Starring Anthony Mackie as Falcon and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a 2021 Disney+ Original Series focusing on the dynamic duo. The series also stars Daniel Brühl continuing his role as the antihero Zemo.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

We’ve been itching for a new Marvel movie ever since the satisfying yet extremely sad conclusion of Avengers: Endgame. Well the wait is over, and how glorious the new series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is proving to be. Now this is a Marvel series so it is extremely well done, and for that reason we won’t waste any time on the technical side of things. Oh, and the first thing that came to mind when I started the first episode, the farewell voice of Captain America still gives me chills.

The series starts with The Falcon (Sam Wilson) resuming his duties as resident superhero/government contractor out to protect the great U.S.A. from all threats, foreign and domestic. Similar to the events that took place in Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame, a very gray area continues to exist as far as what is considered acceptable behavior from members of The Avengers. Or, they just do what they can to keep it off the books. We are given a look at Sam’s backstory, which is new ground for most Marvel fans. We get to see more of the regular guy side of him, the man who wants nothing more than to preserve his families legacy, against all odds. Sam was gone for the long 5 years during the “blipp”, so he has his own issues to deal with because of that. One thing about Sam Wilson that will never change is his undying allegiance to his great friend, Captain America.

Bucky Barnes, formerly known as The Winter Soldier, is battling demons of his own. He is now forced to attend therapy as a condition of the “Peace Treaty” and as you can imagine, that is not going too well. Barnes has more demons than most considering the fact that he was once very much on the wrong side of the law, albeit against his own free will, but now in order to find peace he needs to make amends. But for a guy like him, this is easier said than done. Barnes has always been one of the more complex and controversial members of The Avengers, so I am loving the opportunity to experience his growth and re-entry into society. Plus, who knew he had a softer side?!

The Verdict

Picking up after the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier takes an intimate look at the lives of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, and the new series is exactly what Marvel fans have been waiting for. The premiere episode feels like a 50-minute movie building on captivating backstory, and leaves us with one heck of a cliffhanger, so stay tuned for our thoughts on next weeks episode dropping on Friday, March 26th, only on Disney+.