Even if he wanted to be, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Baron Zemo can never be truly redeemed. The Baron returned to the MCU for the first time since he tore the Avengers apart from the inside in Captain America: Civil War, except this time, he was on the side of the heroes, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. After Falcon and the Winter Soldier realized they'd hit a dead-end in their search for the Flag-Smashers and were at a loss to explain the Super Soldiers among the terrorist group's ranks, they turned to an unlikely source for information: Zemo.

Throughout the series, Zemo has been nothing but an ally to Bucky and Sam, albeit an annoyingly condescending (and correct) one at times. Not only has Zemo funded their entire trip, but he's also given them their most important leads and safehouses. What's more, despite the zealotry of his belief that all Super Soldiers - and unnaturally-powered superheroes in general - must be wiped out for the greater good, Zemo had a grudging respect for the late Steve Rogers and made no indication he wanted to kill the cybernetically and biologically enhanced Bucky Barnes. He even went peacefully with the Dora Milaje who came to collect him after Bucky tracked him down, putting up no fight as they led him away with the intention of locking him up in The Raft.

Related: Bucky Barnes Is Who Zemo Could Have Been

However, none of that equals true redemption. Bucky's story, in many ways, serves as a foil for Zemo's own story and illustrates exactly why the Baron will never be redeemed. Each of them lost their families; Zemo, his wife, son, and father in Ultron's attack on Sokovia, and Bucky, Steve Rogers, the only family he's truly had in almost a century. Both of their families were their anchors to the better angels of their nature. Steve's faith in Bucky is what gave Bucky the belief he wasn't a monster. Zemo's love for his family is what kept him anchored. However, after losing Steve, Bucky doubled down in his efforts to prove Steve was right about him whereas Zemo, the last tether to his goodness snapped, went in the opposite direction and descended into villainy.

Both men have much to atone for. Bucky spent decades as the brainwashed Hydra assassin the Winter Soldier, while Zemo was the leader of EKO Scorpion, an elite Sokovian kill squad – which, it could be argued, was exactly the same thing the Winter Soldier did, save for the fact Zemo's unit was tacitly endorsed by a Sokovian government that looked the other way. Both men have left high body counts in their wakes, including innocent people. The difference is the agency they had when they committed their crimes. Being brainwashed, Bucky had no agency of his own while Zemo had full control over himself and his choices. This intention matters and it's what separates Bucky from Zemo.

The difference is Zemo never thinks he's wrong. When Bucky surfaced from his brainwashing long enough to realize what he had done, he was horrified. He knew what he had done was murder, plain and simple, and he resolved to become a better man. Zemo, on the other hand, actively chose to do what he did and so doubling down on his actions gave him no moment of pause. His conviction in the righteousness of his cause is why he became the leader of a kill squad in the first place; his conviction didn't change once he became a rogue villain. There's a ruthlessness in Zemo that has been there from the start and it's justified by his belief he's always done what's right. For Zemo, the bodies behind him are a regrettable but acceptable bit of collateral damage on the way to a grander plan. One can't be redeemed if they can't even acknowledge they've done wrong. No matter how temporarily helpful Zemo was in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it's why he'll never be redeemed.

Next: Will Zemo Escape Again? MCU Villain Future Explored

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