The Falcon and Winter Soldier behind-the-scenes feature includes an infomercial for Zemo’s stylish, Sokovian fashion.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Finale, “One World, One People,” now streaming on Disney+.
Baron Zemo, and in turn Daniel Brühl, had a pop culture moment when shots of him dancing in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier went viral. Never one to miss an opportunity, the Marvel Cinematic Universe added a clever coda to the moment in Assembled: The Making of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with an infomercial for Zemo’s suit.
There’s been hype around some costumes in the show, specifically with Sam’s new Captain America uniform. Zemo has a similar — if quieter — moment early in the series when he donned his infamous purple mask from the comic books, but for some, it was in the shadow of the prior moment of him cutting up on the dance floor. It was further pushed back once everyone saw Sam’s spectacular entrance as Captain America.
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To give Zemo’s look a second chance to shine, viewers were gifted the very funny infomercial for “Suit-kovia.” In it, Zemo riffs on the fashions of his country, admonishing visitors to come and purchase some clothing of their own. It’s a great coda not only to his earlier moment, but also for who his character is.
Zemo’s comic book appearances were often larger than life, especially in comparison to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Heinrich Zemo and his son Helmut were eager Nazis, scientists and HYDRA agents, and both more or less were forced to wear their hood and permanently marked as supervillains. The MCU version of the character is an amalgamation of sorts, but eschewed such overt supervillainy in exchange for making him a master manipulator who works against Hydra and the heroes. The films also eliminated the need for Zemo to wear the mask, with its appearance in the Falcon and Winter Soldier not playing a role outside of referencing the comics.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier resurrected his aristocratic side while maintaining his Machiavellian knack for manipulation. He spent most of the series undermining the two heroes, using them to serve his own ends. Sam and Bucky were both aware that he was up to something, but desperate enough to let him proceed as is. He reveled in this, fully enjoying his time, as seen when he’s dancing while the heroes fret over their next move.
The Suit- kovia piece keeps with that mischievous spirit. Zemo appears smug and self-assured, banking on his aristocratic sophistication while selling “common clothes” like socks and pajamas in addition to the largely functional black leather coat he’s wearing. It’s everything that Sam and Bucky find irritating about Zemo. Both are narcissistic and faintly ridiculous, yet the informercial and Zemo suggest that their over the top presentations are actually distractions from something far more sinister
As funny as it is, it’s still an expression of the character, and Brühl carries the same twinkle in his eye that he did during the dance scene. This, along with Zemo trying to entice viewers with his mundane clothes after audiences saw Sam’s complete Captain America suit is a testament to his hubris. It’s a charming curtain call for one of Falcon and Winter Soldier’s strongest components, leaving high hopes for his reappearance in the future as he’s endeared himself to viewers thanks to moments like these.
Created by Malcolm Spellman and directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly and Daniel Brühl. The series is available on Disney+.
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