With upcoming Marvel media such as “Black Widow” and “Eternals”, I wanted to look back on the widely successful “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”. This entry in the MCU delved into interesting topics, such as systemic racism and PTSD, and was one of the best shows of the year. 

The Story

What worked

Overall, most of the writing and storytelling was spot on. We follow Sam and Bucky as they take on the Flag Smashers, a group of revolutionaries with the goal of restoring the order before “The Blip”. Sam and Bucky were great in every episode. Supporting characters like John Walker and Baron Zemo stole every scene they were in as well. And the character of Isaiah Bradley is so perfectly tragic, and speaks a great deal to the issue of systemic racism. 

This show deals a lot with the topic of race. Sam has this struggle of wanting to be Captain America, but knowing those stars and stripes represent pain and oppression for the black community. Bucky also embodies PTSD and anxiety caused from years of brutal service. Both of these characters are developed incredibly well. Seeing the MCU use their platform and popularity to address these issues is very important as well. 

What did not 

The main villain, Karli Morgenthau, has character motivations that make no sense. She fights against oppression, yet kills innocent people. Her character background is vague and spotty at best. Credit to Erin Kellyman, as she is doing the most in the role. But inconsistent storytelling cannot be tossed to the side. The character of Sharon Carter is an example of when writers have no clue what to do with a character they have put in the show. She starts as an ally, then is revealed to be an antihero, and finally, spoiler alert, she’s a villain. Why is this confusing? Maybe because she spends the show helping the people she is also trying to kill. That makes zero sense. Overall, these underdeveloped characters did not ruin the show, but they do distract. 

The Acting

The strength of this show lies in the acting. Sebastian Stan acts his butt off in flashback scenes, and plays off Anthony Mackie very well. Daniel Bruhl returning as Zemo was a welcomed surprise, as he is perfect as the smart villain. Wyatt Russell used to play hockey, and is now following in the footsteps of his father, Kurt Russell, and his acting is insane as John Walker. Two performances stand out though. Carl Lumbly had less than 15 minutes on screen as Isaiah Bradley, and he is heartbreakingly superb in the role. He and Mackie have this scene between each other that I think is one of the best the show has to offer. Speaking of Mackie, Anthony carries this show on his back. We watch as he takes on the mantle of Captain America, and Anthony Mackie nails it every step of the way. Miscellaneous things

The action in this show is consistently good. Fighting choreography is very entertaining, and the show has a “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” feel. There are also some incredible camera shots in this show. The image of John Walker holding the bloodied shield is impactful, and Sam Wilson landing with Karli in his arms is jaw dropping. There also needs to be a shout out to the after credits, because the graphics involved are unnecessarily really good. 

Verdict 

Although the show has its share of problems, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is an entertaining watch, with its good storytelling, phenomenal acting, and great action. Make sure to watch in order to prepare for upcoming Marvel content.