The Falcon and the Winter Soldier — Who is the new Captain America? - digitalspy.com

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1 spoilers follow.

Captain America's legacy was always going to loom large over Falcon and Winter Soldier, but we didn't expect Marvel to take this quite so literally.

After that first aerial fight sequence, things get serious during a press conference where Cap's face is plastered all over the wall behind Falcon.

"Symbols are nothing without the men and women who give them meaning," Sam tells a crowd at Washington. "And this thing... I don’t know if there’s ever been a greater symbol."

Marvel Studios

At this point, it's easy to assume that Falcon is just accepting Captain America's mantle in an official capacity. After all, Old Man Steve chose him to carry on his legacy at the end of Avengers: Endgame. However, it turns out that Sam wasn't comfortable with that decision.

"Today, we honour Steve's legacy, but we also look to the future... Thank you Captain America, but this belongs to you," Falcon says as he hands the shield over to the Smithsonian Institution.

When fellow Avenger James Rhodes asks Falcon why he "didn't take up the mask," Sam says it "feels like it belongs to someone else." While that might be true, Sam definitely didn't expect that "someone else" to be a complete stranger, one who can now be manipulated by the government for their own gain.

Falcon discovers that there's a new Captain America at the same time we do, right at the very end of this episode when a politician announces this surprise turn-around on the news.

"We need someone to inspire us again, someone who can be a symbol for all of us... The United States of America has a new hero. Join me in welcoming your new Captain America!"

Cue lots of applause at the conference, a lot of frowns from Sam, and a lot of "huh's" from fans watching back home who might not be familiar with the comics this story is based on.

Who is the new Captain America?

Disney+

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier doesn't reveal who this new Captain America is right away, but anyone who's been keeping track will already know that Marvel has announced him to be none other than John Walker, a morally dubious "hero" from the comics.

Before this episode dropped, Wyatt Russell's Marvel debut could only be glimpsed in the Super Bowl trailer, but now he's officially here in the MCU, that's bad news for Sam and Bucky.

In the comics, John was first introduced as a villain called Super-Patriot who fought Captain America and even tried to replace him. Eventually, he learned the error of his ways, but when Cap began to question America's values and what it means to be a patriot, the US government selected Walker to become the new Captain America in his stead.

However, John struggled with the pressure of Cap's legacy (sound familiar?) and eventually, the shield was returned to Steve. Soon after, Walker returned to comics as US Agent, a government operative who joined a bunch of superhero teams, including Force Works and even the West Coast Avengers.

Mark Gruenwald, the man who penned this entire arc, created John Walker's character to explore the dark side of patriotism in '80s America.

"Walker comes from the point of view 'my country, right or wrong,' Mark told Amazing Heroes (via Syfy). "To Steve Rogers, America is a land where you have the opportunity to live up to your potential, to acquire all the things you want out of life provided that you don't step on other people's American Dreams to do it. Walker is different. He believes the American Dream is to make a mint and then retire... That's why he got into it."

Marvel Studios

MCU stories onscreen rarely follow the comics exactly, but even if things play out a little differently here, this new Captain America will clearly be a source of tension still in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Marvel Studios has a history of introducing dark, twisted versions of their heroes, often to mixed results. Remember when Ant-Man fought Yellowjacket or when Iron Man faced Iron Monger? The 'evil-mirror' approach has been done to death in the MCU, but with this show's focus on patriotism and American politics, John Walker's Captain America could very well address Marvel's villain problem in ways that fews others have.

Of course, this is all assuming that John will even be the Big Bad. We already know that Daniel Brühl’s Helmut "Baron" Zemo is returning to wreak more havoc following Captain America: Civil War, and this time, he'll even be sporting his purple hood from the comics. Factor in the Flag Smashers, who were also introduced in the premiere, and there might not even be room for Walker to take centre stage as the main villain.

But that could actually be a good thing. When it comes to morality, WandaVision delved into murkier waters than Marvel ever has before, and Winter Soldier looks set to expand on that further by exploring Bucky's trauma and culpability. Throwing a morally dubious Captain America into the mix will heighten all this tension while giving the writers a chance to give these themes the time they deserve in a longer story than the films can provide.

But who will be Captain America by the end of this six-episode run? Don't be surprised if Sam or Bucky end up taking over if when Walker proves he's not up to the task, whether he turns out to be a villain, an anti-hero, or something in between.

After all, "Symbols are nothing without the men and women who give them meaning," and if John does anything to tarnish Steve's legacy, then it won't be long before his face gets up close and personal with a metal fist.

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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier airs weekly every Friday on Disney+.

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