Falcon and Winter Soldier Finale Brings Back Black Widow Technology

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
Falcon, Winter Soldier, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff

Warning — This article contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier .

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier capped off an impressive season by featuring the heroic transformation of Sam Wilson into the MCU's new Captain America.

Serving as a showcase of the post- Avengers: Endgame life of Sam and Bucky Barnes, the series tackled the (complicated) legacy of the Star-Spangled shield while also wrestling with several societal issues along the way. Not only that, but it reignited the conversation regarding the Super Soldier Serum while bringing back MCU favorites such as Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter and Daniel Bruhl's Zemo.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is filled with story beats that provided context about the franchise's past while also teasing future plot points that could prove vital to the MCU's future. The finale delivered on all fronts, especially with the confirmation that Sharon is indeed the Power Broker from Madripoor.

Now, a fascinating Easter egg that has ties to Black Widow has emerged from the finale that could hint at Sharon's deep connections to the criminal underworld...

A BLACK WIDOW EASTER EGG

During the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter entered the fight by using a familiar plot device: a photostatic veil , or otherwise known as a nano mask.

Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

In the episode entitled "One World, One People," Sharon used the veil to enter the GRC premises to help Sam and Bucky in their fight against the Flag Smashers.

The gadget was introduced during the events of 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier when Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow used it to infiltrate SHIELD headquarters by posing as Council Member Hawley.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff
Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The nano mask was also used several times during the second season of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD . In that series, it was revealed that Doctor Selwyn created the device.

SHARON CARTER'S DARK MCU FUTURE

It's no secret that the interconnectedness of the MCU is one of the franchise's greatest strengths, and it's clear that the Disney+ shows are taking full advantage of it.

The inclusion of the nano mask from the Captain America sequel served as a clever moment for the finale, mainly due to the fact that it did not feel forced within the context of the narrative. It also makes narrative sense for Sharon to be the character who used the device, considering that she hadn't been pardoned yet by the government.

The final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier established that Sharon is now a full-blown villain due to her Power Broker title. This development spells trouble for Sam and Bucky and positions Sharon as the main antagonist of a potential second season or even another MCU film.

It remains to be seen how Sharon ended up with the nano mask, but her connections within Madripoor could hold the answer. After SHIELD fell, various intel about the organization was released, and there's a chance that the blueprint for creating one was included.

Given that the series showed that the Super Soldier Serum can be recreated, it's possible that Sharon tasked someone to invent a new version of the nano mask, thus leading to the device's appearance in the finale. This goes to show how dangerous Sharon can be, and it seems that the mask is only the tip of the iceberg.

Now that Sharon has been pardoned, the former SHIELD agent has access to an even wide amount of resources, and this could lead to more dangerous weapons down the line for Captain America, Bucky, and the remaining Avengers.

All episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are now streaming on Disney+.

Release Date
March 19, 2021
Platform
- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.