Disney Plus has recently concluded their epic Marvel series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Now that the six-episode series has finished, fans are already discussing the possibilities and what they mean for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As such, it’s the perfect time to look back and analyze the finale for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The episode, titled One World, One People, finally sees Sam Wilson truly accept the role of Captain America and become the next superhero to helm the mantle. At the same time, however, John Walker has been relieved of his own mantle and goes on his own path now that he’s been given Super Soldier Serum.
Specifically, John Walker enters the employment of one Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine. She insists that “things are about to get weird,” and that John Walker’s US Agent will come in handy. This seems to indicate we’ll be seeing John Walker and Val up to something potentially sinister down the line. Of course, John Walker isn’t the only character on a new path.
We also have Sharon Carter who was recently revealed to be the Power Broker. While many already assumed she would have been revealed as such, the series went a little bit further. Specifically, the finale gave her a mid-credits scene in which she states the following:
“Start lining up our buyers. Super Soldiers might be off the menu, but we’re about to have full access to government secrets, prototype weapons, you name it,” she states. “There should be something for everyone.”
Obviously this isn’t too surprising under the notion that she is the Power Broker. However, some fans have been considering the possibilities that she might actually be a Skrull. With that interesting theory in mind, it means that Sharon Carter could be setting things up for Marvel’s Secret Invasion. So we probably haven’t seen the last of her character.
Similarly, Sam Wilson has finally become the new Captain America as mentioned above. While this is likely paving the way for Captain America 4, it also connects the series with where we last saw Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame. Pieces of the previous puzzle are definitely coming together, while new puzzles are continuing to be revealed. In that tradition, there’s a sweet moment where Sam Wilson manages to honor Isaiah Bradley by having him added to the Captain America Exhibit in Washington’s Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. He’s been given a plaque that reads the following:
“Isaiah Bradley is an American hero whose name went unknown for too long.
Isaiah was one of a dozen African-American soldiers who were recruited against their will and without their consent for participation in human testing in pursuit of the Super Soldier Serum. Most did not survive. The few who lived through testing were sent on secret missions during the Korean War. During the conflict, against all odds, Isaiah Bradley rescued his fellow soldiers and 28 other POWs from behind enemy lines.
However, fearful of the ramifications of a Black Super Soldier, some individuals within the government tried to erase Isaiah’s story from history. His family was issued a false death certificate, and for decades the truth of his unflinching bravery was buried.”
Isaiah Bradley’s grandson also joins Sam Wilson at the exhibit. In the comics, Eli eventually becomes a superhero named Patriot as part of the Young Avengers. We can only assume that there could be a similar path for the young character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Likewise, Bucky manages to forgive himself for his acts as the Winter Soldier and joins Sam Wilson as a fellow friend. Finally, Zemo has his butler detonate a bomb to destroy a truck of captive Flag Smashers. It seems he too will have a comeback at some point.
Disney and Marvel have certainly given themselves plenty to work with here, and the finale for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier makes for a hefty building block in furthering the MCU. Hopefully we’ll see all of these new additions and revelations come into play sooner rather than later.