What's The Deal With Sharon Carter In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier?

Contains spoilers for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

If there's one thing Marvel fans want to know, it's this: What's going on with Sharon Carter? 

After Sharon (Emily VanCamp) resurfaced in The Falcon and Winter Soldier episode 3 ("Power Broker"), fans instantly sensed something was afoot. According to the story she tells Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), and Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), Sharon has been hiding out in Madripoor since she was forced to go on the run after the events of Captain America: Civil War. The last we saw of Sharon, she was locking lips with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) after stealing both his Captain America shield and Falcon's wings to return back to them. Sharon has led those around her — and audiences at home — to believe she's an enemy of the state who can't even speak to her family anymore.

But is she really? There are too many unanswered questions revolving around Sharon. How was she in the right place at the right time to save Bucky, Sam, and Zemo in Madripoor's Lowtown? She deals in illegal art trading and has a place in Hightown, so what was she doing in the poverty-and-crime-stricken part of the island? Is she lying about being on the run, and is actually still an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D? And how does she have access to two satellites? 

No matter the answers to these questions, we're convinced Sharon is involved in something bigger. Her contribution to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier currently stands as just a nostalgic cameo, and we know Marvel Studios doesn't play like that.

Easily the biggest theory surrounding Sharon at the moment is that she's the mysterious Power Broker, whom we've still yet to meet with only two episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to go. It's unlikely that the Power Broker reveal will be some character we've never met, so the question is who from the Marvel Cinematic Universe's past could be the one watching over Madripoor? Sharon is a solid guess, but the theory comes with some doubts. Sharon has always worked for good and has proven herself to be noble, so her taking on this role would be quite a shock as far as her character development goes.

Sharon's ability to access satellites also raises some questions, and it might mean she's connected with a government agency (S.H.I.E.L.D.? S.W.O.R.D.?) that could help her access that kind of tech. Sharon was once loyal to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who's currently living the high life in space, so maybe he's the one helping her out back on the ground.

Actress Emily VanCamp has been asked about the "Sharon is the Power Broker" theory plenty of times now, and she gave a brief response on the matter when talking with Variety. When asked directly if Sharon could be the Power Broker, VanCamp answered in the only way she could: "Well, that's a good question. I mean, the Power Broker could be anybody. Also, there are several characters that have yet to be seen. So, I mean, I can't say anything."

Ah, a true Marvel Cinematic Universe actor response. No one was expecting a direct answer from VanCamp, so for now, as theories run rampant across the internet, the best we can do is join in on the fun until the Power Broker is — hopefully — revealed in one of the series' final two episodes.