If you want a short review, you should find a less geeky blog on the internet. Prepare for me to nerd out on this series…
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Captain America
I have been waiting to see this plot brought on screen for so long. Sam Wilson as Captain America is something that we all needed to see. I can’t explain how excited I am that Disney made this series and did it so well. Not just recognizing these characters (Sam Wilson, Isaiah Bradley, Eli Bradley), but making them the center of the series. We want to see representation in our heroes. We need it.
Disney did something similar here to what they accomplished in Black Panther. They chose to represent different philosophies on our country and how we should view our history. Black history around the world is complicated. Black history in The United States has long been avoided by major media outlets. Our country needs to be aware of its own history. Our media needs to recognize what is really going on in the world right now.
Sam Wilson is Captain America.
The White Wolf
The White Wolf has always been a complicated character. Disney has chose to portray Bucky as The White Wolf. This decision is almost a reversal of the comic arch for Hunter (The White Wolf). Instead of watching Hunter be adopted and accepted by Wakanda and a rival of Black Panther (at times), we get to see a mercenary that becomes the adoptee of Wakanda in a journey of healing and reconciliation. Through this we keep the essence of the character. We still see the ruthless warrior that The White Wolf has always been, but we don’t see the jealousy and competition that drives Hunter (The White Wolf) to take some dark turns in the comics. This decision allows for us to have a White Wolf story that shows a bond between Wakanda and the outside world. We move away from the prejudice that we do see in comic stories and put a focus on healing and “doing better” just like Sam Wilson says.
Instead of seeing The White Wolf as the leader of the Hatut Zeraze, we see Buck paired with the Dora Milaje.
U.S. Agent
John Walker is a very important character for Captain America. He is a representation of the reality of excessive force and unchecked power. There is no better time for Disney to have introduced him into the MCU. They used him to effectively demonstrate abuse of power and biased authority. I can’t wait to see where they take his character.
Best Scenes
The series opens with Sam Wilson. We hear those lines with Steve echo over the scene… Steve: “How does it feel?”
Sam: “Like it’s someone else’s.”
Steve: “It’s not.”
This callback reminds us of the moment when Steve passes the shield on to Sam Wilson, but it also foreshadows and references the struggle of Black history (particularly for the U.S.) that this series is really about.
This is our country. It doesn’t belong to just one group. This country does not belong to those groups that try to exclude individuals and minorities or that try to take away the rights of others. This country belongs to us all and it’s our responsibility to improve together.
“I am no longer The Winter Soldier. I am James Bucky Barnes and you are part of my efforts to make amends.”
This first scene when we meet Bucky in his therapy session is so well written. The scene manages to catch us up on how Bucky has been dealing with everything since he was brought out of the ice in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. We see his real struggle with himself and the actions/crimes of his past. He truly is alone. No one understands his situation and he has lost his only friend. Someone struggling with PTSD is difficult to portray properly. Throughout this series we get to see Bucky’s growth and healing; all of that begins with these scene.
“Winter Soldier… Attack.”
Seeing Zemo back with Bucky in a bar in Madripoor. This scene demonstrates Zemo’s conniving nature, his history with Bucky, and Bucky’s history with HYDRA. The fight is well coordinated and the subtle fear on Sam’s face as Zemo looks on proud is a telling detail.
All of this is important for showing us the character of these three and their lack of trust for one another. It moves the story forward while recognizing the past of these cornerstone characters. We get to learn a bit more how powerful Zemo really is and this actually gives us more context for how he was able to accomplish what he did in Captain America: Civil War.
“I won’t let you hurt anyone… You are free. You are free.”
In this scene we get to see six years into the past. We witness Ayo deprogramming Bucky. She recites the words that are meant to activate The Winter Soldier and Bucky Barnes cries as we see that he is no longer bound by that. She tells him he is free. This scene is so great for us to see because it demonstrates the bond between Wakanda and Bucky Barnes. It tells us that there is more that we haven’t seen about Bucky’s time in Wakanda and his journey to become The White Wolf. It is a reference to the comic past of The White Wolf and how he was adopted and taken in by Wakanda.
Aside from all of that, we get to see how far Bucky has come, but how he is still held prisoner by his past. His guilt and shame for his crimes cause him to not really be free just yet. His relationship with Ayo and the Dora Milaje is important, but it hasn’t fully healed him. He is still unable to reconcile with what he has done.
Karli: “But, Sam, what if I’m making the world a better place?”
Sam: “No, it’s not a better place if you’re killing people. It’s just different… I’m not your enemy. I agree with your fight. I just can’t get with the way you’re fighting it.”
This scene shows us so much of Sam’s character. We see and understand that he has experienced the same struggle as Karli. We get to hear her pain and her motivation as well. What we see during their conversation is how their action differs. Sam cares about the impact of his actions on others. He knows that Karli’s course of action is really just a repetition of the past. If they want to bring about real change, they’ll have to find a new solution. This scene foreshadows the speech our Captain America will give in the final episode. It also takes the time to develop our villain so that we can understand the depth of the struggle that this plot revolves around.
“Is this what I think it is?”
Zemo has the most straightforward motivation. I actually love this about his character. In this scene Zemo finds Karli and all of the leftover serum. He could choose to do what most would do: take the serum to use it or sell it. Instead he stays true to his motivation and immediately attempts to destroy it. You see his hatred for the serum as he stomps away the vials. This is his mission and he doesn’t hesitate to follow through on it. This scene deeply reminds us of Zemo’s past and his motivation.
What follows is John Walker’s discovery of the serum and his pivotal decision to take it. Seeing Walker’s decision follow immediately after Zemo’s we see a contrast in their character. I appreciated this because it demonstrated the grey area that morality exists within. Walker the “good guy” in this scene gives in to power lust and temptation, while Zemo the “bad guy” tries to eradicate the source of the power that is being abused.
All of this is followed by a scene with Zemo and Sam where we witness the following dialogue:
Zemo: “We cannot allow that she and her acolytes become yet another faction of gods amongst real people. Super soldiers cannot be allowed to exist.”
Sam: “Isn’t that how gods talk?”
Despite the last scene where Zemo is used to contrast John Walker, we now see Sam Wilson contrast Zemo. Each of these characters has flaws in their initial perspectives. This is an unusual thing to see in a show. We actually get to hear each of them express their views and we witness them change and conflict with others through the series.
“I mean… power just makes a person more of themselves, right?”
What an interesting concept. This is actually the central idea surrounding the serum in the MCU. This is demonstrated in The Incredible Hulk where we see Bruce Banner and Emil Blonsky take serums meant to have the same affect as the one Steve Rogers takes in Captain America: The First Avenger. Due to his character flaws, Emil is changed into Abomination. His negative qualities become stronger and are amplified by the serum. It is also mentioned to Steve Rodger when he is deciding whether or not to take the serum.
What does this mean for Walker and other characters who have taken the serum? What does it mean for Bucky? What it does not mean is that all those who take the serum are evil. It reminds me of the saying: “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” What they mean here is that the power these people have is always going to be a temptation. They have the power to abuse if they choose to. Even Walker can choose not to abuse his power, as we see later, but we are responsible for our actions.
“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!”
Moments before this scene we see Lemar Hoskins killed by Karli. This event prompts Walker to make a pivotal choice to chase down and brutally murder a member of the Flag Smashers in front of a crowd of people. We watch in horror as he uses the shield to murder this man as the world watches. The picture here is powerful and all too real. Every person watching knows exactly what this is meant to echo. This is the most powerful and meaningful scene in all of Marvel cinematic history.
“They erased me. My history, but they’ve been doing that for 500 years… They will never let a black man be Captain America, and even if they did, no self-respecting black man would ever want to be.”
This scene is powerful because it holds so much truth. We know that much of what Isaiah says is true, not for these fictional characters, but for us in real life. Black history is erased, covered up, and forgotten by so many people. There is a rampant and outrageous lack of respect and acknowledgement of black history and culture.
The complicated situation that faces Sam is given depth in this scene. We see and understand another side of Sam’s journey and why he may have refused the shield the first time he was offered it. This is what we see Bucky apologize for soon after. He couldn’t understand Sam’s struggle and what the shield would mean for him.
“No, that’s Captain America.”
Seeing that distinction come from bystanders as they watch Sam Wilson rescue members of the GRC is a big moment. Sam Wilson is not “Black Falcon” he is Captain America.
“The only power I have is that I believe we can do better.”
Sam Wilson delivers one hell of a speech. We see the theme of making good decisions with the power that we do have. I love this moment because it contrasts Sam’s approach with Steve’s. We’ve seen so many Steve Rogers speeches, now we see Sam’s and these moments really show Sam’s character.
Captain America and The Winter Soldier
The series ends with the new title which reflects Sam’s decision to become Captain America.
Summary
This may be the best installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Watch it, share it, reflect on it. The cast does an amazing job bringing these characters to life, the soundtrack and effects perfectly accentuate the epic scenes, and the writing and directing tell a beautiful and deep story.