Every week, Mashable presents “Let’s Talk About …,” a Monday-morning look back at the biggest, buzziest WTF moments from the weekend’s most talked-about new movies in wide release. If you haven’t seen the film, be warned: This doesn’t just contain spoilers — it is spoilers.

Judging by its $96 million domestic opening — the biggest April movie of all time — many of you caught Captain America: The Winter Soldier this weekend. But did you really catch everything?

The film dumped a helicarrier-load of new characters, fan easter eggs and hints at what’s to come as Marvel wraps up Phase Two, loosely defined as all the films after The Avengers up to and including Avengers: Age of Ultron. Winter Soldier laid a lot of foundation for future Marvel films — just like Marvel honcho Kevin Feige said it would.

Here are the nine Winter Soldier moments and new characters you’ll need to keep top of mind while looking forward to next May, when the menace of Ultron reunites Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Steve Rogers is now in charge — as it should be

What happened: “Looks like you’re giving the orders now, Cap,” says a broken and battered Nick Fury, after taking advantage of a brutal attack to stage his own death. He’s been revoked of his S.H.I.E.L.D. command because, well … the whole organization collapsed under the weight of Hydra corruption.

Why it’s important: This is a major turning point in the films, but really, it’s just squaring things up with the comic books: For years, Captain America has been the leader of the Avengers. His role is really more master strategist and infallible human-resources department than tactical combatant. Look for Cap to take a major step up when the Avengers re-assemble.

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are here!

Image: Getty Images

What happened: The Winter Soldier post-credits easter egg gave us a first look at Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). “The Twins,” they’re called by their evil captor.

Why it’s important: The Scarlet Witch has the overarching ability to bend reality with her mind. When you’re dealing with a bad guy as powerful as the malevolent artificial intelligence Ultron, you need more than just wits and the ability to bash things. Ultron is so tough that the original movie Avengers wouldn’t have a prayer; they need an ally with more cosmic clout. We even caught a glimpse of the Witch (real name: Wanda Maximoff) doing battle with Ultron in those first leaked set photos (above). As for Quicksilver, well … he’s her brother. He’s just really fast, mostly, but they kind of go hand-in-hand.

Stephen Strange is lurking somewhere, too

What happened: Nothing more than a name-drop in the second act.

Why it’s important: The Sorcerer Supreme is like Scarlet Witch in that his powers go beyond hammering and smashing and blasting; he’s got some mystical interdimensional mojo. The Avengers are going to need more like him. But is he getting his own movie? Magic 8 Ball says: Concentrate and ask again.

Arnim Zola Has an out-of-body experience

What happened: Toby Jones’ character was introduced in the first Captain America, but as a bit of a throwaway; he was the Red Skull’s lackey and nothing more. In Winter Soldier we see him more as he is in the comics: A worthy standalone adversary, who has transferred his intelligence into an artificial shell – in this case, a bank of aging computer servers.

Why it’s important: Zola is portrayed as Hydra-loyal, but with his bioengineering background and freedom from a physical body, here’s betting he pops up again and again. Judging by the nature of his evil plan in Winter Soldier, he might even be the missing link in the creation of Ultron himself.

Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, rhymes with …

Image: Franziska Krug

What happened: In the first post-credits scene, we see Von Strucker showing off the same weapon Loki used to subdue the Earth in The Avengers, as well as Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch in captivity.

Why it’s important: Von Strucker is a lesser villain in the Marvel universe, but they didn’t hire veteran German actor Thomas Kretschmann (above) just to film the post-credits Easter Egg. Judging solely by what he’s got in his arsenal, Hydra leader will be a factor in Ultron — somehow.

Crossbones (Brock Lumrow) is born

What happened: Frank Grillo spends Winter Soldier tracking down Cap and trying to subdue him. His mission ends in extreme pain, but he’s alive — and fans of the comics know the duplicitous S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is the alter-ego of Crossbones, a vile nemesis of Steve Rogers.

Why it’s important: He may not be in Ultron, but his presence signifies a potential Captain America 3 storyline. Especially because he’s aligned with the Red Skull. Which brings us to …

Secretary Alexander Pierce

What happened: Robert Redford plays the U.S. Secretary of State — who’s really a Hydra shill.

Why it’s important: Because I thought for the whole movie that he’s the Red Skull, and I still do. The last we saw Skull, he was being sucked into another plane by the power of the Tessaract; but he doesn’t go down that easily. He’ll be back. Alexander Pierce was gunned down at the end of the film, and I’m shocked he didn’t rip his face off to reveal that evil crimson death’s head. But hey, that could still happen.

That 'Sharon' they were talking about? That’s Sharon Carter!

What happened: Emily VanCamp turned out to be more than just Steve Rogers’ comely nurse next-door-neighbor, that’s what – she was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent assigned to protect him. Later we find out her name is really “Sharon.”

Why it’s important: Because Sharon Carter — Agent 13 was her handle in the movie — is Steve Rogers’ No. 1 girlfriend in the comic books, and she’s awesome. She’s later turned and unwittingly carries out the assassination of Steve Rogers. Could her presence signal a forthcoming movie that will follow the comic books’ “Death of Captain America” storyline?

'Pulp Fiction' bonus round

What happened: Nick Fury met with his scattering S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives around his own gravestone. Did you catch what the epitaph read? “The Path of the Righteous Man — (Ezekiel 25:17)."
Why it’s important: It’s not. It’s just cool, you dig?