Falcon And The Winter Soldier “Power Broker” Review
Falcon And The Winter Soldier “Power Broker” is the third episode of Falcon And The Winter Soldier. This episode made episode 2 even better. Though there are “cute buddy cop” moments with Bucky and Sam it’s much more toned down and serious now. Perhaps because of their new addition to the team: Zemo.
I loved Zemo in Civil War. He was about the only redeeming quality that movie had. But I have a whole new amount of love and respect for him.
Plot
Sam and Bucky start where they left off. Having a chat with Zemo to find out about the new super soldier serum. It’s revealed pretty quickly that Bucky has already broken Zemo out of jail. Knowing that he’d have to do it behind Sam’s back as he wouldn’t approve.
Zemo proves to be invaluable though, introducing them both to a world they never knew existed via Madripoor. The lower town is a neon lighted extravaganza that’s more like a cyberpunk movie (or game) than anything. Our heroes visit a bar where they are given the information that Dr. Wilfred Nagel recreated the serum. The Power Broker asked him to. He agreed but things when south and the serum was stolen.
They make their way to see Dr. Nagel using information that Sharon Carter gets out of someone during a party at her house. Turns out she’s been living in Madripoor since the events of Civil War. He tells them everything but as things a re getting interesting he’s killed by a random bounty hunter. Sam, Bucky and Zemo have a huge price on their heads and quite a few people are willing to risk their lives for the cash.
We catch up with Carli in Lithuania, the next stop for Sam, Bucky and Zemo. And she’s onto her next mission. Stealing from a GRC base. The main trio show up and Bucky says he’s going for a walk, splitting up from the other two. He starts to follow some tracking balls that are clearly Wakandan technology. Bucky eventually bumps into Ayo, one of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje warriors. She says she’s there for Zemo and the episode ends.
Review
I loved this episode. It was so different from episode 2, almost unrecognizably so, but it worked. Zemo is the real king of this episode though. He’s the most interesting and the most tense. No matter how friendly he is with our heroes I found myself holding my breath the whole episode wondering when he was going to stab them in the back.
The throwback to Sharon Carter was fine but it did feel a little forced. It could be because I never really cared about her character but the whole “get me my US citizenship back” side plot could’ve been cut completely and it wouldn’t have made a tiny bit of difference. The main 3 easily could’ve gotten their info on where Dr. Nagel was from someone else, like I said, it kinda just felt like the writers wrote her in for the throwback.
At one point Zemo is clearly listening in on Sam and Bucky argue over the shield and stealing it, he doesn’t let it show though. I won’t be surprised if it comes up in a later episode. Talking about shields, Fake Captain America is barely in this episode and when he is he’s spat at by a Flag Smasher sympathiser. I don’t think I’ve cheered so much in my life.
Carli is, going around mourning and doing stuff? I dunno. The writers really push the whole “she’s starving and the country she comes from has suddenly become overpopulated and riddled with sickness” thing with her but it’s honestly boring. She’s a weak antagonist and I find myself bored every time she’s on screen.
I am 100% looking forward to how they incorporate Ayo into the story. She has good reason to hate Zemo and the Dora Milaje are my favourite characters in the MCU.
