The first couple of months of 2021 were spent talking about, and geeking out over, WandaVision, which made sense considering it was the first bit of content MCU fans received since most lockdown procedures went into place. And though that series ended with mixed reviews (with the negativity stemming from all of the fan theories that never turned out true), we’re quickly switching gears to something completely different… yet just as anticipated. This morning saw the premiere of the next episode in the Marvel Studios/Disney slate of Marvel Cinematic Universe shows, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and of course, I sat down with a bowl of Lucky Charms to give it a watch.
Beware: as with my WandaVision recaps, these will all be filled with spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched the episode, proceed with caution.
The first thing I noticed about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is how cinematic it is. The opening sequence of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) flying among the helicopters was full of dynamic camera work and flawless CGI. That’s not the kind of thing you see on most television shows. It’s clear that Marvel Studios and Disney are treating this, and likely the rest of the Marvel shows, like true extensions of the MCU, throwing all of their support behind them, unlike the other Marvel Television shows like Agents of SHIELD and The Inhumans. It could be that’s because, unlike those other series, these are being overseen by Marvel Studios directly, the same studio that produces the films.
Later in the episode, we get a glimpse into Sam’s home life and his relationship with his sister. It’s the first time we see him removed from his connection to Captain America and the Avengers. He and his sister argue about what to do with their parents’ estate after their death, with Sam wanting to help her financially to keep the family business running.
This leads us to discover the kinds of consequences the “Returned” face after five years in limbo. Sam tries to help his sister secure a loan to keep the family business afloat, even using his fame as an Avenger to do so. However, he is denied because he hasn’t had an income for the last five years he was away during the Blip. This is tough enough for a semi-celebrity like Sam, so imagine what the billions of regular folk would be going through.
On the flip side is Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). He doesn’t have any family to lean on, and he’s uncomfortable with making personal connections. The few connections he does have, like Sam, he actively pushes away, such as ignoring Sam’s texts and efforts to reach out. He attempts to better himself by making amends for his past misdeeds, righting the wrongs he committed as the Winter Soldier, but even that is difficult for him as it means he has to face the terrible things he’s done.
Even his one friend, the elderly Asian man from the neighborhood, is more than just a friend. He’s one of his atonements. The man’s son died under mysterious circumstances, which we’re led to believe involve Bucky, but Bucky cannot bring himself to confess his crime. The man, Yori, is the only connection Bucky has, and telling him he killed his son would destroy that.
One of the biggest moments in the episode was Sam donating Captain America’s shield to the Smithsonian museum. It’s touching because it highlights just how Sam feels about the idea of him living up to Cap’s reputation. Though he was handpicked by Steve Rogers, Sam doesn’t believe himself, nor anybody for that matter, worthy of the mantle. However, these feelings are turned on their head when, at the end of the episode, a new Captain America is revealed on the news, handpicked by the Department of Defense itself. Sam recognizes the same government official who thanked him for turning the shield over to the museum introducing Steve’s replacement. It’s clear to see that Sam feels betrayed and embarrassed.
Not only does this plot point represent a great character arc for Sam, but it also highlights the systemic racism of the government. Sam was chosen by Steve Rogers, Captain America himself, to take up the mantle in his absence, which Sam doesn’t feel right about. The Department of Defense, instead of convincing Sam to trust in Steve Rogers, play into his feelings of inadequacy and talk him into giving up the shield so that they can pass it on to their own hand-picked candidate, who just happens to be a white man. There’s no reason the DoD couldn’t trust Sam Wilson, a decorated soldier and experienced Avenger, to become the new Captain America except for the color of his skin.
A couple of familiar faces show up in the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. We see Batroc the Leaper (MMA star Georges St. Pierre), who’s been absent from the MCU since Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Though he doesn’t play heavily into the overall plot, he takes center stage in the tense, exciting opening action sequence. With some luck, he’ll pop up again later in the series.
James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) also makes an appearance at the museum ceremony. Again, Rhodey doesn’t do much for the episode besides act as a sounding board for Sam’s feelings about Captain America, but it’s at least good to see another friendly face after so long.
Redwing, the Falcon‘s drone sidekick, also shows up in the episode. I know he’s not really a “guest star,” but Redwing really hasn’t had a lot of screen time in the movies, so hopefully he’ll be deployed more often through the series.
The episode also sets up what seems to be the series’ main antagonists. They’re a militant group called “The Flag Smashers,” a name most comic book fans would instantly recognize. They believe that life was better during the Blip, when half of the world’s population was gone, because it created a world without borders. We’re given one scene with the Flag Smashers in which they pull off a heist and use masked volunteers to cover the escape of their leader. But given the strength that their leader shows, kicking a man clear across the street, they’re likely to be more than just a simple anarchist group.
All in all, the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier does a lot of heavy lifting. It reintroduces the audience to its main characters while giving them a glimpse into their heads. It introduces a new shadowy cabal, a group seeming on par with Hydra in their ideology if not their reach. And it also shows that the MCU is not immune to very real-world problems like systemic racism, a topic that hasn’t been touched on very much in previous Marvel movies. I cannot wait to see how the next episode further delves into these points and what the rest of the series has to offer.
