The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is three episodes into its tale of a gang of super soldiers who are trying to take the world back to when the blip was in full effect, and the action-packed show has already given fans some cool surprises. While we knew Sharon Carter would be along for the ride to help out Sam and Bucky, one of those surprises has been her less than positive attitude when she finally showed up in the most recent episode. Sharon was so different from her usual self, that many fans have begun to theorize that she might actually be mysterious Power Broker who's causing all this trouble. Now, star Emily VanCamp has responded to those Sharon Carter / Power Broker theories.
Emily VanCamp hasn't had much time to shine on screen as former S.H.I.E.L.D. and CIA agent Sharon Carter, but MCU-loving audiences still knew the character as a forthright, very hopeful and always well-meaning woman who followed her heart in trying to do the right thing. The Sharon who has shown up on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, however, seems a lot more likely to shoot first and ask questions later, which is only one of the reasons why fans think she's the villainous Power Broker. When asked by Variety what she'd tell people who believe they saw signs pointing toward Sharon as the Big Bad, VanCamp said:
Well, that’s a good question. I mean, the Power Broker could be anybody. Also, there are several characters that have yet to be seen. So, I mean, I can’t say anything.
Alright, Emily VanCamp, we see what's going on here. For every one Marvel star who's capable of slipping up and spilling the beans when a direct, spoilery question is asked, there are roughly 30 more who know exactly how to keep their lips sealed, and, clearly, VanCamp is one of those. And, she's right, the Power Broker could be anyone at this point. But, I have to admit, the idea that Sharon is behind the super soldiers and a lot of other misdeeds was the first thing that came to my mind as Episode 3 ended.
I mean, this would make for a compelling villain origin story, right? It's already obvious that Sharon is no longer the idealist we once saw, as she had to go on the run after helping Cap out in Civil War. My big question would be how and when she managed to establish herself in Madripoor as a wealthy and connected dealer in stolen art, which is how Sam and Bucky (and Zemo) find her when they meet up with Sharon again.
Sharon was said to have been snapped away like billions of other souls, which would mean that she's only just recently returned. But, from her set up in Madripoor, it looks like she's been large and in charge for quite some time. What if going on the run really ruined her, and she faked her blipping, so that she could begin her criminal enterprises and then set herself up on the nearly lawless island once everyone returned?
For someone like Sharon to go from being very good and holding on to doing what's right even if it causes her trouble, to being a woman who doesn't believe in heroes and maybe wants the freedom / chaos of the blip times back would make for an awesome villain arc, no?
But, as Emily VanCamp said, there are several unknowns yet with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and just the fact that Sharon is now rich and rather happy making a living doing something unseemly doesn't automatically mean that she's the Power Broker. So, we'll just have to wait and see how this story unfolds.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier airs new episodes every Friday on Disney+, but for more to watch right now, check out our guide to early 2021 TV premieres!
