TL;DR – The episode where we got on a fun Road-trip with Zemo [A sentence I never thought I would write]

Post-Credit Scene – There is no End Credit Scene

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ subscription that viewed this episode.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review –

One of the strengths of the MCU is that that it can fit its films and shows into several different genres and tones. The Captain America films have always felt like they fit into this more grounded spy world, and this week we get to see it spin off soar in the same territory.  

So to set the scene, at the end of last week’s episode, The Star-Spangled Banner, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and Sam (Anthony Mackie) had reached a dead end. They have tried to track down the new terrorist organisation, but with no luck. Well, when you reach rock bottom, it is time to scrape that barrel and visit an old antagonist, Zemo (Daniel Brühl). He knows all about Hydra and its hidden places, so this would be a good idea … right? Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

The first thing I want to talk about is the production because this week shows the series at its best so far. Many little touches can make a show click, and for me, one of them is the music. This week’s episode shows just how strong that musical push can be, with Henry Jackson incorporating aspects of his Winter Solider score in places that creates a link to the past to propel it forward. But it also shows how powerful it could be. In the closing moments, Bucky finds a bead and goes for a walk. I’ll be honest, I had forgotten about Wakanda using the beads as part of their technology, but the second we hear that hint of the Dora Milaje theme, you get sucked back into the world of the Black Panther, even before Ayo (Florence Kasumba) appears on the screen.

When I heard that Zemo would join the show, I wondered how they would integrate him, and out of all the options, I did not expect a buddy/road-trip team-up. Now let’s be honest. He will betray them at some point. He does have a very singular focus. But for the moment, I am interested to see where they go with this moving forward. I did enjoy the brief prison break scene that we got and that some of the legacy aspects of the character have been incorporated in without feeling forced. At the very least, I am sure that Marvel is happy that the Gif of Zemo dance became a meme for a week.

Another big reintroduction this week was Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp). Sharon really got the short end of the stick, with her not getting the cosy immunity/house arrest arrangements like the rest of the Avengers after Civil War. Also, she did not get snapped from the look of things, so she has been living in this world and living with the consequences for a lot longer than our other leads. It was nice that we got to see Sharon kick some serious arse as she mowed through wave after wave of henchmen/bounty hunters. However, when we go back to her house, well, I got a strong Liara from Mass Effect vibe. So let’s be honest, she is either the mysterious Power Broker or by the end of the show, she will be.

This week, we also get to hop around the world, visiting locations from the past and places new. Given the state of Eastern Europe after the blip in this show, you get the feeling that Spider-Man: Far From Home is set quite a bit more forward in time from this, which makes it odd that it is in the Phase 3 group. Then we have the new with the live-action introduction of one of the classic Marvel locations, Madripoor. Here, unfortunately, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I think they did a good job translating aspects of the city-state from the comics to the show, and visually, the city looked stunning. However, once we got inside the city, I could not have told you it was in the Indonesian archipelago if they didn’t name drop it. This could have been a generic city anywhere in Europe or America, and it was a real missed opportunity.       

In the end, do we recommend Power Broker? Overall I am still enjoying this series. It is leaning into a lighter tone at the moment that I know is not going to last, but I am happy to be here while we got it.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you seen The Falcon and The Winter Soldier yet ?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.    

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Directed by – Kari Skogland
Written by – Derek Kolstad
Created by – Malcolm Spellman
Based on – Characters created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Production/Distribution Companies – Marvel Studios & Disney+
Starring – Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Florence Kasumba, Danny Ramirez, Adepero Oduye, & Daniel Brühl with Clé Bennett, Desmond Chiam, Dani Deetté, Indya Bussey, Renes Rivera, Tyler Dean Flores, Noah Mills, Veronica Falcon, Imelda Corcoran & Olli Haaskivi.