The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Ep. 3): Blame It On The Meatware

Updating from Cartagena, Colombia….

The ultimate motivation for the creation of The Super Soldier Serum was to create the “perfect” human being. A person with any world experience can see how daunting & impossible a task this actually is. Episode 3 of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier: “The Power Broker” has done more to detail the legend and the history of this mysterious formula than any other chapter of The Marvel Cinematic Universe since Captain America: First Avenger. The single most important monologue since Steve Roger’s speech exposing Hydra in Captain America: The Winter Soldier has to be Wilfred Nagel’s story of how a variant of The Super Soldier Serum exists in modern day. Yes, after the world shattering events of Captain America: Civil War we finally have answers as to how Baron Helmut Zemo was logistically & universally primed to destroy Hydra’s Super Soldier Siberian Facility and morale between The Avengers; simultaneously at that. Still, this episode had a few issues that stopped me from saying this was my favorite episode thus far.

Sharon Carter finally enters the fray in this story, but with all the salacious intrigue inherent to her character in The MCU, Emily VanCamp’s portrayal of Agent 13’s descent into the “dark side” wasn’t believable for me. Her cynicism against her country that forgave all of the enhanced people that co-occupied The United States’ Enemy of The State list while leaving her out to fend for herself was not convincing to me. Taking nothing away from her previous appearances or her amazing action sequences in this episode, I can’t believe the implications & possibilities that she may be The Power Broker since I don’t believe her mental disenfranchisement to America or the pursuit of justice. Rationalizing Sharon’s history, it is probably wise not to believe what she tells us anyway. To be honest, the most plausible character to be The Power Broker is Red Skull but we have no reason to even consider him besides a mention by Zemo, a possible double entendre by Sam & an high comic book IQ. Arnim Zola & M.O.D.O.K. are still a strong possibility (in my mind) due to his comic book lineage in Hydra as well. 

Based solely on what I see up to this point (on screen) and how Marvel Studios seems to be building up new and/or obscure characters in The MCU, my theory is that the identity of The Power Broker points to the head of the classified program created by The Enhanced Humans Act which is stated to be run by a yet unseen “Major Donovan”. This designation could not only put The CIA’s Super Soldier program under Secretary of State, Thaddeus E. Ross‘ purview, but that of Dr. Nagel’s resurrected Super Soldier Program after The Blip. Since we learn in this episode that Karli seems to have directly encountered Dr. Nagel & The Power Broker before, she would expectedly recognize a high profile face like Secretary Ross or Red Skull. This cancels them out of possibly being The Power broker for me, unless Red Skull is back and up to his old masquerades again. I believe this to be unlikely. Even though Sharon Carter seems to be a “power broker” of Madripoor, in her own right, making her The Power Broker removes the possibility of a redemption story in m y opinion. I would be disappointed if Marvel Studios chose this route. There is also the Russian quote I translated in my Ep. 1 article: “the fight against terrorism is based upon security and protection of general rights and freedoms of a citizen” . This was paired on the end credit card with the image of Madripoor and the mantra of The Flag Smashers (“One World, One People”). I have no prior knowledge as to who the The Power Broker is in this story, but it has been fun thinking about it. Who do you think The Power Broker is? Do you agree with my theory that it’s Major Donovan? What about Red Skull? M.O.D.O.K.? Sharon Carter? Or Secretary Ross?

I had another issue with this episode’s plot. The way Zemo escaped from prison made very little sense to me. However, Bucky’s narration during the depiction of his slip out of maximum security makes it easier to overlook or accept than Sharon’s moral descent. We are supposed to believe that Zemo timed going to the bathroom with prisoners beginning an impromptu fight in separate quarters, disabling his guard, changing clothes and slipping out of general population before the riot squad arrived without anybody noticing him (even though he is supposed to be notorious worldwide). All in all, this episode is the most important in setting the new foundation for upcoming stories in the new & upcoming Disney+ series like She-Hulk, Hawkeye, Armor Wars and a possible 2nd season of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, but we have a way to go before we can even consider those prospects.

Adding depth to Nagel’s account about the serum, Bucky’s vantage point throughout the episode captivated me the most. Up to this point Sam was the alpha, but once the duo entered the German prison to “visit’ Zemo Bucky shined. Reaching back to the motivation for creating The Super Soldier Serum, we actually get to hear from some of those who now possess the power it creates when successful. Extrapolating a quote from Bucky regarding how to break Zemo out of prison, I found a perfect way to explain why the legacy of The Super Soldier Serum will always be one of turmoil: “The weakest point in any system isn’t the hardware or software…it’s the meatware; the human element.” The beauty of all humans is that we are all flawed. There is no way to create a perfect human being. This truth gives us all the reason to look forward to the stories involving The Super Soldier Serum; the good, bad and the ugly ones.

The last commercial we saw was the Nexus pharmaceutical ad in WandaVision. Episode 3 begins with a marketing fluff campaign that is direct but just as misleading as Wanda Maximoff’s easter egg filled head trips. The Global Repatriation Council is now front and center. My initial assessment of them being modeled after a couple comic book organizations (G.R.A.M.P.A. & The Global Research & Containment Facility) and duplicitous in nature seems to be correct. It still isn’t clear if The Power Broker is also the head of the GRC but it lines up with my theory that Secretary Ross & Major Donovan could be behind it. We first saw the GRC poster in Episode 2 behind the Baltimore Police desk, but now it’s being put in our faces. Captain America’s shield and title are being used as a symbol of international policing & enforcement. This was previously alluded to by John Walker but now made real. The circling shots of John Walker after he fails to get any leads (or respect) from Rudy’s safe house in Munich does well to display his anxiety.

Rightfully so, Sam & Bucky’s trip to visit Zemo takes up much of the first act. Bucky appears to take control of the situation with Zemo from its inception. Failing to trigger The Winter Soldier with the old code words, Zemo sees that there is still a mental struggle within Bucky. There may be another trigger code that we have yet to learn about. The word “Sputnik” was used by Red Skull to shut The Winter Soldier down in the comic books. Does Zemo know about this trigger word?

My theory that Zemo was possibly snapped by Thanos seems to be wrong. There is no mention of it. Even though I have issue with the logistics of Zemo’s escape, I love the details in the first act. There are visual metaphors everywhere and this should be watched more than once to truly appreciate them. My favorite metaphor is the book Bucky seems to have sent Zemo ahead of time, Fortune Is A Raging River by Roger D. Masters. The book is about the meeting of the minds between Leonardo da Vinci & Niccolo Machiavelli in efforts to plan navigation of the Arno river to and from Florence, Italy. In no way do I think of Bucky as a great mind, but Zemo on the other hand is a master strategist. The “key” to Zemo’s freedom is hidden in this book and causes me to wonder if this is meant to represent Zemo’s encounter with Bucky or another great mind that we haven’t yet seen.

Another great visual is the scene of our two main characters debating whether or not to deal with Zemo in the dark searching a space completely unknown to them with flashlights. This captures the overall gist of what is about to happen from both of their individual vantage points. They are in Zemo’s territory now. They cannot clearly see their way through this without help. In skipping pass Sam’s futile resistance to Zemo joining the team we see get an exciting cache of the historical Zemo inheritance. I was nervous that Marvel would not be able to bring this important aspect into Helmut’s background but it is done seamlessly. I can now imagine Heinrich Zemo one day showing up in a story. The trademark mask of Baron Zemo is picked up and it feels like a homecoming. Zemo’s wealth, royalty, and history in hunting Hydra fit like central pieces to the puzzle. I have no questions at this moment; just complete super fan satisfaction.

My initial frame sleuthing of Bucky’s bucket list confirms my early detection of the surname, Hudson once we get a clearer look at the other page from Episode 1. While Zemo continues to mentally challenge & manipulate Bucky using Yori Nakajima’s name, we realize that not only is the name “L. Hudson” on the list, but the book holding the list is the same one Steve Roger’s used to curate his own bucket list after being rescued out the ice in First Avenger. Steve gave Sam the shield but gave Bucky his book. Every line in this exchange seems to be significant which is why the word “skull” sticks out and makes me dream & wonder if we will be so lucky as to get Red Skull so soon after Avengers: Endgame in this series. I have to curb my enthusiasm after letting my imagination run free with WandaVision. Hopefully Marvel will call with a job offer where I can imagine for a living one day. LOL. Speaking from that imagination, the name L. Hudson could be an alias for Wolverine (Logan Hudson) or his mother, Elizabeth (Lisa or Lizzy) Hudson if Marvel so chooses. What do you think about the names on this list? Are they strategically placed? Or is Yori’s name the only one with significance.

In concert with the previous dialogue from this scene we know Zemo has true contempt for Sam & Bucky, and only views them as beneath him. Telling his man servant to feed them the food that fails the smell test fits the oligarch’s character to a tee. The lines about adoration of mad icons and juxtaposing Steve Rogers, Red Skull and Adolf Hitler is a deep cut, a possible tease for a Secret Empire storyline, and gives more weight to the idea that the weakest part to any system truly is the meatware.

A quick switch of scenery to a GRC settlement in Riga provides more emotional investment into Karli. We watch her lose what appears to be a mother figure and assess that this woman’s (Donya Madani) talisman is the inspiration for the Flag Smasher logo. The original Bhudda palm is a symbol for sharing universal love to the world. Adding an image of an Africa centric globe seems to mean that they are protectors of the oppressed. This is another note to ingratiate the The Flag Smashers to the viewer and it works for me.

Back to Zemo’s “3 the hard way” plan to find The Power Broker. The island of Madripoor makes history in The MCU with its first appearance. It looks and feels like a cross between Christopher Nolan’s Gotham & George Lucas’ Coruscant. Appropriately, there is too much going on. I am guessing the trio are crossing what could be Buccaneer Bay/ DaggerBay or Madripoor Bay Bridge to enter the city. It’s beautiful. Sam is completely out of his element while in Madripoor. After he stands himself up as the alpha between he and Bucky, his lack of world knowledge, culture, superhuman enhancements and experience reduces him to less of a threat than Sharon Carter. I wonder if director Kari Skogland & writer Malcolm Spellman meant to do that. Seeing signs like ‘Wharfside Pawn”, Patch’s actual club (“Princess Bar”), and ultimately the “Brass Monkey Saloon” are the least but enough easter eggs to make feel like Logan could be somewhere in the crowd. Based on images I’ve seen of the actual set, Club Reve’s wall was digitally altered to show the 1984 themed graffiti mural saying “Power Broker” is watching. The two sets of eyes make me wonder if there is more than one Power Broker.

Being reduced to comedic relief and the weakest link, Sam can only be a silent bystander for most of the real action. As The Power Broker’s henchman challenge Zemo’s mettle in the we are quickly shown a female that one would naturally think is Sharon Carter but the still proves otherwise. She is dressed like The Dryad of The Daughters of Liberty, Peggy Carter. After Zemo uses Bucky to make an emphatic statement that he is still a force to be reckoned with, we are introduced to Selby. By name only this is a connection to a mutant in the comics. Besides pushing the narrative by getting killed and introducing the name Wilfred Nagel (confirming the rumor) she is never confirmed as a mutant quickly removed from the story; no mutant sightings yet.

We see multiple women dressed like “The Dryad” (meaning nymph of the woods) that help Sam, Bucky & Zemo escape impending danger. We finally see Sharon Carter’s first appearance in this series and she is dressed like the women of mystery. Are we getting a version of The Daughters of Liberty in The MCU?!? Ta-Henisi Coates just introduced this team in 2019. That would be amazing and fitting with the historical significance of the Super Soldier Serum, Isaiah Bradley, The Daughters’ mission to keep the serum out of “undesirable hands” and the fact that freedom fighter, Harriett Tubman was a member of this team in Marvel lore. It would also speak to why I can’t believe Sharon’s descent into the dark side. How excited would you be to get a Daughters of Liberty series? Echo & Sue Storm are both members of the organization as well. That could definitely be reason why we are hearing mentions of them being introduced sooner than later.

Sharon’s cover as a Black Market Art Dealer is believable. Once again Sam’s assertion to be in any position of power is laughable. Sharon’s ability to find Nagel’s physical location while handling a multi-million dollar rave/auction raises suspicions as they crew is at his lab by morning. If she clearly was The Power Broker she wouldn’t have taken them there. Her skills to fend off Selby’s men and all the other thugs looking to earn the Billion Dollar bounty on Sam, Bucky & Zemo’s head is astonishing. I have a new found respect for Sharon Carter. To top it off, it looked like she shared a nice easter egg while whipping on one specific bounty. While putting this bounty hunter in a reverse arm lock, we see a tattoo clearly saying (in French), “Nous avons fait qu’effleurer levis surface un peu”. Translated to English this says, “We only scratched the surface a bit”. Why would someone have that tattooed on the inside of their arm? Was this a deliberate easter egg or just some guys tat perfectly shown during an action sequence? After escaping near death and saying goodbye to the boys, Sharon hopes in a car like a boss. She teases a debriefing to a character listed as her bodyguard; as if she needs one. She is chauffeured away. Is Sharon the Dryad of The Daughters of Liberty? I think she is! Based on all the things I noticed, I think Sharon is being primed for something bigger than being The Power Broker and it’s only right. I hope I’m right about this one. I’m also hoping that Sharon is the one who told Ayo and The Wakandans where to find Zemo. Is she working with Shuri? Shuri is a Daughter of Liberty in comics too.

Dr. Nagel’s monologue about his history with the Super Soldier Serum speaks for itself and is what legend is made of. Zemo killing Nagel takes him out of The Power Broker sweepstakes. His prowess as a fighter got me hype as well. If he was The Power Broker he would need to help save the same people that would seek to put him back in prison or dead. Learning that Karli called Nagel to ask for help in saving Madani’s life only proves that she is not the villain of this story, but a troubled developing character with an extreme range of what is right and what is wrong. The vaccines from Episode 2 are most likely actual vaccines. What would you do to save the innocent people you love that can’t fend for themselves? Learning that Dovich worked as mob security in Madripoor, Karli knows Nagel is his dead so quickly after it happens and that The Power Broker now needs the remaining serum vials she possesses even more makes me question her actual relation to this “King of Madripoor”. Is The Power Broker behind GRC as well? I finally see an unforgivable act from Morgenthau when she detonates a car bomb and kills helpless GRC workers & soldiers after raiding their resources for the poor.

I have struggled to share my take on Episode 3 of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier as I am in Cartagena, Columbia for a future project for the site. I’ve done my best to deliver consistent feedback before the release of each episode thus far. I hope you are enjoying these articles. I need to hear back from you more now that we are getting ready to officially launch http://www.everyonelovesagoodstory.com. What would you like to see from us? The importance of what was shared in “The Power Broker” is huge and transcends this series as well as Phase 4 of The MCU. Emily VanCamp’s inability to portray a villain or dark character works to her benefit if she is evolving into what I think she is. Regardless of which Hudson is being listed in Bucky’s book, Truett Hudson & Nathaniel Essex have been set up to carry the torch of The Super Soldier Program. The Daughters of Liberty are being teased the identity of The Power Broker will soon be revealed. Expect to see John Walker lose his marbles in Episode 4. I hope I’ve shared a good sense of what Marvel Studios has achieved in the 46 minutes and 9 seconds of storytelling. Even with all the righteous reasons these characters have to carry out their plans we know that unexpected twist, turns & tales on the horizon. You can blame that on the meatware! Be well, be whole, be blessed Beloved. Manchild out!