Although it still seems like a long time before movie theaters will be open, Marvel is releasing new content all year on Disney Plus. Marvel’s wacky and wonderful first show, WandaVision, was a smash hit with audiences, and now the company is releasing episodes of their second TV show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The first episode was released on March 19 and new episodes will be released every week; six episodes will be released in all. The show is as action-packed as a typical Marvel film, but the freedom of the episodic format lets the show flesh out its characters. For this review, I’ll focus on my initial impressions of the show.
Overview
The plot of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier picks up largely where Avengers: Endgame left off. The world is reeling from the loss of Captain America and Iron Man as well as the sudden reappearance of half the earth’s population. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) struggle to adjust to the turbulent new era. Sam wrestles with upholding Captain America’s legacy, while Barnes, an assassin-turned-civilian, is haunted by his past. Meanwhile, a terrorist organization called the Flag Smashers threatens to destroy the fragile peace in the world. Kari Skogland, who has directed episodes for acclaimed shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Walking Dead, directs. Malcolm Spellman, who has written episodes for Empire, is the head writer. Compared to WandaVision, the gritty tone of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier marks a return to form for the Marvel universe. The show focuses on the emotional struggles of its main characters while satisfying Marvel fans with the action and humor that they crave.
The Action
The action in this series is movie-quality; fights are grounded and based in hand-to-hand combat. They share the same fast pace as those in the previous Captain America movies. It is a treat to see how creatively Sam and Bucky use their respective weapons. Both characters have entertaining fighting styles that were largely overlooked in the main films. Watching Falcon take on enemies with his jetpack wings with his drone Redwing is a lot of fun. Bucky is ruthless with his metal arm and fights every bit like the cold assassin of the previous films. The action in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is what fans have been waiting for.
The Heart
Like WandaVision, this show focuses on developing characters that never had much screentime in the Marvel movies. In the first episode, Sam heads back to his home in New Orleans to resolve family drama with his sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye), who fights to keep the family business alive. Sarah is instantly likeable; she is determined, world-weary, and gives the audience a rare glimpse at everyday life in the Marvel universe. The minor characters are some of the most compelling parts of the show — they help flesh out the main characters and the broken world that they return to. On the other hand, Bucky reluctantly attends a court-mandated therapy session and is confronted with the question of his purpose. We see how his past haunts him in his nightmares and how he is attempting to overcome his demons. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier hits its stride when it focuses on the inner turmoil of its main characters. Sam and Bucky’s similar struggles with coping with the past and the demands of Captain America’s legacy hint at a compelling and emotional story to come.
So far, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier promises to be an action-packed yet poignant watch that will set the tone for future entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “We need new heroes for the times we’re in,” Falcon states. Will he and Bucky be up to the task? Start watching to find out.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is available to stream on Disney+. Watch the trailer below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Faith Dorr
Student Author - Spring 2021
Sarah Faith Dorr is an English major at Gulf Coast State College who aspires to be a professional writer. Her mission as a student is to develop her writing skills while serving others. In addition to writing for Commodore Waves, she is a student tutor at Gulf Coast’s Writing and Reading lab. Her hobbies include reading classic literature (C.S. Lewis and Shakespeare are some of her favorites) and writing the occasional short story or poem. She also loves keeping up with the latest Disney movies — Star Wars and Marvel included.
