Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1 recap: Captain America’s legacy hangs over Sam

Get outta right here, WandaVision. You have been executed for greater than two entire weeks, and now there is a new Marvel Cinematic Universe present on the town. The first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier dropped on Disney Plus on Friday to whisk us away on an espionage journey with two of Captain America’s buddies. 

Final time we noticed Sam Wilson, aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie), the wingsuit-wearing Air Drive vet had been chosen to be the subsequent Captain America and given the enduring defend by an aged Steve Rogers. He did not appear too positive about taking over the mantle, although.

On the opposite aspect of the present’s title, we’ve Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), aka the Winter Soldier. Initially Steve’s sidekick throughout World Conflict II, he spent a long time as a brainwashed murderer for sneaky terrorist group Hydra. He is since been deprogrammed and rejoined the heroes, however getting over the sins of his previous is not proving simple.

This present takes place within the wake of Avengers: Endgame, when billions of vanished folks have returned after a five-year absence and the world is all of the sudden feeling fairly crowded. Let’s bounce over the border into SPOILER territory.

Your new Captain America

After telling Sam he made “the suitable resolution” in donating Cap’s defend to the Captain America Exhibit in Washington’s Smithsonian Air and House Museum, the identical authorities official later presents the brand new Captain America to the world. It is clearly a kick within the enamel for Sam, who handed over the defend as a result of he reasoned that nobody ought to step into Steve’s position.

There’s additionally one thing deeply icky about giving the defend to a white man after the Black man chosen for the position gave it up.

The federal government’s new Captain America is John Walker (Wyatt Russell). In a Nineteen Eighties comedian storyline, Walker was chosen for the position within the comics after Steve stepped away as a result of political interference. Sam was thought of for the position there too, however politicians reasoned that individuals weren’t prepared for a Black Captain America — it is attainable they’re pondering equally within the MCU.

Walker has been each adversary and ally to Cap within the comics, going by names just like the relatively intense Tremendous-Patriot and extra reasonable-sounding US Agent. He is all about serving Uncle Sam, although, to the purpose the place he is usually been a puppet for morally questionable politicians.

I kinda want they’d made Ralph Boehner the brand new Cap, simply to mess with us.

The late Steve Rogers?

When Sam donates the defend, he refers to Steve as “gone.” It is unclear if Steve is useless or alive at this level — he would’ve been greater than 100 years outdated when he reappeared on the finish of Endgame. It is attainable that the Tremendous Soldier method gave him an extended lifespan than regular, so he may nonetheless be in fine condition bodily.

Sam’s new buddy, Joaquin Torres, mentions a conspiracy principle about Steve being in a secret base on the moon. Perhaps he is subsequent to Attilan, the ruined Inhuman metropolis from that present all of us wish to overlook?! Please no.

It is doubtless Marvel Studios hasn’t determined if Steve is coming again but, so he is each alive and useless.

Schrödinger’s Cap, if you’ll.

Mirroring Steve

The opening motion sequence within the Tunisian sky feels just like the beginning of 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, from Sam’s assured drop out of the aircraft to the presence of Georges Batroc (Georges St. Pierre). It is clearly designed to inform us Sam is worthy of taking Steve’s place, regardless of his misgivings.

Batroc, the cheeky Charlie, lives to struggle one other day as a result of he jumped from the helicopter simply earlier than it acquired blown up by a missile. Actually lived as much as his comedian e book counterpart’s alter ego — Batroc the Leaper — with that transfer. 

No extra borders

We solely get somewhat bit concerning the present’s villain group, the Flag-Smashers, on this episode. They’re an anarchist group that most well-liked the world because it was in the course of the Blip, with out borders — one can kinda see the place they’re coming from. Pity concerning the violence.

They collect followers on-line, and interact in a V For Vendetta-style “everybody wears the identical masks” misdirection stunt to drag off a heist. And no less than certainly one of them has superhuman energy and reflexes.

In the comics, Flag-Smasher is a person id relatively than a bunch. A number of folks have taken on the position, however their widespread purpose was spreading anti-nationalist sentiment by way of terrorist acts. The unique, Karl Morgenthau, took specific umbrage with Captain America, seeing him as an emblem of American beliefs.

Each Marvel film and TV present popping out in Part 4 (and past)

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Winter Kills

We see Bucky “making amends” for his darkish deeds as Winter Soldier, together with taking down a corrupt senator planted by Hydra. (I may watch a complete sequence about his a long time working for Hydra.)

He tells his therapist he had “somewhat calm in Wakanda” — he was deprogrammed there between Captain America: Civil Conflict and Avengers: Infinity Conflict. He was given the title “White Wolf” there, which is about the identical stage of cool as “Winter Soldier.”

Nevertheless, within the episode’s largest emotional gut-punch, it seems he is befriended the daddy of certainly one of his victims. They’ve a super-fun time hanging out and it even will get Bucky a stunning date, however he is too wracked by guilt to get pleasure from it.

It appeared like that date was going fairly nicely too! I suppose it is date three or 4 earlier than one tells her about one’s previous as a brainwashed homicide soldier.

Observations and WTF questions

• The audio firstly is the ultimate change between outdated Cap and Sam in Avengers: Endgame.
• We’re “a number of months” post-Endgame, in keeping with Sam — it is beforehand been confirmed that it takes place six months after these occasions. That locations this present between WandaVision and Spider-Man: Far From Dwelling.
• Rhodey (Don Cheadle) does not get a lot to do right here other than pushing Sam to take up the defend. He’ll star in upcoming Disney Plus present Armor Wars.
• Within the comics, Joaquin Torres turns into the brand new Falcon whereas Sam is Captain America. 
• Why would you sit subsequent to a corpse? I understand that the useless pilot signifies to the viewers that the aircraft has been taken over by baddies, however Louie the pilot must be actual creeped out.
• Regular wingsuits are cool, however the baddies’ ones on this episode appear a bit unhappy in comparison with Sam’s superior wings.
• The scene within the financial institution is sort of irritating, particularly because the mortgage officer is fairly unprofessional. It is also somewhat bizarre that the financial institution’s insurance policies do not appear to take folks being Blipped under consideration.
• Sam refers to “authorities contracts,” however why does not he point out all that pretty Microsoft cash?!
• The mission firstly of Captain America: The Winter Soldier was revealed to have been arrange by Nick Fury to uncover information about Hydra’s dastardly plans. He is unlikely to be concerned on this one since he is in house, however may there be extra to Sam’s Tunisian operation than meets the attention?

Be a part of us for extra Easter eggs and observations subsequent Friday, when episode 2 of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier hits Disney Plus. 

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