The shield has been picked back up.
The second of Marvel Studios new shows heads for Disney+ this Friday, in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. While it doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as WandaVision, it similarly informs us of what it’s about.
It’s about the Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Taking place over 6 episodes with runtimes of around 45+ minutes; We pick up with Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) after the events of EndGame. Earnestly reflecting on the mantle he’s picked up, Falcon experiences the best action he’s had on-screen in less minutes than all of his feature appearances (not a euphemism). We then join Bucky, working through the traumas of his former brainwashed life, as the show paces through its setup.
The setup is in the establishment of the antagonist group, the trauma of war and…well also, the establishment. The best way I could think of how to fit this all under one big umbrella, was in it feeling similar to WandaVision and its approach to broken people. In that, we saw Wanda trying to come to terms with her grief. With TFATWS, we see 2 people dealing with not only returning from the blip after 5 years, but the effects of war and their attachment to it. How this is going to play out over the next 5 episodes, is sure to make for compelling viewing.
Like I said earlier, the action and how it’s presented is either on-par or surpasses what we’ve seen in the movies. Not only is the aforementioned opening sequence sure to capture viewers, but a few more which appear throughout. This should negate the weariness people had in adopting WandaVision at first, as TFATWS feels like pure MCU.
References galore will appeal to fans, as they pop up from the very first shot. Yes, the very first shot. Well at least it did for me. Peppered throughout the episode, they range from connections to the MCU, or cheeky nods at things which may come in future. Overall, it received a whopping 2 “AHHHH!” and 4 “WOAH” reactions from me.
Henry Jackman also returns from his tenure on the Captain America films. Continuing to produce the sound of the Captain, it is militaristic melody and heavy percussion. It marches with recognizable authority, eloquently underlined by a harmony befitting Cap’s heart.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Episode 1 is a solid start.
It sets motivations in place for our character journeys, while slowly unveiling the cause of their future troubles. While this may end up as a juxtaposition of their own inner-battles versus the world, it’s a tried and true storyline that will surely benefit 2 characters typically experiencing their life behind the scenes.
OH! And Bucky totally goes on a date, and it’s so f*cking cute; I can’t wait for more.
XENOJAY.COM was supplied access to a review screener of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier by Disney+. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier will screen Disney+ on Fridays, from 9PM NZT. Credits are 5 minutes long with no post-credits currently.
