How Falcon & Winter Soldier Subtly Teases Zemo's Death

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 2 ended by reintroducing the villain Helmut Zemo, accompanied by a music cue that may set up the character's death. As the scene cuts to Zemo's jail cell, Mozart's Requiem begins to play - a song with both gravitas and a considerable amount of background meaning, as Mozart died in the course of its composition. Zemo's previous appearance in Captain America: Civil War did not have the Requiem as a musical leitmotif for his appearance, implying that this was a choice specific to his appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, rather than a recurring theme selected merely for its solemnity.

With so much original music composed for the MCU, it's not surprising that when classical selections are used instead of new music, they have particular meaning. Loki's first appearance in The Avengers is scored to Schubert's Rosamunde, alluding to Loki's desire to rule as a king. In Captain America: The First Avenger, the Red Skull is seen listening to Wagner's Ring Cycle - an opera about Norse mythology, and a favorite of Adolph Hitler's. With this in mind, it seems reasonable that the selection of the Requiem is similarly intended to show character and potentially fate, with Zemo taking the role of Mozart; a troubled but clever mind, soon to die.

With this context, and the existing plot details that have so far been revealed about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it seems probable that Zemo may die in the course of the series. Zemo has been seen to orchestrate elaborate plans that proceed even without his direct intervention; his skills make him a virtuoso of distanced manipulation. With this capacity, Zemo may have indirectly arranged for his own escape, potentially by providing the Flag-Smashers with stolen super-soldier serum retained from his investigation into Hydra. Just as Mozart was commissioned to compose the Requiem, which he came to believe to be for himself, Zemo may have set into motion events leading to his own demise.

It may also be the case that Zemo's imprisonment has been deleterious to his health. Zemo's imprisonment at the end of Civil War has his jail constructed such that if he attempts sudden movement, or even raises his voice, he will receive a powerful electric shock. As by the time of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Zemo has been imprisoned for eight years under these conditions, it is likely that he will have suffered many such shocks, if only incidentally. There are indications that Zemo did not intend to survive his plans during Civil War, which would also lead to negative health consequences. Possessed of Hydra secrets, Zemo's role as prisoner is unlikely to last once Bucky and Falcon go to interrogate him, which could lead to his death.

Whether Zemo is suffering from a chronic illness or injury, or he endangers himself through his actions in the course of the series, it's possible that Zemo's death has been foretold by his musical cue. Whatever capacity he has undertaken in instigating the current situation that the other characters are involved in, it seems likely that he will continue to pursue his own goals - and the last time he did so, he was nearly killed. While Bucky may be trying to put his violent past behind him as much as possible, none of the main characters of the series shy away from violence. With this context, it is extremely likely that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be Zemo's end - scored in D minor.

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