As with WandaVision, Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier allowed the MCU to dive deeper into characters who had mostly been in supporting roles in the movies. Seeing Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes get the chance to step into the spotlight was a lot of fun, but the show was also ready to explore some bigger storylines than a simple buddy-cop story between these two heroes. The introduction of John Walker added an unknown element to the story that was very exciting and as the series continued, Walker's character became the most interesting and it looked like the show was going to do something very bold with that story. Sadly, with so much potential there, the show made the terrible mistake of following a much less interesting thread and botching what could have been one of the most memorable storylines in the MCU.

John Walker is introduced at the end of the first episode as the new Captain America. The character predictably got a chilly reception from fans, but as more was revealed about the character, he became more intriguing. Wyatt Russell also delivered a fantastic, layered performance in the role, playing him as someone who feels like he is doing the right thing by picking up the shield but almost immediately feels that power going to his head.

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Walker fit so well into a show that seemed to be exploring the legacy of Captain America from a variety of points of view. As the new man to hold the mantle, Walker was overwhelmed with the pressure of living up to Steve Rogers and the idea that he just wasn't good enough. This was mixed with commentary of how military veterans are perceived simply as heroes without anyone checking in with them and how their experiences changed them. This all led to the fourth episode of the series when Walker has taken the super-soldier serum in order to prove himself as the real Captain America. After his partner, Lemar Hoskins, is killed, Walker chases down a member of the Flag-Smashers and murders him in broad daylight as he begs for his life.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier's Real Villain is John Walker

Up until this point, the show had seemed undecided on who the villain was. Baron Zemo was a looming threat but working alongside the heroes. The Flag-Smasher seemed too sympathetic to be the real villains. Then it became clear that Captain America was the villain. This set up the very exciting idea that Sam and Bucky would have to preserve the legacy Steve Rogers created by battling the man who is carrying his shield.

It also made for an interesting dynamic between Walker and the leader of the Flag-Smashers, Karli Morgenthau. Walker would see it as his duty to stop her and he had already shown to be willing to kill while she was a much more sympathetic character. This would flip the idea of the hero and villain with a man draped in the American flag trying to kill someone who is fighting for an end of nationalism. This felt like the direction the show should naturally be heading in.

However, once the finale arrived, the show inexplicably tossed aside everything that had been built up with John Walker. The episode became more focused on the battle against the Flag-Smashers and the totally unnecessary reveal that Sharon Carter was the Power Broker, a storyline that feels like it is only in this show to pad it up and set up future projects. This left about two scenes to wrap up John Walker's story and it was done in a way that went against everything that had previously been established. Walker turns from the murderous and self-righteous vigilante to an ally of Sam and Bucky within seconds. Instead of a story about how those who claim to uphold the law can be the villains, Walker helps arrest the Flag-Smashers with no mention of the fact that he murdered one of them in a previous episode.

In a recent interview, the series director Kari Skogland claimed the goal was to make everyone like Walker by the end of the series which feels like a baffling admission. Not only does Walker's perceived redemption arc take place over about 30 seconds of screen time, but redemption was also the wrong end to John Walker's storyline. Walker killed someone in cold blood while claiming he was upholding the law.

Especially in the current climate to end with the conclusion of "he learned his lesson" feels totally inappropriate. It is clear the MCU has other plans for Walker which may have fed into the decision to have him redeemed in the end. It might even be that the villainous side of Walker is explored in the future. Wherever the character is taken from here, it remains a shame The Falcon and the Winter Soldier failed to follow through with the promise of his origin story.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is currently available to stream on Disney+.

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