The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: What’s hidden in plain sight in episode 2
By Mike McNulty
The new Captain America and the secret history of super soldiers are the subjects of the latest Easter Eggs for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
It’s only the second episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and already there’s been some doozies. We learn more about the new Captain America, John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and how he gets along (or doesn’t) with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). We learn that the anarchist Flag-Smashers may not be the actual bad guys Sam and Bucky have been lead to believe, as there’s a third nefarious party in play. We learn that Steve wasn’t the last American super-soldier. And finally, we see the return of one Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl).
All of this means we have a few more Easter Eggs and comic-to-show comparisons to cover. Just like WandaVision, it appears this Disney Plus series is mixing-and-matching various storylines and plots from the original Captain America comic books, too. And although the original stories all involved Steve Rogers as the protagonist, it seems based on this episode, entitled “Star-Spangled Man,” kept as close to the source material as possible. How much so? We’ll find out, and of course, SPOILERS if you haven’t seen the episode yet.
“What I do have is guts.”
One of the clever decisions “Star-Spangled Man” does as an episode is that it doesn’t turn John Walker into an obvious antagonist for Sam and Bucky by demonizing him. That would’ve been too easy and lazy. Instead, Walker comes off as someone rather likable and personable, a dedicated soldier and small-town hero who only wants to serve the country he loves to the best of his ability. This also meant the series made a few modifications to his character.
Although Walker in the comics did grow up in Custer’s Grove, Georgia, as portrayed in the series, he wasn’t a football star and he didn’t marry his high school sweetheart (Gabrielle Byndloss). He did join the Army – not the Marines – but never saw combat, which also means he’s not a thrice-decorated Medal of Honor winner in the comics, either. Also, Walker became a professional wrestler after finishing his service, so that’s been excised, too. Though, for someone who prefers action over glad handling, he sure doesn’t mind the attention, marching bands, media interviews, and signing autographs onto his own action figures.
Speaking of which, the episode also makes deliberate callbacks to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) when comparing Walker with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Walker’s appearance on Good Morning, America at his hometown high school football field is a modernized version of Steve’s USO tour, with even the marching band playing “Star-Spangled Man.” Walker even carries a sidearm like Steve did in the first movie, performs some of Steve’s moves, and even co-opts some of Steve’s theme music.
But there’s clear, if subtle, differences between the two Caps. Whereas Steve knew he had to earn people’s respect, Walker thinks he should already have it simply because he’s been given the moniker and shield. Whereas Steve stood up against the powers that be, Walker’s definitely a loyal and obedient soldier. There’s also a hint towards Walker’s personal history when his buddy, Lemar Hoskins (Cle Bennet) reminds him that being Cap means he can’t “punch his way out of problems anymore.” Combined with his “stay the hell out of our way” to Sam and Bucky after they refuse to work with him, you get the sense that Walker, just how he is in the comics, is a way more aggressive than his predecessor.