Zemo's MCU Return Is Retconning Captain America: Civil War's Ending

Zemo's Iron Man and Captain America against each other, the Sokovian native is back in the franchise. This time, however, he seems to be more sinister as he terrorizes Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes.

Set after the events of The Falcon and Winter Soldier's Super Bowl 2021 trailer.

The new clip, which debuted at Super Bowl LV debuted a string of new footage giving more context with regard to how Zemo fits in the show. He says that superheroes should not be allowed to exist and that he has no intentions leaving his work unfinished. While this echoes his similar sentiments against the Avengers in Civil War, this doesn't exactly line up with his initial motivations. Zemo was focused on exacting revenge against the Avengers after the Battle of Sokovia inadvertently killed his family. He came up and executed a carefully laid out plan that pit Iron Man and Captain America against each other. The Joe and Anthony Russo 2016 film ended with the Avengers broken up — exactly what he wanted. Following the final reveal that Bucky was behind the death of Tony's parents, Zemo thought that his mission was finished, so much so that he almost committed suicide had it not been for Black Panther stopping him.

Given this, it's curious why Zemo seems to be targeting superheroes again, in this case, Sam and Bucky particularly. The last time he was seen, the villain was arrested for all his crimes, and officially, he's presumed to still be in custody by the government. Then again, considering the chaos that Thanos' arrival and his subsequent snap ensued, who knows where he's been in the last several years. Perhaps he was snuffed out of existence by the Mad Titan's decimation in Hulk's reverse-snap in Endgame. On the flip side, it appears he's been able to establish himself as this new kind of vigilante — something that would thrive during the chaotic five years after half of the world's population disappeared. In any case, considering what he was able to achieve in Civil War, Sam and Bucky better not underestimate him in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Overall, following Zemo's profile makes him the perfect villain for the series, but hopefully, there's a compelling reason for his return that won't break previously established continuity.

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