The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1E5: Truth
DISNEY+The penultimate episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier dwells heavily on the theme of heroism and what it takes to be a hero. This is, of course, coming off the back of the brutal ending of the previous episode in which John Walker (Wyatt Russell), whilst in full Captain America regalia, murders a Flag Smasher with the symbolic shield. Walker is confronted by Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and an excellent little showdown occurs in a suitably dingy warehouse. During this fight, Walker makes it abundantly clear he has no regrets and still considers himself to be Captain America.
Russell continues to be the most interesting screen presence and Walker the best developed character. If Walker is the embodiment of flawed heroism - a man with a good heart, let down by his ruthless streak and pride - then Sam is an example of reluctant heroism. Not in the sense that he doesn’t want to be a good man, but in the fact that the term ‘hero’ seems too heavy a label to wear. The shield to him is beyond a symbol of heroism, but also of Steve Rogers and America’s own past.
His hesitancy towards wielding the shield is further explored through the character of Isaiah Bradly (Carl Lumbly). Bradley is another iteration of Captain America, who has been similarly mistreated by his government as Walker is during this episode. Despite his heroic actions, Bradley is effectively disowned and wiped from history because of America’s lack of racial progression. Lumbly delivers his few lines with a welcome and bitter gravitas but also offers a stark contrast to Sam’s Falcon - a Black hero who has been celebrated over recent years suggesting that times may be changing in the right direction.
As well as debating the path of the shield, Sam returns home. The back half of the episode sees him helping his sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye), to finally fix their parents' boat that has long promised to be a plotline since the first episode. Themes of community and family are explored here, as Sam recruits old family friends to help with the repairs. Perhaps the episode is suggesting that acts of heroism can be boiled down to simple favours such as this.
It also gives Sam and Bucky the chance to finally bury the hatchet, although it still remains unclear as to what hatchet it is they’re burying. It is nice to have that line finally drawn in the sand, however. Despite these scenes concluding some of the lesser narrative threads of the series, it does slow the pace down a lot. Any threat of the Flag Smashers or even Walker’s downfall is conveniently dismissed and only further solidifies the idea that this villainous threat is probably below the two heroes’ stature.
Episode Five certainly attempts to be a reflective moment in the series. Seemingly wrapping up the secondary narrative threads in order to focus on an action-packed finale, much of this episode is filled with conversation pieces which see Sam debating his place as a hero. It’s a definite contrast to that of Walker, who is adamant he is a hero but seems to be going about proving this in the wrong way. Director Kari Skogland is clearly in love with these characters and wants to give them their due beyond bland pieces on an action filled chessboard.