Entertainment
Falcon and Winter Soldier episode 6: Finale ending explained as new Captain America takes flight and Power Broker is revealed
Warning: major spoilers ahead for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
The episode six finale of Marvel’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on Disney Plus saw Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes’ (Sebastian Stan) adventure come to an explosive conclusion, with both of them realising their new purpose in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame.
With Sam finally taking up the mantle of Captain America and the identity of mysterious Power Broker being revealed as Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), many fans are speculating what a potential season two could have in store… particularly after that intriguing post-credits scene.
From Sam delighting fans by becoming Captain America to the introduction of John Walker’s (Wyatt Russell) U.S. Agent, here is the Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale explained.
Sam finally becomes Captain America
At the beginning of Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam decided that it didn’t feel right to accept Captain America’s shield, despite Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) handing it over to him personally at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
Feeling as though the shield belonged to someone else, Sam gave it up to be displayed at the Captain America exhibit at Washington DC’s Smithsonian museum… only for it to be given to a ‘new’ Captain America, decorated soldier John.
After John rashly injects himself with super-soldier serum before mercilessly killing a member of the Flag-Smashers in broad daylight, Sam and Bucky wrench the shield back from him.
Having had his Falcon wings torn off by John during their duel, Sam receives a gift from the Wakandans given to him by Bucky – not only a new pair of wings, but a Captain America suit to boot.
In episode six, we finally see Sam take flight as the new Captain America – and his performance in the sky and in battle is everything we could have hoped for and more.
But Sam brings another layer to his role as Captain America following the Flag-Smashers fight, when he berates government officials for failing to do the right thing in a monologue broadcast on the news.
As Bucky puts it, ‘Nice job, Cap.’ And now we’re crying.
Power Broker identity is revealed
When Sam and Bucky met Sharon in Madripoor, many fans speculated that the elusive Power Broker who ran the ruthless island was in fact the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. And in the finale, we finally received confirmation that this theory is true.
When Sharon comes face to face with Flag-Smashers leader Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman), Karli explains why she chose to steal the super-soldier serum from Sharon, otherwise known as the Power Broker.
Mercenary Georges Batroc (Georges St-Pierre) then emerges, demanding money from Sharon in exchange for keeping her Power Broker identity a secret.
Sharon coolly states that she won’t be blackmailed, shooting Georges dead before being shot in the stomach by Karli.
After Sam enters the room to find Sharon on the ground with Karli pointing the gun at her, Karli attempts to engage Sam in a fight, before being stopped by several fatal shots fired by Sharon.
By the end of the finale, not only do Sam and Bucky have no clue that Sharon is the Power Broker, but the niece of Peggy Carter manages to weasel her way back into the good graces of the US government.
John Walker’s US Agent is introduced
Having been stripped of the title of Captain America after his murderous show of violence, John receives a visit in episode five from Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who in the Marvel comics eventually adopts the persona Madame Hydra.
Despite fashioning himself a new Captain America shield, at the end of episode six, having seen Sam in action and realising that he is the person worthy of the superhero name, John takes on a new title: U.S. Agent.
U.S. Agent is a patriotic figure in the Marvel comics, despite appearing smug and making a smattering of mistakes along the way.
By the end of the Falcon and The Winter Soldier finale, John appears to have made a turn for the better, accepting that he is no longer Captain America.
But will he turn out to be an ally of Sam, Bucky and the rest of the Avengers? Or will he go down a villainous path?
Post-credits scene shows Sharon Carter’s true agenda
In the finale’s post-credits scene, Sharon finally receives the pardon from the US government that she had been hoping for.
Having helped Captain America and Falcon steal back their gear in Captain America: Civil War, Sharon has been on the run from the law ever since, hiding out on the fictional island of Madripoor.
But now, likely with Sam’s help, the government has seen fit to give her a full pardon, even offering her position in her old division, as she joined the CIA after S.H.I.E.L.D.’s downfall.
As she leaves the government building dressed appropriately in a power suit, Sharon calls someone on the phone, telling them that they should get their buyers lined up as they’re soon going to have ‘full access to government secrets, prototype weapons, you name it’.
Could Sharon be the main villain in a potential season two of Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Or as fans are hoping it will be called, Captain America and The Winter Soldier?
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is available to watch on Disney Plus.
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