TV REVIEW: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier S1E1: “New World Order"

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a show riding on some high expectations, and this is especially true in the wake of WandaVision. While that show was certainly successful, it was also a show that mishandled its expectations and led to mixed reactions at its conclusion. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a more conventional action-adventure show, but it likewise comes with expectations, given the characters involved. The show has a fascinating premise, with Falcon and Bucky Barnes forced to work together in a world with no Captain America. Still, it raises the question of whether the show can fill the giant red buccaneer boots left by Chris Evans as Steve Rogers.

I’m pleased to say that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier thus far fulfills those expectations on every level and then some. The appeal of this show lies in the characters as they move on from the loss of Cap in their own different ways. Sam Wilson, the Falcon, is a good man who is trying to honor the legacy of Steve Rogers as best he can, but ultimately doubts his own ability to do so. Moreover, Sam faces challenges that Cap would have overcome with far less difficulty, while trying to be like the friend he admires. Bucky comes from a far darker place and is trying to honor his friend in a different way, by finding the redemption that Cap risked everything to give him. Moreover, while Cap and Bucky have had similar experiences, Bucky struggles more on a psychological level. In addition to the weight of guilt over his actions as the Winter Soldier, Bucky also struggles to fit in to a world where he doesn’t belong, and he has a much harder time doing so. We also see that he suffers from PTSD, dealing with nightmares and flashbacks because of his trauma and the conditioning HYDRA gave him. Sam and Bucky are different men with different outlooks, but both inspired by the friendship of the same man, and it creates a bond as well as conflict between them.

Though the character development is the focus of the episode, the main action-adventure plot is compelling as well. The opening set-piece with Falcon is an exciting action sequence that makes full use of Falcon as a flying hero in a battle against Batroc. Sam has progressed as a hero since the last time we saw him, with better developed tech, including a version of Redwing. There are moments where his abilities are used well, including using Sam’s wing as a shield, evoking Cap as well as fitting Sam as an idealistic hero. Beyond that, the show makes good use of the Captain America mythos, particularly with the establishment of John Walker, the US Agent, as well as the Flag-Smashers. We don’t see John Walker until the final frames of the episode, but what little we get looks convincing. Walker is immediately unlikable and comes across as smug, ego-driven and an unworthy pretender to Cap’s shield, which is exactly as he should be. The Flag-Smashers are generally in character, though it’s interesting that they don’t focus on a single Flag-Smasher character and using the ULTIMATUM name. Still, these are elements that instantly evoke the great Mark Gruenwald, my favorite Captain America writer, and they are generally faithful to the Gru comics. I look forward to the return of Baron Zemo as the main villain, though we don’t see him in this episode.

The casting throughout is quite solid, especially the two titular leads of the series. Anthony Mackie plays the idealistic Sam Wilson extremely well, having grown considerably since he was Cap’s partner in the Winter Soldier film. In many ways, it’s Mackie as Sam that is the hero of the series, because the mantle was passed to him from Steve Rogers. Since then, Mackie projects the role of Sam Wilson with greater confidence and assurance, to the point where he convincingly occupies the role of Captain America now even without the shield. Sebastian Stan has been excellent as Bucky Barnes ever since The First Avenger, but now we see how truly broken and damaged the character is. Stan has the most to work with in terms of character depth, and his performance makes good use of it. It’s also good to see Don Cheadle as Rhodey again, though he doesn’t get much in the way of screen time. Everyone else is solid in their roles, though Adepero Oduye may be the strongest as Sam’s sister. I’m also curious about Miki Ishikawa as Bucky’s love interest in this episode, as her performance adds to that character, and I’m hopeful for her to return. Danny Ramirez as Agent Torres is a solid supporting character for Sam, though he comes across as more a comic sidekick than a trained military officer. Wyatt Russell doesn’t get any speaking lines in this episode, but he projects Walker’s smug arrogance so well nonverbally that this matters little. All in all, this a good and workable group of characters with strong acting behind it.

As an opening chapter to a long-term storyline, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delivers and then some. Where WandaVision didn’t truly get to the point until the third episode, this show hits its points immediately and with impact. Anthony Mackie as Falcon and Sebastian Stan as Bucky are the focal points of this show, and I look forward to seeing them interact more directly after this episode. I’m also optimistic for the arrival of US Agent, who seems thus far to be Mark Gruenwald’s character as he was intended. As a Mark Gruenwald Cap fan, this episode has been a treat, and I can’t wait for more. Provided that the remaining episodes are as good as this one, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier should offer a fun action series for Marvel fans to enjoy.

Score: 5/5

Network: Disney+

Director: Kari Skogland

Writer: Malcolm Spellman

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Don Cheadle, Adepero Oduye, Amy Aquino, Danny Ramirez, Miki Ishikawa, Ken Takamoto

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Steve Sellers

Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).