At the time of this post, we’re one-third of the way through The Falcon And The Winter Soldier six-part mini-series. And so far, it’s met my expectations.
Disney+: Round 2
Coming after the highly-entertaining, but extremely weird WandaVision series, the more grounded world of Captain America and his rouge gallery of friends and foes is more up my alley.
“They’re not just sidekicks”
The series deftly draws into the respective psyches and backstories of its titular characters. And it does it well.
The Falcon story arc centers around two primary themes: 1) his reluctance to take up the mantle of Steve Rogers/Captain America —“heavy lies the crown” and all that stuff, and 2) the added layer of being a Black man in America—and the implications that this has on the first theme as well as his life as a civilian and family man in America.
Weighty themes, no doubt, but on brand with what Marvel Comics has done for decades in print as well as on the big screen.
When it comes to Bucky, he’s dealing with his own can of worms. He’s battling PTSD, trying to purge his mind of the horrors of his murderous Winter Soldier past. It’s so bad that he’s seeing a shrink! And to top it off, he’s trying to adjust to life as a non-superhero like Sam. He even went on a date in the first episode!!
What’s to Come?
Despite all of the trials and tribulations that both men are going through, the biggest battles they’ll face are against each other (i.e. Bucky is upset that Sam didn’t take up the shield) as well as against the “new” Captain America and his sophomoric sidekick Battlestar. And, oh yeah, a shadowy group known as the Flag-Smashers plus a familiar foe appear poised to be formidable foes for the duo.
I can’t wait for Episode 3 this Friday!
