The first episode begins with Sam heroically fighting foreign criminals in Tunisian airspace, using a high-tech flight suit developed by a military contractor. This scene explicitly echoes real-life American warfare in North Africa and the Middle East, framed in a positive light. A local man literally thanks Sam for his service, with Sam replying, "Always happy to help."
Who are the Flag-Smashers, Marvel’s new anti-patriotic villains?, Gavia Baker-Whitelaw
aha. ah. ha. no. no thank you! i do not need this in my life. i just... no, lol:
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Flag-Smashers echo mainstream imagery of antifa protesters and the hacktivist movement Anonymous. They're a decentralized group who are radicalized online, and they wear identical masks during IRL meet-ups. So far, so V for Vendetta.
If we trust Torres' description of the Flag-Smashers, we're about to see a storyline where Sam Wilson... defends the philosophical concept of borders and patriotism? Kind of? Of course, the show also sets up a subplot where Sam Wilson fights a branch of the U.S. government, embodied by the new Captain America. The Flag-Smashers may turn out to be sympathetic figures by comparison; a civilian group with relatable motives. However, there's absolutely no way this show will conclude with Sam taking a stand against nationalism. It's going to end with him picking up the shield and modeling the right kind of nationalism.
