#TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier   Ep3 Easter Eggs/Recap (2 parts):

‘POWER BROKER’

John Walker inner rage creeps through even more when he and Hoskins he has no luck when infiltrating the Flagsmashers latest hideout. Once again, his anger is reminiscent of his comic counterpart.

Bucky and Sam go to see Zemo. Bucky insists on visiting alone because Zemo hates Avengers (for the destruction of Sokovia)

As Bucky enters his cell, there’s a reprise of Henry Jackman’s Civil War score. Jackman also scored the show.

Zemo emerges from the shadows...

And recites the words “longing” “rusted” and “seventeen” in Russian from the Hydra Winter Soldier Code Book. He used these words Civil War to reactivate Bucky’s HYDRA programming.

Of course they no longer work but it’s just the first of many times he pushes Bucky physiologically

-during the episode. And though he is unaffected, Zemo notes “Something is still in there.”

Zemo is reading the works of Machiavelli... understandable. They both use their powers of treachery & deception to play both sides in every situation.

Sam and Bucky stand in a garage-

waiting for Zemo. This is a throwback to the scene in Civil War when Sam, Bucky and Cap hid out in a garage after they rescued Bucky.

Zemo hates the very concept of Super Soldiers. His knowledge of Hydra & the programme is essential, he ended it once, he will end it again.

Sam mentions Zemo blowing up the U.N and killing King T’Chaka so he could pin it on Bucky. Asking: “Do you think the Wakandas forgot about that?” Oh the foreshadowing!

Zemo has a collection of cars passed down through generations, he also grabs a purple mask.

In the comics, Zemo’s father, Heinrich Zemo donned the mask but it became permanently glued to his face after he was burned by Adhesive X. After Heinrich died trying to defeat Captain America, Helmut Zemo began wearing a mask to follow his fathers footsteps & serve as a reminder-

of what the previous Baron Zemo accomplished. In the MCU, it’s possible his father left the mask in that car before perishing in Sokovia.

In the comics, the Zemo’s are longstanding German nobility and it’s not too dissimilar here. He is still a Baron but from Sokovia.

He states that “my family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country.”

One of many references he makes to the destruction of Sokovia. He touches on the fact Sokovia no longer exists after being ravaged by neighbour countries & notes that no Avenger had ever visited-

Sokovia’s memorial after the events of Age of Ultron.

On the plane, Zemo makes a comment about Sam knowing what it’s like to be locked in a cell, having ended up in one due to Zemo’s meddling in with team Cap.

He continues his meddling ways here by stealing Bucky’s notebook-

-noting that it’s a way of redeeming his wrongs at The Winter Soldier. Funnily enough, Zemo’s name is on the list.

Sam realises it’s the same book Steve wrote pop culture references in (CA: TWS) when he came out of the ice.

He recalls that he recommended the Troubleman soundtrack to Steve & how Steve adored Marvin Gaye.

Bucky reminds everyone he’s an old man and that he likes 40s music.

Zemo takes in Sam’s admiration for Steve but asserts the fact that putting Super Soldiers like him on pedestals-

is dangerous (because things like Sokovia and Lagos happen and counter groups form)

He reminds Bucky that he was also sent to war to stop a mad icon in Red Skull who was also a Super Soldier. He does not want to live in a world of people like Red Skull.

He reveals like they’re going to Madripoor, formerly a pirate sanctuary in the 1800s that has kept its “lawless” ways.

While Bucky is disguised as his former self, Sam is annoyed that he is dressed like a “pimp” - Zemo tells him he’s actually dressed as a-

“sophisticated, charming African rake” called Conrad Mack, Smiling Tiger. This is a real character from comics who helped run Madripoor’s criminal underworld.

Zemo tells Sam only an American would presumed he was dressed like a pimp. Funnily enough, in the comics, Sam was once-

retconned as a pimp named Snap Wilson until Marvel reversed it.
Sam notes how much Smiling Tiger looks like him... it’s a Anthony Mackie in the photo :)

Madripoor is made up of Hightown (Rich) & Lowtown (Poor) like East Egg/West Egg & the Valley of Ashes from The Great Gatsby.

Madripoor is one of the most famous locations in Marvel history, first appearing back in New Mutants #32 in 1985.

It’s been primarily associated with the X-Men and mostly Wolverine who posed as his “Patch” alias at the Princess Bar.

In #TFATWS there’s a neon Princess Bar sign, this is a big X-Men Easter Egg. It’s first introduced in Marvel Comics Presents #1, 1998.

Without spending much time in Lowtown, the visually stunning episode establishes just how dangerous it is- showing mysterious buildings-

and openly armed citizens. It’s similar to Knowhere from GOTG1, Cyberpunk 2077 and Dark Angel’s Seattle.

The Trio end up entering a tavern called “Brass Monkey” - a Madripoor bar from the Mark Gruenwald Captain America comics.

There’s a building with graffiti on the side-

of the wall that says “The Power Broker is Watching” with glaring eyes below. It’s reminiscent of The Great Gatsby again, with Dr T. J. Eckleburg eyes watching over over the Valley of Ashes.

Zemo states that they are “Judge, Jury and Executioner” of Madripoor.

It’s still a mystery of who Power Broker is, since the show end credits have 3 empty character slots to be revealed

To keep their cover, Zemo makes Bucky run it back to his days as TWS by beating the shit out of people in the bar. Sam checks on him after.

We meet Selby, the shady owner of the Brass Monkey who is heavily involved with the criminal organisations in Madripoor. In the comics, Selby is a minor character from Excalibur #104 1996; a mutant with the ability to easily read binary language.

Zemo offers Bucky to Selby in-

in exchange for info about the SS Serum & Dr Nagel, the scientist recreating it.

Their cover is blown when Sam’s sister calls & unknowingly exposes that he is not Smiling Tiger. As Selby’s forces go on the attack, she is murdered by persons unknown.

A bounty is put on their heads and they try to avoid their death or capture.

Back at the bar, there was a shot of someone lurking around the trio and putting their hood up - the same person saves them from being killed on the run... the person? #SharonCarter !

Sam and Bucky are reunited with Sharon Carter (and so are we!) for the first time since Civil War, and while they have received pardons - she is still on the run, something she doesn’t miss an opportunity to tell them. She’s pissed, and rightly so. https://twitter.com/TheBIoodyCrown/status/1380376728476999684