Fan On Reddit Posts Jaw-Dropping Theory About John Walker And Battlestar
Contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, episode 4 — "The Whole World is Watching"
Even if you're not a fan of John Walker's Captain America (Wyatt Russell) and Lemar Hoskins' Battlestar (Cle Bennett), there's no doubt that Battlestar's death in episode 4 of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was gut-wrenching, especially when you consider the grief Walker endures over his friend's death. Hoskins, the voice of reason and confidante for the impulsive and paranoid Walker, has been the new Captain America's right-hand man as he navigates this new role.
Now, with Hoskins dead and Walker seemingly the newest recipient of the Super Soldier serum, it seems likely that Walker will continue to escalate his brand of violence in the final two episodes of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
However, Reddit user u/ricardojavier1980 has posed an interesting theory that could potentially bring Lemar Hoskins back for more appearances in the show, ready to fight alongside Captain America. How could this be, especially after witnessing Battlestar's horrifying death in episode 4? Let us explain.
John Walker already took the serum
u/ricardojavier1980 outlines this theory in a very impressive video. In episode 4, we see Zemo destroy all of the Super Soldier serum, except for one vial, which Walker pockets and presumably takes. Some fans further believe that in the same episode, Walker snatched up even more of the serum as he fought the Flag Smashers in the GRC refugee settlement.
This Redditor disagrees that Walker took the stolen vial of serum, though, and believes John Walker was already enhanced with it, long before his tussle with the Flag Smashers. According to this theory, the same serum that gave Walker these impressive abilities is why the government chose him as the new Captain America.
Walker was keeping his enhancement a secret, knowing many wouldn't approve. There's some pretty good evidence that Walker was already enhanced, too. In episode 2, as Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and Sam (Anthony Mackie) fight the Flag Smashers on top of two speeding trucks, we see Walker take a punch to the gut from Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman) and fall into a passing car's windshield — but he doesn't appear to be injured.
This doesn't line up with the same blow delivered by Morgenthau against Hoskins, which led to his immediate death. Why would a punch from Morgenthau kill Hoskins but not Walker? Could it be because Walker already has the same Super Soldier powers as Morgenthau?
Battlestar isn't dead
According to this same theory, the vial of Super Soldier serum Walker stole wasn't for himself, but for his best friend and sidekick, Battlestar. Earlier in episode 4, we see the pair discussing the Super Soldier serum, with Hoskins confidently saying he would take it if given the chance. u/Ricardojavier1980 elaborates, saying he believes this conversation was Walker's subtle way of offering the serum to his friend.
When Battlestar dies from Morgenthau's punch, we see Walker immediately rush over to check for any signs of life. The Flag Smashers flee the scene, followed by Bucky and Sam. A clever bit of editing then shows Walker's rage mounting, until he rushes out of the room to execute possibly the bloodiest killing in all of the MCU.
However, u/ricardojavier1980 says that there was another event between Battlestar's death and Walker's hasty quest for revenge: Walker injected that stolen serum into Hoskins, who was clinging to life, in an attempt to save him. The theory further points out that after we see Walker jump from the window to avenge his friend's death, the show cuts back to a shot of Hoskins collapsed on the floor, and this shot is just a subtle clue that we may see him alive after all.
With Marvel's history of crazy twists and fake deaths, it's not impossible that we will see Battlestar return. One thing is for sure: These final two episodes of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier are unmissable.