The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Well here we go now, a show that we have both enjoyed in very different ways. One of us gained what we would term a normal level of enjoyment (although also some other strong feelings about the general MCU canon - ‘it’s bullshit’ mutters Becks), whilst the other has gone completely feral and thought of little else since watching the show the first time. So lots to get through, we’ll try to keep it in our pants. By which I mean brief.
Becks: The first time I watched this episode I was sort of disappointed. This time, I was more... upset.
Cass: *snorts* So yet to crack a positive emotion.
Becks: Obviously I cheered up when I saw Emmy-nominated actor Don Cheadle. Who’s spirits wouldn’t be lifted by such a short, yet fine, performance?
*Both of us look to camera meaningfully*
Becks: I think the thing is, and where I think we differ, is I find it difficult to understand why Sam gave up the shield. I agree with Bucky that he should have kept it. I do understand the reasons he didn’t keep it, and obviously a lot of that is to do with being a black man in America which is something that I’m not, so I can empathise but I also can’t fully grasp that struggle. But in my head Steve Rogers told him to do something and also Bucky did, and I think you should just do what they tell you!
Cass: *girly voice* Yes, Sergeant Barnes
Becks: And also him not taking it has led to John Walker. I think he should apologise for that. Because clearly Sam is a good man, and that’s all that Captain America needs to be.
Cass: Okay. So I have a different take, because although I am also neither black nor American I think I follow how Sam’s experience of being both those things would lead him to believe that taking the mantle isn’t the right thing for him to do. And let’s face it, I’m also far less inclined to do what Steve Rogers says blindly. I could get behind your Bucky argument more, if Bucky wasn’t such a hot mess at this stage who can barely tell himself what to do, let alone anyone else.
Also, Sam hasn’t had any opportunity to ease himself into the idea. It’s like being given a job that you didn’t apply for, by someone who has fucked off without leaving any guidance on how to do it. And likely he’s going to be expected to lead a team, and the world is going to scrutinise him whilst he does it, which means every inevitable mistake will be blown out of proportion, and then he’ll have to deal with that. I would hate that. So I get his doubt and even his refusal.
We then agree on something, which is that the skydiving sequence looks very nice.
Becks: It gave me Star Wars vibes. It reminds me of when Din takes out his new ship in Boba Fett, so that was nice for me.
Cass: I also like it, because Sam is so badass and it looks very cool.
Becks: Also, I think you’d shit yourself if you were flying along and a man’s face popped up at the window.
Cass: I definitely would, because it’s a fear of mine to see a face appear at any window. Also it’s a good argument as to why you shouldn’t use firearms on a plane.
Becks: Imagine if you got rescued by Sam? I reckon you’d cry. *pause whilst she imagines it, cackles* YOU WOULD!
Cass: I’d hold on tight and be sure he knew how grateful I was when we landed. Whether I’m crying at the time is immaterial.
Becks: TORRES! I like him, he’s a cutey, and I reckon he’ll be the new Falcon.
Cass: He gives me strong puppy vibes. Very enthusiastic. I like him!
Becks: I didn’t like him going off on his own and getting beaten up though.
Cass: Did you like when he sent Sam a little sad selfie of his bashed up face? All these young additions will get the Avengers what’s app group up and running I reckon.
Becks: Bucky just in there like ‘stop messaging me’.
Cass: Bucky definitely sending bad memes that everyone else saw years ago. Speaking of Bucky... anything to add?
Becks: Well I think I’ve written I’d wank him off at some point during my notes so...
Cass: So you’re saying this review is now rated NC17, yeah? Good to know. Proceed.
Becks: I think the problem is that I consider Steve and Bucky to be besties, and the way that the MCU finished that storyline means that I haven’t had any closure, and it makes me very sad and I think it’s why I don’t enjoy the show as much as you and I don’t know where I’m going with this but I just think WHAT IF YOU LEFT ME AND GOT ANOTHER BEST FRIEND? WHAT WOULD I DO?!
Cass: Right. Lots to unpack.
Becks: THAT’S WHAT SAM WOULD TRY AND DO AND I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!
Cass: Ahh, now we’re getting somewhere! Lie back down. Tell me about your mother.
Anyway. Anything you want to say about Bucky in terms of his narrative arc in this show and particularly this episode?
Becks: It’s strange to hear him talk so much. Short hair looks nice. And also it’s sad. He’s torturing himself, and I think he’s very angry at everyone, but mainly at himself for things beyond his control. And he’s a man out of time now isn’t he? Which must be very difficult.
Cass: Yes, I think it’s very sad to see quite how isolated he is. And although he has made a friendship with Yuri, it’s sad because it’s also under false pretences so part of him must feel like it’s not real.
Becks: And he’s ignoring Sam, who’s clearly trying to reach out BECAUSE HE’S SUCH A GOOD PERSON *seethes*
Cass: Jesus. Who hurt you? I’d love to know. Anyway, it’s nice that he’s got some lines in this, because I don’t think it was clear in his previous outings quite how incredibly sassy the man is.
Becks: I love his sass! It really does things for me.
Cass: I like his little fake smiles. And also that therapist deserves to be sassed, I reckon. I’ve never been to therapy, but I’m not sure she’s totally up to code. Anyway. The we go to Louisiana, which may I say looks so pretty.
Becks: I like Sarah. She’s a strong female character so that’s nice. The only issue with this show for me is that there are female characters, but none of them talk to each other. I can’t tell if she’s older or younger than Sam?
Cass: I guess it’s a mess anyway because of the blip. I think it’s lovely to see that Sam has some family though. As a character he was always sort of isolated before, so it’s nice to get a real sense of family and community around him. The time in Delacroix always feels very soft and warm.
Becks: Yeah, you can see how he is such a good person, because he’s clearly had a good family and values and support growing up.
Cass: The bit at the bank makes me rage though. Although I do enjoy how Sarah just absolutely cannot when Sam does the wings.
Becks: Cos to her he’s not The Falcon is he? He’s just her brother, and I think it’s very well done.
At this point, we realised we had spent an hour on the first episode alone, and decided to move things along.
Cass: Oh Shit hang on we haven’t even mentioned John Walker!
Becks: I have! I hate him. I hate the whole Russell family in the MCU. I think the shock factor of the introduction is very good though. I wasn’t expecting it, and it was awful.
Cass: I felt such absolute rage. And just seeing the disbelief but also the resignation in Sam’s eyes. Like ‘of course this, I was stupid to think this wouldn’t happen’ on his face is so clear even without words.
Becks: And it just got more awful. Awfuler? More awful? It was shit! And having to watch Bucky’s little face? Despicable.
Cass: Although I enjoy the first episode, I think this one is where the show really comes into it’s own, because I think we can both agree that it’s really good when Sam and Bucky are actually on screen together.
Becks: It’s my favourite episode. I like Bucky hijacking Sam who is just trying to do his job. I like the Androids, Aliens and Wizards bit. I like how disgusted Bucky is by that, and how Sam is so confused by how he knows Gandalf.
Cass: They do have an absolute nerd argument don’t they? God love them. Bucky ‘I read it when it first came out’ Barnes.
Becks: I like how grumpy he is with Redwing. I like it when he jumps out of the plane. I like the staring. I like how Sam is winding Bucky up like ‘that little girl beat your ass’ and then Bucky growls at him. It does things to me.
Cass: You know what does things to me? When Sam rescues him and they go rolling through that flower meadow. The first time I watched this episode, you had already seen it and you text me to say was I Team Sam or Team Bucky and they were rolling through the flowers at the time and so I thought it would be a funny joke to say ‘maybe I’m Team Sam/Bucky’ but by the end of the episode I was like ‘oh shit’ and no-one was laughing anymore.
Becks: I think I knew it wasn’t going to be a joke.
Cass: Yeah. Locked in OTP. I try to keep a lid on it...
Becks: You didn’t try that hard! Anyway. I like the walking down the path and how they get made to get in the car like Elle Woods. And then I like how disgusted he is at Battlestar.
Cass: STOP THE CAR! Yeah he’s right and he should say it. Also, fair play to give Walker a chance but everything out of his mouth is more disgusting than the last, so I’m glad they just agree he’s a dick and antagonise him for the rest of the show.
Becks: It also cements my hatred for Walker. He’s talking to them like he thinks he is Steve, rather than his replacement. And I hate that.
Cass: Yeah he just has no compassion or self awareness it feels like. He seems to have a very high opinion of himself, so far unfounded from what I can tell. The other thing we get in this episode is more of an introduction to the Flag Smashers. I think this is where we find out they’re all Super Soldiers. Which, scientists of the MCU, stop trying to recreate that serum! It never goes well!
Becks: You can really understand where they are coming from.
Cass: Maybe not the way that they are going about it, but the reason behind it is relatable.
Becks: And I think whereas we know we’re definitely against John Walker, with Karli it feels different. Because it’s like, you’re not wrong. Which is an interesting way to do things.
Cass: Yeah I think off the back of that that it’s a good way of setting Sam up as a character with a lot of compassion. Like he says, he doesn’t disagree with Karli’s fight, just the way she’s fighting it. He sees how young she is, and refuses to call her a criminal.
Becks: And I think throughout the series, although she believes in her cause you can see her moments of doubt where things have gone too far. I think that’s a nice relatable thing to have.
Cass: And then of course, speaking of Super Soliders, we have the Isiah Bradley storyline. Which for me and for Sam I think, really just hammers home some of his doubts about taking the Shield and why he might not be the right person for it.
Becks: Yeah he was fucked over wasn’t he, in a really horrible way, and he’s understandably very angry. And I think it effects Sam very negatively at first, and puts even more doubts in his mind.
Cass: And then the cops turn up, and are racist. So another excellent days work for them. Sam’s levels of patience through his anger and frustration are incredible and it makes me sad that they are necessary.
Becks: Oh I forgot about the staring bit! Where they sit very close to each other and stare into each others eyes. We’ve never done that.
Cass: Do you want to? I don’t know if we should? If my reaction to this is anything to go by, it might unleash something in me...
Becks: It’s just really good. The whole episode has so much good stuff in it, it makes me want to say it’s the best thing ever made. I won’t, but it makes me want to.
Cass: I think it’s amazing how many characters are in this show that you do like. Not necessarily that they are good people. But they’re interesting and you enjoy watching them. Which brings us to Zemo.
Becks: I’d like to start with the hypothetical conversation. Which is just brilliant.
Cass: It is brilliant! I love how the instant Bucky mentions hypotheticals, Sam is like ‘what did you do?’ I like how Bucky keeps trying to look innocent and it makes him look more guilty.
Becks: And then the prison break. Because I love a prison break, and it is undoubtedly a very good one. He’s another person who’s motivation you can understand. Also, he does his villainy so well. It’s a lot of fun.
Cass: Yeah, he definitely dances on the line of it. Cos you get his reasons and you sort of feel for him, but also he’s a lunatic and can’t really be allowed to run around destroying people, super soldiers or not. It’s not nice watching him try to wind Bucky up - like Bucky is a means to an end for him as much as the other way around.
Becks: But he does create a nice unified focus for the boys. So that’s good.
Cass: I think as well that it’s a good way of Sam being able to show some trust in Bucky. Which I actually think is important for Bucky at this stage. Like, Sam could have totally flipped. But he listens to Bucky’s reasons and then he’s like ‘alright, since you broke him out let’s try it your way.’
Becks: I fucking love Madripoor. I think we’d have a lovely time in Madripoor.
Becks: PARRRRRRRTAAAAAAAY! I don’t want to go to an art gallery though.
Cass: What about an illegal art gallery?
Becks: I suppose. But only if I can judge it.
Cass: What’s the criteria?
Becks: Does it look like what it’s meant to look like? No? THEN BURN IT!
I didn’t like it when Zemo made Bucky pretend to be The Winter Soldier. Because that would have been awful for him.
Cass: No it was really sad. Although he was better at acting than Sam, who was a disaster.
Becks: Yeah Sam was terrible undercover, I remember us discussing that at the time.
Cass: He downed that snake shot though which I don’t think I could have done.
Becks: Werp! Why are they serving those shots? No one wants that in bars. What were the nice ones with cream that we used to have? Blow jobs! He should have just ordered a blow job.
Cass: Sorry, did you just say Sam Wilson should go into a bar and get a blow job?
Cass: ‘Oh Sam Wilson and The Winter Soldier should go into a bar and get blow jobs.’
Becks: (still wheezing) That’s not what I meant, you’re twisting it!
Cass: What’s that? You said Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes should just give each other blow jobs?
Becks: I think that’s what you said!
Cass: That is what I said. Why haven’t they?! I suppose because they’re professionals and keeping their mind on the job. Speaking of which, however bad at acting he may be, Sam is a fucking PROFESSIONAL and I don’t believe that he would leave his phone on.
Becks: Yeah I think we both thought that was bad. Like yes they need to move the plot along, but do it better.
Cass: As an aside, we’ve all seen how bad Bucky is at lying so I don’t reckon he’d be any better undercover than Sam if he was playing anyone other than The Winter Solider. So I’d just like to see a show where they have to go undercover, and they’re both fucking terrible.
Becks: Like 21 Jump Street?
Becks: And Zemo is no help, he just wants chaos. Moving on to Sharon, it’s good to see the consequences of their earlier actions. Sharon did get fucked over, and now they’re going to suffer. It’s good to see a woman entering her villain era. Also, as a fan of the hoody I enjoy her fashion choices.
Cass: Yeah I like Sharon more in this. She feels like more of a character, and again she’s been through some shit so it’s understandable how she has arrived here. Actually, is there anyone in this show that the US Government hasn’t screwed over? Something to think about.
Becks: We need to mention the serum, because we need to mention Bucky pressing his gun up against that mans face, and how it made us feel.
Cass: And how did it make us feel?
Becks: *wheezes* Not as financially troubled as when he does it in The 355, but it was borderline. Anyway you all know our feelings on science. Stop doing it! Also, I didn’t like it when he suggested improvements to the serum as if Bucky and Steve aren’t perfect.
Cass: You have so much rage, don’t you? I like that Zemo made a special pit stop to pick up a murder mask and a sports car whilst Sam and Bucky were squabbling in a gun fight again. And I’m sure you vibe with Bucky’s long game car seat pettiness, Becks.
We’d like to end our commentary on this episode with a general statement about how much we hate Walker. It’s nothing really specific, we just hate everything about him, and we think you should too.
The Whole World Is Watching
After a short and necessary break, in which Becks tries to dye her hair green but ends up with more of an Incredible Hulk cosplay situation and Cass goes to the shops, we reconvene. Becks is driving, it’s all very West Wing. If they drove.
Cass: Alright, this one starts with a flashback to beautiful Bucky in beautiful Wakanda.
Becks: And you said mean things...
Becks: I said that if it were me going through that I would have liked you to be there for me, and so I think Bucky would have wanted Steve there. And you said ‘well he wasn’t was he?’ and I didn’t much care for your tone.
Cass. Well. I mean. He wasn’t was he?
Becks: See! Laughing at me. Laughing at my misery, you’re a horrible person OH MY GOD THERE’S A DOG LOOKING AT ME FROM THE CAR IN FRONT!
Cass: To get us back on safe ground, let’s discuss Ayo.
Becks: She’s pissed and I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t like to have wronged her, White Wolf was playing with fire there. Like, it’s such a man thing to do, plough ahead and not think of others feelings.
Cass: Yeah, I don’t blame her for being pissed either. In many respects, she’s incredibly reasonable for that sort of situation. But she obviously has a good friendship with Bucky and gives him some more time to get what he needs from Zemo despite it all, so that’s nice.
Becks: I think I’d like to go on holiday in Riga. It looks lovely.
Cass: The flat is very nice. I enjoy how Sam can’t cope with any more hypotheticals when Zemo starts being vague about what happened. ‘You straight up shot the man!’ The audacity.
My God Becks, your notes are very thirsty in this episode.
‘I’d like to see Bucky’s leverage.’
‘I’d like Bucky to keep an eye on me’
‘Sneaky Zemo, makes him hot.’
Becks: I have a lot of feelings, and I was clearly feeling a certain way.
Cass: I enjoy Zemo’s Snow Queen vibes, getting info with Turkish Delight. I don’t enjoy John Walker turning up once again and getting all up in business that Sam was clearly handling. Because Sam is really, really good at talking reasonably with Karli and trying to help her to see another point of view. And it may well have worked if Walker and his big old inferiority complex hadn’t busted in and ruined it.
Becks: Sam is so good. So rational and caring. I very badly wish that Zemo had managed to break all of the vials. And it just goes to show, doesn’t it, that John Walker is not a good person. He’s just very untrustworthy. An overall bad egg.
Cass: Yeah, he’s exactly the type of person that Zemo thinks shouldn’t have the serum. And he’s proven right.
Becks: Captain America with a gun just doesn’t sit right. The fight in the flat is quite good, isn’t it? Love to see John Walker get his arse handed to him.
Cass: *snorts* ‘Looking strong John!’ really speaks to me. It’s just good to see the Dora Milaje absolutely not standing for any of his bullshit.
Becks: It’s really quite poignant in the end, because obviously he’s a bad loser but also the whole ‘they weren’t even super soldiers’ is just building towards him making really bad decisions. Although when Bucky’s arm comes off it’s a bit sad isn’t it?
Cass: It’s a bit of a ‘know your place, White Wolf’ moment isn’t it? Although it does give Sebastian room to do two things we find quite effecting. 1) Big sad eyes and 2) What we in the know refer to as The Arm Thing.
Becks: *giggles* Yes. The Arm Thing.
Cass: Although I agree to some extent with Karli’s viewpoint, I don’t like her threatening Sam’s family to get him to meet her. Although I do think it’s a big turning point in their relationship when Bucky refuses to let Sam go alone.
Becks: I think it’s quite shocking and unexpected when Lemar gets killed, and then of course leads to John Walker going full villain, which is actually one of the most violent parts of the MCU. The blood on the shield is a really shocking thing to see.
Cass: Yeah I agree. It’s an incredibly explicit, visceral image for Marvel. Because actually, although there are lots of fight scenes you don’t usually see blood like that. And covering a symbol such as the shield is, it really hammers home that John shouldn’t have it.
Becks: This is where they agree that they need to get the shield back. The fight here is quite cathartic for Bucky I think. He’s legitimately able to take out a lot of his anger on Walker. And then he throws the blood-stained shield at Sam, which has a lot of deeper meaning to it from his view point as well.
Cass: There’s something quite sad about Sam trying to wipe the blood off the shield. I think this is the point where Sam starts to think about his reasons for not keeping the shield differently. He’s trying to wipe away the blood, and he starts to recognise that he can never change the past, but maybe he can make things better going forwards.
Incidentally, another thing happens in this scene that we find memorable for more pleasant reasons. We call it our Thank You Female Directors moment, and Becks will insert a gif below for your viewing pleasure.
Cass: So Walker gets court martialled, but sadly we’ve not seen the last of him because this shady ass Valentina woman who I do not like or trust one bit turns up and starts talking in riddles.
Becks: I don’t like her. I feel nothing good is going to come of her. She’s kind of building her own anti-Avengers, and I don’t want owt to do with her.
Cass: Then Bucky goes and captures Zemo. Which I imagine he would have done quicker but he had to stop off and get himself a nice new coat.
Becks: Aw, poor Zemo. It’s sad isn’t it? But it’s sad when he’s in The Raft too. It’s just a horrible place, even in terms of prisons. Maybe they’ll just carry on breaking him out of various prisons around the world for little jaunts? Until Ayo turns up again, furious.
Cass: I love how Bucky is just like ‘me and my sad eyes are going to push my luck with Ayo just a little bit further and fix up a nice new suit for Sam.’ Which I hope he designed in his spare time.
Becks: Do you like this episode more than episode two?
Cass: Yes. Truth is my favourite episode, and that’s because my truth is that I find the whole bit in Louisiana so unbelievably comforting. And unexpectedly so at first. There is just not one thing I don’t love about this bit. It makes me feel so soft.
Becks: *in a slightly brittle tone* I’m glad that it makes you happy. No, I really am glad that you’re happy.
Cass: It’s just got a lot. Bucky and Sam communicating with each other outside of a mission. Bucky wanting to help but being awkward about it, but also flexing at every opportunity. And flirting with everyone in sight. Also I think this is the first time we see a real smile from him all series. I would watch a whole episode of them just doing DIY together. Also, it is my feeling that the boat is a metaphor. It only starts working after they work on it together, and I think that’s beautiful.
Becks: Ugh, imagine him looking at you like he looks at Sarah. I’d die. I’d also die if he looked at me like he did at John and Lemar in the car, and I’d definitely die if he did the tongue thing like he did at Sam in the interrogation room.
Cass: To paraphrase a wise man; those steel blue eyes are killing all the ladies. This next bit with the shield frisbee is truly one of my favourite bits.
Becks: Yeah I think it’s really good, the whole bit with Bucky explaining how he feels, how he still thinks Sam should take the shield but how he understands his point of view more now.
Cass: I love the whole thing. I love that Bucky explains that they were wrong in how they went about things with handing the shield to Sam, and I love that he verbally apologises for it. I think that’s actually quite a rare thing to hear, especially from two men. And then they have a very open and honest discussion about their feelings and perspectives. And it’s just really lovely.
Becks: Also. I think Bucky is wearing Steve’s dog tags and it gives me a lot of feelings.
Cass: The whole ‘a couple of guys’ exchange gives me good feelings. As does Sam’s training montage. Lord have mercy, his arms and chest in that shirt, I’m weak.
Becks: *a woman who rewound this episode to look at Bucky’s thighs, without a pause* Pervert.
Cass: Can I just say, Sam’s face when he see’s that amazing vibranium suit and wings Bucky got him is a delight, but also how cute is it that Bucky got him a new Redwing even though he hates it, because he knows Sam loves it? MY HEART.
The end of this episode comes with a little end-credits scene of John Walker in a shed, muttering to himself, twitching away and making himself a shitty little tinfoil shield. Cass compared this to a comic-con outfit, Becks won’t allow that to stand because she thinks cosplayers would do a better job, and let’s be honest, she’s right. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Cass: Well, we’ve arrived. The final episode! And what a ride it has been. Who could have guessed that we would collectively start our notes for this episode by writing fuck off Frenchie when we saw Batroc.
Becks: I wrote ‘Oh Sergeant Barnes.’ It was nice that they acknowledged him by rank like that.
Cass: I have a lot of almost delirious feelings when Sam makes his entrance and says ‘I’m Captain America.’ Yes baby, you sure are!
Becks: Yeah well I said nice things too! You don’t see me banging on about it!
Cass: Well, what did you write?
Cass: *wheezes* All you wrote for the big entrance that the whole series has built up to was Captain America? Say what you see?
Becks: *hysterically* I was nice! I wrote that and put the smiley face with the hearts round it!
Cass: Why are you so angry about this?
Becks: I DON’T KNOW! I wanted those people to get blown up. I think the GRC are a set of cunts.
I suppose that’s the kind of attitude that Sam’s fighting against, isn’t it?
Cass: No comment. I do think it’s really nice that Bucky gets the chance to rescue those people though, whether you think they deserve it or not. For once, people are thanking him for saving them instead of being afraid of him, and I think he’s genuinely amazed by that. Until Karli tries to ruin it.
Becks: I really like when he catches that rebar. It’s like when Steve catches that spear in Edinburgh, and it’s really good. It’s good when he does that innit? *makes noises Cass doesn’t like to examine too closely*
Cass: I like how furious he is at having to break off giving full blown heart eyes at Sam saving that truck load of people to catch it. Man is fuming. Karli very much has an ‘oh shit’ moment. Also I note that we have both written, ‘he’s like an angel’ about Sam but somehow we have both conveyed a very different vibe with it. Mine certainly comes off a bit more breathless.
Becks: We also get Sharon’s big reveal, but I can’t remember if it is a big reveal or not. It feels like it was obvious, but I can’t remember if that was just with hindsight.
Cass: What I appreciate is how everyone set The Power Broker up to be a man this whole time. That was a good move. Although Batroc deserved to die for idiocy. Why would you find out someone is super powerful and your first thought is to blackmail them? Bizarre.
Becks: We haven’t really mentioned Karli that much.
Cass: You wrote ‘sorry isn’t good enough young lady lol’.
Becks: *sniggers* Yeah I did. *Sobers up* But it was sad that she died. And she said sorry because she’s always been in two minds, not so much about what she’s doing but how it’s all turning out.
Cass: It is sad, because up until that point you sort of thought Sam would be able to get through to her and save her. And when he doesn’t you really feel for him.
Becks: I wonder if Sam has got inklings about Sharon? After she killed Karli.
Cass: Yeah maybe. I think he feels guilty about what happened to her though, so that could cloud his judgement a bit. Interested to see where that storyline goes though. I know you’re looking forward to her as a future villain. Do you think she would link up with Valentina?
Becks: I think Valentina would want power over her, and I don’t think Sharon would like that. She might even take down Valentina. That could be her thing.
Cass: Call me biased, but I think Sam’s speech is brilliant. Ol’ Sergeant Heart Eyes over there appears to as well. He really gives the GRC members a dressing down, but does it calmly and politely. I love as well ‘The only power I have is that I believe we can do better’ is brilliant.
Becks: It is a very good speech and just proves that he’s going to be an amazing Captain America. Like we told him in the first place.
Cass: I think it’s really lovely at the end, how Sam gets Isiah’s part in history publicly recognised. It lets Isiah start to realise that Sam isn’t just talk. And that even though things have always been a certain way, it doesn’t mean that that’s how it has to continue and that’s what Sam is going to fight for.
Becks: Bucky sorting out his list and talking to Yuri wraps things up nicely for the series as well, even if it is very sad to see him have to confront that part of his past again.
Cass: At least we’re not sad for too long, because then it’s back to Louisiana for the Cookout scene, which takes up more room in my mind than a scene of that length rightfully should.
Becks: Very clean and tidy and the happiest ending we’ve had from Marvel... for some people.
Cass: That shot of them looking so beautiful and content in the Louisiana golden hour makes me feel incandescent with happiness. Like, they are glowing, and so am I.
Becks: I do like how they changed the title card to Captain America and The Winter Soldier as well. Although it’s a shame Bucky still gets to be The Winter Soldier.
Cass: Perhaps that White Wolf rebrand is on the way? Final thoughts?
Becks: Yeah it was alright.
Becks: I think I’m not over certain stuff that I feel strongly about, so it was difficult for me. It wasn’t my favourite Marvel show, but it definitely wasn’t my least favourite either. But I am looking forward to Sam as Cap, and the films that are to follow.
Cass: This was, against strong competition and totally unexpectedly, my favourite of the shows so far. Actually even one of my favourite Marvel things altogether. I can’t adequately explain it, it just all works for me and I love them both a whole lot.
And that’s all for this one folks. We have agreed that this has taken as long to write as Avengers Assemble, which we agreed we would never let happen again so whoops. Becks doesn’t feel as emotionally drained but thinks that may be because she didn’t write it. Cass does have a headache but the pure happiness she feels at the thought of the ending makes it all worthwhile. That said, she’s going to lay down and listen to some Curtis Harding whilst Becks does the gifs.
😈 do you think she'll notice - love becks
Cass: Is it Eternals next?
Becks: *noises of extreme pain* oh nooooooooooo. *Then hopefully* Wait, is it Spiderman?
It turns out it is Spiderman, and we are able to put off the sheer fucking pain and misery that we found to be The Eternals until another time. Cass has heard it’s better on the rewatch, although she will say that if that’s how you’re recommending a movie then something has gone wrong. Becks won’t change her mind anyway, she’s even more stubborn than Cass and Cass is a Taurus so that’s saying something. Anyway. Until next time, film fans!
Cass: I feel less tired now finally. I’ve livened right up and I think it’s speaking to you.
Cass: Yes, it’s good but I’m also worried you’re like a drug. At the risk of sounding like Edward Cullen, you’re like my own personal brand of heroin.
Becks: (absolutely in pain wheezing) Why can you quote Twilight? I didn’t know you could do that!
Cass: (wheezing) Neither did I until it was happening!
