Let’s talk about that surprise Falcon and the Winter Soldier cameo

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier just gave us the most epic moment(s) of the season with its penultimate episode. Sadly, next week is the finale, and it’s likely to be the end since the show has been advertised as a six-episode event from the get-go.

“Trust” was the best episode so far, and there was a huge surprise cameo at the end, which we always love to see. Producers Nate Moore and Malcolm Spellman had hinted that a surprise cameo was coming, with fans speculating that Chadwick Boseman might pop up as the Black Panther one last time. That didn’t happen, but what we got was still plenty shocking.

Before I get into that big reveal, if you haven’t watched this week’s episode, please do not continue reading. MAJOR SPOILERS are ahead, and I’d hate for you to have this episode ruined. You have been warned.

What major star turned up in the new episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier?

During last week’s episode, “The Whole World is Watching,” we saw the new Captain America, John Walker (Wyatt Russell), go completely bananas and kill a man in cold blood with Captain America ‘s iconic shield. This week deals with the consequences of his actions; he’s stripped of his title and all the benefits that come with it. For a guy who was supposed to be America’s new hero, he fell hard, which has only made him angrier.

While Walker is wallowing, he’s approached by a woman who seems to want to help him out and offer him a new role. This woman is Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, played by the tremendously talented Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep).

I think we can all say that we did not see that coming, but I enthusiastically welcome her to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with open arms.

Back in 2019, Vanity Fair did an interview with Dreyfus and the cast of Veep as they were getting ready to air their final season. During this interview, her costar Tony Hale and showrunner David Mandel couldn’t contain their enthusiasm over Dreyfus’ upcoming Marvel role. They probably shouldn’t have known in the first place, but I’m guessing Dreyfus shared the good news, and here we are.

Who is Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine in Falcon and the Winter Soldier?

Originally, Louis-Dreyfus was supposed to debut as Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine in Black Widow, but with that movie delayed, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier became her coming out party.

Valentina has a long comic book, first debuting as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the ’60s. Originally, she was depicted as a socialite who wanted to do something more with her life, but eventually it was revealed that she was a Russian sleeper agent. Eventually she took on the name Madame Hydra, which is all kinds of ominous.

So which version of of the contessa are we getting here? Is she an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra? Is she the mysterious Power Broker people keep talking about? We’re not sure, but we do know that Dreyfus gives off major villain vibes in her scene. She hands John Walker a blank business card and tells him to come to her when she calls in way that sounds almost like a threat.

It’s also possible she’s putting together the Thunderbolts, a group of super-criminals; think of them as Marvel’s version of the Suicide Squad. Maybe she’s an evil Nick Fury recruiting villains to her side. (FYI, she and Nick are an item at some point in the comics, which could open up some interesting story possibilities.)

Hopefully we’ll learn more in Black Widow. Of note, Black Widow character Yelena Bolova (Florence Pugh) has been a member of the Thunderbolts in the comics. And Baron was an original leader. In this episode, the Dora Milaje escort him to the Raft, which is the name of the prison where the Thunderbolts criminal rehabilitation program is started n the comics.

These are either random coincidental puzzle pieces or another genius plan Marvel has been slowly working on for years. Whatever it is, I am so excited to see Louis-Dreyfus officially join the MCU, and I hope that she’ll be sticking around for a long while.

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