What was shown to us in episode 2 of 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' and how the new comedic Marvel duo turned out.

The new episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier begins with the introduction of the new Captain America. John Walker isn't exactly favored by fans yet, but the character turned out great. We understand why Sam and especially Bucky are so furious about the fact that the hero was replaced, and the shield was given away. Meanwhile, the Flag Smashers continue their secret mission, and we still don't know where they got their super strength. But the highlight of the entire episode is the dialogue and chemistry between Sam and Bucky, which we discussed here. For now, let's break down the important details and Easter eggs of episode 2.

Politics

Once again, the US government uses the image of Captain America for political purposes. This is a direct reference and a bit of an Easter egg, plus a mention of Steve Rogers' exploits in the series. We see that the approaches haven't changed over time. And the government's best choice for uniting the country is to evoke memories of wartime, when the Captain was merely a symbol and a propaganda tool.

Battlestar or the Second Bucky

The new Captain America has a new Bucky. In the comics, Lemar Hoskins served alongside John Walker in the US Army, and both were subjected to serum experiments. He even had the code name "Bucky" at one point, which was later changed to "Battlestar." Interestingly, in the cinematic universe, both of these heroes do not possess super-soldier strength.

Androids, Aliens, and Wizards

No, wizards don't exist. That's what Bucky claims. Sam and apparently other military personnel believe that Earth is always attacked by someone from the "Big Three." These are androids, aliens, or wizards. In response to Barnes' indignation, Sam cites Doctor Strange as an example, to which the other replies that he's a sorcerer, not a wizard. Sam insists that a sorcerer is the same as a wizard, just without a hat. We'd love to hear Doctor Strange's opinion on that. It was also amusing to hear this kind of dialogue after the events of WandaVision, where magic was acknowledged.

Read The Hobbit Back in 1937

The surprisingly comedic dialogues between Bucky and Sam lead to pleasant Easter eggs. Like the mention of Gandalf and The Hobbit. And Bucky was likely one of the few who read the first edition.

The Falcon and His Jumps from Planes

These scenes evoke fond memories of Captain America's strange habit of jumping out of planes without a plan, like in the movie "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

White Wolf

Bucky has always been quite secretive, but unlike Sam, we knew his new code name "White Wolf." We first heard this name in the post-credits scene of "Black Panther" when Shuri gives him a vibranium arm. In the comics, the White Wolf is a completely different character who is actually T'Challa's brother.

Karli Morgenthau or the Leader of the Flag Smashers

In episode 2, we get to know Karli better — an anarchist and criminal nicknamed the Flag Smasher. If her face looks familiar, yes, she played the leader of the pirates in the Solo movie. This version of the character diverges from the comics, so it will be even more interesting to watch.

The Last Time We Stole the Shield

I definitely like how the new series recall events from previous movies. Reminding viewers once again: watch everything, or you'll miss the entire thread of the story. The last time the shield was attempted to be stolen, Sharon Carter became an enemy of the state, and Steve ended up on the run. Although the reason for that was the Sokovia Accords.

Superhero Code Names

If in WandaVision we were waiting for Wanda to get her code name Scarlet Witch, then in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier this aspect was played out from a different angle. Marvel avoids the word "black" for superhero names, but they do exist in the comics. In the cinematic universe, they even made fun of it. And let's remind you that Billy Foster's character in "Ant-Man and the Wasp" was simply called "Goliath," although in the comics he is specifically "Black Goliath."

The First Super-Soldier

Marvel, back in 2003 in a new comic series, revealed a secret history that the super-soldier program had existed for a long time. And the government experimented on 300 black soldiers to test the serum. Bradley turned out to be one of the few who survived the experiment. The military then faked their deaths and warned that they would be sent on suicide missions. Bradley disobeyed one of the orders and was court-martialed.

Isaiah Bradley in the cinematic universe is slightly different from the comics. There, he fought during World War II, while here the Korean War was mentioned. But the fact of his 30-year imprisonment remains unchanged. Marvel is gradually rewriting history to confirm the fact that superheroes have always existed. And now we also know that there was the first black American super-soldier.

Serum Experiments and the Hulk

So, we know that the US government has been trying to recreate the super-soldier serum for several years. Including Bruce Banner, who advanced with his series of experiments. It could be said that the attempts were partially successful.

The Power Broker

The Flag Smashers stole the super-soldier serum from a person known as the Power Broker. In the comics, this is an organization of a businessman and scientist, which might be shown in new episodes. Given their ability to create the serum, this will change the balance of power in the world.

Zemo's Cell Number

Did you notice an unusual Easter egg from Disney? The prison cell number completely matches the number where Princess Leia was held in Star Wars. Kevin Feige has long been known for his love of that universe as well. And it's also interesting: does Bucky really just want to talk to Zemo? It seems like everything is heading towards them breaking him out and escaping.