Directed by: Kari Skogland
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, Daniel Brühl, Danny Ramirez, Erin Kellyman
Release date: 19th March 2021
No of Episodes: 6
Available on: Disney+
Marvel Studios’ newest series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier follows the two much-loved characters in dealing with the fallout of Avengers: Endgame. Bucky and Sam are an unlikely duo already known to dislike each other, who were brought together towards the end of phase three in Endgame. Now they team up over six episodes to take on a global adventure seemingly built to test their ability and their patience!
"I'm not Tony Stark; I'm not Dr. Banner, okay? I don't have the flashiest gadgets; I don't have super strength. But what I do have is guts."
Episodes of Marvel Studios' The Falcon and The Winter Soldier began streaming weekly on March 19th on Disney+ and if you haven't caught up yet this is your warning to stop reading!
Episode two of Marvel Studios' newest miniseries aired on March 26th, and really brought the action some fans felt was missing from last week's episode. The episode is titled The Star-Spangled Man and leads on from the last scene of the show’s premiere episode. We see the new Captain America (Wyatt Russell) and are given some background on his character John Walker through an interview at his old school. The action is soon brought in again however, as we’re given a reunion of our two favourite characters Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan). Bucky approaches Sam as he’s about to leave on a mission and the two discuss their disapproval of Steve’s replacement, leading to some witty humour and a battle of two strong wills over the course of the action sequence.
(L-R): Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Marvel Studios' THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Sam and Bucky stick together and seemingly bond over their mutual dislike of John Walker. The episode follows the pair as they argue, start to form a loose plan, argue again and then ditch the plan when Bucky is arrested for missing his court-mandated therapy. Leading to a couple’s therapy session, the two Avengers are forced to participate in exercises meant to bridge their differences which lead to Bucky admitting why Sam giving up the shield bothered him so much. The confession reminds the audience that despite the humour and comedy of the episode, there’s still a lot going on that needs to be dealt with.
The Star-Spangled Man also gave us more of an introduction to the Flag Smashers, the criminal organisation who survived the Blip and got a glimpse of what life could be. Led by Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman), the group’s agenda is revealed to an extent. Her character is given a strong introduction, I think beating a known super-soldier and ex-assassin in hand-to-hand combat can be considered an incredible opening to a character. It’s also an easy way for the audience to recognise the group instantly as super-soldiers, nobody else could take on Bucky and Sam without gadgets and hold their own let alone win. With the idea of the serum being recreated somewhere now in everyone’s heads, we can start to understand the plot for the series a bit more. Let the Twitter predictions begin!
Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Marvel Studios' THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
One character we’re still missing however, is Daniel Brühl’s Zemo. Last seen trying to destroy an empire in Captain America: Civil War, Zemo brings back the threat of the hated red notebook with those dreaded eleven words used to turn Bucky into the Winter Soldier. When he’s referenced at the end of this episode however, Bucky starts to piece together that all of this, the Flag Smashers and the production of the super-soldier serum, could be down to Hydra once again. We see a shot of Zemo in cell 2187, the same cell number Princess Leia was held in in Star Wars, and it’s suggested that Zemo may not necessarily be one of the bad guys in the show. The possibility of a team up with Sam and Bucky is presented and with Zemo’s intel on Hydra and the skill and force of the Falcon and The Winter Soldier, they could make a great team!
Being the introductory episode, nothing really kicked off in last week’s episode as we were introduced to several new characters and only given an idea of who the two Avengers would be going up against. This episode however, brought all the excitement and more and has definitely left many fans frustrated at having to wait another week to find out what happens next! If you haven't already, check out New World Order and The Star-Spangled Man now available to stream on Disney+ and if you're new to the MCU, make sure to take a look at the stories behind the two main characters first!
"Maybe he was wrong about you. And if he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about me."
Words by Chloe Pollard.
Photos: Disney+.
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