As with all Marvel projects, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is full of hidden Easter eggs and callbacks to past movies, comic book storylines, or even teasing future events. While some are hidden in plain sight, some are so tiny it's incredibly easy to miss for the average fan. The recent Disney+ show focused on the passing over of the Captain America mantle, and all the problems that came with it.
From the history of that very red, white, and blue vibranium shield to the potential formation of a darker superhero team-up, Marvel was brilliantly setting up the future of the MCU while filling in the gaps of the past that are yet to be explored.
10 The Globe-Trotting Adventure Led Them To A Well-Known Comic Book Nation Called Madripoor
The lawless, pirate nation of Madripoor is incredibly well known amongst comic book readers and has a rich history in the Marvel world. On the show, the nation is home to the infamous Power Broker since it's one of the only places where criminal extradition is not allowed. But, for many fans of the comics, Madripoor, which first appeared in New Mutants #32, also has some heavy ties to the X-Men.
In fact, the show even gave fans a glimpse of the famous Princess Bar, where Wolverine can be commonly found in the comics. Another awesome comic book storyline focused on Wolverine's time in Madripoor as he was hiding out as a vigilante helping those in the crime-filled Lowtown part of the city.
9 Is Steve Rogers Actually Hiding Out On The Moon?
Ever since his surprise decision to stay in the past and live out his life with Peggy in Avengers: Endgame, the whereabouts of Steve Rogers remains unknown, and the show actually plays a recurring joke on this matter with the conspiracy theory that Steve is living on the moon. While this was primarily played out for laughs, there actually might be some truth to the theory.
As was seen in the credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Nick Fury is currently orbiting in outer space in his new headquarters with the Skrulls, and some fans actually think that Steve could be there with Fury preparing the Earth for an impending threat— which may be revealed in Nick Fury's upcoming series Secret Invasion.
8 That Surprise Cameo From Julia Louis-Dreyfus May Have A Bigger Impact Than Previously Thought
Just like the writers and the actors did with WandaVision, a big surprise cameo was teased for episode 5 on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Luckily for fans, it wasn't just Anthony Mackie or Sebastian Stan playing a different version of themselves. Instead, it was actually a brand new (to the MCU) character played by the brilliant Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Her character was none other than Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, also known as Madame Hydra in the comics where, just as she began to do in the show, she set up her very own team of not-so-heroic superheroes like the Thunderbolts or the Dark Avengers. There are always suggestions that she has a role in the new Black Widow movie too, so something big looks likely for the future.
7 Could There Also Be A New Falcon After Sam Wilson?
With Sam Wilson finally becoming Captain America in the final episode of the series, another superhero mantle has been left vacant in the MCU: The Falcon. But it seems as if Marvel has already thought of a replacement with Torres taking on the role. Seeing as Torres was told to keep the old and broken wings by Sam himself, fans can assume that Torres will eventually fix the suit and try them on just like his character in the comics did.
His comic book introduction came only in 2015 with Captain America: Sam Wilson #1, who was captured by an organization called the Sons of the Serpent, was subject to some experimentation that turned him into a human-bird hybrid using Falcon's sidekick Redwing. His MCU origin was obviously different, but he can still become the Falcon.
6 Another Major Thunderbolt Character Was Introduced
Wyatt Russell gave viewers one of the standout performances as the mentally unstable John Walker as he struggled to cope with the heavy price that came with the Captain America mantle and the death of his best friend, Lemar Hoskins. Thankfully Walker was given a glimpse of redemption when he helped some hostages from falling to their death and helped Bucky and Sam take down the Flag Smashers.
While Walker was no longer the world's Captain America thanks to the previously mentioned de Fontaine, he has a new role as the U.S. Agent for the future. This rebranding of his identity should tee up a cool future for the character, whether as an anti-hero or a full-blown villain.
5 Sharon Carter Gave Fans A Callback To Black Widow's Role In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
One of the biggest surprises, which didn't actually seem that surprising when it was finally revealed, was that Sharon Carter was actually the Power Broker pulling the strings in the shadows of Madripoor. Of course, given her newfound wealth and power in the MCU world, and her past as a secret agent, Sharon has no shortage of cool gadgets and equipment— but one that stood out has already been used before.
Sharon uses the same mesh face mask that Natasha Romanoff actually used all the way back in that epic Captain America: The Winter Soldier finale where she revealed herself to Alexander Pierce before spilling all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s and Hydra's deepest and darkest secrets, including her own.
4 Could There Be An Even Bigger Threat Behind Sharon Carter's Actions?
Sharon Carter's turn to the dark side doesn't actually make complete sense, and she never explicitly calls herself the Power Broker, so some fans think that she could still be working for the Power Broker who could be an even bigger surprise future reveal. With the final call in that credits scene, a bigger threat may still be in the shadows.
Some fans have speculated that this could in fact be Norman Osbourne and the technology that she uses could be from Oscorp. From the Green Goblin-inspired green glowing grenade to the eight-armed reinforced metal gear seen on the cargo trucks, which resemble the technology of a certain Doctor Octopus who fans know is returning for Spider-Man: No Way Home many signs point to Spider-Man's villains playing a role in the events of FATWS and suggesting his next movie will directly pick up after the show's finale.
3 Sam's Reveal As Captain America Was An Epic Moment That Was Filled With Easter Eggs
Of course, it isn't that surprising of an Easter egg that Sam's brand new Captain America suit is heavily inspired by his comic book look, featuring the iconic red and blue stripes with a lot of white just like his comic counterpart. Given that it was made by the Wakandans, the suit of course has a bunch of advanced technology, some of which is a direct callback to previous MCU moments.
One example is the rocket boosters that helped him lift the truck full of hostages back up to safety just like Tony Stark when he was stopping the ship from tearing in half in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Another came when his wings stuck into the ground to fend off one of Karli's punches just like Spidey using his Iron Spider suit in Avengers: Endgame.
2 Does Baron Zemo Have His Very Own Da Vinci In The MCU?
Baron Zemo is one of the greatest masterminds in the MCU, and even with him being imprisoned in the Raft, nothing could stop him from fulfilling his mission of stopping all super-soldiers as his very own dark Alfred blew them to pieces in the finale. One hidden detail from his cell was the book he was reading, called Fortune Is A River.
The book is all about the secret friendship between Machiavelli and Da Vinci in the Renaissance era and makes fans wonder whether Zemo has his very own partner in crime, someone perhaps like Val, who must have helped with the blowing up of the Flag Smashers and the two of them could together be forming that potential Thunderbolts team.
1 There Were Numerous Callbacks To The Iconic Truth: Red, White, and Black Comic
One of the most important storylines of the show was that of Isaiah Bradley and his past as Captain America finally being revealed and celebrated by the public as he gets his worthy recognition as a hero. The series Truth: Red, White, and Black by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker helped fans to learn the true origin of the first Black Captain America.
In fact, in that bittersweet the scene where Isaiah's history is revealed in the Captain America museum, there is a photograph taken straight from the Truth series in which a group of Black WWII soldiers which inspired an awesome looking panel in the comic book.