The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Episode 1 Review: “New World Order”

Picking up some time after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the brand new original series ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ starts off somber, with Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon (played by Anthony Mackie) remembering the last words Steve Rogers aka the Original Captain America said to him.  Wilson specifically remembers the question Rogers asks: “How’s it feel?” Rogers is referencing Wilson taking the shield, the symbol that represents all Captain america is and how the world as a whole sees him.  Wilson’s response? “Like it belongs to someone else.”

That question remains the overarching theme in Falcon and the Winter SOldier (referred from here on as F&WS).  Both titular characters grapple with the weight of taking up the mantle of a man that defined the modern (and arguably the past) meaning of being an American Hero, while also needing to answer the question if that symbol still holds meaning.  

Also in typical Captain America fashion, the premiere episode gives a grandiose display f action=packed thrill, showing off Falcon as a legitimate Avenger and hero, fighting an old enemy of Cap’s many fans will remember from ‘The Winter Soldier’ film as Batroc, played by world-famous MMA fighter George St-Pierre.  If there were any doubts in Falcon's abilities to hold his own as a leading man in a Marvel outing, this first installment of combat puts all those questions to rest.  The cinematography is a callback to the shaky-cam thrill-ride action the Russo Brothers, the directors of the last two Captain america films and the last two Avengers films, are known for, and it is just as refreshing to watch as the films.

Before moving on the second character of the series, the show points out again the gravitas of the show’s themes in asking the meaning of symbols with an entire display of Wilson giving away the shield to the Smithsonian, with his last remarks while gazing upon the modern relic, “Cap, this belongs to you.”  Haunting words that would go on to define his actions later.  Col. James Rhodes, aka War Machine makes a cameo, having a private talk with Wilson, forcing him to ask what he believes the shield meant, and why he gave it up to begin with.  Wilson’s face betrays his self-doubt, but he dodges the question.  

While Falcon’s introduction takes place over the dusty brown mountains of Tunisia and the border of Libya, with aerial displays and dogfight duels occurring with a backdrop of a cerulean blue sky and bright noon day sun, the second titular character is given a much more muted visual display on introduction.  Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan, awakes from a vivid nightmare of a successful assassination, to a darkened room, illuminated by the dim electronic blue hues of a lane night tv show.  Bucky finds himself waking up on his living room floor.  The scene immediately cuts to a therapy session, no music, only the sound of himself speaking and his therapist, Dr. Felicity Porter played by Amy Aquino.  The camera work really holds the weight here, with a zoomed in, fish eye view of both characters profiles when they speak, going back and forth respectively to the person speaking. The lack of personal space in relation to the viewer forces a closeness, that we’re in each characters head and in particular Bucky’s, not allowing him a safe space or vulnerability to be hidden. This is doubly displayed with his abrasion to the therapy session as a whole to begin with. 

We learn of Bucky’s history after Endgame, and how, with a Presidential pardon, he must abide by three rules to remain a free citizen: No breaking the law, no violence, and make amends to those he hurt. In a recent flashback narrated by Bucky he explains his efforts to make amends. We the viewer see him break every rule while he explains to his therapist he followed them to the letter.

Later on in what appears to be somewhere in New York city, Bucky meets an friend of his, an elderly asian man named Yori, to which they go and grab lunch.  Seeing Bucky, the Winter Soldier, engage in normal living is quite...surprising.  Just as we were given a tour-de-force of power for Falcon, here we’re given something new for Bucky, scenes without chaos.  During the luncheon, Yori forces Bucky on a date with the waitress, and it is revealed during the date that Bucky’s nightmare shows it was Yori’s son that he killed. Not being able to overcome the guilt, Bucky abruptly leaves the date and in a failed attempt to forcefully make amends to Yori, stops short after knocking on his door once he gazes upon a shrine Yori made in honor of his slain son.  Bucky’s face fills with conflict, guilt for what he did, and cowardice to fess up to it. 

Going back to sunshine and style, we see Sam traveling to his homestead in Louisiana, back to his family, an adult sister Sarah Wilson, played by Adepero Oduye, and her two sons, between 8-10 years old.  As if on cue, Sam code-switches his language when speaking to his Black family and friends, a theme which will show up again in this series.  A surprising detail, for a Marvel show, and even more surprising for a Disney one. We find out while Sam is a world hero, he doesn’t get paid like one, and his family’s shrimping business is on its last legs.  Coming up with a last ditch plan, he convinces his sister to go with him to a local bank for a loan.

The show uses the Endgame consequence of half the world being gone for five years as a major story obstacle several times, and one of them occurs when the Wilson siblings ask for a loan.  Due to no record of business occurring for five years, the bank refuses to provide a loan, even when Sam uses his Falcon privilege as a leverage. In another surprising bout, the question of ‘privilege’ is put on display when the question is hinted that the two siblings, being both Black, are not given a chance because of their race. The themes of race have a recurring place in the series, one that I am glad to see be added due to its necessity in American culture.  

In the last quarter of the show we’re introduced to the series Big Bad, a  pseudo-terrorist group known as the Flag Smashers.  Not much known is of them other than their insignia, a hand whose palm is the globe, all painted in red.  A cohort of Falcons, 1st Lt. Torres, played by Danny Ramirez, finds one of their meeting points and decides to do some reconnaissance for intel.  During the meetup it is revealed one of the group is super-enhanced, and nearly kills Torres, knocking him out cold instead.  

The show ends with an even bigger reveal, that instead of retiring the Shield of Cap, the DoD has instead made a new Captain America, albeit non-enhanced.  Sam and Bucky both watch from their respective places in the world on tv, as the crowd cheers and the new Cap smiles triumphant among great aplomb and fanfare. 

Overall the show was great, with a more mature setting and more mature themes, which honestly the Captain america mythos always dealt with.  The use of color theory for each character’s perspective spheres of life was a great addition to their personalities and being a visual way to display their individual dichotomies in relation to each other: Sam is given very bright orange and sunny vistas, while Bucky is shown in very blue tight and confined spaces.  Each is searching for meaning and connection to family overall, and the series shows them trying to attain that in a world that is reeling from tragedy and may also be moving on without them. 

Rating: 9/10.