The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode five titled “Truth” is the penultimate episode of the series. Last week, there was far more focus on the Flag Smashers and the serum. This week, the episode may not have been as fast-paced and action-filled. However, we get a look at incredible character development. This article contains spoilers.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode five opens with the fight for the shield

The shocking, and quite frankly terrifying, ending of last week’s episode showed Walker (Wyatt Russell) murdering one of Karli’s friends with his shield. All of this was caught on cameras of those standing around. Walker runs away, back into the building he came out of to chase the Flag Smasher. Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) chase after him. Walker justifies his actions because the man he killed, killed Lemar. Bucky reminds him that that is not what happened. Sam tries to talk him down and tells him mistakes happen. However, Walker has to give up the shield. Sam does his best to work things out peacefully versus starting out in a full-blown fight. This is a constant testament to Sam’s character. Walker won’t go down without a fight.

Bucky is more than willing to fight Walker. In a wonderfully-choreographed fight, the three of them struggle over the shield. Bucky gets thrown into a beam by Walker and can’t get up. Walker has Sam pinned down and rips off the wings of the Falcon suit as he shouts, “I am Captain America!” Bucky gets up just in time to fight Walker off. Sam and Bucky manage to pull the shield away, and knock Walker out to end the fight. Sam is on the ground, and Bucky drops the bloody shield next to him and walks away. He is still harboring so much anger.

There are consequences to John Walker’s actions

John Walker is taken back to the United States, and Torres (Danny Ramirez) gives Sam an update on Karli. They cannot find her. Sam asks if Bucky is off to take care of Zemo, and his sullen silence speaks volumes to what his answer is as he walks away.

Back in the U.S., Walker stands before a Senate hearing. He is being stripped of his title of Captain America and will no longer be affiliated with the government or the military. He is outraged, of course, as he continues to believe his actions are justified because he was “avenging” his friend. Again, Walker says, “I am Captain America,” and he leaves the hearing.

While he and his wife sit together, a mysterious woman comes to him and says she understand exactly why Walker did what he did. Her name is Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by the lovely Julia Louis-Dreyfus). According to the Marvel wiki, Contessa is also known as “Madame Hydra” in the comic books…this is a horrifying realization as she has approached Walker about being in touch soon.

Justice for Wakanda

Meanwhile, Bucky is in fact taking care of Zemo. Zemo is in Sokovia, the country where his family died, unfortunately, at the hands of the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. Zemo tells Bucky the only way to stop Karli is to kill her. He reminds Bucky that he is programmed to kill, so that should be easy for him. Then, Bucky points a gun at Zemo, pulls the trigger, but the gun was not even loaded. In his other hand, Bucky releases the bullets and they fall to the ground. What a powerful image. A man who was programmed to obey orders and kill deliberately chose not to. Once the bullets hit the ground, The Dora Milaje show up and take Zemo back to Wakanda. Wakandans have closure. They are finally able to bring the man who killed their king to justice on their own accord.

Just before The Dora Milaje leave, Bucky asks for a favor.

Learning more about Isaiah Bradley

Sam goes back to Maryland. He wants to better understand what happened with Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly). What went wrong? Why was he treated so terribly? Isaiah lets him know that the serum was purely experimental. The men who received it, including himself, were not told what they were getting injected into their bodies. When Isaiah ended up living the longest, the government put him in jail for thirty years and experimented on him. They told his wife he was dead and covered up his life. A nurse among all of this declared him dead so he could have a life again. Isaiah talks about how they erased his history, but that is nothing new. Black history has been erased for centuries. This was not surprising for him. He tells Sam that no self-respecting Black man would take up the mantle of Captain America. However, we see the reaction in Sam’s eyes. Sam still believes he can be the change. But now, he isn’t so sure.

Sam and Bucky’s relationship grows stronger

Sam returns home to his sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye). He finds that Sarah cannot sell the boat because it needs too many repairs. Sam, being the helpful brother and hero that he is, calls in favors. His family is so loved and respected by those whose lives have been touched by them, that people are willing to help in any way they can. Neighbors and friends poor in to help fix the boat.

As a large pallet with what looks like a piece of heavy boating equipment shows up, Sam is grateful. The question is: how will they unload the truck? Enter Bucky. Bucky takes the pallet off of the truck. He gives Sam a silver briefcase that he says is from Wakanda (this must have been the favor he asked) and is ready to get out of the way. Then, he fixes something loose on the boat. Bucky smiles and absolutely turns on the charm as he introduces himself to Sarah. Bucky flirting with Sarah was such a wholesome moment, even though Sam will not have any of that going on.

Bucky stays and helps Sam work on fixing up the boat. It was amazing to watch the two of them work so well and closely together. So far, leading up to this episode, they have not been on the same page during missions. Working together on this “real-life” mission allowed them to bond and talk. When evening comes, Bucky says he is going to leave for a hotel. Sam tells him to stay with them for the night. As long as he doesn’t flirt with his sister, Bucky is welcome to stay. The next morning, Sam and Bucky are trying to fix something for Sarah. However, they definitely do not know what they are doing. When Sarah shows up, Bucky once again smiles and says hello in a very charming way. Sarah tells them both to leave her stuff alone, and Sam and Bucky both walk off laughing and talking.

A much needed conversation between Sam and Bucky

As Sam throws the shield around, Bucky apologizes. Bucky has been so angry about Sam not taking the shield sooner. He had no idea what it meant for a Black man to take on the mantle and the shield. In a moment of pure honesty, Bucky tells Sam that he felt like he had no one left. With the shield retired and Steve gone, he began to question everything. Who he was, what Steve thought, what to do next…he was lost.

Sam responds to this with one of the most profound answers Bucky (or any of us) could receive: “Stop looking to other people to tell you who you are.”

Then, Sam tells Bucky he needs to do the work if he wants the nightmares to stop. Yes, Bucky has a dozen or more people on his list with whom he needs to find closure. However, Sam tells him to start with one. One person who needs closure just as much as Bucky does. Making amends is not about avenging. Sam was the counselor that Bucky truly needed. This was right “in his wheelhouse.”

Bucky thanks Sam and tells him to call if there is any news on Karli. They shake hands and Bucky leaves.

The ending of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode five

At the end of the episode, Sam begins doing his work. He tells Sarah that he needs to stand up and fight rather than let what Isaiah said get in his head.

Sam trains and practices with the shield. In an incredibly powerful scene, we see one of his nephews tracing the star on the shield as he looks up to his uncle Sam. The shield is a symbol of hope, and Sam can absolutely bring hope to millions of people, including millions of people who are minorities.

Then, we see Karli (Erin Kellyman) and her team on a bench in New York. She is receiving help from Batroc (Georges St-Pierre), the man Sam stopped in the very first episode. Their goal is to keep the GRC from passing a law that would send refugees back to their home countries versus letting them remain where they live now.

Torres calls Sam and lets him know that the Flag Smashers are targeting New York. After that, we see the GRC go dark. Nothing else happens…and the episode ends with Sam opening his gift from Bucky and Wakanda, yet we do not get to see what it is. Could it be a new suit? New wings?

Overall thoughts on episode five

There was one quick scene with Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) that seemed out of place. She is on the phone with someone who she says she got out of prison. He does not sound like a very good man. She is making some sort of deal with him, but that is it. This felt very out of context, and hopefully we get answers next week during the finale.

Overall, it was wonderful to have an episode where we finally saw Sam and Bucky’s relationship grow into more of a friendship. They may not admit it, as they called themselves a couple of dudes who work together, but it was refreshing to see them work together. Seeing the two of them smiling, laughing, relaxing felt comforting. Plus, we got to see Bucky flirt with Sarah in such a sweet, wholesome way and Sam play protective brother.

Time and time again, Sam Wilson proves himself to be exactly the kind of Captain America the world needs. He continues to see the good in people. He shows Bucky “tough love” and gives him the advice he needed to being really working through his PTSD. Sam lets Bucky know that the only way to help himself work through his list is to serve others. That kind of servant’s heart attitude is what makes a hero.

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