Karli Morgenthau may have been killed in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but doesn’t mean she will stay dead. In fact, she could return in a Marvel Cinematic Universe feature.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier exceeded the vast majority of fans’ expectations, putting the concerns about it following WandaVision to rest. It helped that they were two different shows. Unlike WandaVision, this was a more action-packed series. Both dealt with real issues that affect people but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s fight scenes came more frequently.
A similarity in a lot of Marvel Cinematic Universe properties is the antagonist being a somewhat relatable or empathetic character. We saw that in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. No, don’t worry this writer is not talking about John Walker; he’s talking about Karli Morgenthau.
Karli’s struggle was something fans could undertstand. Her actions were unforgivable, but her motivations resonated with people; everyone wants to live a good life but when that’s taken away, some people will find a way to fight back. Granted, her methods turned extreme in the end – very much like Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. Another similarity they share is that both Karli and Killmonger appeared to have died and that this writer doesn’t believe that either are dead.
Karli Morgenthau is too good a character not to use again and she became very popular among fans. Despite her popularity, there are other reasons that make her fit into the MCU. Here are the reasons that make the most sense.
Why Karli Morgenthau isn’t really dead after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Let’s look at the facts. Comic book characters are notorious for either coming back from the dead or not really being dead to begin with. The latter may be true here. It’s easier to explain Karli’s return since she has the super soldier serum in her body. This means she heals faster than a normal human and thus, may not have been killed by Sharon Carter’s gunshot. It’s also not like Sam Wilson is a medical professional so it wouldn’t be completely unbelievable for him to miss the fact that she may still have been alive. Maybe the EMS staff could have brought her back. Although, here’s a more likely option: Someone else intercepted her on the way to the hospital.
There are two people who could use her services. First, we have the obvious in Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. She has already grabbed John Walker and renamed him U.S. Agent. There’s no way he’s her only draftee. She’s either already recruited or will be looking to take on more agents. Of course, John Walker may not want to work with the woman who killed his best friend, but he may be forced to get over it in the name of what’s “right”.
Then there’s Sharon Carter. Sure, she “killed” Karli at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but that doesn’t mean she actually meant to – Karli did, after all, have one of the last remaining doses of super soldier serum coursing through her veins. Perhaps she or her team grabbed Karli and brought her back to Madripoor. If the theory about Sharon Carter being a Skrull does turn out to be true (like this writer believes), then stealing Karli’s identity could be an attempt to infiltrate a faction of Earth. Karli was obviously trusted by a lot of people who supported the Flag Smashers.
Why should she be brought back
Karli Morgenthau became an incredibly popular villain in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That enough is reason alone for her to be used again at some point in the future. The Skrull theory works but even if she isn’t a skrull, Karli should return as a lead villain and perhaps even become the big bad of another project. The Flag Smasher, anyone?
If Karli is going to be called Flag Smasher, why not let her be the leader of the Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind (U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. for short). They may not be Avengers-level villains, but they’re definitely someone for Daredevil, The Punisher or any of the other Marvel Knights villains to fight. Since they have a connection to Deadpool in the comics, she could even be used there as well.
In conclusion
Marvel Studios is creative enough to come up with solutions to Karli’s apparent “death”. However it happens, Karli will be back at some point. She was a thought-provoking villain that worked really well in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and her role there has ensured that fans would be excited to see her in another project.
Erin Kellyman did a great job as Karli so why take the character away now when she has so much potential. Karli Morgenthau could and should be around for the next decade, building up her stories under the surface before she returns as another major threat.
Is Karli Morgenthau really dead in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Is she a skrull? Do you want her to come back? Let us know in the comments below!