In the previous episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam and Bucky worked alongside Zemo to track the Super Soldier serum’s recreator. Their search took them to Madripoor, where they were reunited with Sharon Carter and learned more about the Flag Smashers leader, Karli Morgenthau. Meanwhile, John Walker’s patience was put to the test as he failed to capture the Flag Smashers and learned that not everyone respects him in his role as the new Captain America.
In episode 4, Karli finds herself with more to worry about than just the Power Broker as Sam, Bucky, Zemo, Walker, and Hoskins all seek to track her down. However, despite Sam’s attempts to make Karli see reason, not all goes to plan and the conflict which ensues proves to have fatal consequences…
SPOILERS AHEAD
The episode begins six years earlier in Wakanda where Bucky is accompanied by Ayo, who tests the trigger words and confirms that they no longer can be used to activate the Winter Soldier. It’s a highly emotional moment that brings Bucky and viewers to tears as he finally achieves freedom from the Winter Soldier programming with Shuri and Ayo’s help. With Bucky having much to be grateful of the Wakandans for, it makes the fact that he is helping the murderer of their former king all the more treacherous in the eyes of Ayo, which she expresses her dissatisfaction with during their present-day conversation. Despite her displeasure, Ayo agrees to give Bucky time to use Zemo as his means to an end before they return for him.
The tension felt before the title sequence continues throughout the episode as Bucky returns to the safe house. The trio then learns of Karli’s most recent bombing of the GRC supply depot, and Zemo once again expresses the danger those with super-soldier serum pose. Bucky then suggests the possibility that Zemo’s beliefs on super-soldiers are wrong, stating that the serum never corrupted Steve. However, Zemo is quick to respond with: “Touché. But there has never been another Steve Rogers, has there?” and on that statement, we can all indeed agree. The three then plan to seek out Karli at the funeral that will undoubtedly be held for Donya before we see Karli, alongside other Flag Smashers listening to the news report of the bombing.
Meanwhile, Sam, Bucky, and Zemo travel to the GRC Settlement Camp where Donya passed away and ask around the people there for any information on Karli Morgenthau’s location. Though Sam and Bucky are both unsuccessful at obtaining any knowledge, Zemo proves himself resourceful when he approaches a group of children, singing and offering them Turkish Delight, all before telling the children that Sam and Bucky are bad men and should not be trusted. One of the little girls whispers into Zemo’s ear, and he leaves the settlement camp smug at his newfound leverage to use should the others attempt to give him over to the Wakandans. Zemo’s manipulative nature proves to be a trigger for the tension already building among them, too, as Bucky later advances toward Zemo when they are back in his safehouse. Luckily, Sam steps in to stop Bucky and advises him not to engage.
We are then shown another glimpse into what Karli and the Flag Smashers are up to as Karli and her friend Nico retrieve the super-solder serum from a graveyard. The two discuss the symbol of the shield, and though Karli voices her opinion that it should be destroyed (much like Sam said), Nico tells Karli that he used to look up to Captain America, of course that was when Steve Rogers was the bearer of the shield. Again, this helps to highlight that not everyone is accepting or admires Walker being the new Cap.
The trio have once again left Zemo’s safehouse, though they don’t get far before they are met by Walker and Hoskins. It’s left unsaid how the pair managed to track down the trio and the tension soars even higher as they are led to Mama Donya’s wake by the little girl Zemo offered the candy to. There, Sam approaches Karli alone after the wake is over and attempts to talk her down. He even manages to get through to her before they are interrupted by John Walker who is done waiting for Sam’s attempts at reasoning with her. His interruption allows for Karli to flee though she ends up being shot by Zemo during her escape, resulting in the super-soldier serum in her possession being dropped. Zemo stops her by shooting at her again when she attempts to reach out for the serum and proceeds to step on the vials to destroy them. He is stopped when Walker arrives and knocks him unconscious with the shield. However, unnoticed by Zemo, one vial of the super-soldier serum still remains and is picked up and pocketed by Walker…
Back at Zemo’s apartment, he advises Sam that ‘super-soldiers cannot be allowed to exist,’ to which Sam responds: ‘Isn’t that how God’s talk? And if that’s how you feel, what about Bucky?’. This question seems to catch Zemo off guard as he ponders in silence. It’s unsure as to whether he had an answer and what it was if he did as Bucky returns, closely followed by Walker and Hoskins. Walker and Sam come close to fighting one another but before either is able to make the first move, a spear narrowly misses Walkers head. The Dora Milaje have arrived to collect Zemo and Walker makes the mistake of immediately getting off on the wrong foot with the Dora Milaje, stating that they have no jurisdiction here to which Ayo states that ‘the Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be’ in a moment similar to those of Okoye in Black Panther (2018). A fight then ensues between Walker, Hoskins, and the Dora before Bucky and Sam reluctantly join to provide aid. All the while, Zemo watches in amusement and only when it is clear that the Dora Milaje hold the advantage in the fight does he slip away. During the fight, Ayo detaches Bucky’s arm and the look of surprise and betrayal on his face show just how hurt he is that not even the Wakandans trusted him. A defeated Walker expresses his dissatisfaction that he was so easily beat by people who ‘weren’t even super-soldiers’ before he and Hoskins leave.
Following their encounter with the Dora Milaje, Walker asks Lemar if he would ever consider taking the super-soldier serum, despite how it has the ability to change you. Lemar responds quickly with a yes, even going as far as suggesting that it just makes people more like themselves. Walker appears to take note of this, though it’s interesting to see that he still does not tell his friend that he is in possession of the last known sample of the super-soldier serum.
Meanwhile, Sam is in the middle of a phone call with his sister, Sarah who has received a call from Karli who has not only questioned if she should kill Sam, but shown that she is aware of Sarah and her sons’ location. Sam then agrees to meet Karli, though not alone as she demands as Bucky accompanies him once again, and Karli asks Sam to join her cause. Once again, Walker interrupts Sam’s attempts to reason with Karli and during Walkers attempt to gain the upper hand over the Flag Smashers, Lemar is taken. This event appears to be the final straw for Walker who later is shown to have taken the super-soldier serum for himself, enhancing his abilities.
The episode takes a surprising turn when Lemar Hoskins is killed by Karli during his attempt to defend John Walker and the reaction that Walker has to his friend’s murder is deadly. Pursuing the Flag-Smasher, Nico, Walker knocks him down and demands to know where Karli is. When Nico doesn’t tell him, Walker proceeds to beat Nico to death with the shield as the civilians around the square, Karli herself, Sam and Bucky watch. Many are filming the moment on their mobile phones and though John spots the event being recorded, he doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of guilt or regret. It’s a moment that has all Captain America fans screaming at the TV and for those who were on the fence about liking John Walker, there’s no doubt now that he is perhaps one of the most hated characters in the series…
And that’s it for the episode 4 recap! Let us know what you thought of the episode down in the comments below and if you want a sneak-peak at what’s to come, check it out below!
