Disney+ - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier : Our review of the first episode

By Mulder, 18 march 2021

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is an American television miniseries created by Malcolm Spellman for the Disney+ streaming service, based on the Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson, Falcon and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier). It takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the franchise's films. The events of the series take place after the film Avengers: Endgame (2019). The series was produced by Marvel Studios, with Spellman as head writer and Kari Skogland as director. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their respective roles as Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in the film series.

The series begins after the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, which shows Steve Rogers bequeathing his shield and the mantle of Captain America to Wilson. Mackie points out that Wilson did not agree to be Captain America in Endgame, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier "walking the line of who is going to take the shield and who is going to be Captain America if Steve doesn't come back." Feige said that while the series is set in the MCU, "it's more reflective of the real world. Considering that it was written.

While the Wandavision pilot surprised us with its originality and the series took its time to establish itself with its many qualities even if it was to stray from the Marvel Studios film model, Falcon and the Winter Soldier impresses us from its introduction reminding us how much we miss the movies and blockbusters. With its inspired direction and a scenario worthy of the great Marvel films, this new series has established itself as an event series right from its first episode.

Yet far from being only a non-stop barrage of spectacular action scenes, this new series, to our great pleasure, takes its time to really build its two main characters Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes. While most of the Marvel Studios movies put the action at the center of the story, this new and excellent series through the first episode that we could discover leaves time to learn more about its two characters including the past of Bucky Barnes. In the same way, the homage to Captain America and the numerous allusions to one of our favorite characters give this series a very special aura.

If you look at this new series, it has everything we really like and expect from a Marvel series. The DNA of a Marvel movie with engaging characters, a storyline that is full of twists and turns and spectacular action scenes. Falcon and the Winter Soldier also brings a nice nostalgic touch and reminds us once again that Marvel Studios has no equal when it comes to giving life to comic book superheroes while giving them a real thickness and not trying to make its films a flood of special effects often failed like the latest DC films (Justice League in particular).

Composed of six episodes, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier extends the Marvel cinematographic universe to our great pleasure and never forgets to entertain us. The care given to the direction as well as to the photography of this film easily exceeds the framework of a simple series. It gives the impression of being in front of a new Marvel Studios movie. While Wandavision wanted to be a tribute to the American TV series, this new series finds from its first episode all the aura of the great Marvel movies and we can't wait from now on to be Friday March 26th to discover the sequel especially since the end of the first episode gives us a great cliffhanger and simply imposes The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as the best series of the moment.

Synopsis:
After receiving the mantle of Captain America at the end of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Sam Wilson teams up with Bucky Barnes in a global adventure that tests their abilities as they battle the anarchist group the Flag-Smashers.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
A series created by Malcolm Spellman
Based on the characters Falcon by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, Bucky Barnes by Joe Simon Jack Kirby, Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting
Directed by Kari Skogland
With Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell
Composer: Henry Jackman
Executive Producers: Kevin Feige, Malcolm Spellman
Cinematrography : P.J. Dillon
Production: Marvel Studios
Distribution: Disney Platform Distribution
Running time: 40-50 minutes

(Source : press release)