The debut of The Falcon and The Winter Solider brought fans a fantastic series that was not only packed with action but also touched on heavier topics such as global inequality, racial injustice, and battling personal issues with mental health. One brief aspect that went unnoticed is Sam Wilson's theory about the "big three."
Sam and Bucky are bickering about the Flag Smashers when Sam mentions that he wants to know if the Flag Smashers are a part of the "big three." When Bucky asks about the "big three" Sam says whenever they fight someone it's always androids, aliens, and wizards. Bucky disputes this which leads to more bickering. As we enter into Phase 4, it's worth giving Sam's theory on "the big three" a look.
10 Right: The Scarlett Witch Is A Sorceress
Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, has been a useful ally to the Avengers, but it didn't always start that way. A Sokovian native, Wanda had developed an unceasing hatred for Tony Stark because of the air raids on her country that killed her parents.
Scarlet Witch joined Hydra and Ultron with her brother Pietro. Wanda ultimately turned against Ultron and helped the Avengers, but she did start out as their enemy. Since she's ranked as the most powerful sorcerer, she's definitely a part of the "big three."
9 Wrong: John Walker Must Be Defeated After The Death Of Battlestar
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes hated the fact that John Walker took over Steve's legacy as Captain America. But they didn't expect him to go as bad as he did. Once Karli accidentally killed Lemar, Walker killed a Flag Smasher out of rage, causing Falcon and Bucky to have to confront Walker about giving up the shield.
There were fan theories that John Walker would become the main villain in the series. Walker became a foe even though he's not a part of Sam's "big three." While he redeemed himself, there's a setup that may lead Walker down the wrong path in phase four.
8 Right: Ultron Is A Major Adversary In MCU
The A.I. enemy in the second film should not be overlooked. Tony Stark developed Ultron as a force for peace. Ultron, in turn, went the Thanos route in believing the only way to achieve world peace is by killing a lot of people. He's one of the most sophisticated pieces of Artificial Intelligence, even though some of his methods in Age of Ultron do not make sense. Ultron is a major opponent for the Avengers and is definitely a part of the "big three," without getting too hung up on the definition of an android. It should be noted Sam Wilson does not get to fight in Age of Ultron, which also does not make sense.
7 Wrong: Hydra Does Not Qualify As "The Big Three"
The phrase "Hail Hydra" sends chills down the spines of MCU fans. Formerly led by the Red Skull, it's an authoritarian paramilitary group that infiltrates many organizations crucial to global security such as S.H.I.E.L.D and the United States Government. Like Skrulls, there are members of Hydra hiding in plain sight. One such instance was when beloved Larry Sanders star Garry Shandling's U.S. senator whispered: "Hail Hydra" in Captain America: Winter Soldier. Hydra members like Red Skull, though a formidable enemy, are espionage agents for facism. Evil spies are not considered in the classification of an alien, android, or a wizard.
6 Right: Loki Is A Consistent Mystical Villain For The MCU
Who can forget the problem child of Asgard? Loki is a consistent thorn in the Avengers side from the beginning of the MCU. The Avengers finds the heroes assembling for the first time after Loki goes after the Tesseract for Thanos.
Loki is definitely a part of the "big three" because even though he's ranked as one of the greatest sorcerers, we find out that Odin is not his biological father. Laufey, the king of Frost Giants on the planet Jotunheim, is Loki's true father technically making Loki an alien. Whatever Loki's actual label is, fans will see more of him soon.
5 Wrong: Zemo Is Bent On The Destruction Of The Avengers
Zemo becomes the sarcastic, caustic partner in FATWS. Sam and Bucky are very unwilling to work with him but he's needed to find the Flag Smashers. But Zemo was one of the Avengers' original enemies. Zemo was hell-bent on destroying the Avengers after he blamed them for the death of his family during the Battle of Sokovia. This caused Zemo to use Bucky to create a division between Captain America and Iron Man culminating in Civil War. Zemo is a major villain and being Sokovian royalty isn't a part of Sam's "big three."
4 Right: The Chitauri Invasion Was A Major Battle For the Avengers
The original part of the "big three" was the Chitauri, an alien army lead by Thanos. After Loki made a deal with The Other to get the Tesseract for Thanos, The Chiaturi was given to Loki to conquer Earth in return. Just like Ultron caused extreme destruction in the Battle of Sokovia, the Chitauri caused extreme destruction in The Avengers during the Battle of New York. Iron Man was able to blow up their portal and defeat them but the Battle of New York gives credences to Sam's theory of the "big three"
3 Wrong: The Flag Smashers Were Super Soldiers
Almost immediately after Sam debuts his theory for the "big three," Bucky and Sam fight the Flag Smashers on top of a truck carrying the supplies and the serum. Sam and Bucky find out the Flag Smashers are a rebel group who suffered because of the return of The Blip's victims. The Flag Smashers makes Bucky's case against the "big three" for him. Throughout the entire series of FATWS, they do not fight androids, aliens, or wizards but an underground radical group of super-soldiers (unless some flag smashers were Skrulls)
2 Right: Thanos, The Avengers Most Infamous Villain, Is An Alien
The evilest, most powerful, and arguably the most important enemy the Avengers ever fought was Thanos. Thanos is an alien who wielded a wizard-like spell on the universe after getting all the Infinity Stones. Thanos may actually override all the other villains the Avengers fought in Sam Wilson's memory.
Neither Loki, Ultron, or the Chitauri can say they made half of the population disappear for five years in a genocidal fury. To Sam Wilson, it would make sense if Thanos the only villain the Avengers really ever fought. The Snap had that much of an impact.
1 Wrong: The Avengers Became Each Other's Enemies In Civil War
Sam narrows the "big three" down to Earth's most existential threats but he never for a minute broadens that view to include the enemies among us. There can be enemies who sometimes, in this case tragically, also be your friends. Zemo decided to drive a wedge between the Avengers by showing Tony that Bucky killed his parents while under Hydra's mind control in Captain America: Civil War. Steve knew this and kept it from Tony, triggering the Avengers' epic showdown with each other. Sam should remember this as he used Redwing to fight off a young Peter Parker. When the horizons are widened, it's hard not to disprove Sam's theory of the "big three."