THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Season 1 Review; "A Hard-Hitting And Action-Packed New Chapter In The MCU"

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Season 1 Review; "A Hard-Hitting And Action-Packed New Chapter In The MCU"

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's first season concluded on Disney+ yesterday, and after reviewing the series on a weekly basis, we're now sharing our verdict on all six instalments as a whole...

Review Opinion
By JoshWilding - Apr 24, 2021 10:04 AM EST

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was supposed to be the first Marvel Studios Television project to hit Disney+, but the pandemic meant we got WandaVision first. That hasn't really affected how we viewed this series, but the Scarlet Witch's story definitely never varied as much in terms of quality on a week-by-week basis (a sign perhaps that Jac Schaeffer was a stronger showrunner than Malcolm Spellman). As a result, it's fair to say that this team-up has been an inconsistent experience, even though every episode has been either great or very good. However, while The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is by no means perfect, it does achieve what it set out to do by finally bringing some hard-hitting real-life themes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and effectively exploring what it means to be a Black Captain America in today's world. 

"New World Order" kicked off with a superb extended action sequence that immediately made it clear Marvel Studios is looking to make as significant an impact on the small screen as the big one, while its exploration of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes' lives away from The Avengers helped add some much-needed depth to them both. The ideas in this premiere would have been glossed over had we jumped straight into a Captain America 4 with the two heroes, and a compelling cliffhanger got us hooked right from the start. "The Star-Spangled Man," meanwhile, might have been The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's best episode. It was a major departure from Spellman's sombre opener, but Michael Kastelein brought some big laughs, and the sort of interactions between Sam and Bucky we wish this series had delivered more. John Walker immediately intrigued us, and the Flag Smashers impressed in terms of being a formidable threat to Sam and Bucky (that's about as good as things got for them). 

Derek Kolstad wrote the middle two chapters of the six-part series, and while "Power Broker" glossed over Madripoor far too quickly, it more than made up for that with an awesome new take on Baron Zemo. Yes, the retcons were a tad on the nose, and we're still not sure what the mask achieved beyond simple fan service, but this fresh interpretation of the villain has helped cement his place in the MCU as a possible anti-hero. As for "The Whole World Is Watching," the spotlight was put firmly back on the new Captain America for an action-packed effort that saw the Dora Milaje shine, while delivering a final scene that, quite honestly, we'll never be able to shake. However, while all that worked, the problem with Karli Morgenthau and the Flag Smashers persisted, and the villainous group were as directionless here as they were in the premiere. Sam's conversation with Karli was great (anytime those two were on screen together was a plus), but there was nothing here or in the penultimate instalment that really redeemed them or helped elevate the villains beyond being the MCU's most underwhelming antagonists. 
 


Dalan Musson delivered a solid penultimate episode that, while filler in some respects, expertly handled some key moments, including Walker's breakdown, Sam's decision about his future, and a major addition to this shared world in the form of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Crucially, "Truth" helped cement the friendship between its two leads, and if you weren't on board with them as "co-workers" by this point, you probably never will be. The finale, which has proved to be surprisingly divisive, delivered a satisfying and impactful ending to the series despite wrapping up the story arcs of some characters far too quickly. The Power Broker reveal landed with a thud, and Bucky making amends off screen...well, he deserved more than that, especially as we'd all become so invested in seeing the former assassin move on from his dark past as the Winter Soldier. On the plus side, Malcolm Spellman and Josef Sawyer's "One World, One People" went some way in making the Flag Smashers feel like a credible threat, and did a good job of putting Walker in a position where we know he's a hero, but like The Punisher, one who might not protect the world (or America in this case) the right way. Most importantly, the finale of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier made it clear that #SamWilsonIsCaptainAmerica with some fantastic dialogue, big budget blockbuster visuals, and a touching ending. 

So, different writers meant the series was a mixed bag at times, but it was definitely a smart decision to have director Kari Skogland calling the shots behind the camera from start to finish. The filmmaker proved herself a dab hand at action and those important character moments, and we'd be 100% on board with her taking the helm of Captain America 4

Another consistent throughout The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was the performances. Anthony Mackie has always been a fun addition to the Marvel Studios movies, but here, he proved himself every bit the leading man. Through his incredible work, the actor created a role model that people of colour could relate to. Beyond that, he was also someone who could educate everyone else on what it meant to be in his shoes and asked to wear the colours of a country that doesn't exactly have a good track record with how people who look like him are treated. Sebastian Stan matched him from start to finish, and the sheer level of emotion he put into his performance led to some heart-wrenching, beautiful moments that gave Bucky the depth he was often sorely lacking in previous appearances. Daniel Brühl was clearly having a blast as Baron Zemo, and while he was far from one-dimensional in Captain America: Civil War, he added more new layers to this "villain" and made him a character we cannot wait to see more of. Emily VanCamp was fine as Sharon Carter, but wasn't exactly working with the strongest material, and that Power Broker twist...well, short of the reveal that she's a Skrull down the line, it didn't really work. 
 

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Talking of things that didn't work, the Flag-Smashers are right at the top of the list as we've already mentioned a few times here. Erin Kellyman did her best with the material she was given (her chemistry with Mackie was off the charts), but this certainly wasn't the sort of performance guaranteed to make her a star. Wyatt Russell, on the other hand, has put himself on the map because his take on the new Captain America was simply phenomenal. As a man clearly suffering from PTSD and other mental health conditions his superiors had failed to recognise after a traumatising tour of duty in the Middle East, the pressure of wielding the shield broke him, and the super soldier serum only served to enhance that. There were lots of layers to the actor's performance and some subtleties that made it clear he's a very special talent. For proof of that, look at the way he twitches when he suits up as U.S. Agent. It's a tiny moment in the finale, but one that makes it clear he's still struggling and is likely to continue doing so for a long time to come. 

After six episodes, we can't describe The Falcon and The Winter Soldier as another Marvel Studios masterpiece, but have no issue with singling this out as still being something very special from Kevin Feige and company. By putting those real-life themes front and centre (Isaiah Bradley's arc was terrific as was Carl Lumbly's performance), it feels like the MCU is taking diversity seriously, and not just putting people of colour in lead roles because that's what is expected. Now, Sam Wilson's becoming Captain America feels right, as does his decision to initially not want to wield that shield. The series serves as a bold step forward for this shared world, and the timely and relevant ideas that are put to the forefront here will resonate with us for a long time to come, even if certain other aspects of the show don't.

Inconsistent storytelling and weak lead villains aside, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a hard-hitting and action-packed new chapter in the MCU mythos which delivers an insightful and impactful exploration of what it means for a Black man to be Captain America. 

IF




Check out our reviews of each episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier below:

New World Order
The Star-Spangled Man
Power Broker
The Whole World Is Watching
Truth
One World, One People

Anthony Mackie Explains Why Starring In THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDER Was A Daunting Prospect
Related:

Anthony Mackie Explains Why Starring In THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDER Was A "Daunting" Prospect

THE FALCON & THE WINTER SOLDIER Deleted Scene Foreshadows Big SECRET INVASION Twist
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THE FALCON & THE WINTER SOLDIER Deleted Scene Foreshadows Big SECRET INVASION Twist

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CaptaCornflakes
CaptaCornflakes - 4/24/2021, 10:55 AM
HAHAHAHA SHITTY SERIES





Will44482
Will44482 - 4/24/2021, 12:44 PM
@Noncomforming - US Agent was the only good part of the show, if anything I like Bucky and Sam less after watching that
OmegaEffect
OmegaEffect - 4/24/2021, 2:25 PM
@Will44482 - only disagreement I have is that US Agent got beat-up by an amateur teen-age girl lol. I have no reason now to think he's a threat. A
Kman
Kman - 4/24/2021, 10:56 AM
Sam as Cap is def earned and awesome but I was hoping for something a little bigger out of the finale. The John Walker/US Agent sub plot was the best part of this series for me.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 4/24/2021, 10:57 AM
I liked the show, but it really pissed me off that they advertised Zemo with his mask and made it seem like we would be getting the villainous, masked Zemo in this series. They did that ever since the reveal at comic con a couple years ago. They talked about it leading up to the show. They even have it during the end credits of every episode.

Yet what we got was Zemo with the mask for 10 seconds while he beat up a couple thugs. That was a let down.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 4/24/2021, 11:00 AM
Good not great show. Lots of great parts that kind of all were fighting each other for attention. Good arc for Sam and Bucky and great action. New Cap origin was satisfying. Zemo was awesome and Walker solid. Flagsmashers sucked and they kind of dragged the entire series down as a result of being the main villains and not offering much tension or narrative direction.

7/10 or 3.5/5 stars
Jordanstine
Jordanstine - 4/24/2021, 11:04 AM
The BAD:

Winter Soldier was nerfed so bad to the point he, who is a trained assassin, had a hard time going hand-to-hand with the Flagsmashers who were basically just civilian thugs before the serum. Even John Walker, a trained army vet, had trouble against these vanilla villains were head scratchers. They didn’t do Bucky justice.

Flagsmashers were Agents of Shield type villains, they honestly were the weak part of the series. Every time they would say their catch phrase “one world one people” it was cringe, almost as if they were trying to recreate “hail hydra” to no effect. Karli I couldn’t get into her believability either, I don’t know if it was her voice or acting but I wished Bartoc had been the main bad instead.

Also the editing and cut of the finale was borderline bad with really questionable camera shots. A regular Agents of Shield episode had better cuts than this finale to be honest. The first episode was the best part and felt like a movie, while the finale was like another AoS episode.

I hope season 2 gives us better show runners and give us a more asskicking Bucky in his full potential. Speaking of next season, I would love to see the Russo’s direct at least one episode too.



The GOOD:

Sam’s and Bucky’s relationship was the highlight of the whole series. They are my favorite duo in any superhero setting.

Sam’s Cap suit, aside from the wired shoulder pads, looked nice! I also love how he incorporates the Shield with his Wings when he fights! More if this please!

Finally...

ZEMO! Wow, I had no idea how much I loved Zemo! He makes them the 3 Amigos! More of him in the next season please!


MrDandy
MrDandy - 4/24/2021, 11:09 AM
@Jordanstine - agree with most your points but the finale in terms of action was far above anything Agents of Shield could ever afford (and I really liked that show).

I found more some of the middle episodes closer to Shield quality in effects and action
SpideyPuffsMJ
SpideyPuffsMJ - 4/24/2021, 11:06 AM
Disagree. Endings matter, almost everyone but Sam had a half baked or rushed introduction, arc and ending. Wandavision had much better writing in terms of planning out and pacing a season. Flag Smashers didn’t earn any sympathy and the show needed way more breathing room. Sharon, Zemo and Walker get the short end of the stick in the last few episodes.
LukeCage2155
LukeCage2155 - 4/24/2021, 11:07 AM
Awesome show 9.5/10.
Jayman627
Jayman627 - 4/24/2021, 11:10 AM
I enjoyed the show, many of the episodes seemed kinda rushed to me, especially the early episodes and the last, episode four is without a doubt my favourite! Had some flaws but everything does, I still think I liked Wandavision more, the overall show just worked with the change to television and embraced it, this felt like a movie that somebody kept shutting off midway and telling me "We'll watch the rest next week" also I thought the mystery for Wandavision and it's unique story made me excited each week, where I was looking forward to this, but It wasn't the thing that was getting me thought the week. Still liked it overall, and I'm excited to see more of these characters! :)
MrDandy
MrDandy - 4/24/2021, 11:11 AM
Liked this show but the more I think about it, the more I realize WandaVision was a considerably better product in terms of writing, pacing, characterization, intrigue, exc....literally in everything except action.
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