to Karli Morgenthau, only to have his best plans thwarted by a More and more impetuous John Walker. Zemo being staunchly anti-Super Solider – a notion that was reinforced this week when he destroyed the vials of serum (and didn’t slip them into some sort of double cross) – Karli’s humanitarian fate turned deadly, with refusal Sam’s hypothetical powers, and with Walker’s worst tendencies amplified by the dose he gave himself, The Falcon and the Winter Solider goes back to the roots of the MCU’s first avenger, and the idea that the boy from Brooklyn, Steve Rogers, was a bit of a fluke as the serum usually warps those exposed to it.
Will Cap’s shield be permanently removed after the murderous fiasco that ended this week’s episode or will Sam ultimately choose to redeem the idea of Captain America and accept the mantle? Or was Karli right when she said Captain America was a dead idea, an idea that now only represents those left behind and marginalized by history? Is the idea of Captain America worth preserving or does the post-Blip world of the MCU need something different?
Read on for some behind-the-scenes fun theorizing that we bounced back to IGN as a result of Episode 4. Oh, and be sure to leave your own take on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in comments – and don’t forget to vote in our poll at the bottom of the page!
Theory: Sam will take the Super Solider serum
Okay, so Sam said categorically that he would never indulge himself with the Super Solider serum. Zemo even noted how quickly Sam answered the question, as most people, even the most well-meaning, would still hesitate a bit.
But does that soon prepare Sam for a big serum-related decision? He said he didn’t want to be a super soldier but … doesn’t that make him the best person to be a super soldier? You want someone who is humble and who knows the dangers of the dose. Steve might have been one in a million, but Sam already has the right frame of mind for someone who takes the hit. One of the biggest problems with Walker is that he is a “good soldier” but an imperfect man. And a man who has already been emotionally marked by his time in combat.
Sam taking the serum doesn’t mean he’ll choose to be the new Cap, but he could get his hand forced and take it to stop Karli, Walker, a combination of the two, or something else. Throughout these four episodes, Sam became more willing and able to defuse a situation through dialogue and negotiation. This is the person you want to improve with the Super Soldier Serum. Karli thinks it is naïve to believe that in this new world, heroes shouldn’t have blood on their hands. It sounds a lot like Nick Fury when he tried to tell Steve that “SHIELD takes the world as it is, not as we would like it to be.” Which was basically the whole line of thinking that allowed Hydra’s infiltration and Project Insight to almost kill millions of people.
Then again, there’s a strong counter-argument that the last thing Sam would do is take the serum.
Theory: Sharon works with Karli
Yes, Karli could have found all this information about Sam’s sister, the names of her nephews and where Sarah’s dock came from some expert hacking or some sort of off-screen computer hijinks, but if you consider with Who Sam was in touch with during Episode 4, who he asked for favors, there might be a deeper connection between Sharon Carter and Karli (Sharon, of course, still being the Power Broker’s prime suspect).
Whether Sharon is the Power Broker or not, there is probably still some sort of connection between her and Karli, given Madripoor and the fact that Sharon is so damn disillusioned these days and most likely also opposes a return to the fixed borders and political strife of the old days. Somehow, Karli knew where and how to steal the Power Broker’s serum, and her whole faction feels like she has someone more powerful behind her (although she doesn’t know) So it stands to reason that Sharon could help Karli. here and there. She could even play Karli on both sides, as an ally and an enemy (Power Broker).
Theory: US agent is the only way forward for Walker
From what we can tell, John Walker just blew up his big gig as Captain America. It’s unclear whether he will be stripped of his status immediately or continue until the end of the season as a wildcard opponent, but it’s pretty clear that after killing a bloodless defenseless man- cold in front of the whole world, he can’t be Cap. He is now a super soldier, and the government is not just going to destroy a precious asset like that. He both ruined and saved his career by giving himself the last vial of serum. This allowed him to act violently, according to his worst instincts, but it also made him somewhat indispensable.
Of course he could just be locked up and experienced like poor Isaiah Bradley but most likely, Walker’s path, like in the comics, is for him become an American agent – a tool for the government without the fanfare and alleged heroes that accompany the Cape cloak.
Theory: the identity of the power broker will come at the very end
With only two episodes to go, one would hope that the Power Broker does not enter the mix. now like a whole new enemy to deal with. At this point, after going through two full episodes without a Broker reveal, it’s probably best to save the big moment for the very end of the season – or even for the inevitable. post-credits scene.
To clean up some of the clutter, the Power Broker would just have to continue as a persistent MCU character. One who can be dangerous but also useful – much like what Zemo has become.
Do you have lingering questions or theories? Share them below and vote in this week’s poll too!
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