In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 2, Sam Wilson is quick to assume that he and Bucky Barnes are fated to come up against one of the "big three" villains – that is, "aliens, androids, or wizards" – as their adventures continue. The Vibranium-armed hero pushed back against Sam's notion, and fans of the MCU are certain to share his skepticism. After all, part of the franchises' appeal lies in its pitting heroes against all sorts of situations brought about by foes ranging from the otherworldly to the frighteningly normal.

In fairness, in recent years, Sam has come into with his share of weird beings. Avengers: Age of Ultron, in which both Tony Stark's murderous A.I. ran amuck and Vision was born. He presumably met and interacted with Doctor Strange (who, while not exactly a "wizard," is still a magic-) and, judging from the MCU's timeline of events, would know of Scarlet Witch's mystical antics from WandaVision. Without question, Sam's "Big Three" have had an enormous impact on the goings-on of Earth.

Related: Falcon & Winter Soldier Reveals The Dark Side Of The MCU

Yet, in the MCU's Captain America-centric stories the villains have been predominately human. The man-made Captain America: Civil War includes only the MCU's earthbound heroes, who come into conflict after the introduction of the Sokovia Accords. After puppeteering a handful of events, human Baron Zemo divided the Avengers - a fracturing that would have enormous ramifications in Avengers: Infinity War.

Falcon and Winter Soldier Baron Zemo super soldier serum flag smasher

Unsurprisingly, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which follows two major players from the MCU's Captain America trilogy, seems to be setting its sights on very human antagonists. Zemo, who, in trailers, is seen wearing his signature purple mask from the comics, appeared at the end of episode 2. The anti-nationalist group the Flag-Smashers, led by Karli Morgenthau, has a dangerous desire to restore the chaos from the Blip. And while he may not have shown any outright villainy in episode 2, John Walker, aka the new Captain America, is certainly causing some strife for the show's titular heroes as he, in their eyes, tarnishes Steve Rogers's legacy.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's determination to check in with some of the MCU's human characters - familiar and newly introduced - will certainly help to ground the franchise, particularly after Avengers: Endgame's intergalactic escapades and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has the potential to delve into the psyche of the average Earthling.

After The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 2, there are still many mysteries that need unraveling, including who the series' primary villain is. While the show seems to be setting the stage for antagonists with morally ambiguous motivations, there is has been no real indication that the "Big Three" are involved. However, as the MCU has proven in the past, that doesn't mean mere humans can't give Sam and Bucky a run for their money.

Next: Marvel Phase 4 Is Starting Up An MCU Civil War 2

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