“Every time something gets better for one group, it gets worse for another“
Admittedly this show is going to upset people. As a black man, what does it mean to hold Captain America’s shield? The show asks that question and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics.
From solid character moments to engaging fight scenes, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier gives MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) fans a much more familiar outing than they were given with WandaVision.
Overview
After Captain America has passed down his shield to his good friend Falcon (Anthony Mackie), he has to decide if he’s willing to wear it and become the hero America needs.
Its Nice to Be Back
WandaVision was such a great experience to have after years and years of the generic superhero film. It felt like a palette cleanser, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier brings us back to what we’re used to in the MCU.
Saving lives, fighting villains, and just doing what it means to be a superhero.
Back in Blood
Early in the show, I noticed that some fights were more graphic than I expected, but it was nice to see. In a world where people have super strength, it always seemed weird when it felt like they were pulling their punches constantly.
Also, the opening episode has some of the most engaging fights from people without powers in the MCU in recent memory.
The scenes were shot incredibly well, and it left me wanting more. Sadly I believe as the season goes on, the fights don’t vastly improve.
The People Aren’t Ready
Race is an uncomfortable subject, and Marvel dives right in without a second thought. Surprisingly to much success. Many will have issues with this show due to how much race is brought up.
Marvel deals with the subject incredibly well. It didn’t feel forced in the situations where it does appear, and if that sort of thing upsets you, you might want to avoid this show because it is prevalent throughout.
I Need More
Possibly one of the most annoying things about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the relationship between our protagonists. They fit so well, and the show has made two characters who, in most minds, aren’t fan favorites and made them pretty fun to watch.
WandaVision did this as well, and if each of the new Marvel shows continues down this route, the future is bright for the series.
So Its Just About Falcon?
If you had started this show hoping that both protagonists would get an equal playing ground, you’d be disappointed. Throughout the MCU, the Winter Soldier doesn’t get a huge role, which stays true here.
The stories’ focal point is Falcon. He ends up overshadowing his partner, and it’s unfortunate.
Should I Feel Bad?
Sadly the main villain of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier isn’t as great as they could be. While their intentions are good, their methods are pretty ridiculous.
The way the story is told makes the audience feel like they should care for the antagonist, but it makes it very difficult to get behind them because of their actions.
Not to mention that they don’t have much character at all. After Thanos, in Avengers: Infinity War, I feared for the MCU since he was spectacular. Now they raised their standard, and whenever they fall below it, it really stands out.
Conclusion
Returning to form while dealing with a touchy subject was pretty risky. The politics behind the shield and the idea of should a black man be Captain America was never something I thought about. I think that that aspect of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was done to perfection.
This show single-handedly made me care about our stars when I just thought about them being the other members of the Avengers, nothing special. I want more, and I need more focus on the Winter Soldier because, once again, his spotlight just gets turned off in favor of those around him.
On the more negative end, once again, Marvel has fumbled a villain that could’ve been much better. Unfortunately, while their motives make sense, their actions are hard to get behind.
It feels like this show was on the verge of being a Marvel classic. There’s so much that the series got right, but the things they messed up don’t just disappear after a few minutes.
They persist pretty often through the show, and in the last episode, specifically, Marvel just dropped the ball, and you end up wishing they had a second shot.
Ultimately, I think that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is definitely worth the watch, and if you didn’t like how different WandaVision was, then you’ll be thrilled to see something a bit more familiar.
Verdict 7.5 out of 10 Stars
Now available on Disney Plus!
Film Addict 