The penultimate episode of Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier saw Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) take down John Walker (Wyatt Russell) after he murdered one of the Flag Smasher's in cold blood last week. They had to break his arm to do it, but they finally managed to get the shield away from him.
So, Sam is now ready to take on the mantle of Captain America, right? As we'd soon learn, it's not quite that simple.
Sam's devastating conversation with Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) complicates matters even further as he learns "The Truth" behind what the veteran endured as a Government super-soldier, and while The Falcon does seemingly decide to forge his own path as the new Sentinel of Liberty by the end of the episode, director Kari Skogland wanted to make sure the character - and us, the viewers - felt the full weight of what it means for a Black man to wield the shield.
"We wanted Sam to engage in both a public and private conversation of what it means for a Black man to pick up such an iconic historically white symbol," she tells EW. "By starting off with his acknowledgement of how important it is as a symbol, and that it is connected to a bygone era, Sam opens the door to the idea that what defines a hero today is not the same ideal as it was when Steve first picked up the shield."
"It is important that we explore all sides to its future as a symbol, given it represents the American flag and the deep history that comes with something that represents equality and freedom," Skogland continues. "It needs to be an ongoing discussion because those very coveted ideas that are the core to the American Dream are actually fragile and need to be protected from those that go down a slippery slope, no matter how well intentioned, that actually puts freedom and equality in the crosshairs."
We will see how Sam conducts himself as the new Captain America (we're guessing pretty damn admirably) in next Friday's season (series?) finale of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
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