Warning: SPOILERS for The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Episode 1 - "New World Order".

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's premiere may have hinted that the Sokovia Accords are history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Are the United Nations protocols that provide accountability for superpowered individuals finally a thing of the past or are they just part of Captain America's own history at his exhibit in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum?

The Sokovia Accords were introduced in Captain America: Civil War although the roots (and namesake) of the legislation goes back to when Ultron (James Spader) tried to use the country of Sokovia to cause an extinction-level event in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Accords were officially implemented as a result of a tragic mistake made by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), herself a native of Sokovia, in Lagos, Nigeria, which caused the accidental deaths of dozens of innocent bystanders, including Wakandan nationals. The Sokovia Accords eliminated the Avengers' autonomy as a private organization and placed them under UN jurisdiction, with a council deciding when and why the superheroes would act during a crisis. However, the Accords were more far-reaching beyond just the Avengers and they demanded all enhanced individuals register their identities and submit to oversight or else be subject to criminal prosecution. Steve Rogers's (Chris Evans) refusal to sign the Accords and, instead, going off on his own to rescue his best friend Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), led to the Avengers Civil War. Rogers, Barnes, and several of their allies became international fugitives for violating the Sokovia Accords.

Related: The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Accidentally Split Team Cap & Team Iron Man Again

In The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's premiere, "New World Order", Sam Wilson AKA The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and James Rhodes AKA War Machine (Don Cheadle) walk through Captain America's Smithsonian exhibit after Sam surrendered Cap's shield to the museum. As the two veteran superheroes discussed their recent history, they poignantly toured Steve Rogers's heroism ever since he first became Captain America in World War II. But Sam and Rhodey also passed a display about the Sokovia Accords, which details the 2016 breakup of the Avengers under the heading "A Team Divided". Although the Sokovia Accords being a part of the Smithsonian's honoring of Steve Rogers' life, it may not necessarily mean the Accords themselves are now also history.

Sokovia Accords Smithsonian

The Sokovia Accords are likely still in effect during The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which is set six months after Avengers: Endgame. After all, the Accords were a significant factor in WandaVision, which took place just a few weeks after Endgame; Wanda Maximoff was framed by S.W.O.R.D. Acting Director Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg) for stealing Vision's (Paul Bettany) corpse, when, in truth, Hayward was committing his own violations of the Accords by reactivating the Synthezoid as the White Vision in spite of the android's own living will.

Of course, it's possible that the Sokovia Accords could have been reevaluated and rescinded by the United Nations, but there's no solid indication (yet) that happened in the months between WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. If anything, the destabilization of the MCU's world after the billions of people killed by Thanos (Josh Brolin) Blipped back to life would require the Sokovia Accords to remain in effect. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is immersed in the volatile geopolitics of the MCU, which is experiencing a rewriting of the world's old order as alliances are broken and new ones are being forged globally.

But this upheaval could also mean that the Sokovia Accords have indeed been tossed out and are as much a part of history as Steve Rogers's legendary service as Captain America. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's premiere didn't explicitly reference the Sokovia Accords the way WandaVision did, but the show's end credits do include text from the Enhanced Persons Act - which could tie into the Sokovia Accords' legal jargon. Considering the politically-charged adventures Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes will take part in, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier shouldn't take very long at all to settle the debate of whether or not the Sokovia Accords are still in play in the MCU.

Next: Falcon & The Winter Soldier: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episode 1

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