Ok let's talk about the visual language of that last shot of F&WS #FalconandWinterSoldierspoilers

You have been warned!

I've already Raved about the cinematography of this episode going hard but this shot in particular is special.

It's using the visual language of the hero shot juxtaposed with the horrific thing that just happened before evident by the blood still on the shield creating a contrasting image of what a "hero" truly means in this world.

It's the thesis statement of the whole episode.

This whole episode is about what it means to be a hero in a post Captain America world.

What does Captain America stand for? What makes captain America? Is it the serum? Morals? Politics? The people they defend? Is it the willingness to do what's right (whatever that is?)

I think this would be a running theme through the show as Sam and Bucky re-learn how to be heroes again. Bucky learning to forgive himself and Sam accepting the shoes he needs to fill and finally BE the new cap.

He's already showing mettle similar to Steve albeit with a different weight given his background and what it represents.

That scene with the cops right after meeting Isiah Bradley wasn't there just to put "hot button issue" it plays into Sam's whole story.

Steve was weak and downtrodden physically and overcame that with the serum to be cap. But it's being in that position first that gave him perspective on how to be a better cap.

Sam is weak and downtrodden due to systematic issues, poverty, racism etc.
That makes him a lot more empathetic to the displaced and marginalized people of today than Steve ever was making him the perfect successor.

But these are also the same reasons he gave up the shield.

The way I see it his arc would be to learn that no one else deserves the shield but him.

Bucky is more straight forward, he needs to accept how he's a hero now.

This ending shot with walker not only is stunning because "captain America murder" but also because it underlines the conversation Karli Morgenthau was having earlier about "doing what needs to be done" done in the most classic of hero shots from a low angle

It's Done with all the classic tricks of composition in mind, all the lines lead the eye to our central figure, the low angle makes him emposing and grand

But his posture is weak and the blood on the shield reminds us of what he did, this contrast is (to me) what the show is! E

Anyway rant over, I just want to say I'm finally on board with the show. Before I was just watching out of curiosity, now I actually like it.