Welcome to Madripoor, Falcon and The Winter Soldier Episode 3 rundown

Titled ‘Power Broker’ episode 3 of Falcon and The Winter Soldier continued to build the drama as all of the moving parts in the series continue to develop. The episode also gave us our first looks at Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) and Sharon Carter (Emily Van Camp) in the series which was a welcomed addition. With the focus of the episode being Madripoor, the limited time we spent with both Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) and the new Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell) began to see both characters take a darker turn. While the episode acted more of a transitional episode to move the plot forward we were still greeted with a big surprise at the end, that of Ayo (Florence Kasumba) from the Dora Milaje in Wakanda.

A Visit to Madripoor:

Picking up from last week, Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) went to visit the man responsible for tearing the Avengers apart, Zemo. Despite triggering the Winter Soldier in the past, Bucky went to visit Zemo while Sam waited outside which was all in order to break him out. During the breakout we once again got a close look at how gifted Zemo and Bucky are at their jobs as the breakout was achieved with ease and precision. However, the reason for Zemo following Bucky is because like in Captain America: Civil War he wants there to be no more super soldiers. The emergence of the Flag Smashers will have annoyed Zemo and we get a good hint at this when he says he “doesn’t want to leave his work unfinished”. This gives justification as to why Zemo is willing to work with the heroes and the fact Zemo is Sam and Bucky’s only chance of finding the Flag Smashers gives them justification for working with the villain. Although, Sam is at first apprehensive, Bucky’s reassurance is enough for him which is actually surprising considering the tension the two had in the previous episode.

With Zemo escaping prison we get to learn a lot more about Zemo than we previously knew. Just like the comics Zemo is from a family of royalty and is a Baron. However, the royal family is from Sokovia which we learn has been wiped off the map since Avengers: Age of Ultron. This helps adds more to the motivation of Zemo as the country he was considered royalty in is no more.

As well as Zemo’s motivations we also learn of his mission’s purpose. He talks about how when people are given gifts they become idols and symbols just like Steve Rogers. But, unlike the rest of the world Zemo sees the flaws of this and knows that a world ruled by the Red Skull could be a result of people ignoring the dangers. This adds context to Zemo for Civil War as his motivation to tear the Avengers apart feels more justified and the fact his country is no more adds more fuel to his anger.

That anger has seemingly taken a break for now as Zemo was able to work with Sam and Bucky as they visited Madripoor. Like the comics Madripoor is a criminal haven with high town being a place for the luxury elite and low town being the place for criminals of all types.

When the trio visit the city, they are all in character with Sam dressed as he calls it a “pimp” which is actually the outfit the Smiling Tiger wears. In the comics Smiling Tiger, real name Conrad Mack, is a Madripoor crime lord which is a nod to the comics. In character Zemo asks for someone named Selby as she is his lead on the super soldier serum. This ends in a bar fight where the full aggression of the Winter Soldier is on display. This shocks Sam but the brutality sends a message and Selby meets with them. This aggression which Bucky showed goes against rule 2, don’t hurt anybody. The burst of fury by Bucky was something you could tell he needed as he was able to release all his inner anger.

Upon meeting Selby we then learn that the serum was made in Madripoor by a man named Wilfred Nagel whom works for the mysterious Power Broker. However, the conversation is cut short by Sam’s phone ringing. This ultimately causes them to be detected as Sarah (Adepero Oduye) says his real name. Despite Selby getting shot by a secret shooter, the bounty on their heads rises as they try and escape. We then get the reveal that the shooter was no other than Sharon Carter whom has been in hiding in Madripoor since being branded enemy of the state.

Despite understandably wanting to shoot Zemo, Sharon takes the trio to her house in high town. There she reveals how she has been hustling and selling real paintings to make money. We also learn that Sharon has given up on heroes and thinks that it is all hypocrisy. However, she still wants to return home so she makes a deal with Sam, for her help Sam will get her pardoned. Using her contacts Sharon gets the location of Wilfred Nagel whom is found in a shipping container in the Madripoor docks.

When Zemo, Bucky and Sam confront the Doctor behind the new super soldier serum he explains that his serum is perfect. The history of the super soldier serum becomes more fleshed out as Nagel explains he was recruited by Hydra to try and reactivate the Winter Soldier program after Siberia. Then after Hydra fell he began working for the CIA where he used the blood of Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) to perfect his work. However, before he could fully finish his work he was blipped out for 5 years and when he returned the program had abandoned. This resulted in Nagel moving to Madripoor so that the Power Broker would fund his work and able him to create 20 serums which Karli stole. Before any more details can be shared Zemo shoots the Doctor which tells us Zemo is taking no chances at a replication of the serum. Even though the motivations of Zemo are strong it is still very hard to trust the man after Civil War and the drastic action he took in the episode.

While the details of Nagel’s work are being shared, Sharon brutally fights off Bounty Hunters, but as she comes to warn the trio the container is blown up. Sharon, Bucky and Sam then have to try and hold off the Bounty Hunters which doesn’t go to plan as Sam and Bucky disagree. Instead there escape comes through Zemo. Donning his famous Purple Mask he takes out the Bounty Hunters using his combat skills he picked up in the Sokovian military. Zemo then comes for Sam and Bucky as the trio continue to work together, but Sharon unable to travel stays put. Then when Sharon leaves she tells her driver that they have a couple of big problems which has potentially laid the seeds for a bigger Sharon story in Madripoor.

After they escape Madripoor the trio head to Latvia as they trace the steps of Karli. On the plane Sam and Bucky once again discuss the shield and everything Sam has learnt tells him that he should have destroyed the shield. Throughout the episode Sam begins to learn about the wider world which shocks him, so this decision looks rash due to it being made in the moment and without thought. In contrast to Sam we learn that Bucky has plans to take the shield for himself which was a big moment for his character as he knows he can longer sit around feeling sorry for himself, he has to act on his mistakes.

All 4 of Zemo, Sharon, Sam and Bucky were developed tremendously in the episode as their journeys keep moving forward with an ending not being clear for any of the characters. But, an ending we cannot wait to see.

The Terrorist Flag Smashers:

Despite not featuring as heavily in this episode, we still get to learn more about the Flag Smashers and what they stand for. The stand out of this episode was Karli Morgenthau as it was made clear as to why she is the leader of the group. Also, the reason as to why they are helping those struggling from the blip becomes clearer. We witness the death of one of Karli’s friend whom dies of tuberculous a common disease in camps which the Flag Smashers support. Seeing what happens in the camps gives substance to what the Flag Smashers are trying to achieve as they act like Robin Hood. Despite fighting for a good cause it is the way they are going about their mission which makes them terrorists.

It had been teased in the previous episode and confirmed in episode 3 that Karli and the Flag Smashers had stolen the super soldier serum from the Power Broker. Then with the news that Nagel was killed, Karli realises that the Power Broker needs them if he wants to recreate the serum. What this does is gives confidence to Karli as the threat of death isn’t as heavy as it had been. This is the confidence which makes Karli become more dangerous which we get a glimpse of when she blows up a GRC resource centre, an act which she hadn’t discussed with anyone else.

Blowing up the GRC building is a major terrorist act and more than they have ever done before which is a shock which can be seen on the face of Karli’s fellow Flag Smasher. The justification that Karli gives for this is that it is the only language that they understand. She is referring to what she believes will get attention. However, despite fighting the good fight it isn’t right to kill those doing their job. The Flag Smashers are quickly becoming one of the most intriguing parts to the show and we expect Karli to continue to make darker moves.

A Crumbling Cap:

While the Flag Smashers oppose the GRC, the New Captain America John Walker and Lemar Hoskins Battlestar (Cle Bennett) are tasked with keeping order for the GRC. On the hunt for the Flag Smashers leads Walker to the safe house in Munich that the Flag Smashers stayed at during the previous episode. In this scene we get to see the job start to get to Walker as we see an even more aggressive side to him. As the job becomes harder the fear of failure is what looks like it will see Walker take a darker turn. Screaming “do you know who I am” is just a first sign that he isn’t ready for the responsibility of Cap.

Struggling to complete his mission has caused Walker to allow actions from Sam and Bucky to go unnoticed as he just wants to complete his mission. This is also a big step for Walker as Cap as ignoring the obvious fact Sam and Bucky broke Zemo out of a jail is a major action from someone who works for the government. Also, Walker wouldn’t understand why they needed Zemo so for all he knows a dangerous terrorist is at large which he chooses to ignore. The cracks are starting to show for Walker as the fear of failure looks likely to consume him.

Wakanda has Arrived:

With an episode focused on developing the plot, the big shock the episode ended with was a huge moment and made the episode memorable. As Zemo, Sam and Bucky stay on the hunt for Karli; Bucky notices they are being followed as he finds small tacking devices. This then leads him to leave Sam and Zemo and to be reunited with a member of the Dora Milaje, that being Ayo.

Upon the pair meeting, Ayo immediately says she is here Zemo. This reveal has just added another side to the story as the foreshadowing Sam gave during the episode tells us that Wakanda has not forgotten that Zemo was responsible for killing King T’Chaka. There is so many questions this scene has raised and next week will surely answer these but as for now we just have to appreciate that Wakanda is going to be featured in the show, a surprise I don’t think any of us expected.

Verdict:

As a whole the episode’s main purpose was to move the story along. It was nice to see Sharon and Zemo in action while continuing the stories of everyone else. However, even with the introduction to Madripoor the main talking point of the episode is Ayo’s appearance. This has meant many fans have unanswered questions which can only continue the hype as we move into the 2nd half of the series.