15 questions we have after the 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier' finale

Singh: "TFATWS" gave a lot of insight into Sam's personal life, even revealing that he has a sister and two nephews. But Sam and Sarah's father, whose name is on the family's boat, is still somewhat shrouded in mystery.

On episode one, Sarah confirmed that their father died when she told Sam, "We made a deal before Daddy died. You're out there. I do things my way here." But we never learned how Paul died.

He also seemed to be a well-respected person in the community, because after being denied a loan, Sarah said: "Those people don't even know who Daddy was, and he was a giant."

Even less is known about Darlene Wilson, aside from a comment Sarah made during episode one when she told Sam that he didn't see everything "mommy and daddy dealt with" because he left home to join the Air Force.

Acuna: I'm wondering if the point of revealing Sam and Sarah's father was to just help showcase the power of community in their hometown. Since Sam is now Captain America it may put more of a spotlight on exactly who he is and where he comes from.

I wouldn't be surprised if we learned more down the line if there's a season two, but it also feels like the sort of extraneous information Disney and Marvel would put in a book series instead.

Singh: Friendship with Steve aside, fans really began speculating after a passing comment made by Bucky during a date on episode one. Bucky said that he tried online dating post-Blip and it was "pretty crazy" with "a lot of weird photos," including ones with tigers.

Photos of men, in particular, posing with tigers was popularized by the dating app Tinder years ago. Spellman also gave a vague answer regarding Bucky's sexuality during an interview with NME published in late March.

"I'm not diving down rabbit holes, but keep watching," he said.

After seeing the finale, I can say that there were no further clues about this question. So, as usual, Marvel teased us. If the show returns for a second season, I think they should go down that rabbit hole — rather than dropping breadcrumbs about LGBTQ characters in the MCU.

Acuna: This went right over my head. I'll just say people were shipping Cap and Bucky (Where are my Stucky fans?), so this wouldn't surprise me.

If this is the case, I wish Marvel/Disney would say it outright rather than tiptoe around it. This has happened a few times now and it's frustrating.

Disney has inserted small "historic" LGBTQ moments into a few big releases ("Beauty and the Beast," "Star Wars," and "Avengers: Endgame") that major outlets will cover, but that felt largely inconsequential in terms of actual representation when it's vaguely hinted at or seen in a fleeting moment.

If we're trying to say something about Bucky's sexual orientation, cool. Let's just say it. It's 2021.

Singh: Speculation about the Young Avengers has been gaining traction thanks to a younger group of stars who have recently popped up in the MCU or are making their debuts soon.

This includes Wanda and Vision's twins named Billy and Tommy (introduced on "WandaVision"), Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop (starring in the upcoming "Hawkeye" series), Kathryn Newton taking over the role of Cassie Lang/Stature in "Ant-Man 3: Quantumania," and Iman Vellani starting as the titular character of the new show "Ms. Marvel."

Given Eli Bradley's history in the comics as Patriot, I was excited to see him introduced on episode two of "TFATWS" alongside his grandfather, Isaiah Bradley. It seems like the show is paving the way for the next generation of superheroes, and I'm here for it.

Acuna: Same. You know I've been thinking about the Young Avengers setup in the MCU for at least two years. (Disneyland Resort's upcoming Avengers Campus has teased the younger heroes, too.)

It certainly feels like this introduction to Eli would be a natural progression for the character. The show ends on a hopeful note for Bradley's legacy and that may inspire Eli to follow in Sam's footsteps. I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of Eli.

Singh: During a conversation on episode four about the effects of the super-soldier serum, Lemar reassured John that he's a good guy because he has three medals of honor and consistently makes the right decisions in the heat of the battle.

In response, John said, "Three badges of excellence to make sure I never forget the worst day of my life. We both know that the things that we had to do in Afghanistan to be awarded those medals felt a long way from being right."

I know that fans had strong feelings about John Walker joining the show and becoming the new government-appointed Cap. But I found him to be an intriguing, complex character with flaws and a tough past.

"TFATWS" only briefly lets us see how PTSD has affected John and the way he lives his life. The MCU has also shown that even controversial or unlikable characters can be redeemed and forgiven. If John does show up in the MCU again (which I hope he does), I think there will be even more room to peel back the layers of the character.

Acuna: The MCU redeemed Bucky after he killed Iron Man's parents. Yes, I know he was "under mind control." But if we can redeem Bucky and Loki, anyone's fair game to me.

Initially, when John teamed up with Bucky and Sam on the finale, my first thought was, "OK, we're going to forget John killed a man?" But I really appreciated how the show handled his character in this episode.

When Walker killed the member of the Flag Smashers, a lot of fans were villainizing him. Marvel just spent nine episodes focused on the mental health of Wanda Maximoff. The majority of fans didn't seem too upset that she was holding an entire town in New Jersey hostage.

Walker's story is also one of mental health and the PTSD he faced in times of war serving for the country. It looks like Marvel wants to explore that more with his character. That's something I'm looking forward to seeing.

Singh: Peggy Carter is shaking in her grave. It seems like Sharon is weaponizing the family name, which wouldn't sit right if Peggy were alive. Perhaps Sharon doesn't want to follow Peggy's footsteps, but this doesn't feel like the right way to go about forging her own path.

I found the "big reveal" about Sharon being Power Broker to be disappointing because it was heavily alluded to throughout the season, especially on the penultimate episode when it was revealed that she was paying Batroc to carry out jobs.

Sure, it was nice to get that confirmation on the finale. But the more I think about it, the less it makes sense.

Sharon not being pardoned, despite the legacy of her surname, didn't add up. I especially found it baffling that she couldn't get a pardon considering that Bucky, who murdered dozens of people under the Winter Soldier programming, was able to get a pardon with conditions attached.

From what we know of the Power Broker, the mysterious figure has quite a reputation in Madripoor as the judge, jury, and executioner of all things. Realistically, I feel like someone has to build up that kind of reputation over an extended period of time. If Sharon was "on the run" in Madripoor in years after we last saw her in "Civil War," it's not entirely believable for her to be the Power Broker.

Also, why would she be so interested in getting her hands on Nagel's recreated super-soldier serum? She of all people knows what happens when it falls in the wrong hands.

My guess is that she learned of the successful recreation during her time working with the CIA. Once they disbanded the super-soldier program and Nagel after the Blip, she must have decided to take matters into her own hands.

Earlier on the finale, we got some insight into Sharon's role as the Power Broker when Karli said that the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent "wanted to control a world" that hurt her. But her motives are still largely unclear.

Acuna: Let's say what everyone's thinking. Sharon became the Power Broker because Steve Rogers left her to go back in time and live out his happily ever after with her Aunt Peggy.

There seem to be some unanswered questions here. It's still tough for me to comprehend how it actually took this long for Sharon to be pardoned with her last name. Was Sharon purposefully avoiding coming back into the limelight or was this just a simple narrative device to explain away why Sharon had to become the Power Broker?

I was a bit bummed to learn that Sharon was the Power Broker. It seemed so obvious after a few episodes and when playing around with this fun website Marvel launched. This reveal should have been confirmed in episode five instead of dragging it out.

I don't like the idea of Sharon being a mole inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. My mind went back to "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" when Hydra was taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sharon was among the first to stand against them.

Singh: Marvel certainly seems to be setting up that future (which aligns with his comic-book counterpart) for Torres, especially after Sam gave him permission to keep the Falcon wings that John Walker destroyed earlier on episode five. He only had one minor scene on the finale, but with Sam finally accepting Cap's shield and taking on the mantle, they could use a new Falcon.

"TFATWS" head writer Malcolm Spellman also alluded to actor Danny Ramirez being poised for big things.

"He's going to blow up," Spellman told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's not because he's doing big stuff, it's because everybody — Marvel execs, creatives, filmmakers like me, and fans — are all having the exact same reaction."

"He is one of those people who feels inevitable."

Acuna: When Sam left the broken wings with Ramirez it felt like a big hint that he was going to take over that role.

I've loved the dynamic between these two throughout the season. I wouldn't mind seeing Sam have someone else to say "on your left" to (even if it makes us a bit sad).

Singh: I really didn't think I'd see Zemo's butler again. It looks like Oeznik is Zemo's eyes and ears on the ground, and probably holds down the fort for Zemo when he's away.

Acuna: Oeznik's back! That's the last person I was expecting to show up on the finale.

I wasn't even sure who that was until noticing the white gloves. I love how Zemo and his butler have a Bruce Wayne/Alfred-type dynamic, except their's is clearly a darker one.

Oeznik's next move? Get Zemo out of prison.

Singh: For me, one of the most exciting elements of "TFATWS" was the return of Daniel Brühl. Aside from his viral one-second dance clip from episode three (which was such a hit that Marvel released an extended version, dubbed the Zemo Cut by fans, on a one-hour loop), I enjoyed getting to see Zemo in his luxurious lifestyle. He is a Baron, after all, and "TFATWS" showed how he earned that title.

The finale revealed that Zemo always stays winning, even when locked up at the Raft. During one scene, he smiled as he heard the news report about the Flag Smashers casualty.

Even though he's imprisoned, I really wouldn't be opposed to him returning in some capacity in a future Marvel project. We know from the end of "Captain America: Civil War" that jailbreaks are possible, even in a maximum-security prison.

Acuna: That finale scene with Zemo at "the Raft" showed him looking a little too comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he has a secret working relationship with the Power Broker or Val. He's always a few steps ahead.

I wouldn't be surprised if he appears again in the "Black Panther" sequel or if he stays on the small screen on Disney Plus.

If we never see him again, I'm glad we were gifted with this "Zemo Dancing To" Twitter account that overlays footage of Zemo dancing with various songs. (I highly recommend the "Agatha All Along" remix.) What a legacy.

Singh: John became more valuable after he took the super-soldier serum following the death of his friend Lemar Hoskins. Super-soldiers have always been key players in the MCU and even though John was stripped of his Captain America title, the serum still runs through his veins and he remains a threat.

The finale showed that he's not so far gone that he's lost his conscience. He did come through to try and save the people in the truck that nearly plummeted. It seems like John has no need to seek revenge on Karli for killing Lemar because she's now dead.

The finale also set the groundwork for John and Val to work together in the future, especially now that John has assumed his comic-book moniker US Agent and is now sporting a black and red suit. He seemed pretty eager to get back in the field, too.

Spellman also told Entertainment Tonight that he's "going to have a big impact on the MCU."

Acuna: I already mentioned a lot of my thoughts on Walker, but I'm ready to see him as an anti-hero moving forward. Maybe he'll become the MCU's version of The Punisher if we never see Jonny Bernthal again.

(But imagine if we do see the Punisher again and the two teamed up? Dream team.)

Singh: Julia Louis-Dreyfus' appearance on episode five was a shocker, but there's still plenty of mystery surrounding her character and why she's so interested in working with John Walker. Also, is she working with Zemo? She did refer to him as "our friend" on the finale.

It's unclear where she could pop up again, but according to Vanity Fair, Val was supposed to make her Marvel debut in "Black Widow," which was originally scheduled for release in 2020 as the first project as part of phase four.

With "Black Widow" now hitting theaters and Disney Plus on July 9, maybe we'll get more answers about how she fits into the MCU.

Acuna: The introduction of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine — OK, I'm just going to call her Val — threw me off.

A lot of fans thought we were going to see the reveal of She-Hulk or some other character on episode five and then it turned out to be Val. She's had connections with Hydra and Nick Fury. Her character has also been a part of the Secret Invasion story line, which will eventually play out on Disney Plus.

I can't tell if her "TFATWS" appearance was a tease for that or if she's building up her own group of anti-heroes for another nefarious plan. Maybe she's working with the Power Broker or Zemo. There are a lot of directions her role in the MCU can take.

Singh: Bucky's mandatory therapy sessions gave a lot of insight into how he's been struggling to fit into society (he is 106 and has lived a lot of life, after all). Therapy was also a condition of his pardon, and episode two showed how serious the government takes the situation when Bucky missed a session.

John Walker previously authorized a shift in Bucky's therapy plan, so that he wouldn't have to follow as rigid a schedule. But Dr. Raynor argued that they still hadn't finished their work.

By the end of the season, Bucky actually took Sam's advice in making amends and told Yori the truth about killing his son when he was the Winter Soldier. Then, he dropped a bag off at Dr. Raynor's office that contained his (and Steve's) book, with all the names crossed out. Bucky also included a note that read: "I finished the book... Thanks for all your help, doc."

The moment felt full-circle and earned, but I do worry that Bucky could slip back into Winter Soldier mode.

And considering Bucky's past, I wonder if everything is fully resolved. He knows that he'll never forget the faces of the people he murdered, which means he'll have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life. But if he's fully made peace with that and no longer has nightmares, then perhaps therapy sessions might not be useful to him.

Acuna: We discussed this throughout the season, but Bucky seemed to slip a little too easily back into the role of the Winter Soldier while working with Zemo.

In DC's iconic "The Killing Joke," an origin story for the Joker, there's a famous line that says, "All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy." Though Bucky seems to be in a much better place now, we saw how a man like Walker, someone who also seemed to be going through his own personal trauma, snapped when pushed to his limit.

When Bucky and John shared a brief moment on the finale, I thought we could see them in therapy together by the show's end.

Singh: Bucky could have easily just texted Dr. Raynor a photo of the crossed-out names in his book. But I can appreciate the dramatic effect that the scene had with Raynor seeing the actual book for herself and reading Bucky's handwritten note.

I really hope Raynor returns the book to Bucky. Who knows, it might be one of the few personal items from Steve that's still left.

Acuna: I would say Bucky doesn't seem like the texting type as evidenced by his old-school note.

But, I think we're missing the larger takeaway here. Did Bucky Barnes buy a gift bag?

I can't stop thinking about the idea of Barnes (aka tough guy aka the Winter Soldier) going into a store to stop and select the right bag to leave Raynor. That's so soft.

But it does seem like a strange choice for him to get rid of one of Steve's possessions since he was giving Sam grief for giving away Captain America's shield at the top of the season.

Singh: It's possible that maybe he just picked up a random gift bag at the store. Personally, I'm impressed that he included an envelope that matched the bag's color. That shows effort.

Singh: What is Sharon's goal here? It has to be beyond just wanting power, right? She told someone, "Start lining up our buyers. Super Soldiers might be off the menu, but we're about to have full access to government secrets, prototype weapons, you name it. Should be something for everyone."

Based on that, I'm terrified of what could come next. She's clearly well-connected and thanks to her pardon she'll be able to get her hands on a lot more stuff.

Acuna: Who was Sharon speaking with? Simple. Mephisto.

Kidding.

It's either someone the MCU hasn't cast yet or maybe it's Val. Those two ladies look like they could be teaming up.

Singh: The running joke and rumor on "TFATWS" is that Steve is on the moon watching over everyone. While it was funny and odd, I hoped that the show would give some kind of definitive answer about Steve's whereabouts.

Instead, the show skirted around that, with characters referring to him as "gone" — which doesn't necessarily mean he's dead. The vibe I got, especially based on the words written about him in the Smithsonian exhibit, was that he's happily retired.

I wonder if Marvel left the door open for Steve because Chris Evans is reportedly returning as Cap in some capacity — though Evans and Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige both denied the report.

Acuna: I don't know why the series couldn't just give us a straight answer on this one. It was the giant elephant in the room all season and felt strange that Cap's two best buds didn't discuss it once.

The bit about the moon mentioned on the finale was previously hinted at by Joaquin earlier in the season. Unless it's a strange running gag, it seems like too much of a coincidence to mention more than once. Maybe Steve Rogers is doing something with Nick Fury or the Eternals, who will have their own movie out this November.

Singh: This was one of the more unexpected surprises that came out of the finale. I wasn't expecting it, but I loved it. Changing the title really drove home the message that Sam is Captain America and he's here to stay.

Acuna: I really liked that title card reveal at the end. It feels like we've been waiting six episodes for it.

If Ramirez becomes the new Falcon do they need to call the show, "Captain American and the Falcon" or "Captain America and the Falcon and the Winter Soldier." "Three's Company" is taken.