This review contains spoilers so please tread lightly or watch the show first.
Wow, Falcon and Winter Soldier Episode Five is my favorite so far! I know, every time they release an episode, it just becomes my favorite. This one though is really the best one for me!
But before all the nitty-gritty, check out my Mid-Season Review (First 3 episodes) and Episode Four Review of Falcon and Winter Soldier!
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Episode 5: Truth
In which all the fanfic writers are in heaven for that domestic SamBucky content.
Quick Recap 📝
Picking up after the events of the last episode, Walker runs away from the scene, bloody shield still in hand. Sam and Bucky catch up with Walker and fight him for the shield. Sam and Bucky finally get the shield, breaking Walker’s arm in the process.
With The Flag Smashers on the run, the GRC arrests the other refugees and followers. Torres reunites with the Sam in Latvia, sharing intel, and tells them to lay low while waiting for leads. Bucky goes off to the Sokovia Memorial to take care of Zemo and hand him over to the Dora Milaje.
John Walker appears in a senate court and was stripped down of his rank, benefits and, authority as a soldier and as Captain America. He was later met by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who stole the show and leaves him with a strange impression. John visits the Hoskins family and tells them a white lie that Nico was indeed the one that killed Lemar.
Sam goes back to Baltimore to talk to Isaiah and learns the truth about what happened to him. Bucky later joins Sam in Louisiana, with a suitcase of Wakandan tech and helps Sam fix their family boat.
Sam and Bucky open up to each other. Bucky apologizes for his and Steve’s oversight of not being able to understand the gravity of having a black man take up the shield. Sam offers Bucky advice to make proper amends. The two of them part ways as they wait for leads on Karli and The Flag Smashers’ next step.
Sharon calls Batroc and offers him another job. Batroc meets Karli as he provides her with weapons to stop the GRC vote in New York.
Torres calls Sam with leads that the Flag Smashers are in New York. The episode ends with Sam finally opening up the suitcase he received from Bucky.
The mid-credits scene shows Walker creating his own shield in a random garage.
Episode Thoughts 🧠
Penultimate episodes are usually my favorite because the story starts to tie up loose ends and it hypes up the finale! I also have a long-standing history of crying when it comes to these episodes, and well I’ve got to tell you, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier didn’t break that history. Tears have been shed, my friends.
The United States vs. John Walker
First of all, I’m so relieved that the US Government dropped him like a hot rod. I mentioned in my previous review that it would suck if the US Government will back up Walker and turn it into propaganda against the Flag Smashers.
And that fight sequence in the intro was one of the most stressful scenes for me. 😅 Walker has really gone off the deep end. He ripped Falcon’s wings, smashed Bucky’s face with the shield. I don’t know but I think this was the first time I’ve seen an MCU character spit blood on screen. Good call back on the Civil War and Infinity War fight scenes though.
One of the things I liked about this episode was the truth John was spitting when he was summoned to the court. He’s dedicated his whole life to the US Government’s mandates and it’s true, his government made him.
I don’t like Walker’s personality but his overall character is actually interesting. I actually felt a pang of sadness and sympathy for him because now he’s lost more than Hoskins.
He’s dismissed as a soldier, stripped off of his ranks, benefits, and title as Captain America. Then again, the sympathy cancels out. During the warehouse fight, he literally tried to kill Sam the same way he did with Nico.
Still not here to excuse his actions. Cool motive, still murder.
Excited to see him go full-on US Agent though with his low-budget cosplay shield. 🤣
The Truth
I’ve been waiting for this moment, for Sam to go back and talk to Isaiah because I saw how important Isaiah would be for Sam’s character development.
The truth really is hard to swallow. Isaiah tells his story, how he saved other POWs from the camp that was about to blow up. Instead of being celebrated like Steve in The First Avenger Movie, he was thrown in jail, tortured, and experimented on.
This was a gut punch, not only to Sam but also to us viewers. Isaiah literally did the same thing Steve did when he rescued Bucky and the whole 107th infantry. But the consequences they had to face for their actions were on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum.
They were worried my story might get out. So, they erased me. My history.
But they’ve been doing that for 500 years.
ISAIAH BRADLEY, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER EP. 5
Another truth spitting out. America’s long-standing history of black erasure and persecution of black folks. Isaiah’s choice is a totally understandable one. He didn’t want anything to do with the shield or Captain America. Now, I wonder what he would think once Elijah becomes the Patriot in the future Young Avengers if ever Marvel wants to go that way. 😉
The Calm Before The Storm
So after all the action-packed scenes, we’re getting some peace in Louisiana as Bucky helps out Sam with fixing the Wilson Family boat. It was a nice and needed change of pace and honestly, they could give me six full-hour episodes of Sam and Bucky in Louisiana and I’d binge the shit out of them.
The whole montage was just super heartwarming and genuine, plus we get to see Sam and Bucky’s “friendship” grow. Friend-ship, heh. 🚢
This was also the most I’ve seen Bucky smile, and that guy is wearing his 1940’s ladies man smile, it’s almost disarming. When Sam said their community is the most welcoming in the whole world, it was true because somehow Bucky fit right through. Not to mention him flirting with Sarah was a treat, it’s funny seeing Sam get all riled up about it. 🥰
Making Amends
We also finally got to see these two properly reconcile. As we’ve seen from the previous episodes, Bucky was being mean and hostile to Sam because he gave up the shield. I’ve been waiting for him to apologize to Sam since Episode 2, but there was no better way they could’ve shown it than in this episode.
There’s just something so satisfying in seeing a white man acknowledge his oversight and ignorance. Now, he fully understood what it meant for Sam, a black man, to take up the mantle of Captain America. I can’t blame either of them. I understood Sam’s reluctance from the get-go, but when Bucky said that the shield was the closest thing he has left for a family… that shit hurt too.
Sam also offers advice to Bucky on properly making amends with people. It’s worth noting that Bucky was quick to tell Sam that he’s been having nightmares all the time, as compared to him denying it in the first episode with Dr. Raynor.
Once Bucky tells Yori the truth about his son in the next episode, I will totally cry. 😭
Take Back The Shield
Sam’s training montage with Louisiana Hero playing in the background is everything to me. That whole sequence lives in my mind rent-free. It also shows him working hard and practicing with the shield for him to wield it perfectly.
But my favorite thing about it has to be the one where AJ was tracing the star on the shield then looking up at his Uncle Sam. Also, the previous scene with Cass and AJ playing with the shield was so cute.
But what would be the point of all the pain and sacrifice if I wasn’t willing to stand up and keep fightin’?
SAM WILSON, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER EP. 5
It just shows that the shield still means something to other people, and it can still bring hope despite its now tainted history.
I honestly can’t wait to see Sam all suited up with his new Wakanda tech suit and wings. I’ve been trying to imagine him with the FalconCap suit from the comics!
Overall Thoughts 💡
I’m really glad we got a little break from all the action because I know that the finale will be full of it. The Flag Smashers – Sharon Carter connection is a bit clunky as of now. I hope they could have an amazing conclusion for it.
Not jumping to conclusions, but the fact that the final showdown between them will be in New York. And we all know there’s a lot of heroes in New York. No expectations set, I don’t want to get disappointed. But a girl can dream, right?
I’m mostly interested in Sharon Carter’s real persona in this show. A lot of people theorized that she might be The Powerbroker, and I wasn’t really down with the idea. I thought she might be working for The Powerbroker. But after this episode, she might actually be that guy.
Also, an amazing cameo by Julie Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Not sure exactly what’s her play, but she might be collecting her anti-heroes and villains like a pokemon. It seems like Walker is on the top of that list. Speaking of which, I’m pretty sure they’re setting up The Thunderbolts since Zemo is now in The Raft, which is under Thaddeus Ross.
This is my comfort episode and I’m sure I’ll be replaying the Louisiana scenes from time to time. I just want my faves to be happy, that’s all. Shoutout to Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Wyatt Russell for their excellent performance for this episode.
Comic Reading Guides
If you’re interested in exploring the comics related to this show, you might want to try the following.
I’ll definitely re-read All-New Captain America after I finish Winter Soldier (2018), then jump into Falcon and Winter Soldier afterwards.
Let’s Chat! 💬
- What was your favorite moment from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier so far?
- Any future MCU projects that you’re excited about?
