The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

[SeventyOne]

Don't know if i was just me, but the most recent episode with the action, color, and tone felt like John Wick but Marvel.

I was thinking John Wick mashed up with Fast & Furious, the latter due to the locales and

Spoiler

Zemo turning into an ally/comic relief. Sort of like F&F did with the Rock and Jason Stathem.

 

[Nick]

Spoiler

I also loved the part at the beginning of the episode where John Walker is storming that facility and was getting pissed and being like "Do you know how I am?" as if him holding the Captain America mantle is supposed to mean something to anyone and it also shows his short-temperedness.

Steve Rodgers never would've assumed that him being Captain America should've made a difference in how people look at him, it was all about fighting for what he believed in and treating the mantle with respect.

I was thinking John Wick mashed up with Fast & Furious, the latter due to the locales and

Spoiler

Zemo turning into an ally/comic relief. Sort of like F&F did with the Rock and Jason Stathem.

The trailers and marketing did a good job of misdirect on that.

 

[Scott W.]

Zemo is so much fun.

 

[Nick]

So, so far, critics are hitting this episode harder than any MCU episode so far on Disney+. The lowest episode rating so far is an 84% for Episode 7 of WandaVision. This episode currently is sitting at a 79% RT Score.

Tbh, I kinda agree. I definitely felt there was just something lackluster about this episode and while the low-level, John Wick-style fighting and setting was cool, I just felt like this episode still felt like set-up, which, in a six episode miniseries, I feel like we should be rolling a bit faster. We need some payoff now going forward.

Location spoiler:

Spoiler

Madripoor showing up and being the main location and the location where Sharon was hiding out is going to be interesting going forward. Madripoor is the first X-Men location they've now brought into the MCU and I think we'll be seeing a lot of this place going forward in the MCU.

 

[Jaden]

Spoiler: Spoilers

Zemo dancing was something I never thought I’d see, yet, I love it so much. Just a reminder, this guy got the Avengers to break up.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Spoiler: Spoilers

Zemo dancing was something I never thought I’d see, yet, I love it so much. Just a reminder, this guy got the Avengers to break up.

Hey, he's celebrating. He got out of jail, got to kill a few guys, has the chance to see fine and "real" versions of artwork. He's having the time of his life, and we shouldn't ruin the moment for the Baron.

 

[chris.g]

My favorite episode so far! LOVE the X-Men nods! This actually made me appreciate Civil War as well. Damn, I'm so loving this. Definitely feels like an improvement upon The Winter Soldier formula.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I mean F critics this show is amazing. Like each episode so far has been different and the "villains" are fleshed out if they don't like this the MCU is not for them this is great action, funny moments and pretty deep characters

 

[Nick]

I mean F critics this show is amazing. Like each episode so far has been different and the "villains" are fleshed out if they don't like this the MCU is not for them this is great action, funny moments and pretty deep characters

I still enjoyed the episode overall, I just felt underwhelmed by the end. That's it. I've watched it twice now and my opinion hasn't changed.

However, on a more interesting note, who do you guys think the power broker is? Sharon? (Or would that be too obvious) Possibly Zemo? Someone else? and do you think that Skrulls are involved here? Like, could Sharon be a Skrull? I felt like she acted quite differently, however I guess we saw her outside of a "work" environment for once, so that would make sense I guess.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I still enjoyed the episode overall, I just felt underwhelmed by the end. That's it. I've watched it twice now and my opinion hasn't changed.

However, on a more interesting note, who do you guys think the power broker is? Sharon? (Or would that be too obvious) Possibly Zemo? Someone else? and do you think that Skrulls are involved here? Like, could Sharon be a Skrull? I felt like she acted quite differently, however I guess we saw her outside of a "work" environment for once, so that would make sense I guess.

I was hoping its King Pin, Tomb Stone or Hammerhead.

Also when the shots came in the episode I thought it was Haweye but made more sense now why it was someone else.

Thinking about the episode more, I already loved Zimo but my god in one episode they flesh him out so much more. They better not kill him, please let him be apart of a the group of villains in the next Avengers film

 

[Scott W.]

Watching the episode again and did anybody think the volume was all over the place?

 

[Nick]

The one thing I can’t really get over from the episode is that there was a bounty placed on them through all of Madripoor John Wick-style, yet as soon as Sharon came into the picture, it sort just went away.

 

[Scott W.]

It appears that there is a Mephisto style rumour making the rounds.

Spoiler

The gist of it is that Zemo mentions Sokovia was 'cannibalised by it's neighbours before the land was even cleared of rubble' An Eastern European neighbour could be hinting at Latveria and Dr Doom retrieving all the vibranium that was left.
[/ispoiler]

I could see a mention but I don't think this will be anything more than that if it even happens.

 

[Nick]

Power Broker theory...

Spoiler

I think Sharon is working for the Power Broker definitely, but a theory I heard that makes some sense are the the Power Broker is The Mandarin, which would also make sense as a tie-in to Shang-Chi.

 

[WillQ92]

The John Wick vibe was definitely pretty heavy in the last episode- probably because it was written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of John Wick.

I'm definitely way more into this series than Wandavision. Excited to see where it goes.

 

[Nick]

The John Wick vibe was definitely pretty heavy in the last episode- probably because it was written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of John Wick.

I'm definitely way more into this series than Wandavision. Excited to see where it goes.

Kari Skogland (the series director) deserves some credit for bringing that vision to life though too. Kolstad writing a script only gets you halfway there. The script sort of has the directions in it which will tell the director where the settings are and what the feel of the episode should be, but Skogland is the one who brought it to life.

 

[WillQ92]

Kari Skogland (the series director) deserves some credit for bringing that vision to life though too. Kolstad writing a script only gets you halfway there. The script sort of has the directions in it which will tell the director where the settings are and what the feel of the episode should be, but Skogland is the one who brought it to life.

There's an undeniable DNA present in Kolstad's writing. Not denigrating Skogland's job running the show, but Kolstad didn't direct the John Wick movies either- only wrote them. With Falcon and Winter Soldier, he's also getting EP so I would venture to say that the feel of the show isn't entirely on Skogland's shoulders. It's also not as if every episode so far has felt "John Wick-y", just the episode that came from a Kolstad script.

 

[Nick]

There's an undeniable DNA present in Kolstad's writing. Not denigrating Skogland's job running the show, but Kolstad didn't direct the John Wick movies either- only wrote them. With Falcon and Winter Soldier, he's also getting EP so I would venture to say that the feel of the show isn't entirely on Skogland's shoulders. It's also not as if every episode so far has felt "John Wick-y", just the episode that came from a Kolstad script.

Oh I agree, Kolstad leaves an unmistakeable footprint in his writing. Not a big deal, but just wanted to say Skogland is the director only, Malcolm Spellman is the showrunner.

 

[Nick]

Great, great episode. This show does an absolutely phenomenal job with Karli, John Walker, and Zemo at playing the “grey zone”.

Like they are doing a lot of bad things, but the show is doing a good job of showing their motivations and why they are doing what they are doing.

Also:

Spoiler

Where the hell did Zemo go? And do you guys think Sam gets the shield back next episode after John Walker went full John Wick in public?

I do wish they would’ve shown John Walker taking the serum though.

 

[joelbryant11]

John Walker is all of a sudden my most hated villain in the MCU. Absolutely screw that guy (not you Wyatt, you’re doing amazing bb)

Spoiler

Now that he has the serum it’s going to take a lot to take his ass down. I think Sam and Bucky will agree to team up with Karli to end him. Did you notice how the gash around his ear got bigger and bigger at the end? Could be a reference to the Red Skull.

Is the door now shut on Sam getting the serum to fully become the new Cap by the end of the show?

I could see Zemo not showing up for the rest of the show. It’s also possible that he decides to go back to Sam and Bucky once he finds out John took the serum because he’d want to help take him down.

This episode made me way more anxious than I ever thought this show would make me. Bold stuff.