Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Episode 1: Review

Season 1 / Episode 1, “Episode 1” / Disney+ A Great Audition Falcon and the Winter Soldier, like any of the Marvel Studios projects, knows exactly what it is and gets to the point quickly. A fast-paced, political thriller with a focus on legacy that also delivers on the ‘je ne sais quois’ that Tom Clancy movie adaptations think they have. Easy for Marvel to pull off given the cultural impact of both characters on the MCU. If Disney+ can’t sell the show with Captain America’s first (only) childhood friend turned Hydra murder bot Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and Captain America’s first (only) adult friend turned Avenger Sam “On Your Left” Wilson (Anthony Mackie), there’s a problem. It Always Ends in a Fight You’ll be glad to know there are no such problems. Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a slick piece that further blurs the line of television-level accessibility and blockbuster film-level budget. In the way that HBO had the budget to pull off some huge sci-fi/fantasy moments in Game of Thrones and Westworld with its worldbuilding, Falcon and the Winter Soldier is looking to hold up the political-action-thriller in the same way. The cameos alone give you the idea that events the size of Civil War could pop off at any moment.

Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) looking badass. (Image courtesy of Marvel Studios)

Origin Stories If WandaVision was the off-kilter, genre-bending, reality-shifting, Doctor Strange-type beat outing, then Falcon and the Winter Soldie…