THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Episode 3 Review; "Daniel Brühl Is Extraordinary As Baron Zemo"

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Episode 3 Review; "Daniel Brühl Is Extraordinary As Baron Zemo"

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's third episode took its title heroes to a well-known comic book location...with an unexpected "ally" in tow. Here's our verdict on how this latest instalment played out!

Review Opinion
By JoshWilding - Apr 02, 2021 03:04 AM EST

This week's episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier - titled "Power Broker" - wastes no time in teaming up its title heroes with Baron Zemo (yes, he's a Baron), and the results of that are spectacular. Daniel Brühl being an outstanding actor isn't new information, but he's clearly having a blast here and is the highlight of an otherwise very good - but not quite great - instalment of the Disney+ series. There's a slight "filler" feel to this chapter, with the stories of the Flag-Smashers and Captain America slowing down a little in order to allow Sam and Bucky's investigation into the Super Soldier Serum to continue. As a result, there are answers to be found, along with an astonishing cliffhanger ending, but things don't advance as much as some might hope.

There is, however, still more than enough action. After the blockbuster-style superhero fight scenes in the first couple of episodes, "Power Broker" plays out more like an espionage thriller with gunfights, explosions, and plenty of brutal hand-to-hand combat. Director Kari Skogland has a great handle on that side of things, and the episode really shines when it's Sharon Carter who is kicking ass and taking names. 

With most of the episode set in Madripoor, we get to see a very different side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Very much like its comic book counterpart, the island is a haven for criminals and is a real sight to behold. It's somewhere we're now anxious to see more of, though, especially as The Falcon and The Winter Soldier only really scratches the surface of what life there is like. Ultimately, this week's instalment is perhaps most satisfying when Zemo is on screen. As we mentioned, Brühl hits a home run here as the villain, adding lots more layers to the character, making him both charming and despicable in equal measure. He instantly became one of the MCU's best villains in Captain America: Civil War, and that continues to be the case on the small screen (honestly, it's never not satisfying watching him hold Earth's Mightiest Heroes accountable).

Emily VanCamp is also given the opportunity to do something new with Sharon; spending years on the run has hardened her, and she's definitely progressed into a different character since the last time we saw the former C.I.A. agent. That only serves to make her more interesting, and it feels like there's more to come on that front. 

One thing that is becoming noticeable as The Falcon and The Winter Soldier continues is how having different writers each week - this one was penned by John Wick's Derek Kolstad - means the quality of each episode varies. Malcolm Spellman's effort delivered a grounded, thoughtful look at the world of superheroes. Michael Kastelein's was heavy on strong character moments and humour, and this one ensures Zemo shines (and successfully takes the MCU to a new type of setting in the crime capital of Madripoor, while also delivering an expertly written - and shot - prison break sequence). Unlike WandaVision, this runs the risk of giving the series something of an inconsistent feel, because even though there are some great moments of humour in "Power Broker," the hilarious banter we saw from Sam and Bucky last week is sorely missed. Luckily, it appears Kolstad is writing next week's episode too, so that's likely to give these middle chapters a little more consistency before we head into what's sure to be an epic final two instalments.

Daniel Brühl is extraordinary as Baron Zemo, while Emily VanCamp delivers the tough-as-nails Sharon Carter we've been waiting for in this exhilarating episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

IF
Anthony Mackie Explains Why Starring In THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDER Was A Daunting Prospect
Related:

Anthony Mackie Explains Why Starring In THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDER Was A "Daunting" Prospect

THE FALCON & THE WINTER SOLDIER Deleted Scene Foreshadows Big SECRET INVASION Twist
Recommended For You:

THE FALCON & THE WINTER SOLDIER Deleted Scene Foreshadows Big SECRET INVASION Twist

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
PantherKing
PantherKing - 4/2/2021, 3:23 AM
I’m in love with this show!
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/2/2021, 3:28 AM
SPOILERS

Things happened, but in terms of plot advancement - nothing really happened. All our characters are in pretty much the same place they were at the end of last episode - no new information is revealed beyond the idea of the Flag Smashers having stolen the serum from Power Broker, but that was implied last episode anyway. We get the implication that the GRC (Effectively Marvel's WEF) are responsible for a lot of horrific acts using individuals like US Agent to do what they want, but other than that, not sure what this episode told us that the other two did not.

Sharon feels like a last minute addition, she adds little to the episode and it feels like they shot extra scenes of her at the shipyard fighting random guys to give her more to do. In a similar sense we are introduced to two new characters who provide backstory information we already guessed from last episode and then die.

Flag Smashers continue to do terrorist stuff, US Agent continues to try and follow Bucky & Falcon, Bucky & Falcon are left without a lead, etc... Madripoor ended up kinda wasted - you have a lot of interesting locations and the best fight scene locations you can imagine is inside a bar and a generic shootout at a bunch of shipping containers?

It felt like filler honestly, which is a shame. Zemo sorta faded into the background, I thought they would do more with his mind games, but it went nowhere. I'm glad he's back and its clear they are going to go 'Thunderbolts' with him, but other than that it just did not really connect.

SPOILERS END
JoeInTheBox
JoeInTheBox - 4/2/2021, 4:03 AM
@Scarilian - I think Sharon was always a part of the show from the beginning, they just had to work around Emily's schedule on The Resident. She listed on IMDB as being in every episode from here on out.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 4/2/2021, 3:32 AM
Masks...



Make men cruel.

Gonna wait for the spoiler article! :3
whatevtrev
whatevtrev - 4/2/2021, 3:36 AM
This was the weakest episode of the Disney+ MCU shows yet (if were only counting WandaVision and TFATWS) and Emily Vancamp was fairly cringe, but I’m still enjoying it.
KWilly
KWilly - 4/2/2021, 3:41 AM
@whatevtrev - First episode of WandaVision takes that award for me. That was crap lol
whatevtrev
whatevtrev - 4/2/2021, 4:00 AM
@KWilly - Yeah that’s fair enough! There was more intrigue with that episode though (at least for me anyway). This one was plodded along and I felt bad for Anthony Mackie, he was given nothing to do here.
VicSage
VicSage - 4/2/2021, 3:39 AM
This was one of the best episodes of Marvel Disney+ yet. Up there with WandaVision's best episodes. Pacing was good. Action was great. Characters and interactions were amazing. Loved it.
PantherKing
PantherKing - 4/2/2021, 3:53 AM
Ok Sharon is officially a badass. That was some black widow esque fight scenes she had and she pulled it off well. Marvel really needs to get Vancamp to do more.
MikeHawk
MikeHawk - 4/2/2021, 3:59 AM
Spoilers* The one thing bugging me is why didn't Sharon get pardoned like Sam and Bucky? If anything, it shows Steve was forgetful in doing so. He still could've helped pardon her after he became old lol. And Zemo's characterization felt like a huge retcon.

I just can't imagine Zemo from CW fist pumping at a party and cracking jokes. You could say he was hellbent on revenge there, but this Zemo felt like a snarky Bruce Wayne. How come Bucky and Sam were so nonchalant about him killing the ONLY doctor capable of replicating the serum? He also might've had more intel. Lol they just casually go back to teaming up with him afterwards.
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 4/2/2021, 4:23 AM
@MikeHawk - Regarding Sharon, I think this makes sense regardless of if she did or didn't get blipped. Considering Madripoor is almost entirely off the grid, Steve would've had no way of reaching her during those 5 years if she didn't get blipped, assuming he would've even had the heart to search during that hopeless time, and we don't know if the government would've even been open to pardoning her during the 5 years. If she was in Madripoor and got blipped, Steve wouldn't have had the resources to find her when everyone came back. It's tough to see her so nihilistic but it kinda makes sense considering how pointless everything Cap stood for would've seemed after CIVIL WAR and then after the blip
whatevtrev
whatevtrev - 4/2/2021, 5:30 AM
@MikeHawk - I agree! This Zemo felt like a completely different character to the one we saw in Civil War, and it didn’t work for me.
Chewtoy
Chewtoy - 4/2/2021, 5:42 AM
@MikeHawk - Sam and Bucky fought Thanos... we’ve no evidence that Sharon did. I suspect that went a long way in getting them pardons.
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 4/2/2021, 6:46 AM
@whatevtrev - I guess the context for Zemo is different then where he was and what he was doing in Civil War, so in my head canon I rationalized it as he’s probably in a celebratory mood just getting out of prison. I felt the scene where he shoots the doctor is a bit of old Zemo.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 4/2/2021, 8:50 AM
@noahthegrand - I think this is all a facade for Zemo. The way he pretended to be a Psychiatrist to get to Bucky, The way he put up an act for the hotel employee, the same way pretended to be a frantic driver of a fake car accident. He is acting the part for his overall goal. What that goal is remains to be seen.
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 4/2/2021, 9:01 AM
@SonOfAGif - yeah I’m kind of getting that vibe too. There’s moments where the mask slips and you see real Zemo though like him seeing his mask, antagonizing Bucky, and the shooting the doctor. Like that scene where he philophosizes about super heroes while sipping champagne you can tell he obviously feels much more strongly then he’s expressing outwardly
DavidMullich
DavidMullich - 4/2/2021, 9:24 AM
@MikeHawk - Bucky presumably was pardoned because his was under Hydra's mind-control while committing his crimes as the Winter Soldier and therefore not responsible for his actions. Sharon, however, voluntarily stole government property (Cap's shield and Falcon's wings) and abetted fugitives.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 4/2/2021, 11:15 AM
@noahthegrand - Exactly. And as he stated, he doesn't resent Bucky and he truly pities what Hydra did to him. But he detests Sam. And whose to say that he isn't use this opportunities to kill an Avenger and eliminate John Walker because he is a symbol.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 4/2/2021, 4:02 AM
Why the [frick] is this series only 6 episodes....Anyway.....Wakanda is very territorial when it comes to their enemies huh....
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/2/2021, 6:37 AM
@BlackStar25 - Involving Wakanda is a surprise I didn’t see coming
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 4/2/2021, 8:50 AM
@BlackBeltJones - I'm surprised it was Ayo and not Okoye.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/2/2021, 9:43 AM
@SonOfAGif - Okoye actress seems like a super busy one
LukeCage2155
LukeCage2155 - 4/2/2021, 4:37 AM
Awesome episode. Sharon Carter and Zemo are badasses. Madripoor looked great. I also loved the music in this episode. Wakanda!!!
LukeCage2155
LukeCage2155 - 4/2/2021, 4:42 AM
Zemo Dancing was also great!!!
1 2
View Recorder