Ryan Shoots First: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (S1 Ep4) “The Whole World is Watching”
Last week involved some big moments, fans started stanning club Zemo, Sharon is likely the Power Broker and the Super Soldier serum is out. Let’s see what this week has in store. Oh and Wakanda is on the trail…
We kick things off right away in Wakanda six years ago with Bucky training his mind, he is resisting the commands that usually trigger the Winter Soldier. Some good acting by Sebastian Stain here as he fights off the command words. Once he makes it through them all and tears stream down his face he is told he is free. Cut back to current time and he is trying to justify his freeing of Zemo. He is given 8 hours then they come for Zemo. Inside Bucky tells Zemo and Sam the Wakandians are on to them. The group is informed by Karli’s attack that killed people from last week and Zemo tells the two of them they need to man up and be prepared to do what is necessary. The flag smashers are starting to question Karli’s methods and the killing she has resorted to. Sam starts asking around but everyone keeps leaving as he notices flag smasher emblems throughout the building. This facility is supported by the group. Sam finally finds someone to talk to him but he does not trust him and won’t help. Zemo meanwhile outside uses candy to get some answers and sews some distrust with the refugees. Sam reaches out to Sharon for some help and we see Karli go to a cemetery to get some more serum.
John Rogers manages to track down Sam, Buck and Zemo and they convince him to let Sam talk to Karli, Zemo’s connection shows them to where Karli is and John handcuffs Zemo. Karli sees Sam while giving a eulogy for her Mamadonya. John is getting ansty as Sam and Karli have their conversation. John decides he is going in but Bucky stands in the way. Sam starts getting through to Karli bit by bit using his empathetic counseling abilities but John comes in and ruins the whole thing as Karlu starts running. This also allows Zemo to get away. Zemo tracks down Karli and begins shooting at her causing her serum to spill out all over. Zemo crushes all of it and Karli gets away as John knocks him out with his shield. There is one vial left and John steals it. The Power Broker sends a warning to Karli that she is coming for her. Zemo while nursing his wound asks Sam if he would take the serum had they offered it and Sam says no. Bucky is growing evermore skeptical of John who bursts in the room demanding Zemo as the Wakandians come into the room. A fight breaks out and Zemo manages to slip away after John gets his ass kicked, he’s questioning his abilities in this new hero world.
John, considering taking the serum asks Battlestar if he would take it and he says he would. Karli calls Sarah Sam’s sister to set up a private meeting with Karli. Sam shows up and talks to Karli who asks for Sam to join them but meanwhile John has found the hideout and Sam and Bucky head out. Sam see’s John knock out a Flag Smasher and it’s clear he took the serum. While trying to help John, Battlestar is killed by Karli which sets John off. John kills Karli’s BF in public in front of everyone and their camera phones. The episode ends with John standing and his shield covered in blood after being used as a guillotine.
Again what this show is doing to retroactively build up Steve Rogers is pretty cool. No one has been able to get that power and not have it ruin them other than Steve. It shows he was more than just a good guy who got a serum, but a real hero. On paper John looks like the perfect candidate but the things you can’t see, the demons all come out when given that power. It will be interesting if he moves to the primary villain and Sam and Buck begin siding with Karli or if we are heading to an all out Three-way dance for Caps shield.
Observations
- Damn Bucky had me tearing up
- Zemo is the breakout star of the show so far.
- Man I think every significant bit of info on their journey has come from Zemo.
- Again Zemo un-tilting his head after Sam called him out was tremendous.
- What the show has done to show what Cap meant and how unique he was is pretty cool. Even Zemo has to admit he was not corrupted by the power of the serum. All reinforcing way back in the first cap movie why he was chosen.
- I also respect what this show has done to show the benefits of counseling and therapy.
- Way to go John…
- #NotMyCap
- Ha John trying to reason with Wakandians
- That serum looking better and better to John.
- #NotMyCap that final shot with the shield covered in blood was pretty striking.
