Fans ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldiermay have already been enjoying all the show’s callbacks to previous Marvel movies, but they probably didn’t expect it to touch on this particular aspect of nostalgia. Thanks to one fan’s fondness for 2002-era internet humor and light switch raves, the series has now seen its most unanticipated (albeit unofficial) crossover this side ofStrong Bad himself challenging theTeam Fortress 2Heavy to a game of poker.
YouTube user Kyle Dekker took the popular meme of Baron Helmut Zemo dancing the night away inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierand added an early-2000s twist that, frankly, seems like such a perfect fit that it’s a shame it hasn’t gotten more exposure. Looping the show’s footage with a backing track from the cult favorite flash toon site known asHomestar Runner, Strong Bad’s gruff acapella techno tune has never felt more at home.
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Dekker made smart use ofthe extended cut from Zemo’s dancing scene, allowing for a surprisingly fitting long shot of the newly beloved villain shaking his thing to what is likely just a bizarre series of mouth sounds for those unfamiliar with Strong Bad or the rest of theHomestar Runnercrew. But even context aside, there’s something magical about watching Zemo cut a rug with no background noise except the hilariously absurd backing track.
For those unfamiliar,Homestar Runneris a long running internet series that many still think deserves its own TV series. Back in the early 2000s when Flash cartoons were a widespread art form, the series set itself apart with its endearing cast of characters, quirky sense of humor, and generally family-friendly (but not in a condescending way) tone. While it’s been many years since the peak of its popularity, running jokes like Trogdor The Burninator (beefy arm included) and the aforementioned “The System Is Down” techno song used in this particular clip continue to poke out of the internet ether to this day, proving the series' unique staying power.
Different iterations of thedancing Zemo meme like the “Night at the Roxbury” versionquickly began circulating after fans fell in love with a single second of footage seen in the “Power Broker” episode ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It just goes to show how people can latch onto the smallest of things, which various historians might over-analyze as a bad or ultimately harmless thing, depending on the status of their shirt stuffing.
It might just be a one-off meme, but hey, maybe something like this will help bringHomestar Runnerback into the public consciousness. Gamers could always use another season ofStrong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People.
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