This new Redstone isn't funny at all.

https://instagr.am/p/CNsE7QClASS

Batzarro said:

---

What I have observed from this show is how an audience can be dooped by the "packaging/personality" of a person.

1. Bucky/James/Winter Solider/White Wolf- The guy with three nicknames is incredulous when Lemar calls himsself Battlestar. So much so, that he rudely gets out of the truck and walks away. Then he breaks a mass murderer out of jail who then proceeds to cause mayhem and death in Madripoor.

2. Sam- The guy that unnecessarily blew up a helicopter in episode 1 on a rescue mission. He then thought he could talk down a confirmed murderer super-soldier revolutionary into what? Giving herself up for arrest? Sam for some reason thinks that Algerian helicopter pilots for hire needs to die but not a "kid" that already murdered and planning to do worse.

3. John Walker- Offered at least twice to team up with Sam and Bucky. Assisted in the first convoy skirmish against the flag smashers. Bailed Bucky out of jail. Walker was right about Karli, she needed to be arrested, not counseled. The only guy he killed was out of a moment of rage/grief. 30 seconds earlier the guy was holding him in a plot for Karli to stab him to death.

John Walker objectively has been right and a team player but because of personality the audience is supposed to hate him. John Walker is my Captain America as the smartest tactical leader of the show. I don't blame him for taking the shield after the DoD offered it to him and believed in him.

---

Don't know that I agree with all of this, but Sam wanting to counsel Karli when she's murdering innocent people was discordant and weak to me.

So the rumored famous sitcom star showed up in *this* series and not WandaVision...

What another great episode!!! Episode six is gonna be FIRE!!!

I hate John walker so much, and the fact his wife looks like AOC makes me dislike him even more!!! When the broke his arm I was like YESSS!

I wonder if his captain American suit is made of vibranium wakanda tech!

I don't get who the cameo was...

Also there is a post credit scene... that poor make shift shield, man John walkers an idiot!

Two series in a row now we've/I've been duped into this big cameo/sh*t-goes-down penultimate episode nonsense. Also, not a single one of the reports about the runtime for any of these episodes - for both Marvel and Star Wars - has ever been right. This one ended up being the standard 52 minutes when everyone was saying it was supposed to be the longest yet at 61.

Putting those things aside, I still continue to find this show to be so incredibly monotonous and boring. I really, really like the ideas and themes they're trying to explore, and I appreciate the effort, but in execution, I could not care less about where it's all heading going into the finale. I mean, what felt like half of the penultimate episode was spent restoring a fishing boat. There's just zero momentum or intrigue and the whole Flag Smashers thing is maybe the most bland and uninteresting plot-line in the entire history of the MCU. I'd seriously rather be watching the Dark Elves or whoever the villains were in Thor 2.

I did like the Sam/shield training sequence, and I'm somewhat curious to see where that goes, but otherwise this episode was another dud for me.

Been watching the show and following this thread throughout the season thus far, and admittedly hadn't really been interested until episode three. But wow, episode five is fantastic. Damn shame that now that the show has me hooked there's only one more episode left in the season!

TCTTS said:

---

Two series in a row now we've/I've been duped into this big cameo/sh*t-goes-down penultimate episode nonsense. Also, not a single one of the reports about the runtime for any of these episodes - for both Marvel and Star Wars - has ever been right. This one ended up being the standard 52 minutes when everyone was saying it was supposed to be the longest yet at 61.

Putting those things aside, I still continue to find this show to be so incredibly monotonous and boring. I really, really like the ideas and themes they're trying to explore, and I appreciate the effort, but in execution, I could not care less about where it's all heading going into the finale. I mean, what felt like half of the penultimate episode was spent restoring a fishing boat. There's just zero momentum or intrigue and the whole Flag Smashers thing is maybe the most bland and uninteresting plot-line in the entire history of the MCU. I'd seriously rather be watching the Dark Elves or whoever the villains were in Thor 2.

I did like the Sam/shield training sequence, and I'm somewhat curious to see where that goes, but otherwise this episode was another dud for me.

---

Agreed. The only scene that was worth a damn for me was the one with Walker and Lamar's parents.

That was incredible. I loved the time with Sam and Bucky. The training montage was fire. Sam calling out Bucky about his ledger was great. Sharon baby what you doing? Dreyfus was great for the small role and looking online was meant to show up in Black Widow in a pre COVID world. The stuff with Isaiah will rile up the usual suspects.

This episode is what I want out of Marvel TV. The small character moments, Bucky flirting with Sarah, we didn't realize giving the shield to a black man how could we?, Bucky firing an unloaded gun at Zemo. **** me I loved Sam calling in favors with the community and rebuilding the boat and Bucky showing up

I am doing a happy jig



Mackie better be getting ****ing paid

?itemid=12342581

Probably late to the game:

TCTTS said:

---

Two series in a row now we've/I've been duped into this big cameo/sh*t-goes-down penultimate episode nonsense. Also, not a single one of the reports about the runtime for any of these episodes - for both Marvel and Star Wars - has ever been right. This one ended up being the standard 52 minutes when everyone was saying it was supposed to be the longest yet at 61.

Putting those things aside, I still continue to find this show to be so incredibly monotonous and boring. I really, really like the ideas and themes they're trying to explore, and I appreciate the effort, but in execution, I could not care less about where it's all heading going into the finale. I mean, what felt like half of the penultimate episode was spent restoring a fishing boat. There's just zero momentum or intrigue and the whole Flag Smashers thing is maybe the most bland and uninteresting plot-line in the entire history of the MCU. I'd seriously rather be watching the Dark Elves or whoever the villains were in Thor 2.

I did like the Sam/shield training sequence, and I'm somewhat curious to see where that goes, but otherwise this episode was another dud for me.

---

Overall I'm with you*, but JLD counts as a big cameo in my book.

*(although I love the Isaiah Bradley component)

When it comes to being abused by powerful people, Isaiah Bradley ain't got nothing on Bucky Barnes. Just in case someone is keeping score.

Well, for all the folks who'd been complaining that Sam and Bucky had been sidelined after episode one...this episode was for you.

That was not at all the episode I was expecting (based on TC's posts about it), but it's exactly the one the show needed. Fantastic character development for both of them. I was already emotionally invested in these characters, but even more so now.

Can't wait for next week.

(And you just know 16chan is gonna have a field day with Isaiah's speech...)

Quote:

---

Putting those things aside, I still continue to find this show to be so incredibly monotonous and boring.

---

And yet you continue to hype everyone up and post about how you're staying up late to watch it the second it drops.

Not trying to call you out or anything, but it's just bizarre how hot and cold you are on this show.

Aside from the fact that I couldn't disagree more. If anything I'd figure a screenwriter should appreciate the time they're putting into developing the characters.

Fightin TX Aggie said:

---

When it comes to being abused by powerful people, Isaiah Bradley ain't got nothing on Bucky Barnes. Just in case someone is keeping score.

---

Not sure why Bucky would be the comparison since the abuse he endured was primarily via Hydra while Isaiah's came from his own country. The more direct comparison the show beat over our head is obviously between Steve Rogers and Isaiah Bradley - who got the better end of that deal?

But even if we take the bad comparison between Bucky and Isaiah, I'm still not so sure. From what we know, Isaiah's only transgression was breaking out and rescuing POWs without authority. For that, he was locked up and experimented on for 30 years and still has to lay low so he isn't discovered. Bucky, on the other hand, murdered untold numbers of people yet still received a full pardon from the government and is able to live his life now. I'd say Isaiah's situation is worse.

MASAXET said:

---

Fightin TX Aggie said:

---

When it comes to being abused by powerful people, Isaiah Bradley ain't got nothing on Bucky Barnes. Just in case someone is keeping score.

---

Not sure why Bucky would be the comparison since the abuse he endured was primarily via Hydra while Isaiah's came from his own country. The more direct comparison the show beat over our head is obviously between Steve Rogers and Isaiah Bradley - who got the better end of that deal?

But even if we take the bad comparison between Bucky and Isaiah, I'm still not so sure. From what we know, Isaiah's only transgression was breaking out and rescuing POWs without authority. For that, he was locked up and experimented on for 30 years and still has to lay low so he isn't discovered. Bucky, on the other hand, murdered untold numbers of people yet still received a full pardon from the government and is able to live his life now. I'd say Isaiah's situation is worse.

---

You also make the comparison that what Isaiah did is literally the same thing Steve does in First Avenger. His buddies get captured so he breaks orders, leaves camp without permission, and rescues them all - and he's welcomed back as a hero.

I won't be able to rest until I'm able to put the A-Team music over the montage of them fixing the boat, as well as Eye of the Tiger over Sam's training sequence. Cheesy, but necessary scenes.

I really like the stuff back in Sam's hometown, especially with Bucky's involvement. You have to know who you're fighting for, who is worth protecting. If all you're dealing with is military guys and politicians with their own agendas, you'll absolutely end up bitter like Isaiah. You fight for the good people, the ones you care about, the ones who will all turn out to help a neighbor in need.

My favorite part of the big fight is that they made no attempt to have Sam be on equal footing with Walker. The script might as well have said "Sam gets his ass kicked for 8 minutes." That's the way it should play out though, only his tech advantage keeps him from being killed.

Really liked Walker's scene with Lemar's parents. In that moment, how can you say he's wrong?

Also, if Elaine is the head of HYDRA at this point, that means the Power Broker can only be:

Bucky was experimented on, tortured and subjected to mind control. Then he was repeatedly frozen and unfrozen for decades while being forced to commit murders that continue to haunt him. He underwent reconditioning along the way which involved further torture.

I would say that was pretty severe.

Literature is filled with stories of people who were horribly and unfairly mistreated by those in power over them. The Count of Monte Christo. Russell Crowe's character in Gladiator. Thousands of others.

Some of these characters emerge in bitterness, and some do not. Bucky could easily be bitter.

I think part of the message of the show is comparing those who suffered unjust loss. Bradley is one. The Japanese man is another. Karlie is another. Bucky is another. Sam is sort of digesting all of it.

Bradley's mistreatment has a racial component to it which shouldn't be ignored, but also don't overlook the broader theme of injustice and various chosen paths of redemption, service or vengeance.

Quote:

---

I really like the stuff back in Sam's hometown, especially with Bucky's involvement. You have to know who you're fighting for, who is worth protecting. If all you're dealing with is military guys and politicians with their own agendas, you'll absolutely end up bitter like Isaiah. You fight for the good people, the ones you care about, the ones who will all turn out to help a neighbor in need.

---

Precisely why I appreciated the time spent "restoring a fishing boat".

Sam's internal struggle on whether or not to take up the shield has been great thus far. Gonna make the moment we see him in full Cap regalia all the better. (I'm assuming that's in the case.)

I have a suggestion. If you don't want to fall for hype, don't read the hype. Try going in blind and forming an opinion without any preconceived ideas.

As for the episode, from an action stand point, it wasn't very mind blowing. It was a lot more emotional-set up type stuff. Isiah represents a legitimate bitterness that some people might feel, and Sam represents a legitimate hope/optimism that things can be better (and are better). While I understand Isiah's take about "no self respecting black man," f-ck all that. Go Sam!

So, full wakandan suit, or just some new wings? Or is Sam done with the wings? I kind of hope not, as it's a part of how he fights. Then again, dropping the wings could be necessary for him to take that step as Cap.

LOL to Walker. I guess he was UIL State Champion in his Ag/Metal Fab competitions. Or maybe the serum turns you into a master welder. Or he's just a huge fan of Forged in Fire.

The box Sam opens has a framed, autographed 8x10 of T'Challa that says "Sam, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!"

The Sharon call to Batroc confirms she's the power broker, right? I'm not sure how else to take that scene. And I have to agree with TCTTS, I don't give a f*** about the flag smashers. They are the least interesting baddies ever. I hope Walker smashes Karli's face in with his janky-*** arts and craft shield. She's the worst.

Also, how does Karli walk around openly in the NYC with no disguise despite her photos being plastered all over TV and the Internet, and how do they show up back at their refugee camp and there is not a single LEO monitoring the location to see if she returns to it? Somehow, despite being the most wanted person in the world who has an incredibly recognizable look, she apparently can just walk out in the open unnoticed. It's like Carrot top becoming an international terrorist and he is just casually strolling along the Vegas strip.

I can't fault anyone for not digging the show, but I gotta say this episode felt like a Bad Boys 2 homage and that's the highest compliment I can pay a buddy cop style show. The Flag Smashers don't work for me, but everything else in the show is great, especially Walker's storyline and Zemo.