As John Walker (Wyatt Russell), the newly dubbed Captain America, is reprimanded for his actions, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) have to go back to basics and decide whether it is right for either of them to follow on from Steve Roger’s wishes. But while Sam and Bucky are deciding what their next actions are to be, Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) is ready to bring the fight to the GRC once and for all and she’s ready to make it personal.

‘Episode 4’ ‘The Whole World is Watching’ ended on one hell of a cliffhanger, and that’s exactly where director Kari Skogland picks up from as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes confront John Walker, demanding the shield from him, and in the process Skogland sets up one of the series’ most epic confrontations yet. This mano-o-mano fight between these three men is bone-crunchingly good, and action fans will be in for a treat as it’s a gnarly battle to determine who holds sway over the shield, and the very ideal of Captain America. To start this episode with such an intense piece of action was certainly a surprise for all, and it establishes a clear paradox between the action, ideas and beliefs that are held by John Walker compared to those of Sam and Bucky.

This confrontation also leads into the focus of ‘Truth’ where John Walker is stripped of his military rank and the mantle of Captain America and things are about to get very interesting for this American golden boy who has now fallen very low. From the very beginning, Walker has been an extremely complex character, an elite military professional, who bears his own defined moral code, Walker is at odds with a rapidly changing situation and has been unable to control what has happened. As the ultimate company man he has done everything his government has ever asked of him, and now having lost his rank and the respect of his country he’s a wounded dog who is capable of anything. Wyatt Russell’s performance is again flawless, and it’s about to get very interesting from here.

Walker’s fall from grace also introduces an incredible surprise to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, along with the greater MCU, that no one could have foreseen, in the presence of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine who is played by the fabulous Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Sporting slick femme fatale spy glam, and a killer attitude, JLD quickly owns the centre of the screen with her introduction and makes it clear that Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is a character who is about to seriously switch up the MCU in a most unexpected way. Her appearance in the episode is a clear highlight, and even though her appearance is brief, I’m certain that this cult Marvel Comics character is going to be a fan favourite.

‘Truth’ is also a very important episode for the character of Bucky Barnes as he comes to a catharsis as to who he is now, and who he was before. And it’s a moment that has been building for some time. Ever since Captain America: Civil War we have seen this man fighting with his inner doubts and trying to be a better man after being a brainwashed killer for so long. And now in a final moment with Baron Helmut Zemo we see the full resolution of his character, and it’s a moment that I believe many fans did not see coming.

With so much uncertainty now surrounding them, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes also decide to lie low and it’s here where questions of the shield and the identity of Captain America are raised. Over the last 13 years, we’ve seen Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America as the embodiment of the best virtues, values and aspirations of what America and its heroes can be. But he was a man from another time and place, and now in a complicated world, Skogland and showrunner Malcolm Spellman ask the questions about whether the idea of Captain America is still relevant?

The answer to these questions is communicated in the most unexpected of metaphors, the rebuilding of Sam Wilson’s family fishing boat, and the meaning that comes from seeing it rebuilt. As Sam, his sister Sarah, Bucky and the rest of the local community help to rebuild the boat, Sam also begins his training to pick up the shield. At first unwieldy and off-balance, Sam struggles with it, but through the strength of mind and focused discipline, he is able to put aside his doubts and master the shield. Having served his country numerous times he has already worn the red, white and blue, and now with the shield in hand, he’s ready for one final fight against the Flag Smashers. But he’s ready to do it his way, not by sheer brute force, but by trying to save Karli from herself before it’s too late.

As we go into the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Solder a new hero is about to rise in a Falcon who is now reborn, and it’s anyone’s guess as to just exactly what will go down next in the final episode. But I’m sure that it’s going to be a moment that long-time MCU fans will not want to miss out on.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available to stream on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Having tracked down wanted revolutionary Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) and her anti-patriotism cell the Flag Smashers in Latvia, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) move to intercept her. But while Sam calls for a diplomatic approach, the arrival of Captain America himself, John Walker (Wyatt Russell), threatens Sam’s non-confrontational plan, and soon things go wrong very quickly for all involved.

The heat is dialled all the way up in the ‘The World World Is Watching’, the latest episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and director Kari Skogland takes us into some very heavy drama in this episode. After a devasting bombing campaign in the previous episode, Karli Morgenthau has now moved from freedom fighter to terrorist and this is where Skogland places her attention in this latest episode. Her focus in the narrative moves to perspective and she takes audiences into the mindset of both Karli and John Walker, and these are two characters who are on total opposite spectrums. And stuck in the middle of it all are Sam and Bucky.

Episode by episode we have seen the actions of Karli Morgenthau escalate, while she began stealing food and medicine to help those who had become undone by the ‘blip’, she has now stepped it up a whole new level and is actively engaging in terrorist activity to build her new world. But Karli is not a straight-up villain, but instead, a complicated lost girl who is just trying to do the best she can. But she’s beginning to cross the line, and her newfound power is moving her to make radical decisions that have dire consequences. A strong sense of belief and radical optimism shape Kellyman’s performance and this makes her very interesting to watch in the events that unfold.

Playing off against Karli’s anarchist dreams is Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, the new Captain America and the pressure is starting to get straining for this appointed defender of truth and freedom. Russell plays into Walker’s military leanings and the discomfort he feels with the pressure that comes from his newfound celebrity. Added to this are some frustrating events that mar him in a bad light and even this hero isn’t immune from the consequences of ego and hubris. There’s a subtleness to Russell’s performance and this helps to sell the complexity that this character is feeling and Skogland uses this to her advantage in this episode to great effect.

With Morgenthau and Walker facing off against one another, and Sam and Bucky stuck in the middle, Daniel Bruhl’s Baron Helmut Zemo comes into his own…and he’s having a lot of fun in the chaos that is erupting. As the ‘fly in the ointment’, he’s using the complexity that is unfolding around him to his own advantage, and we see his Machieveillain scheming come into play. Bruhl has terrific composure as Zemo, and you never know what he is going to do next, keeping things very interesting in the process. He also has an explosive interaction with Morgenthau, and the consequences of his actions lead into the episode’s shocking revelation.

Also making a notable presence in ‘The World World Is Watching’ is the character of Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba, a member of the Wakandan warrior elite The Dora Milaje, who has a strong relationship with Bucky Barnes, having helped him recover from the Winter Soldier into the White Wolf. And this is a very real test for where Bucky’s loyalties lie. Not only do we see the re-introduction of Wakanda, but we also get a stronger bond between both the films of the MCU and this new long-form episodic storytelling on Disney+ and the result is one giant canvas. The presence of the Dora Milaje also leads to one of the episode’s most exciting action scenes that proves that there is no equal to their combat skills.

‘The Whole World Is Watching’ is the most complex episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to date, and director Kari Skogland uses its ongoing narrative to explore further ideas of right and wrong, anarchy versus the status quo, and the consequences of unchecked power. The idea of the ‘super-soldier’ is of key importance to this episode and the concept of choice of whether to accept its power or not. Skogland is playing with a lot of heavy ideas in this episode, and it’s clear that repeated viewings of this episode will be needed to get at the heart of what she is exploring as there is so much complexity to unravel.

The action and intensity of ‘The Whole World Is Watching’ doesn’t let up for a moment and it’s very clear that in the hero game no one is innocent. Wilson. Barnes. Walker. Morgenthau. Zemo. All of them have blood on their hands, and it’s clear that we’re no longer in a world where the rules of black and white apply. This isn’t 1944 with Captain America fighting the Red Skull in a battle between good and evil, but a grey world where the forces of patriotism, anarchy, freedom and totalitarianism are all smashing together. All of these forces lead to a shocking conclusion that will send a cold shiver of dread down the back of your spine, and things are about to get very bad from here in the MCU.

‘The Whole World Is Watching’ will go down as one of the most defining moments for the character of Captain America within the MCU, and where this series goes is anyone’s guess now. With so much unchecked power, and raw emotion leading the series it’s clear that things are about to get a whole lot worse for our heroes of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. The match has been lit….and the explosion is imminent.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available to stream on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Facing the threat of unstable super-soldiers in the form of global rebels The Flag Smashers, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) turn to former enemy Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl). Breaking out Zemo and enlisting him in their global hunt for the Flag Smashers, the three men end up in the exotic island of Madripoor, and it’s on this fantastical island where things get interesting.

Episode by episode the intensity of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has been building, and Episode Three ‘Power Broker’ is by far the best episode to date and really takes audiences into the spy genre like never before. Director Kari Skogland enlists the talents of John Wick creator, Derek Kolstad, to conceive this episode and Kolstad’s knack for exotic world-building and innovative character-driven action really shine through in this episode and there’s plenty to keep audiences engaged with here.

Of significant importance to ‘Power Broker’ is the re-appearance of Daniel Bruhl as Baron Helmut Zemo, a Sakovian terrorist who was responsible for the events of Captain America: Civil War and who now finds himself re-introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a very interesting way. Fans will be surprised to find out that Zemo is in fact ‘enlisted’ into Sam and Bucky’s hunt for The Flag Smashers, an interesting turn given Zemo’s villainous past, and this keeps things exciting for audiences. Skogland focuses on Zemo’s aristocratic heritage, and we finally get to see Bruhl pull on the mask and it’s fair to say that this Machiavellian character has his own objectives to meet.

In keeping with the genre expectations of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Skogland also takes things to a new level in this episode and audiences are introduced to the fantastical ‘pirate state’ of Madripoor. This island nation could best be described as a mix of Tokyo, Singapore and Macau on steroids, and with its extensive use of neon lighting and fusion techno-music, it makes for a wicked set piece for Bucky, Wilson and Zemo to explore. As a criminal sanctuary within the MCU there are plenty of bad guys hiding out here, and the resulting action is awesome to watch unfold. Skogland and her team apply some awesome creativity in bringing Madripoor to life and I hope we get to explore more of this location in future MCU narratives.

It’s also on Madripoor where we are re-introduced to Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Cater/Agent 13, and this former S.H.I.E.L.D operative has gone to ground and re-invented herself as a badass smuggler who is doing whatever she has to do to survive. Audiences will be shocked to see the change in Sharon, who has gone from noble crusader to bad girl thief, and she carries deep anger towards the sudden appearance of Sam and Bucky and is not at all welcome to their plans in the first instance. However she soon sees the opportunity in their plan and she goes to work and quickly showcases an array of lethal new combat skills, and put it this way, Sharon has no interest in fighting fair.

While the bulk of the action of ‘Power Broker’ is contained within Madripoor, we also lean more into the motivations of Erin Kellyman’s Karli Morgenthau, and her actions are moving from anti-patriotism to straight-up terrorism with The Flag Smashers. And it’s clear that a burning hurt is powering her in her fight to bring about radical change. Juxtaposed to this is Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, who is acting as the ultimate company man as the new Captain America and he’s clearly starting to show cracks at having to put up with the bureaucracy that is controlling him. And I’m pretty certain that we’ll see him walking off the board and engaging in his own hardline vigilante justice in future episodes.

‘Power Broker’ is without-a-doubt the best episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to date and to say that the episode ends on a strong cliffhanger would be an understatement. The action is intense, the character interactions complicated, and the worldbuilding exotic and exciting and it’s only going to get more interesting as this narrative continues.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available to stream on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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There’s a new shield carrier now in the Marvel Cinematic Walker, and John Walker (Wyatt Russell), the new Captain America is winning hearts and minds, all while doing his duty as the new defender of democracy. But Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) aren’t impressed and they’re certainly not fans of Walker’s. And this is going to make things interesting, especially as they grow closer in their investigations to uncover the motives of the anarchistic terrorist group The Flag Smashers.

Taking centre stage in Episode Two of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the character of John Walker (Wyatt Russell) aka the new Captain America, and they’re rolling out the red carpet for this new appointed American hero. An elite Special Forces Green Beret and three-time winner of the Medal of Honour, Walker is the perfect over-achieving patriot and is the total opposite to what Steve Rogers was. While he’s clearly got a mission to fulfil and a duty to follow, there’s an unease with Russell’s Walker, and it’s clear that he’s a tool for a government that still sees itself as the world’s peacemaker. And this has real significance to a changed MCU following the actions of the blip.

While we only get a tease of who John Walker is in ‘The Star-Spangled Man’, it’s clear that he’s not Steve Rogers. This is a man who’s known success and achievement his whole life, and who has never really taken a hard knock, add in the fury of commercial capitalism and a high-speed media tour and it’s clear that this Captain America is a whole new man and symbol. This new development in the MCU is a very interesting turn and director Kari Skogland is diving into the meeting of ‘celebrity meeting military’ and this is sure to make things intriguing as we move forward in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Reconnecting over the announcement of John Walker’s appointment as Captain America are Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes and neither of them is a fan of this decision. But they’ve got bigger problems on their hands with the anarchistic Flag Smashers, who are led by the enigmatic Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman), and Skogland amps things up in ‘The Star-Spangled Man’ as Sam and Bucky go-to work against them. And it’s here where we first get to see their bickering friction come to the surface, and it’s very fun to watch. These two clearly don’t like each other, although they hate Walker more, and this dynamic of having to work together, while building trust with one another gives the series a whole new level of tension.

Each of these two men has their own ways of doing things, and this makes the episode’s peak action moment, a high-speed, open highway truck chase through Germany that much more exciting and Skogland keeps the adrenaline high. Sam and Bucky also get more than they bargained for with a battle between themselves and The Flag Smashers, who have been physically enhanced and we’re right back into the territory of super-soldiers. While I won’t go into specifics I will say that the idea of the ‘super-soldier’ is played out in an interesting manner within the episode, and there’s sure to be more questions asked of the super-soldier program and its use by both the U.S. Government and Hydra before this series ends.

Alongside new character dynamics and high-intensity action, ‘The Star-Spangled Man’ also introduces a brand new theme into the series, and the MCU, in the conflict between ideas of ‘patriotism vs liberty’. It’s clear that Walker, and his new partner Lemar Hoskins / Battlestar represent the unanswering patriotism of this series, while Wilson and Barnes have their own journey to undertake in the search for liberty and freedom. While we only see the start of this idea explored in ‘The Star-Spangled Man’ it’s clear that it’s going to take hold as the series progresses, and these two sides are certain to come into conflict as we move forward. And I’m certain that an old adversary will be keen to use this to his advantage.

Episode Two of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier sure kept the drama interesting, and we’re in brand new territory in the MCU now post blip and the exploration of what truly makes a hero is sure to make for a fascinating spectacle.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is available to stream on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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MovieWeb reported on this potential new casting and you’ve got to admit that there’s a real meta nature to it. Of his desire to cast the younger Russell in the film, who first showed he had some serious action talents with WWII horror-thriller Overlord, and whom is progressing into more thrilling roles with the likes of The Woman in the Window and The Falcon and the Winter Solider for Disney+, Whannell commented saying “[Casting Wyatt Russell] seems like the obvious thing to win the fans over.”

Whannell further elaborated on his work on the film saying, “it’s funny, I’ve been so busy working on this film where I haven’t had time to circle back around on that project. Sometimes these press releases go out before you’re ready, you’re like, ‘Don’t tell the world!’ I don’t actually know, I really don’t. That is an iconic character and I think that Snake Plissken is a part of people’s childhood and their adolescence. It’s near and dear to them. So I would tread very carefully with that. I feel like a property like that doesn’t have the same freedom as maybe something like The Invisible Man does. He has more elasticity as a character because so many people have had their fingerprints on that. There’s been TV shows and comic books, whereas with Escape from New York, we’re talking about one definitive movie here and you don’t want to mess with it. We’ll see what happens.”

Previous actors who have been linked to the role of Snake Plissken have included Gerard Butler and Jeremy Renner, while actors including Charlie Hunnam, Jon Bernthal and Dan Stevens have also been considered for role in the past.

Kurt Russell himself has been noted as saying that any potential remake needs to stay true to the original spirit of the character whom he described as being ‘distinctly American”.

I honestly don’t know where I sit with the idea of a remake of Escape from New York as the original film is a near perfect piece of cult action cinema and I wouldn’t want to see it messed with. However, Whannell has proven himself to be an innovative filmmaker, so who knows maybe we’d get something interesting with a remake at his hands.

We’re a long way from any kind of serious announcement here so we’ll just have to wait and see where it all goes.

Source: MovieWeb

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