The following contains spoilers for The Falcon And The Winter Soldier episode 6.
The latest entry in Marvel's Disney Plus series comes to an end with the sixth episode of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. "One World, One People" brings most of the conflicts showcased throughout the series to an end - or hints at endings - but it also brings plenty of Easter eggs to the audience.
As Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes face one final confrontation with Karli and the Flag Smashers, the Easter eggs come in the form of comic book nods and references to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. Comic book fans will find a lot to love in the costumes in this episode in particular. Movie fans will spot familiar technology as well as their favorite fictional news network. There are also plenty of details that are easy to overlook.
Sharon Carter Uses A Familiar Mask
When Sharon Carter provides Sam and Bucky with backup, she's not herself. That is to say, she doesn't look like herself. It appears that when SHIELD fell, not all of its technology vanished.
The high-tech mask Sharon uses to disguise herself is a nano mask. Audiences first saw it used in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Natasha Romanoff used it to get inside the World Security Council. It's also been used in Agents Of SHIELD. In that case, however, former SHIELD agent Kara Palamas ended up with a nano mask fused to her face. Sharon either kept one for herself to aid her life on the run, or they've made their way to the black market in Madripoor. Both are likely true.
Sam Wilson Gets A New Suit
In the previous episode, Bucky dropped off a case to Sam in New Orleans. That case was the result of Bucky asking Ayo for a favor despite him promising to stay out of Wakanda for a while. There was plenty of speculation about what would be in the case. Would it be new wings, a Captain America suit, or maybe a new Redwing? The answer is all of the above.
Sam does receive a new drone - actually, multiples - despite Bucky not really being sorry the previous Redwing met his end. His suit with the red, white, blue, and a star right in the middle is straight out of the comics when Sam took over the Captain America role in his solo series. The biggest difference compared to his comic book counterpart is his wings.
In the comics, Sam's wings are usually drawn as part of his costume under his arms instead of on his back. By putting them on his back for the movies, they're less restrictive and can have a larger span. His wings also appear to be made of vibranium as they offer him some serious protection when he brings them in front of his body. That's likely a nod to Wakanda being the only place in the world to procure the material.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Echoes Previous Movies
One set of Easter eggs The Falcon And The Winter Soldier repeatedly sneaks into the series is echoing the previous Captain America movies. Quite a few sequences will appear familiar to fans.
Sam, for example, after spending his free time practicing with the shield previously, uses the same move to kick it up to utilize it in a fight that Steve Rogers uses in the previous movies. He also, however, takes on Batroc for his big fight in his new uniform, just as he did at the start of the series, and Steve did for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
There's even Sam asserting, "I'm not gonna fight you," to Karli. That particular line is exactly what Steve says to Bucky when Bucky is still the Winter Soldier. Neither version of Captain America is willing to fight someone they know can be reasoned with.
Bucky also has a move that the audience will remember from the same movie. When Steve sought to avoid a confrontation with a quinjet, he flipped off of the motorcycle he rode. Bucky does the same during his motorcycle chase sequence.
Bucky Falls
When Steve Rogers first thought he lost Bucky Barnes for good, he fell from a train in Captain America: The First Avenger. That shot of him falling is echoed during a fight sequence in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, but it gets a different ending.
Instead of Bucky vanishing, he lands outside of the building in what's become the traditional superhero pose with one hand on the ground. It's not just a tried and true trope of superhero movies, but also a nod that yes, Bucky is a full-fledged hero now to the fight's audience.
Isaiah Bradley Sees The News
After confronting the Flag Smashers, Sam speaks as the new Captain America for the first time to government officials. He does it with plenty of news cameras around him. At least one of those belongs to WHiH, the most trusted news network in the MCU, and the one the Bradleys watch. Isaiah and his grandson see Sam make his case on live television.
Isaiah's grandson's name is finally confirmed to be Eli in the closing credits of the episode as well. Eli Bradley becomes one of the Young Avengers, with the codename Patriot, in the comics. Isaiah also gets immortalized at the same Smithsonian exhibit that features Steve Rogers thanks to Sam. The story recounted in h Captain America exhibit is the same one he tells Sam in an earlier episode. There is even artwork featured in the exhibit that has been used in real-world marketing for the MCU.
John Walker Has A New Costume
The audience certainly loves to hate John Walker, but he goes from outright villain to antihero by the end of the finale. Walker also gets a new costume courtesy of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, though the audience still doesn't know exactly who (or what organization) she works with.
The new suit that Walker gets isn't drastically different from the old one, but it certainly calls to mind his comic book costume. That's not his Captain America costume, but his US Agent costume, a title Valentina also gives him. Interestingly, she frames it as "needing a US Agent," which makes it sound more like a job position than a codename.
Bucky's Book Is Done
Bucky leaves his (formerly Steve's) notebook with his therapist, thanking her for her help. When he does, the audience gets a better look at some of the names in the list that weren't fully visible. Some of the names that are now clear include A. Clairemont-Windsor, J. Weaver, R. Skardisson, J. Akiyama, L. Hudson, C. Collins, J. Soltero, and G. Soltero.
Clairemont-Windsor might be a stylized way to nod to Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith. Writer Claremont is well known for his long run on the Uncanny X-Men series. Windsor-Smith is an illustrator who also did a lot of work for Marvel over the course of his career, including on Claremont's Uncanny X-Men run.
J. Weaver could be a nod to Jon Weaver, who has worked on numerous MCU properties, including WandaVision, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, and the upcoming Loki. Lacy Hudson was a member of the props team for the series. The other names, however, are still a mystery.
Agent Carter Returns
Peggy Carter might not be a part of Sam Wilson's journey as Captain America, but her niece certainly is. Early in the series, Sam promises to get Sharon Carter pardoned for her role in Captain America: Civil War. He makes good on his promise here. Sharon's pardon also sees her in a position to get a job with "her old organization" back. That's left vague, so it's not clear if the MCU is going to acknowledge a return of SHIELD, or if she's returning to the CIA.
Sharon, however, does actually get named Agent Carter for the first time in the MCU. Typically, everyone has referenced her by an undercover alias, or simply as Sharon.
Disney Plus will have even more MCU content when Loki debuts on the streaming service on June 11.