This review and reflection is more review than reflection and I’m having a blast with it! Let’s go!
Look into my eyes and tell me what it is you see in me.
Could you tell me what you see?
-“Look Into My Eyes” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
We start with the lovely and all too familiar propaganda commercial. This spot gives us the vibe for the GRC organization first revealed last episode. Re-establishing that they control the resources while trying to play the good guy in the public eye. The facade ends with Walker and Battlestar raiding the Flag Smasher safehouse that helped Karli and company. Walker demands to know where Karli is but the owner won’t talk. Walker calls Battlestar over to translate and gets nothing. Walker gets ‘roid ragey and grips up the owner to get nothing but spit in his face. As they leave, Battlestar tries to ease Walker by explaining they and Langley (CIA) have done their best. Walker alludes to relying on Sam and Bucky to find Karli. It’s interesting that they drop the subtle comic book nugget of Battlestar being better than Walker.
We pick up right where episode 2 ended with Sam and Bucky heading to see Zemo. Bucky elects to go in alone to see Zemo. Baron Zemo in typical Zemo fashion is cool, manipulating, and Daniel Brühl makes him captivating. From testing Bucky with the old Winter Soldier activation words to convincing him on Zemo’s (clearly already planned and set up) escape.
Zemo escapes during a well done Ocean’s 11-ish narration by Bucky in an unused garage area. Zemo appears to Sam’s chagrin and buddy cop banter ensues; very Lethal Weapon 2 with Zemo as Joe Pesci. We finally get treated to Zemo as a Baron with the revelation of his still great wealth and access to resources despite being in prison for years. As Zemo grabs his personal items from his car collection he grabs his comic trademark mask. Zemo reveals that they need to visit Madripoor to see Selby. (X-Men nerd squeals!)
On Zemo’s private jet we see his continued psychological manipulations by flaunting Bucky’s notebook with names (which was Steve’s list book). Sam recognizes it and mentions he told Steve about “Trouble Man” by Marvin Gaye and Steve wrote it down. Sam asks Bucky what he thought of it and Bucky’s response was very dismissive. Zemo backs Sam up by calling “Troubleman” a masterpiece, complete, comprehensive, and that it captures the African American experience. Sam says Steve loved it and Marvin Gaye but somehow I’m not sure if Steve got to it on his list. Sam’s blackness continues to be present and shows the importance of identity and culture.
We catch up briefly with Karli and the Flag Smashers at a GRC facility where Karli is playing soccer with kids. Karli is called to the bedside of Mama Donya as Donya passes away. We don’t know much about her but she is clearly important to Karli. My guess is Mama Donya is a nun or caretaker of some sort that took Karli in and showed her love.
Yo Yo Yo Son
You ever felt a funny vibe
What you supposed to do?
And ya man's ain't ya man's
And ya friend's ain't ya friend's
“In Too Deep” by Nas featuring Nature
We arrive in Madripoor to Sam, Bucky and Zemo dressed in character. Sam comments that he looks like a pimp (he does) and Zemo informs him he is playing Conrad Mack aka Smiling Tiger. Zemo asks “You smell this?” Sam responds “yeah, what is that? Acid?” and Zemo answers with “Madripoor”. They walk up to a car and their escort and Zemo reveals they are going to the Lowtown section for their meeting.
They arrive at a bar where the subterfuge working relies heavily on Sam. Zemo is playing himself, Bucky is being the mind controlled Winter Soldier, but straight arrow Sam has to pretend to be a notable underworld figure. Zemo tells a grunt of the Power Broker he has no beef with him and explains to Sam and Bucky the scope of Power Broker’s influence in Madripoor. Bucky defends Zemo in the bar in his Winter Soldier style of violence but Sam almost breaks character to which Zemo reminds him they will die if he breaks character. Sam keeps his composure and they are led into meet Selby.
I smell it, even over the stench of the sewer... I'd know that smell anywhere. Smells like danger, smells like life... Smells like Madripoor. —Patch
I have to admit I’m disappointed that Selby was swapped from a black man to a white British woman. Zemo negotiates with Selby efficiently until Sam gets a call from his sister Sarah which Selby makes him answer on speaker and blows their cover. This is by far the weakest part of the episode. Why would Sam have his ringer on going into an undercover mission? Why would he not ignore the call? Sarah calls Sam by his name which tips off Selby. Not the line before about Cheerios but calling him Sam. Who is talking about Cheerios in the Madripoorian underground?
Selby is killed by an unknown shooter and the trio fight their way out to be rescued in part by Sharon Carter! She reveals she has a place in HighTown and takes them in. At Sharon’s place/art gallery we learn she sells stolen art: real Monet’s, Van Gogh, etc. Everyone knows the real ones are in places like her gallery but Sam. We get another mention of how goody two shoes Sam Wilson is. Sam apologizes to Sharon for not calling her but Sharon blows it off saying the hero life is a joke, BS, full of hypocrisy. Sharon calls Bucky out for being a believer in the star and stripes BS. Sam wants to make things right with Sharon and promises to clear her name in the USA in exchange for helping them in getting to Nagle.
Sharon leads the trio to Nagle’s lab and watches out as they question Nagle. Nagle reveals he worked for Hydra, then the CIA with Isaiah Bradley’s blood recreated the serum, and post Blip the Power Broker funded his super soldier serum research. As Nagle talks Sharon goes one on like 20 bad guys. Zemo in his fashion busts a cap in Nagle’s head and the trio join Sharon for a shoot out with more buddy cop dialogue.
We return to sidestories: Karli and the Flag Smasher’s casing a GRC facility. Karli and Dovich (the only Asian shown this episode) reflect on how they each ended up in Madripoor and taking the serum. Karli wanted to be a teacher. They know the Power Broker will be coming with Nagle dead. We transition to a quick scene of Walker and Hoskins at the prison. Hoskins is in disbelief that Sam and Bucky would break Zemo out but Walker buys that theory. Hoskins isn’t wrong, and expresses they need evidence before accusing them. Walker informs Hoskins they are going off the books.
Back on Zemo’s plane, Sam is reflecting on how Sharon’s life was messed up and the glib attitude about Isaiah. They argue about the shield more as Bucky still holds it in high regard as a symbol where Sam is not. Sam says he should have destroyed the shield while selfish Bucky AGAIN says he is going to take the shield. Right after this conversation they learn where Mama Donya passed away and Zemo says he has a place they can go. Zemo is looking forward to meeting Karli face to face. This leads me to believe that Karli and the Flag Smashers aren’t the big bad of this show.
To try and pull the wool over my eyes the very next scene shows Karli and Company doing their Robin Hood stealing and leaving the GRC facility with months of supplies and the guards tied up. Suspiciously Karli gets in Dovich’s SUV and not her own. She tells him to buckle up and her SUV explodes before he can. A shocked Dovich says there were people still in the building but Karli is resigned that the GRC won’t listen without the violence and death.
Zermo, Sam, and Bucky arrive in LATVIA!! As they walk to a building Bucky says he’s going for a walk alone. He picks up a kimoyo bead, then another, before confronting Ayo, second in command of the Dora Milaje.
There’s a ton of comic stuff to unpack in this episode and some potential theories.
Did Sharon kill Selby?
Is that the real Selby? The bartender looked more like comic Selby.
Has Sharon been power augmented?
Is Sharon working for or with the Power Broker?
How much will Wakanda be involved in the rest of the show?
Will we see or hear a mention of Doom?
Will Walker become Super Patriot during this show or straight to US Agent?
Will we get more Avengers West Coast hints?
WILL WE GET MORE X-MEN HINTS????
and WHO is the Power Broker??? I say it's 50 Cent.
Now hear me on this, in the comics the Power Broker's real name is Curtiss Jackson. Curtis Jackson has a criminal based show called Power. Thus 50 is the Power Broker!
EPILOGUE
I had to share the above quote (with her permission). It was a must as I myself noticed this a bit too late. I was too busy looking for X-Men clues and it dawned on me that I didn't see a single Asian person in Madripoor until I saw the Asian Flag Smasher with Karli. Not only were there no Asian main characters but not even any extras. Not ONE! I triple checked after seeing this tweet. With all the people in the bar scene, on the street with guns and drugs, the bounty hunters in the shipping yard; there is not a single Asian person in this Asian province. I'm disappointed Disney. I appreciate what you're doing with Sam but this oversight makes no sense. You EASILY could have swapped Selby out with an Asian woman instead of another European.