The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has introduced a lot of new characters to the MCU, including the group of anti-nationalists known as the Flag Smashers. These people were displaced from their homes after half the universe returned from being gone for five years and aren't too keen on the world going back to the way it was before the Blip.
The Direct was fortunate enough to sit down for an exclusive interview with Indya Bussey, who plays one of the aforementioned Flag Smashers, DeeDee, on the show. She shared her thoughts on her character's mission to keep Earth as united as it was during the Blip.
THE FLAG SMASHERS AS MODERN-DAY ROBIN HOODS
When asked about whether she sees the Flag Smashers as heroes, villains, or somewhere in between, Indya Bussey simply responded "I see them as people." The actress went on to describe the group's motivations behind their actions and mission to help others who are in a similar situation but have less power to take action:
"I see us as people. I see us as humans. I see us as really superpowered people who just want better, and who don’t want to go back to the bad things, [when] everything was low. In the story, we got kicked out, we’re the refugees, and we want better for [people]. We don’t want them to go hungry. We don’t want them to die because they can’t get medicine. We’re the Robin Hoods! [...] Because a lot of those refugees can’t do what we can do, they can’t go get the stuff just like we can go get the stuff, and so I, personally, love the Flag Smashers. If I wasn’t in [the show] I’d definitely still be Team Flag Smasher!”
UNDERSTANDING THE FLAG SMASHERS
Like most of the other characters in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the Flag Smashers have been portrayed as antagonistic to the show's leads, but not as straight-up villains. Many Marvel fans seem to find it easier to sympathize with the Flag Smashers than, say, John Walker or Zemo, and the show has seemingly made it a point to not paint them as being entirely in the wrong.
Bussey's comparison of the Flag Smashers to Robin Hood is a great way to explain their positive intentions and show that they're probably more heroic than Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes may have initially thought. Everything is sure to come to a head in this Friday's finale, so hopefully, the show will deliver a satisfying outcome for those who, like Bussey, are on "Team Flag Smasher."
The first five episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are currently available to stream on Disney+.
