Dora Milaje's strike, and Walker makes a bad situation worse.
Last time on The Falcon and the
Winter Soldier, Bucky and Sam enlisted the help of Helmut Zemo to fight the
Flag Smashers. They had to break him out of prison to do so, but that was
actually relatively easy. He takes the pair to the island nation of Madripoor
to try to find the person who is manufacturing more Super Soldier Serum. They
get a little help from the exiled Sharon Carter to find Dr. Nagel, whom had
made a new serum using Isaiah Bradley’s blood. Zemo, who’s hate of superhuman’s
seems to have gotten stronger over time, executes Nagel just before some bounty
hunters try to kill them. They got a tip from Nagel about a woman important to
Karli Morgenthau named Donya Madani. They travel to find her in Latvia, but on
the way, Bucky breaks away when he sees a Wakandan tracking bead. He follows it
to a blind alley and is confronted by Ayo of the Dora Milaje. Enough preamble,
let’s get to it.
Fight those murderous impulses, Buck!
We open on Wakanda, six years ago.
Bucky and Ayo are in the forested hill near the city, doing a bit of therapy.
Bucky is scared, but Ayo says his activation phrases. While hearing those
Russian words stirs up memories of his time as the Winter Soldier, he doesn’t
shut down and wait for orders when she does. Ayo announces that he is free, and
Bucky ends up sobbing tears of joy at the realization.
In the present, Ayo is less jovial
and wants to know why the hell they freed Zemo. He explains that they need Zemo
for their mission, but Ayo isn’t impressed. She gives the White Wolf eight
hours to complete his task, after that, she’s coming back. He’ll either have to
turn over Zemo peacefully or she’ll have to get rough with them. He gives her
back the beads before she leaves. Bucky returns to the group and lets them know
about their reduced time table. They see the report about Karli bombing the GRC
depot. Eleven injured and three dead, and they left a list of demands with a
promise that more attacks will happen until they’re met. Zemo warns that Karli
is radicalized and there’s really no way to stop her peacefully. Sam thinks
that there is still a chance to save her, but Zemo disagrees. He feels that
anyone that seeks out power is on this path. They point out the Super Soldier
Serum didn’t corrupt Steve, but he counters that by pointing out Steven Grant
Rogers was the exception, not the rule. Thinking it over, Sam realizes that
Donya Madani was a pillar of the community and much beloved by the locals. He
rationalizes that they’d probably throw her a big funeral with the whole
community, like they did for his TT after she died. He explains his TT was his
aunt. I think it’s a cute nickname.
Meanwhile the Flag Smashers are
watching a newscast about their actions. In response to their attack on the GRC
depot, the GRC is fast tracking legislation to deport the refugees back to their
counties of origin. To get the borders back in place.
Stranger. Candy. Why aren't the adults reacting!
Sam and his crew make it to the
Flag Smasher’s home camp. Sam explores the building, asking around about the
Donya. While he finds a few items with the Flag Smasher logo on them, he comes
up dry on leads. No one is willing to talk to outsiders about her. In the
courtyard, Zemo sings Baa-Baa Black sheep and offers Turkish Delights to the
children. They were his son’s favorite. Sad Zemo. He’s able to get one of the
kids to give him the location about Donya’s funeral. And, because he’s Zemo, he
tells her to not tell Sam or Bucky as they’re bad men.
They return to the apartment. Sam
empathizes with how the people are feeling, to go from the world feeling like
it’s coming together just to have things fall back into old habits when Thanos
was defeated has to be rough. They ask what the girl told Zemo, he reveals that
he knows where the funeral is that afternoon and where to go, but he’s keeping
his leverage, so they’re getting no more details than that. Sam calls Sharon,
tells her the situation and asks if she’s got anything in her bag of tricks.
She has a few satellites she can tap to find Karli. She warns that the Power
Broker is pissed and things are about to get nasty in Madripoor.
Karli and one of her guys visit a
grave yard. They retrieve the Super Soldier Serum hidden in one of the
headstones. She asks him if he thinks they’re doing the right thing. He thinks
they are and even calls her their “Captain America.” This seems to piss her off
more than anything, as modern heroes don’t have the luxury of keeping their
hands clean like Cap supposedly did. The Shield is a symbol from a bygone era.
Sam and the others start heading to
the funeral, but get ambushed by Walker and Hoskins. They didn’t hack anything
this time, it’s just that two Avengers can’t walk around Latvia without someone
commenting on it. They initially want to know why they freed Zemo, but change
their focus when they learn that the others tracked down Karli. Sam wants to
talk to her, but Walker wants to go in guns blazing. Sam points out that he’s
uniquely qualified to try the talking approach as he is a former trauma
counselor. Hoskins thinks it’s a good idea so Walker goes along with it. In
order to make it in time, Zemo bribes another little girl with candy and she
shows them the way. Once there, Zemo gets handcuffed to a pipe. Walker tells
Sam he’s got ten minutes.
Inside, Karli is eulogizing Donya
Madani. She mentions Madani was the only parent she’s ever known. She stops for
a moment when she sees Sam, but then continues. The eulogy turns into a Flag
Smasher speech, ending with the One world, One people line. Sam confronts
Karli. He tries to talk to her, to convince her that she’s not making a better
world, just a different one. She claims he’s either Brilliant or hopelessly
optimistic.
Outside, Walker is getting antsy.
He starts to go in despite the time not being up. Bucky stops him and tells him
to give Sam the time. Walker does back off, but he’s clearly envious of Bucky
and his perceived Super Soldier power.
Sam mentions that Karli is a kind
of a supremacist like Zemo mentioned. She takes affront to that remark. She
asks why Sam is here if he’s not trying to arrest her. He says he agrees with
the fight, but not with the methods. They’re interrupted by Walker coming in to
arrest her, because he’s an idiot. Karli knocks Walker aside and runs, the
chase begins.
Good becomes Great. Bad becomes Worse.
Walker should count himself lucky he didn't
get Red Skulled.
Outside, and left to his own
devices, Zemo pick his lock and escapes. He’s able to circle around everyone
and corners Karli and shoots her in the gut. Non-vital. She drops the vials all
around. Zemo, realizing what they are, smashes the vials as quickly as he can.
Walker arrives and knocks Zemo out with the Shield. He spots the last vial and
pockets it, but while distracted, Karli gets away.
Karli tells her team that the vials
were destroyed as she puts a bandage on her stomach. While they’re down, Karli
doesn’t think their out just yet. They’re going to have to deal with all of
those fighting against them, including Sam. Oh, and to add to their stress
tree, the Power Broker texts them, warns that they want the Serum and if they
don’t get it, they’ll kill them. Needing a plan, Karli suggests that they
separate the heroes, and when they do, kill “Captain America.”
Back at the apartment, Sam messages
Sharon and asks her to keep her eyes on Walker. He wants to know if Walker
makes a move on the Flag Smashers. Zemo asks Sam if they offered him the serum.
Sam tells him no, and says no again when Zemo asks if he’d take the serum if
offered. He likes that Sam said it without hesitation. He warns that whatever
he saw in Karli is gone, but Sam insists that blood isn’t always the solution.
Bucky thinks that there is something wrong with Walker, just before he comes in
and demands they hand over Zemo. Sam tries to convince Walker that they still
need Zemo, but he’s not having it. The Dora Milaje come in, Ayo with some
backup. Walker tries to talk his way out, pointing out that the Dora Milaje
have no jurisdiction here. To which they say, rather badassedly, The Dora
Milaje have jurisdiction where ever they find themselves to be.
He's been disarmed.
I'm not apologizing.
A fight breaks out, with the elite
Wakandan warriors easily beating the piss out of Walker and Hoskins. Sam and
Bucky initially stay out of it, but get pulled in. Bucky stops Ayo from
impaling Walker. While this is going on, Zemo casually slips into the bathroom
and shuts the door. Ayo hits (what would be on a flesh and blood arm) few
pressure points on Bucky’s left arm, causing it to drop off his body. Walker
gets a spear through the Shield’s strap and is pinned. The Dora Milaje note
that Zemo is gone, and check the bathroom. Apparently, the Baron of Sokovia
slipped through the grate in the bathroom floor. They bounce as soon as they
realize their quarry is gone. Walker is helped to his feet and is clearly
shaken up that the non-Super Soldier Dora Milaje beat him so easily. Kind of an
unfair comparison, though, as he makes it sound like the Dora Milaje are normal
humans.
Later, Walker and Hoskins have
coffee together. Hoskins once again tries to talk Walker back to normal. He
asks if Hoskins would have taken the serum, to which he says he would. Thinks
the power would just make him more of himself, ya know? Hoskins muses that they
could have used the serum in the battle where he earned his medals of honor,
and Walker admits he kind of hates those medals as he got them for the worst
day of his life.
Karli gets her hands on Sarah
Wilson’s phone number and calls her. She tells the other Wilson that she’s
trying to figure out if she’ll have to kills Sam or not. Karli gives Sarah a
set of coordinates, she tells her to tell Sam to come alone or she’ll have to
meet Sarah and the boys in person. Damn, you never go after the family, Karli.
Sarah gives Sam the info, and while
he insists on going alone, Bucky insists on coming with, and you don’t tell a
Super Soldier to stay home. Sam meets with Karli, and the red-head
revolutionary tells him to either join her or stay out of her way. Meanwhile,
Sharon gets a ping on Walker’s movements, she tells Sam and he realizes this
was about separating Walker from him and Bucky to kill him. Karli tries to stop
them, but the two heroes knock her aside. Sam flies in and Bucky high speed
jogs across town. Walker bursts into the building, clearly showing off new
strength. Yeah, we don’t see him take it to my knowledge, but he’s shown to be
superhuman from this point onward. He gets separated from Hoskins whom is
captured.
Dirtying a symbol of good due to your own
shortcomings and anger? Yeah, seems on brand
for John Walker.
Walker is able to hold off the Flag
Smashers pretty well now that he’s on equal footing to them. At least for long
enough for backup to arrive. Sam, Bucky and Walker are able to hold them off
while Hoskins frees himself and links back up. Things hit the fan, though, when
Karli goes in to stab Walker. Hoskins dives in the way, diverting her strike.
She kicks him into a pillar, there’s a sickening crunch, and Hoskins lands limp
to the ground. He’s dead. Walker goes into a blind rage after seeing his friend
die. The Flag Smashers all bail, but Walker is hot on their trail. He chases
down one of the Flag Smashers, and without hesitation, beats him to death with
the edge of the Shield, in the middle of a square with tons of cameras on him.
Monster. Bucky and Sam arrive a moment to late. And we close on “Captain
America” holding a bloody Shield. Damn.
Well, that escalated quickly. I
liked seeing the Dora Milaje again. These bad ass warrior ladies can do no
wrong. I’d read a fan speculation that Ayo probably filled the supporting
Wakandan role here that would have gone to Chadwick Boseman, if it hadn’t been
for his tragic death last year. No idea if this is true, but I could definitely
have seen T’Challa getting involved in the capture of the man that murdered his
father. Rest in Peace, Chadwick. The
brawl between them and Sam’s people was fun. I loved seeing how these
completely human but incredibly talented warrior women beat the crap out of one
super soldier and several highly skilled fighters. Oh, and the early scene of
Ayo helping Bucky break through his programing was really well done. Sebastian
Stan acted the crap out of that scene. I knew things weren’t going to go well
for Walker the moment he grabbed that vial. I remember that line from Captain
America: The First Avenger, where Erskine mentioned that his formula enhanced
what is there. Good becomes great, and bad becomes worse. And that was very
clearly what happened to Walker. We’d seen that he has a temper, that when he
gets angry, he gets violent, and the only reason he probably hasn’t hurt
someone up to now is because Hoskins talks him down. Without him, and in a
rage, Walker was going to kill whoever he caught, it’s a shame that it had to
happen. I know it’s a prop, but damn, my gut wrenched when I saw the Shield
covered in blood. I’ve been a Captain America fan for decades at this point,
seeing his Shield be used as a blunt force object just sits badly with me. This
action will have far reaching consequences. On a lighter note, I laughed out
loud when Zemo slipped away. He just had a “well, time to hit the old dusty
trail,” look as he slipped into the bathroom. It was fun. Next time, we’ll see
how the world reacts to “Captain America” killing someone. Have a good night,
everybody.
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Twitter: @BasicsSuperhero
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