The MCU's move into television continues with their newest Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The show highlights Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), two heroes who were supporting characters in the MCU up until now. While it was originally set to premiere in the summer of 2020, the reshuffling of release dates in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier becoming the second of the new Marvel television series following WandaVision. But much like WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier shows how the television format offers something new for the MCU.
If WandaVision proved the kind of bold storytelling the MCU could tell within a series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier wastes no time proving television can also deliver on the huge action of the movies. The first episode of the show, titled 'New World Order,' kicks off with a wild and thrilling mid-air action sequence that would have been great to see on the big screen. Despite the typical CGI-heavy moments, the sequence feels more grounded than what is usually seen in these movies and similar to the style of the Captain America movies.
Along with delivering the big spectacle fans have come to expect from the MCU, the sequence also allows Sam to completely embrace the action hero role instead of just providing back-up to his super-friends. Within the first 10 minutes of this episode, he is made to look cooler than he ever has before. It is reminiscent of the opening action scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that immediately reinvented Cap as a badass. If this is the kind of action director Kari Skogland delivers in the first episode, it will be interesting to see how she tops herself as the show goes along.
Following the opening action sequence, the show really slows down which has its benefits as well as its failings. This episode has a lot of heavy lifting to do in terms of establishing this new world in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame. While this was touched on in Spider-Man: Far From Home and WandaVision, this show looks to be exploring it in the most depth and showing the chaos that came about once "the Blip" was reversed. More specifically, the episode examines how Sam and Bucky each fit into the world that has been changed so much.
Sam is seen grappling with the responsibility Steve Rogers left him when he retired and wondering if he is worthy of carrying the shield - or if anyone is, for that matter. The show also introduces his family as he attempts to help out with his sister's financial troubles. Meanwhile, Bucky is struggling with his considerable inner demons, suffering from the guilt of those he killed as a Hydra agent and finding his place in the world after being nothing by a soldier for decades.
Like with WandaVision, the series format allows these side characters from the movies to be explored in more in-depth ways. This one episode provides more character development for Sam than he has had in the entire MCU up to this point. Likewise, Bucky is given the opportunity to be more than just a cold and emotionless killer as he awkwardly attempts to be social and start some sort of life. Both Mackie and Stan look to be enjoying the opportunity to get into the nuance of their characters. They each shine in their own ways and show that they are more than ready to step into the spotlight as headlining heroes.
It is rare for any of the MCU movies to allow the kind of quieter moments seen in this episode. The conversations between Sam and his sister Sarah (Adepero Oduye) are emotional and poignant, feeling like something out of a family drama rather than a superhero adventure. Few people expected to see an MCU project where one of the Avengers tries to get a bank loan, but those interesting character moments really do elevate the show beyond the standard fare.
That's not to say that this slower approach works flawlessly. It feels as if the episode does very little to get the story moving with only hints of where it is heading. In fact, Sam and Bucky do not even share a moment of screen time together in this first hour. The episode gives them each the opportunity to be seen in their own worlds first, but it also makes the episode feel somewhat disjointed. This is especially noticeable when it switches back to Bucky's story which feels much more clichéd and less interesting than Sam's more grounded family issues.
In terms of what fans can expect going forward, few seeds were planted with a lot left to be revealed. While a returning MCU villain gets in on the action, the real threat that is introduced is the group of supposed anarchists known as the Flag Smashers. Again, there is little insight given to who they are or what their motivations are, but the idea of a villainous group who preferred how the world was during the Blip is an intriguing one. But it is in the final moments that the show delivers its most intriguing setup for the future. It is an emotional gut-punch of a moment yet one that promises a very interesting reaction in the second episode and suggests some big themes the show might explore.
Overall, the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is another smashing success for the MCU. Whatever doubts there might have been about the MCU moving into television have been proven unwarranted. The show works as an ideal follow-up to WandaVision as it is a more grounded and action-packed adventure while also being able to explore these overlooked characters in some interesting ways. Though it is a slower start than some might have expected, it does a great job of making the viewers care about these characters beyond their superhero antics. Fans of the MCU will not want to miss this latest chapter, and even those who find these stories growing stale might appreciate the direction the show seems to be taking.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is currently airing on Disney+.