After playing key roles in Marvel Studios' Captain America and Avengers film franchises, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes step into the spotlight in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As the second Marvel Studios series to debut on Disney+ following the breakout WandaVision, The Falcon and Winter Soldier does a successful job of keeping the Marvel momentum moving forward, while also slowing things down to give fans the opportunity to learn more about Falcon and Winter Soldier outside of their super-suits.
Of course, the looming presence over The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is Captain America's legacy and the matter of his shield, which Cap passed to Falcon in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame. The upcoming Disney+ series wastes no time addressing both matters, but doesn't dwell on them either. Since there are five more episodes at nearly an hour apiece, there is plenty of time to dive into what Captain America means to the ensemble cast. The mantle of Captain America isn't continuously referenced to the viewer. Instead, the majority of the focus is given to Falcon and Winter Soldier's everyday lives as civilians.
Both Falcon and Winter Soldier were victims of the Blip, which is when Thanos snapped half of humanity away in Avengers: Infinity War. Now back among the living, both heroes are readjusting to life. For Sam, that means catching up with his family. As for Bucky, he has a much harder path to walk post-Endgame. Most of his life was spent as a sleeper agent for Hydra, only being woken up to serve as a super-soldier hitman. Now, with his mind finally free of Hydra's influence, Bucky is a 104-year-old man trying to find peace -- or at least his version of it. In many ways, Bucky's story is a sadder version of the one presented by Steve Rogers. After Steve was thawed out from the ice by Nick Fury, fans only got to see brief glimpses of him readjusting to modern society. The Falcon and Winter Soldier gives viewers more time to see Bucky attempt his rehabilitation tour.
Circling back to Sam and his family, the advantage of telling Marvel Cinematic Universe stories in an episodic format on Disney+ is more screen time for every character. If The Falcon and the Winter Soldier were a feature film, it would most likely clock in at only a couple of hours. However, more time means more of a reason to delve into our heroes' backstories. Plus, the MCU Disney+ slate slides supporting characters like Falcon and Winter Soldier into leading roles. The chances of getting to see Sam bicker with his sister on the big screen would have been very slim. Also, knowing that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will address what it means for a Black man to be a Sentinel of Liberty is crucial, especially as it looks to adapt current events.
While the story is important, devoted followers of the MCU also want to see compelling and gripping action sequences, which The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delivers on. The various trailers for the series have previewed what's in store, but it is another matter to see Falcon soar through the sky while avoiding gunfire and heat-seeking missiles over the course of multiple pulse-pounding minutes. It was talked about when Marvel Studios revealed it would be developing series' for Disney+, but seeing MCU-quality visuals on the small screen is a sight to behold. It should also be a stark contrast to WandaVision's sitcom formula that only got into heavy action sequences near the end of its run.
These new adventures for Falcon and Winter Soldier feel like the third film in the Captain America franchise, behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. The soundtrack by a returning Henry Jackman immediately brings back nostalgia to those previous films, with the added return of another familiar theme in a flashback sequence.
The first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier sets the stage for a global adventure across the MCU with new threats introduced, returning characters and the overarching question of who will wield the shield. That story arc will be intriguing to follow, though there is still enjoyment to be found from Falcon and Winter Soldier in their civilian identities. All that is left to see is if The Falcon and the Winter Soldier can match the same amount of fan speculation and theorizing that WandaVision thrived in.
Directed by Kari Skogland, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Noah Mills, Carl Lumbly and Daniel Brühl. The series premieres March 19 on Disney+.