“Truth” tests The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as they battle inner demons, racial injustice, and an uncontrollable John Walker.
The penultimate episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is gripping, reflective, and powerful. “Truth” picks up where last week left off as Sam and Bucky confront a distressed John Walker. A fight ensues as Walker cannot be reasoned with, resulting in Sam and Bucky forcibly taking the shield from him. The episode continues with a tense confrontation between Bucky and Zemo while Sam seeks answers from Isaiah Bradley.
The episode begins with a bang as Sam and Bucky face off against Walker. I did not expect the confrontation to happen this early, but it was a fantastic way to open the episode. After this initial scene, we get a tighter focus on the characters. “Truth” is the longest episode of the series so far, clocking in at 52 minutes, but it flies by. Director Kari Skogland and head writer Malcolm Spellman do an excellent job of keeping the story moving.
This episode is really about the characters, as we see Sam, Bucky, Walker and Karli make critical decisions. Wyatt Russell has been the biggest surprise of the series, and he does a great job of portraying Walker’s anger and declining mental health. There’s something wild brewing behind his eyes. He has lost himself, and that makes him a terrifying villain. I’m eager to see see what happens next, as during the post-credit scene we see Walker making a shield of his own. He might go after Karli after she killed Lemar last week.
Speaking of, we don’t see much of Karli this week, but we learn she has something devious planned for the finale. Her arc has been interesting, as I began to feel more sympathy for her and her cause throughout the series. But now, it seems as though Zemo was right about the danger of creating super-soldiers, as she might be heading down a dark path. Even the ones closest to her are uneasy with her new plan.
As interesting as all this is, I was more invested in Sam and Bucky’s stories this week. I thought Sam returning to Louisiana and fixing up his family’s boat would be boring, but this part of the episode is vital for his character development. Bucky also heads to Louisiana to drop something off for Sam (we won’t find out what it is until next week) and sticks around to help fix the boat and flirt with Sam’s sister.
While I enjoyed the funny moments, the most significant moment between these two characters happens when they are alone. We learn more about Bucky’s insecurities and his dependency on others, mainly on Steve and the shield. Sam offers great advice on how Bucky can get some peace and truly make amends with the people he’s wronged as the Winter Soldier. It’s a heartfelt moment, my favorite they’ve shared on the show.
Bucky also apologizes to Sam for not thinking about what it meant to pass down the role of Captain America to a Black man. Earlier episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier looked at this topic, but “Truth” takes a closer look, which I loved.
Sam visits Isaiah Bradley and hears more of his story. Isaiah was experimented on and punished for trying to do the right thing. The government covered up what happened to him, and the public never knew of his heroic deeds. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers is beloved and remembered . Isaiah has every right to be angry at the government that wronged him.
I’m glad the show included this storyline. It’s important to bring difficult conversations to the forefront and provide context for the experience of others. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier handles these topics with respect.
Other amazing moments throughout the episode include Walker’s arm being broken in that opening fight, which sends him further down his spiral. I loved Bucky and Zemo’s confrontation; it was very stressful and provided a satisfying conclusion to Zemo’s arc. There’s a sense of finality to his story here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if future MCU movies or shows bring him back.
“Truth” is the best episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier by far, with both scenes packed with tension and powerful character moments. With only one episode left to go, I am itching to see the final confrontation and Sam possibly accepting the role of Captain America.
Grade: A+
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