"The Whole World Is Watching" is the fourth episode of the American television miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Sam Wilson / Falcon and Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier. It follows the pair as they continue to reluctantly work with Helmut Zemo to locate and stop the Flag Smashers. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written by Derek Kolstad and directed by Kari Skogland.
Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their respective roles as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from the film series, with Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Florence Kasumba, Adepero Oduye, and Daniel Brühl (Zemo) also starring. Development began by October 2018, and Skogland joined in May 2019. Kolstad was hired that July. The episode explores the complex morals of John Walker / Captain America (Russell) and depicts him publicly murdering an unarmed man, which acknowledges police brutality in the United States. Filming took place at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with location filming in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in Prague.
"The Whole World Is Watching" was released on the streaming service Disney+ on April 9, 2021. Critics praised the darker tone of the episode, and its portrayal of Walker led to discussion by commentators due to his violent actions as Captain America.
Plot
Six years prior in Wakanda (2018), Ayo recites the ten Winter Soldier trigger words in front of Bucky Barnes to test if Shuri’s deprogramming actually worked. However, Barnes fears it won’t be while a series of flashbacks are displayed. When proven successful, Ayo reminds him that he is finally free of HYDRA’s control, causing Bucky to break down in tears of joy and relief.
Flash-forwarding back to the present, Bucky is confronted by Ayo, who has come for Helmut Zemo, the terrorist that killed their king T'Chaka. As Barnes broke Zemo out of prison to help him find the terrorist group, the Flag Smashers, Ayo gives Barnes eight hours to use Zemo before the Wakandans come for him. Barnes, Zemo, and Sam Wilson investigate a camp in Latvia where Flag Smasher sympathizers are housing and teaching people that were displaced when half of all life returned from the Blip.
Zemo discovers where a memorial service is being held for Donya Madani, the adoptive mother of the Flag Smashers' leader Karli Morgenthau. He, Wilson, and Barnes are confronted by John Walker / Captain America and his partner Lemar Hoskins, who Wilson convinces to let him speak to Morgenthau alone. Wilson attempts to persuade her to change her violent methods, but is interrupted by an impatient Walker, leading to a fight. Zemo shoots Morgenthau, causing her to drop vials of Super Soldier Serum, which he begins to smash. Walker knocks out Zemo and retrieves a single remaining vial while Morgenthau escapes.
Ayo and the Dora Milaje come for Zemo, but Walker refuses to hand him over. In the ensuing fight, Walker is humiliated while Zemo escapes. Walker later discusses the Super Soldier Serum with Hoskins, who suggests that Walker will always make the right decision and would be able to save lives if he had taken it. Morgenthau plans to divide the group and threatens Wilson's sister Sarah and her family to lure him and Barnes to a meeting. Meanwhile, Walker and Hoskins attack other Flag Smashers. Wilson and Barnes rush to find them, leading to another fight wherein Wilson realizes that Walker has taken the serum.
Morgenthau follows Wilson and Barnes and joins the fight, accidentally killing Hoskins. Enraged by his friend's death, Walker chases down one of the Flag Smashers, Nico, and uses his shield to violently beat him to death. With Nico's blood on the shield, Walker realizes that he is surrounded by horrified bystanders who have filmed his actions.