MCU Phase 4: 10 Biggest Mysteries (So Far)

10. What Is Val's Endgame?

The first time we met Val, she unceremoniously inserted herself into a conversation between a despondent John Walker and his wife, Olivia, after his court hearing and the subsequent stripping of his rank and VA benefits. Like a vulture, she circled her prey and swooped in when he was at his absolute most vulnerable. She courts John Walker, telling him that taking the serum made him "very, very valuable to certain people." By the end of the show, she equipped Walker with his own black suit, christening him the U.S. Agent.

We saw her again in the post-credits scene of Black Widow (where she was originally supposed to appear first), where - just as she did with Walker - she recruited a grieving Yelena Belova. Here, she recruited Belova to kill Hawkeye, blaming him for Natasha's death.

So... like... what's the deal? Who does she represent? Is she involved with HYDRA, as she was in the comics? Or is she representing someone like Thunderbolt Ross, setting out to recruit the MCU version of the Thunderbolts or the Dark Avengers now that Tony and Steve are both out of the picture? The latter seems likely, but only time will tell.