10 Problems With Marvel's Phase 4 (And How To Solve Them)
3. Falcon & Winter Soldier Is Rehashing Bucky’s Brainwashing
Currently, it’s understood that the Falcon And Winter Soldier will feature Helmut Zemo as the villain, returning from his role as the instigator of the Civil War. The Hall H presentation also implied that the Winter Soldier’s brainwashing will again be a significant plot point.
Bucky’s unstable nature was the focus of both the last two Captain America movies. No one has any reason to trust him now that Captain America is no longer in the picture: if he goes AWOL again they’d lock him up and throw away the key.
Meanwhile, the MCU’s version of Zemo is a one-note villain - and as previously discussed, isn’t necessarily even a villain, given that his origin story and motivation is identical to the Punisher’s. Why bring him back?
If it’s still about an obsession with revenge against the Avengers, then Falcon wasn’t on the team when Ultron destroyed the city; Bucky’s not an Avenger at all. Stark’s dead, Rogers is presumed dead by the public at large. What’s the point?
Perhaps if Zemo only appears at the beginning, or if they get the brainwashing issue out of the way early. They could then dedicate the rest of the show to something new and different that establishes Bucky as an actual hero now, making amends for the past.
And bring back Old Man Cap in a cameo as the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D., please. He’s the only person who can provide continuity for the Winter Soldier character on an ongoing basis.