The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) was an action-packed thrill ride that filled in a lot of MCU blanks, but also asked a slew of brand new questions. With so much happening in each episode, it was easy to miss some callbacks and references to the MCU. Once the connection is realized, it makes those moments that much more significant.
Many of the references were quickly glossed over or were more subtly insinuated than outright shown, but there were also some fairly poignant callbacks. With 23 movies worth of reference material, it was incredibly rewarding for the fans that noticed these connections.
10 Thaddeus Ross Was Heavily Teased, But Never Showed Up
Thaddeus Ross’ introduction to the MCU started with him chasing the pipe dream of a super-soldier serum that was as good as the one administered to Steve Rogers, or better. Thaddeus’ name even appears in the mid-credits of each episode as a key person involved in the super-soldier serum program.
With all of the teasing, why didn’t he make an appearance? While TFATWS did deliver a new fascinating and mysterious government type in Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, or Val, it essentially did with Thaddeus Ross what WandaVision did with Mephisto.
9 The Raft, Where Most of Team Cap Was Held After Leipzig
The Raft (which happens to be run by Ross) was where the Wakandan’s took Zemo to serve his imprisonment for the murder of Wakanda’s previous king, T’Chaka. Zemo is even seen in one of the cells, confirming his imprisonment, though with the ensuing explosion he seems to still have some pull on the outside.
The Raft also happens to be the prison in the middle of the ocean from Captain America: Civil War. Hawkeye, Wanda, Ant-Man, and even Falcon spent some time in this supermax floating ocean pokey before Steve busted them out.
8 “Do You Remember What Happened the Last Time We Stole It?”
Sam asks Bucky this after an encounter with the new Captain America, John Walker. Bucky doesn’t feel Walker deserves the shield so he says that they should take it from him. Sam then asks him if he remembers the last time they stole it and proceeds to recount the events.
Sharon was labeled an enemy of the state and as it turns out, ended up in the criminal underbelly of Madripoor either working for or posing as the mysterious Power Broker. Steve and Sam were also on the run for two long years before returning to the fold for the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
7 “It’s Actually White Wolf”
Early in the series, the titular duo tracks the Flag-Smashers to a warehouse where they are loading up their truck with vaccines and supplies. Sam teases Bucky by saying all the time in Wakanda has him thinking he’s White Panther, to which Bucky responds with, “It’s actually White Wolf.”
While the mention of Bucky’s time in Wakanda is enough of a connection to the broader MCU, the name White Wolf is only uttered maybe one other time in the MCU. It was a nice callback for die-hard fans to appreciate.
6 “You’re Not Gonna Move Your Seat Up, Are You?”
This moment is a hilarious callback to a scene from Captain America: Civil War in which Bucky and Sam are waiting in their cramped VW Beetle for Steve to return with their gear. Sam is in the front seat and Bucky, a pretty big guy, is stuck in the back of a tiny vehicle. Bucky asks Sam if he can move his seat up, but this is way before they are cool with one another so Sam is a jerk and says no.
Fast forward to TFATWS just after the team escapes the hit squad after Zemo murdered Dr. Nagel and they are making their escape in Zemo’s car. Bucky is in the front this time and Sam says, “You’re not gonna move your seat up, are you?”. Bucky smiles for a nostalgic moment and simply tells him no.
5 References To The Snap/Blip
Throughout the series, there were subtle and not so subtle references to the blip/snap and the time that had passed for those that stuck around. A lot of characters would mention how they struggled for five years when everyone dusted away. Many characters had their lives completely uprooted during the Blip.
In the scene where Sam and Sarah attempt to get a loan to save their family’s boat, the banker says that there is nothing he can do because Sam is missing the last five years of financial information. Even though he recognizes Sam as an Avenger, he explains that new laws prevented him from helping. This series provided many glimpses of the world post-Blip.
4 “You Don’t Think I Ever Fought For Something Bigger Than Myself? That’s All I Ever Tried To Do, & I Failed Twice”
This line can easily be missed, but die-hard MCU fans realize that Bucky could be referencing two or three important parts of his life where he actually fought for the right side, and despite doing so, still lost. Most recently, Bucky was a part of the fight in Wakanda during the events of Infinity War. While the Avengers came back to win in Endgame, they still painfully lost the battle that day.
Additionally, Bucky fought on Cap’s side in Civil War. Even though he cleared his name, Bucky was still unstable and decided to go back into cryostasis until his mind could be fixed; plus the Avengers broke up. Bucky also fought for the U.S. in World War II. While the Allies won the war, Bucky lost his previous life only to be turned into a brainwashed assassin.
3 Smithsonian Exhibit from Captain America: The Winter Soldier
While Captain America in World War II wasn’t on display during The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, fans immediately noticed the similar angles and architecture from the exhibit that Steve visits in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This area is shown in the first episode when Sam stupidly hands over the shield, it appears again in the final episode when Sam reveals his surprise for Isaiah Bradley.
Considering Steve and the Howling Commandos earned a spot in history at the Smithsonian, it was an incredibly beautiful and noble gesture for Sam to create a memorial to Bradley. It even included the other Black soldiers who gave their lives for their country during the serum trials.
2 Sam’s New Suit is A Subtle Reference to Steve, Black Panther, & Iron Man
Sam’s new Captain America suit, courtesy of Bucky via the Wakandans, pulls out all the stops. Additionally, the design of the suit subtly references three of the other Avengers. The theme of the suit is clearly a reference to Steve’s original Captain America uniform, has a spot for the shield, and also happens to resemble Sam’s comic costume.
Considering the suit is entirely made out of or laced with Vibranium, it’s not only significantly more durable, but it’s also a nod to Black Panther as Shuri developed his suit entirely out of Vibranium. Finally, despite the gadgetry presumably being Wakandan, Red Wing is still Starktech and the upgrades were inspired by things Stark has included in his Iron Man armors. Tony even uses similar repulsor thrusters when saving the Staten Island Ferry in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
1 Dr. Nagel’s Speech About the Super Soldier Serum
Dr. Nagel is a weird man found to be the mind behind the latest iteration of the Super Soldier Serum. Many fans were curious to find out more about Nagel and his relationship with the mysterious Power Broker but instead were given MCU references and background in his monologue.
Not only does he reference Dr. Erskine, a callback to Steve’s treatment with stellar results, but he also talks about how close he was to completing his formula just before he was Snapped out of existence. Dr. Nagel had been with Hydra since 1991, and was then recruited by the CIA after the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, likely where he met Sharon Carter who now either is or works for the Power Broker.
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