Is Sharon Carter the Power Broker, What has happened to Sharon since Captain America: Civil War?

Episode 3 of Falcon and The Winter Soldier titled ‘Power Broker’ saw the return of Sharon Carter (Emily Van Camp). With the return of the former S.H.E.I.L.D. agent we learn a lot about what has happened to her since she became a fugitive from the US. Taking residence in the criminal world of Madripoor Sharon has seemingly ditched her routes of a fighting for the good cause and has begun to fit into the shady world. Moreover, with the question of who is the Power Broker circulating around the marvel fan base many have suggested that it could be Sharon. As always we should never say never with Marvel, but the likelihood Sharon is the criminal overlord is highly unlikely, instead we think she may have a connection to the Power Broker which could set up a larger story in the series.

Before we dive into Sharon’s new life in Madripoor it is important to understand her history. Being the great niece of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) Sharon has always had a strong moral code which saw her work for both S.H.E.I.L.D. and the CIA. This code is what ultimately led to her stealing Cap’s shield and the wings of Falcon which made her a fugitive of the state. Siding with Cap during Civil War showed that Sharon was always willing to do the right thing even if it wasn’t the easiest, a trait which I think will be a big part of her involvement in Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

After years on the run, Sharon moved to Madripoor because as she explains they don’t do extraditions which has enabled her to live without being brought in by the US government. Living in the high town of Madripoor is not the worst place for Sharon and makes sense for her to stay. Yes, it is still a place full of crime but with the skills Sharon possesses in espionage and fighting she would fit in perfectly and not feel overwhelmed. High Town also offers the perfect chance to run a business and become wealthy. Sharon began hustling and selling real paintings which enabled her to live as comfortable as life as Madripoor offers.

However, despite doing well in Madripoor it’s clear that Sharon has lost faith in what she previously believed in. She talks about the hypocrisy of heroes which was something she never felt in her previous appearances. This is what Madripoor can do to a person, but with that in mind Sharon still helps Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan). This is where the trait of wanting to do the right thing begins to emerge as it would have been a lot easier for Sharon to ignore their pleads for help and continue her life. There is also the promise of Sharon being pardoned which is acting as another motivation for Sharon but I look at the quality which she has displayed in both Winter Soldier and Civil War as the hidden trait of Sharon which is impacting her decisions.

With Sharon displaying her strong moral code once again, even if it’s hidden, the question emerges of whether we will see some kind of double cross from Sharon against those in Madripoor. There is a theory that Sharon may be in fact be the Power Broker but evidence suggests she cannot be. Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) talks about how he knows of the Power Broker’s reputation which implies the criminal overlord was working before the events of Civil War where Zemo learned of the reputation. During this time Sharon was working with the CIA so she can’t be the Power Broker.

Instead the theory which I am driving for is that Sharon is working for the Power Broker which has more evidence than the previous theory. Firstly, Sharon was in the right place at the right time when Sam, Bucky and Zemo arrive in Madripoor which could just be a coincidence but with the more we look at this; the more it looks like Sharon could have been told to be there. One thing I will say is I don’t think Sharon would have known in advance that she would be reunited with her old partners.

The next part to the theory that Sharon is working for the Power Broker is due to her being knowledge about Wilfred Nagel and information on the Power Broker. I’m not sure whether this information is common knowledge in Madripoor but you wouldn’t expect information as important and as dangerous as replications of super soldier serums to just be shared around the city. Instead, I believe Sharon knows this because she is working for the Power Broker. This again also explains how the work of Nagel was known and funded by the Power Broker because Sharon whom worked for the CIA like Nagel would have known about the project he worked on. We know we are reaching a little but these subtle connections is what adds to the theory which was then strengthen by the final line Sharon has in the episode.

Sharon tells her driver that they have a couple of problems. Referring to Bucky and Sam we don’t know why they are a problem for her after they left Madripoor which is why we assume she is working for the Power Broker because that would be the only explanation as why this is a problem for Sharon.

From the evidence that the episode gave us we think Sharon is working for the Power Broker. But, to add more to this theory we have to think about the trait of Sharon and how she always wants to do the right thing no matter how hard. Could Sharon be tasked with doing something for the Power Broker which she ultimately doesn’t do and instead sides with Sam and Bucky against the criminal mastermind? This is a theory that we like and would fit perfectly with her character and thus far the story of the series.

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