Avengers: Endgame, the 2019 blockbuster didn't have time to unpack the weighty ramifications of a Black man becoming Captain America. Falcon & The Winter Soldier has steered Sam through self-doubt and historical complications to become the shining beacon of equality and hope he was always, inevitably, going to become.
Heading into Falcon & The Winter Soldier's season 1 finale, Sam Wilson finally figured out where Karli Morgenthou and the Flag-Smashers would strike next - the summit in New York City to decide the fate of citizens displaced by the Blip (an obvious target when you think about it). Though Falcon's wings were clipped by John Walker, a mystery box from Wakanda promises a brand new outfit. Walker himself was last seen preparing a Captain America outfit of his own after a visit from the mysterious Val, and Sharon Carter looked all but confirmed as Madripoor's enigmatic Power Broker.
Titled "One World, One People," Falcon & The Winter Soldier's season finale completes Sam Wilson's transformation, brings peace to Bucky Barnes and provides a measure of redemption for a certain super soldier, culminating in one of the most inspiring moments in MCU history. But we'll be damned if Falcon & The Winter Soldier didn't also lay the foundations for some fascinating future storylines.
The Flag-Smashers' Plan Explained
Picking up from the Flag-Smashers' arrival at the GRC conference in the previous installment, Karli Morgenthou's villainous plan quickly becomes clear. The summit building is sent into lockdown but, strangely, most of the Flag-Smashers stay outside. Rather than storming the assembly by force, Karli scares the politicians into evacuating, dropping gas bombs to hurry things along. Unfortunately for the frightened officials, escape is exactly what Karli hoped for. Using their covert operatives already inside, the Flag-Smashers seize the evacuees. Politicians are locked inside hijacked security vans, and a helicopter full of VIPs is stolen away. Karli's masterplan is to take the GRC council as hostages and use the threat of their safety to negotiate an end to the controversial repatriation act, and a fairer, border-free world. It's a bold strategy; let's see if it pays off for them.
Captain America & Friends Arrive
Those fearing Sam Wilson's Captain America wouldn't be unveiled until the very end of Falcon & The Winter Soldier's finale were quickly appeased, as the new Cap (for real this time) makes his debut immediately, flying across the New York sky and crashing through a top floor window - a true superhero entrance if ever there was one. Sam introduces himself as Captain America for the very first time, cementing his new role in the MCU. Meanwhile, Bucky has been briefed off-screen and s Sam from the ground, only to be accompanied by Sharon Carter, who has made her own way to the scene. Having previously claimed that she was banned from entering the U.S., Sharon's presence, along with her hi-tech mask, is deeply suspicious.
The protagonists' countermove is simple enough: Captain America attacks the Flag-Smashers from above, while Bucky and Sharon come from the ground in a pincer, but when Karli's true motive becomes clear, the latter duo switch to hostage duty. Bucky is distracted by a decoy phone call from Karli begging him to her, and this allows the hostages to be spirited away.
A couple of fascinating details can be found in this scene. While entering the crime scene, Bucky is referred to as "Sergeant," proving his military rank hasn't been revoked. Furthermore, one of the GRC council says he thought Captain America was on the moon - a nod to Torres' conspiracy theory from the premiere.
Sam Wilson's Captain America Suit Explained
Falcon & The Winter Soldier finally reveals what was inside that Wakandan box - a hybrid Captain America/Falcon suit. The ensemble is faithful to Sam's Captain America outfit from the comic books, sporting a blue and white color scheme with red strikes underneath a central star on the chest. The motif on Sam's torso also features wings on either side of the star, giving Captain America his updated logo. Mixing in elements of his former persona, Sam has a new color-coordinated pair of wings and traditional tinted goggles.
Across the course of the finale, viewers get a close look at the suit's capabilities and gadgets, as well as Sam's adapted combat style. The costume includes a shield launcher on Sam's flight pack, and the googles are equipped with heat vision. Captain America fights fluently with the shield and his Falcon wings, utilizing both seamlessly in an acrobatic display that compensates for his lack of super strength. Although not confirmed explicitly, it seems that Captain America's wings are constructed from vibranium. Not only did they originate in Wakanda, but Sam's feathered limbs take a falling helicopter like a champ, and dig into the ground to resist the super-strength of the Flag-Smashers. John Walker will have a hard time ripping those off.
Captain America vs. Batroc
Sam Wilson celebrates the racial importance of a Black Captain America by... er, dropping a series of tired stereotypes about French people. The new Captain America's first MCU fight comes against Batroc, which neatly brings Falcon & The Winter Soldier full circle, after the Steve Rogers' trademark moves to put Batroc on the retreat, flipping the overturned shield with his foot to strike his opponent square on the kisser.
Redwing Returns
Falcon & The Winter Soldier's finale mercifully restores Redwing to Sam Wilson's side. The backpack drone seems to come with the same gadgets and features as the previous model, which was destroyed by Karli Morgenthou in an earlier episode. This includes a laser, AI control and, apparently, facial recognition too. As before, Redwing can split into multiple, smaller drones, but comes with an updated paint job to better suit Sam Wilson's new patriotic guise. Like the wings and goggles, Redwing is another element of Falcon translated over to the MCU's new Captain America.
How Sam Saves The Chopper
After battering Captain America.
Karli Loses Her Magic
In recent episodes, a split has emerged among the Flag-Smashers, with Karli becoming increasingly violent, and her followers less than enthusiastic about the change of approach. The Flag-Smashers no longer seem certain that Karli is honoring their original philosophy, but reluctantly her "one world, one people" rallying cry anyway. Strangely, the division among the Flag-Smashers doesn't amount to much in Falcon & The Winter Soldier's finale. None of them betray or abandon her, and even in their final moments, all of the Flag-Smashers remain sold on Karli's cause, muttering their catchphrase in the back of a police van. It seems the growing tension between Karli and her super soldier comrades wasn't leading to Flag-Smasher civil war or a change of heart for their leader, but merely setting up Karli's final scene.
Bucky's Recovery Nears The End
Falcon & The Winter Soldier has taken Sam Wilson from Falcon to Captain America, but Bucky's arc has been more introspective. Attending his therapy sessions, Bucky is desperately trying to leave the shadow of the Winter Soldier behind, but has been unable to shake the nightmares. The final step in Bucky's recovery begins when he catches up with the Flag-Smashers and their VIP hostages. Facing off against Karli and her goons, the villains set one of the trucks ablaze, forcing Bucky to choose between continuing his fight, or saving the prisoners. He opts for the latter, going all-out to stop the GRC politicians being roasted, and their grateful reaction firmly establishes Sergeant Barnes as an MCU hero.
As far as fans are concerned, Bucky has been a good guy ever since his museum visit in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but the governments of the MCU have remained skeptical, largely thanks to a certain jiving Baron. Even in Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes is treated with caution, arrested as soon as he fails to attend therapy. Bucky wants nothing more than to leave that shady past behind and become the WWII hero he used to be, and when Barnes is thanked for breaking open the flaming truck, he realizes that his good deeds are beginning to erase the crimes of the Winter Soldier.
The Redemption Of John Walker
Bucky Barnes isn't the only character offered a redemptive lifeline in Falcon & The Winter Soldier's season 1 finale. After finally finishing his cosplay, Walker arrives on the battlefield hellbent on getting revenge on Karli for Battlestar's death. Walker quickly proves his reputation as an arrogant hot-head isn't undeserved when he's presented with the same dilemma as Bucky - beating up Flag-Smashers or saving innocent people - and continues the fight anyway, leaving no uncertainty as to where his priorities lie. Shaking off his rage, however, John Walker eventually comes to his senses and stops the truck tumbling from a scaffold, finally becoming the superhero he failed to be as Captain America. Walker's redemption is complete when Sam and Bucky drop their suspicions (some might argue a little too readily) and work alongside the former Captain America to hunt down a runaway Karli Morgenthou.
Sam Wilson Does What Super Soldiers Can't
Despite John's best efforts, he cannot stop the packed security truck falling from its precarious position, and Bucky can only watch helplessly from below. Thankfully, Sam Wilson swoops to the rescue, using the power of America (and his jet-powered backpack) to lift the vehicle to safety. After Steve Rogers, there's obviously a question of whether the next Captain America needs super serum in order to be considered a true successor. Sam Wilson might have the guile and moral com, but can he stop a helicopter taking off with a single arm? Saving the truck while Bucky and Walker look on helplessly proves beyond doubt that Sam's lack of super soldier serum is a non-issue. Strength can be compensated for with ingenuity, gadgets and technique, and this is proved by an impressive feat of brute power on Sam's maiden mission as the new Captain America.
