Karli dying will bring me to my feet in applause.

I Have Spoken said:

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Karli dying will bring me to my feet in applause.

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Would be a most satisfying conclusion.

Beat40 said:

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Think we're going to get resolution between the old Asian man and Bucky.

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Captain America and the Winter Soldier

I am all in for this series. **** yea

Karli has to be the most annoying character in the MCU, so glad she died.

I found the "don't call them terrorists" so ridiculous given the events of the series and of this episode. Also, Sam's debate with the GRC member felt like Michael Scott's debate with Oscar about China. That was some terrible dialogue, and felt way too preachy. I really wish they hadn't gone there in this series, but I guess that was to be expected.

I didn't feel like we got the emotional payoff I was expecting with Bucky and the Asian man. It felt more like they rushed that scene and I really felt nothing because it was over so quickly.

I liked the Bucky-Walker quasi friendship. I also really enjoyed Isaiah's redemption at the end, and felt a lot more emotional about that than Bucky and the Asian dad.

I feel like I went from really liking Sam as a character at the beginning of this series, to being slightly annoyed of him by the end.

Overall, there were many things to enjoy about this series, but it just wasn't that good. I'm pretty lukewarm on the whole thing. I think a lot of this was due to re-writes, although I'm not sure the original would've been much better. I think this is a rare miss for Marvel, although I'm holding out hope that Loki redeems them.

Sam's journey/arc this series = A+

Sam's final scene at the museum with Isaiah Bradley = legit tears

Bucky's journey/arc this season = solid B

John Walker's arc/final scene = weird and muddy and I don't understand why his wife is still with him/why they're celebrating the incredibly lame name "U.S. Agent." (Yes, I know it's from the comics, but their reaction to it made zero sense. Also, does Val work for the government? Because I have no idea what was going on with any of that.)

Karli Morgenthau = the worst villain in the history of the MCU

All in all, some nice highs but also some very low lows. Made me feel good in the end, though - great closing song/vibe - and "Captain America and the Winter Soldier" was a fantastic, goosebump-inducing reveal to close it all out. No way we're not getting a season two at this point, which I can get excited for with Karli and the Flag-Smashers now out of the picture.

I do agree that Sam's speech was WAAAAAY too on the nose. Another example of me liking the *idea* of whatever it is they're attempting, but ultimately being somewhat turned off by the actual execution.

That episode was Meh for me... there's stuff I liked, stuff I was like... really? Out of all the 6 episodes, I felt like this is the bottom 2 for me.

Now I did love the new suit, that was slick as hell, but kinda weird it comes from Wakanda and the suit not have some kinda of fancy tech, other than I assume the wings are vibranium.

Thought it was funny zemo got the last laugh from the raft.

In all fairness, I didn't mind all the "political" dialogue.

Little upset to see Sharon as the power broker, another somewhat big built up thinking you are gonna meet some new character only to be her.

Action scenes were decent, final battle went about the way I expected. It was fine, maybe a bit below average for a Marvel work, but enjoyable still.

Sharon as the Power Broker was a disappointment to me. Can't put my finger on it, but didn't really feel like a satisfying reveal to me, or like it really made all that much sense in the context of her MCU appearances. Maybe it's something that can be bolstered in future shows/movies if they build on it.

Agree with Sam's debate being a bit ham fisted. Also agree with wanting more from Bucky's closure with the old Asian guy.

However, I think they absolutely nailed Sam's closure with Isaiah Bradley. That sequence was fantastic, and I felt the build up to it throughout the show was well done.

All in all, I think Wandavision was a better experience. I'll give them some slack because this is their first attempt at a traditional MCU type show, so it'll be interesting to see how they evolve it, especially as they move into introducing series around new characters.

I loved how they handled Sam and Isaiah Bradley.

I was not a fan of the Sharon Carter angle. Also, I hate when plot points make no sense. She really thought she'd just waltz in and say "Karli, work for me" and Karli would be all, "Yeah girl, let's do this!" Also, why did Sharon kill her own men in Madripoor, and why did she lead Sam, Bucky & Zemo to her super soldier serum maker? He was the goose that lays golden eggs.

Was Walker regaining his humanity? Hard to say. His weak shield was kind of funny.

I'm willing to suspend disbelief on Zemo orchestrating the explosion of the flagsmashers.

Now for a touchy issue but one that is 100% ripe for discussion after episode 6. There's a mixed message in the writing (on race) that some will never get.

Early on we get to see Sam in his new suit, with the shield, and it is an awesome moment. The way they introduced him into the scene, the music, everything about it was "cool heroic exciting moment," and it was! Hell yeah! Sam is Captain America!

And that is how almost every single viewer saw that moment.

Yet later, in Sam's speech, he says that millions will immediately hate him just because he's a black man as Captain America.

Who are these haters??

Sure, there are random racists all over the country, but they're relics of the past. Dinosaurs. Not big scary ones either. Like slow mud crawling dinosaurs that would have a hard time biting you and are dying out.

America watched this show because we love these two characters. The writers KNOW we love this show because they spent a lot of money to make it, and they know we love Sam because he had an amazing arc and he's a great, really appealing character.

That's somewhat all contradicted by the "millions hate me just for carrying the shield" line. I think maybe the writers imagine that they're part of the good guys but that America is still filled with racist baddies who will never accept a Black Cap. But that sentiment belies the hero that America tuned in to watch.

Anyway...

Overall, I enjoyed the show. I love the directions they took Sam and Bucky. I wish they didn't rewrite the plot.

Finally, did Sam and Batroc tie??

Ultron > Karli

So many of Sharon's actions make no sense...

10 minutes in and I don't think I can take any more of that whiny b*tch Karli.

Worst.

Villain.

Ever.

Here's a tip: don't make the leader of your bad guys sound like a whiny 15 year old British schoolgirl.

I agree that the line about millions hating Sam for picking up the shield is way off the mark. However, I was ok with the speech. Maybe not perfect by any means, but it's kind of better for the whole "wake up or the next karli will be worse" to be heard/seen in front of the whole world than in an office somewhere.

Of all the shows recently that have inserted race into the story, I can't think of one that's done it better than this show. Imo, they addressed it, gave realistic insight to it, and kind of showed that its time to move forward with optimism instead of anger and resentment.