‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ Director on Sam Taking up the Shield

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Kari Skogland, director of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, has explained why Sam finally accepts Steve Rogers’ shield in Episode 5. The series, which is about to come to an end, focuses on Sam’s inner turmoil over his decision to give up the Captain America mantle. But now it seems like he’s finally been set on the right track, and the director has given an explanation why.

Skogland recently sat down for an interview with Entertainment Weekly to discuss why Wilson picks up the shield after five episodes of grappling with his identity. Considering the bygone era the shield has come to represent, from the time Steve became a super soldier, the definition of a “hero” has completely changed.

Skogland noted that she and head writer Malcolm Spellman wanted to explore what it means for an iconic and historically white symbol to be accepted by a Black superhero. Check out her full statement below:

“It is important that we explore all sides to its future as a symbol, given it represents the American flag and the deep history that comes with something that represents equality and freedom. It needs to be an ongoing discussion because those very coveted ideas that are the core to the American Dream are actually fragile and need to be protected from those that go down a slippery slope, no matter how well-intentioned, that actually puts freedom and equality in the crosshairs.”

Skogland and Malcolm Spellman

The slippery slope Skogland refers to is the one taken by John Walker. In Episode 4, he uses the shield to kill one of the Flag Smashers while passersby watch in horror. 

His action led him being stripped of the Captain America title in the following episode. However, Walker defends himself and tries to justify his actions by saying,

“I only ever did what you asked of me, what you told me to be, and trained me to do, and I did it. And I did it well.”

John Walker

Thus, Walker becomes the perfect example of what happens when the shield lands in the wrong hands and how the values it represents could be misused.

But now that Sam has taken the shield back from Walker, it seems he is officially on the path to becoming the MCU’s next Captain America. As we approach the finale week of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the anticipation to see how Sam’s arc plays out has never been higher.

About The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is an American television miniseries created by Malcolm Spellman for Disney+. It is based on the titular Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson aka. Falcon and Bucky Barnes aka. The Winter Soldier.

Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their roles as Falcon and Winter Soldier respectively. They are joined by an ensemble cast including Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Danny Ramirez, Georges St. Pierre, Don Cheadle, Daniel Bruhl, Emily VanCamp, Florence Kasumba and guest star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam and Bucky team up in a global adventure to fight an anarchist group called Flag-Smashers while setting to protect the legacy of Steve Rogers (Captain America).

Source: Entertainment Weekly