The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 1 review: We need this right now

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 1 review: We need this correct now

(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier arrives right when we demand information technology most, over a year into a pandemic that has crippled the multiplex and left us starved for action movies. The super-corny Wonder Woman 1984 and the wildly confusing Tenet were the closest we got, and neither quite striking the mark. Thankfully, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Shaw) are here to save us — and the world, too.

If The Falcon and The Wintertime Soldier episode 1 is any indicator, the rest of this series will be a hit. And even while information technology may not be as artistic or surprising as the commencement Disney Plus Marvel show, WandaVision, information technology will probable exist as pop if non more. And that makes sense: we've seen more than of Sam and Bucky in the previous MCU films than nosotros'd encountered Wanda and The Vision, and then at that place's more emotion tied to their render.

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Plus: The Snyder Cut proves that DCEU'due south biggest enemy isn't Marvel

And let's get something out of the way: The Snyder Cut is definitely taking upwards a lot of the oxygen in the streaming conversation — just it has zero on Falcon and The Winter Soldier. 1 hour of this serial proves more enjoyable and fulfilling than four hours of the new Justice League edit.

Falcon and Winter Soldier delivers familiar MCU activity

While episode ane begins with a moment of reflection, as Sam considers Cap's shield, information technology's not long before we're back in blockbuster action fashion. Sam's in the skies to rescue a military captain who'southward being pursued by a terrorist group nearly Tunisia.

One hour of this series proves more enjoyable and fulfilling than 4 hours of the new Justice League edit.

Everything goes pear-shaped chop-chop, but Sam'due south quick thinking and faster flying gives him a wing up on the competition. Perchance it'southward been a while since I've seen a new activity movie, only this scene is the kind of thing that will brand you miss the theater-going experience if yous practice non already.

But the center is in the post-Endgame drama

Just once we zoom out, both Falcon and The Winter Soldier are post-obit paths that make sense for both characters: dealing with life afterward Steve Rogers, the man who connected their own lives. Don't expect them to really engage with each other in the first episode, though, equally they're off on their own paths. Sam is non ready to become Helm America 2.0 and trying to make things better for his relatives, while Bucky is trying to come to grips with what he did when he was The Winter Soldier.

Falcon and Winter Soldier works best, so far, when both characters are processing who they are. Bucky has a lot that he'due south dealing with, as his actions as The Winter Soldier are living rent-free in his head — and they're driving him insane. He's trying to make a new life, at the behest of his therapist, only information technology's not going to plan at all. Those therapy sessions, though, are already a highlight of a show filled with memorable moments. I oasis't seen therapy in a ton of Television set shows, but I was getting flashbacks to Dr. Melfi and Tony Soprano'south banter, in a good way.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 1 review: Sam and "his" shield — (Image credit: Disney Plus/Marvel Studios)

Meanwhile, Sam's still active, helping out on missions and spending his complimentary fourth dimension talking to an industrious soldier investigating a new terrorist grouping called the Flag Smashers. Merely that's just a flake of story-edifice for what will likely exist one of the big villains of the flavor. Nosotros spend more time with Sam back domicile in Louisiana with his family unit, where his sister Sarah is notwithstanding trying to keep things together afterward he spent 5 years in the "blip."

Sam is pushing Sarah to endeavour and salve the family gunkhole instead of sell it — fifty-fifty though she needs the coin. That doesn't work out also well when they try and get a loan from a bank, only for the clerk to look down on their bad records and take a selfie with Sam. The scene hits difficult on how order doesn't practice right by veterans returning from state of war, fleshing out the idea that this serial will evidence us what the real life of a superhero is similar.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 1 review: Bucky is processing — (Image credit: Disney Plus/Curiosity Studios)

Throughout the episode, Sam and Bucky get the space to be the eye of attending that they never were in previous Curiosity movies. And as Bucky broods and as Sam fights for what he knows is right, we're reminded about how charismatic both Mackie and Shaw are, and why they both have non-insignificant fandoms online. This show may not appear to exist the surprising mystery-box series that WandaVision was, but information technology's going to be voraciously devoured, and that's but as good.

Why we're hither and what's next

The big underlying story of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, so far at least, is that these heroes (and the world writ large) has a void where it one time had its mightiest heroes. In an early scene where James Rhodes asks about Sam's decision to not be Captain America, neither has to admit that they're both in like territory. Rhodes is currently without Tony Stark, the Captain America to Armed services's Falcon. The difference, though, is that he wasn't given the Fe Man mantle. Sam was.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier episode 1 review: Sam's frustrations — (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

In the concluding moments of the episode, we run into a new graphic symbol that basically sets upwards the large story of the season. We see them for possibly a few frames, and they're gone. I'grand not spoiling it here because that'due south no fun (and because we learn so little nigh the character), but information technology sets up a lot to come up. It's the kind of bewilderment that will send people looking for episode two, only to realize that it'due south not out yet. Different with WandaVision, we accept to wait til next week to see the second episode.

It feels like Falcon and The Winter Soldier will be building us to the side by side stage of the Avengers group. While we've wondered if Helm Marvel will be at the helm of this team, information technology seems similar they're setting Sam Wilson up to be a leader — and agreement that it might accept some time for him to be ready. And if the remainder of the series is as practiced as its showtime episode, I'm sure Sam will exist assembling the Avengers in no time.

Upwardly next: Zack Snyder's Justice League review — super long, super flawed

Henry is a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the by six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'south Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's too covered the wild globe of professional person wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.