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Definitely feel like some of that is the trappings of how short it was. Feels like they were going for how things worked with Walker in the comics, but couldn't really extrapolate that with the time they had (and with him not being the focus at that point) but it seems like they tried to have him convey through body language and what not that he has started to turn around, realizing what being Captain America really meant, etc. Kind of wonder if this version of Madame Hydra maybe represents 'The Commission', whom he worked for in the comics as both Captain America and US Agent. Could function as another potential thread leading to doing something with the Thunderbolts. Really was hoping Sharon wouldn't be the Power Broker. They made it seem so obvious that I thought they must be going a different direction with it, but I guess not. Still will certainly make things far more interesting if this carries forward to another season or whatever else. Last 5 years have not been kind to her I guess. 😧 Sam's speech was damn good. I didn't mind the suit. Probably one of the best comic to live action ones there has been so far where they tried to keep a more "realistic" utility look to it. Was never overly fond of the ones they did for Steve outside of the first Avengers movie, so that was a nice surprise. The fight scenes in the new suit were pretty awesome too. Felt like they really dialed up how he fights a couple notches too. Getting punched and blocking with the shield while also bracing himself with the wings digging into the concrete was great. Also, Zemo's butler is fucking vicious. XD Overall I really like how this whole thing played out. Planted a lot of seeds to go in any number of directions. Probably one of the most villain/antagonist packed things they've done so far too. Used/adapted 6 different villains. Gotta be a new record, or damn close at least. >_> Dat closing title card was a nice touch too. "Captain America and The Winter Soldier"

In the comics, this version of Madame Hydra (think she was the 2nd one?) had originally been an agent of SHIELD (alias Agent 14) and was Fury's lover at one point. Kind of wonder if she isn't possibly the Power Broker in this case. She obviously knows everything that's going on, and considering Walker's ties to the Power Broker in the comics, it tracks. It feels like they keep trying to push Sharon as the Power Broker but it doesn't make sense with her sending Batroc to the Flag Smashers if she's supposed to want payback for them taking the serum. Unless Batroc is going to betray them I guess? Fontaine just feels like a better fit for me at this point in lieu of a classic Power Broker. Walker is the best option for them to get back at the Flag Smashers at this point as he took the last of the serum, is emotionally vulnerable and would want nothing more than the opportunity to get to Karli thanks to his lingering guilt at not getting Lemar's true killer. Side note: Is it just me or did the scene with Bucky and Sam forcing the shield off of Walker's arm feel really reminiscent of the Avengers trying to take the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos?

God that episode was fantastic. This is more like what I was hoping to see at the beginning. It was never going to match the level of shit that WandaVision got up to, but that's fine. I was looking for the feeling I got from the Captain America movies which on the whole tend to run in a different vein that most of the other movies, and this episode finally hit that stride. Finally seeing the full extent of the conflict in Walker, seeing him really starting to crack which is going to get so much worse after his talk about having the serum in the military allowing him to save more people, and then not being able to save his best friend even after he took it. I'm hoping they really start to push the dichotomy between him and Steve from here. Steve also lost his best friend (or so he believed at the time) despite feeling he should have the power to stop it. Would be great to see some literal and thematic comparisons in the next couple episodes about how he deals with it (obviously we've already seen the immediate fallout. 😧 ). The whole conversation Sam had with Karli was some solid stuff even knowing how it was going to playout because of course Dude-bro America was going to assert his dominance and bust in there like a jackass. Really felt like we were seeing Sam in his element during that little bit. Solid stuff with Bucky too. The flashback to confirmation the de-programming had worked and the slight doubt when Walker was pushing him on backing Sam up were both solid scenes. Everything with the Dora Milaje was good stuff too. It's always great to see them in action. Everything Zemo was excellent. I'm going to be unbearably disappointed if they throw his character away at the end of this series. They made him so much more interesting than he ever was in the comics (not that I've read much Captain America, but still), and the actor just sells him for all he's worth. Really glad they didn't waste him as a derpy Hydra baddy. Show got immediately better with his presence. Maybe they'll eventually do a Thunderbolts type of thing with him. That could be fun. XD

I'm getting into this series a bit more. I feel like this is where they're stacking a majority of the world building to show the disparities of life before/during/after the "Blip" and it was really needed. I was never expecting this to be on caliber with some of the other announced shows, and that's fine. I'm just glad it's starting to feel like it's starting to gain a solid identity. I had the thought about Sharon being the Power Broker too, but I don't know if that works that well for her character. I think she is likely working directing for him though. She'd use whatever tools were available to her to keep herself going and that's probably the biggest tool in the box so to speak. Was definitely cool to see Madripoor. My understanding from what I read is the bar they go in is actually the same bar that Wolverine would frequent? Feel like they're just actively trolling people at this point with X-Men adjacent easter eggs. XD

I think we'll see the new guy start to lose it before the end of this. In the comics he was as asshole who had a raging nationalist hard on for the government and military. He got super strength from the Power Broker (glad they're using him in this. Was wondering if they would after that fight when it turned out they all had strength). He went by the name "Super Patriot" and was super antagonistic towards Captain America, constantly attempting to discredit him. He was chosen to replace him when Steve gave up the identity after some of Red Skull's shenanigans. Once Walker was picked to take over the role, he attempted to use Steve as a role model and tried to emulate him but was kind of shit at it (because there's probably almost nobody that can emulate the moral integrity that he has) and after more Red Skull shenanigans, gave it up, eventually becoming U.S. Agent. With that in mind, I'm kind of expecting him to get douchier over time as Sam and Bucky continue to blow him off until something happens that makes him have a complete meltdown and realize he can't do the job the way it needs to be done. I also like how they styled his outfit to kind of allude to the U.S. Agent outfit. Right now it feels like this series is missing SOMETHING. Not sure what though, especially with how top heavy with "villains" it is between Flag Smasher, The Power Broker and Zemo. Also Walker sort of though he's more pseudo-antagonist than actual villain. I'm enjoying it, it just doesn't give me the kind of drive to watch it that I got from WandaVision though. Really glad they included Isaiah Bradley in this. That whole thing was an interesting story in the comics from what I've read. Makes me wonder how many other people who have been Captain America in the comics they'll find a way to fit into this though. There's a few bigger ones they could still use, excepting Jeffrey Mace since they made use of him in Agents of SHIELD.

They show his name to be John Walker on a poster during the credits so he's definitely the guy that ends up being US Agent. Interested in seeing how far they take his character. I agree about Batroc. That was a character I was not expecting to see again but was a nice suprise. Wasn't expecting Rhodes either but it makes sense with Sam having been in the AirForce as well. Wonder if we'll get any War Machine action later. They also semi-snuck in another Captain America villain as well. The terrorist organization that is being investigated by Sam's sidekick army guy bears the name of one, "Flag Smasher". Definitely not expecting this to be as fundamentally impressive as WandaVision, but I'm hoping for an interesting ride none the less and so far it's not disappointing the expectations I had for it.