THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
The MCU came back in a big way with its first series Wandavision, dawning a new form of storytelling for the franchise itself. With that being said, investment arose for the following series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Lucky for us, it lived up to the hype.
PLOT
The series’ pilot ‘New World Order’ takes place six months after the Blip has been undone and half of all life in the universe has returned from universe. James ‘Bucky’ Barnes has been pardoned for contributing in the fight against Thanos, but attends government mandated therapy where he expresses his intent to make amends for his past as the brainwashed Winter Soldier. He currently befriends an elderly Yori Nakajima (Ken Takemoto), whose son he killed long ago. As for Sam Wilson, he continues his work as an avenger, aiding the government against George Batroc and his terrorist group LAF. On a personal note, he is trying to provide for the family fishing business owned by his sister Sarah (Adepero Oduye) in Delacroix, Louisiana. Things only worsen for him when discovering that the government has appointed a new Captain America after recently donating Steve Rogers’s shield in his own personal museum.
‘The Star Spangled Man’ reveals the new captain to be a decorated soldier named John Walker who desires to live up to the mantle he’s been training to succeed. When Buck meets up with Sam to express his disappointment for surrendering the shield in the first place, he joins him to pursue a whole other terrorist group called the ‘Flag Smashers’. Thanks to a tip given by Wilson’s newest partner, Air Force first lieutenant Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), they find them in Munich. When they find the group and their leader Karli Morgenthau, they get overwhelmed when discovering their strength to originate from a new super Solider serum, and an interference from Walker & his partner Lamar Hoskins aka Battlestar (Clé Bennett) doesn’t make it better. Upon returning to the states, Bucky takes Sam to Isaiah Bradley, the only African American to have been exposed to the super soldier serum as well, but expresses his anger when he was imprisoned and experimented on when giving his contribution as a hero. Just when Wilson expresses his confusion how he was never told about Bradley before, Bucky would get arrested for missing his mandated therapy session. After Walker helps him get released, Barnes’ therapist Christina Raynor instructs him and Wilson to have a session together. Buck asks again why did Sam surrender the shield, which he simply claims that it was the right thing to do. This bothers the White Wolf because he remembers that Rogers passed it on to him knowing he deserves to represent America. Knowing that Sam gave it up makes him feel like he was wrong about him and if that’s true, maybe he would also be wrong about him deserving redemption. Feeling that the hostility won’t end between each other, Wilson ends the session by promising to cut ties with Barnes after they stop the Flag Smashers. Not wanting to have Walker involved, they reach out to someone who has knowledge of the super soldier serum, Helmut Zemo, the man who personally caused the Avengers to fight each other as an act of revenge for his family, who were unintentionally killed during the fight against Ultron.
‘Power Broker’ shows both protagonists decide to break Zemo out of prison to help him find who has made the newest super soldier serum. Wilson goes along with having Zemo around as long as he under his and Buck's constant supervision. In Madripoor, the heroic duo and their unlikely assist reach out to a high ranking criminal named Selby (Imelda Corcoran) reveals that a scientist named Wilfred Nagel (Olli Haaskivi) was hired by the Power Broker, an unseen figure in the criminal underworld. Just before his location can be given for a fee, Wilson blows their cover when he gets a call from his sister. Thankfully, they get unexpected aid from Sharon Carter, who's been living off the grid during the Blip era due to stealing Steve's shield from the government, assisting him in the fallout between the Avengers at the time. Wilson offers her a pardon in exchange of tracking Nagel down, which she agrees to the deal and takes the male trio to his laboratory, secretly hidden in shipping containers. Upon meeting them, the scientist is able to explain he was recruited by HYDRA to recreate the serum during the Winter Soldier program and was brought into the CIA after HYDRA's collapse. And when he re-emerged from the Blip, he took his work to the Power Broker. He also reveals to have made 20 vials which were stolen by Morgenthau. Just upon this revelation, everyone gets cornered by bounty hunters. In the process, the bounty hunters destroy the laboratory with an RPG. However, Zemo evens the odds for the protagonists by wielding a gun to shoot them down. He also shoots Nagel before leaving with a getaway vehicle. Barnes & Wilson follow him whereas Carter stays behind due to her fugitive state. In Lithuania, Morgenthau and her Flag Smashers raids a GRC (Global Repatriation Council) facility, to provide supplies for children that were displaced like them due to the Blip. However, the rebellious leader takes a step too far by setting the facility on fire with civilians inside. Zemo directs Barnes & Wilson to Riga, expecting the Flag Smashers to be there. When alone, the White Wolf meets up with Wakanda's Dora Milaje Ayo.
'The Whole World is Watching' reveals that Ayo helped Barnes be free of HYDRA's mental programming that made him become the Winter Soldier. The story's present shows her demand Zemo as he is still responsible for the death of King T'Chaka. Bucky is hesitant because he still needs him to find the Flag Smashers. Despite understanding the greater good, she only gives him eight hours before taking him by force. When returning to Sam, he quickly tells him of Ayo's involvement, as well as Karli's recent attack. Zemo believes she won't be able to talk to as she thinking like a supremacist, but the Falcon still feels sure to try after the recent passing of her mother. Zemo is able to get information on Karli's whereabouts from Flag Smashers sympathizers at a GRC camp, but withholds information from the titular duo, knowing they'll turn on him once they get what they want. When Sam reaches out to Sharon, she warns him that the Power Broker is in a frenzy due to Nagel's death. As Karli retrieves Super Soldier vials from a graveyard, Walker and Hoskins track down Barnes & Wilson due to being alerted of Zemo's breakout. He demands to take Karli into his custody, but the Falcon convinces him to let him to talk to her, aware her mourning period will make her vulnerable enough to be spoken to. He is able to do so after her mother's memorial, admitting he relates to him suffering from injustices but doesn't condone her actions. Just when he is at the brink of winning her over, Walker interferes and the leading Flag Smasher chooses to retreat. When Zemo spots her, he shoots at her, causing her to drop the vials. This gives him the chance to destroy all he sees. Walker however steals one for himself from fellow retreating Flag Smasher Nico (Noah Mills). On her own, Karli would get a threatening text from the Power Broker, threatening to kill her if not producing more of the serum. As the protagonists regroup, Ayo arrives with fellow Dora, demanding Zemo to her custody. Since neither Wilson nor Walker's group are willing to do so, it leads to a fight between all three parties, allowing the criminal to escape. As Walker discusses with Lamar the power of the serum, Karli threatens Sam's sister Sarah via phonecall if the Falcon doesn't meet her again alone. Just when he confronts her of her recent actions, Walker interferes again and despite using the serum for the sake of a fighting advantage, Karli kills Lamar amongst the conflict and retreats again. Walker would retaliate in shocking fashion by killing Nico by pummeling him with the shield, in front of onlookers.
'Truth' would show the titular duo restrain Walker and take the shield from him, only after a lengthy fight. Although Sam's Falcon suit gets damaged, he and Barnes are able to stop him by breaking his arm. When returning to the states, Walker would face the consequences of his actions by being given an OTH-discharge, which revokes all military privileges in retirement. Just before he can cope with the discharge, he meets a woman named Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who supports his actions and offers him to work for her. Buck is able to find Zemo in Sokovia and considers killing him, but instead surrenders him to Ayo who plans to send him to The Raft. After Wilson gives his damaged suit to Torres, he goes to visit Bradley on his own who he offers the shield to. The veteran refuses, but invites him to his home to explain more of his past as a super soldier. At the time, he was one of many volunteers who took different versions of the serum. Many would still be sent out on missions, despite the serums being unstable back then. When Bradley liberated his comrades due to overheating an officer's intent to destroy the POW camp, which would destroy evidence of its existence, it led to his capture and was experimented on for 30 years. His imprisonment disonnected him from his wife, unable to reach out to her before she died. He was unable to escape until a nurse helped him do so, falsely declaring him dead. This story surprises Sam to the point he suggests sharing it to the world, but Isaiah is against it, believing it won't help him. That alone has him also believe no African American will ever take the mantle of Captain America. After this conversation, Sam chooses to go home and reunite with his family. When he does, Bucky visits him and apologizes for pressuring him to live up to difficult standards. The former returns the favor by encouraging him to build closure for his past. Before leaving, Buck would give him a briefcase from Wakanda, containing a suit designed for him. After the amends are made between both leads, Sam gets a tip from Torres that the Flag Smashers are planning to attack a GRC meeting in New York City that would enable the controversial Patch Act, in which would force millions of relocations back to their home states.
The series finale 'One World, One People' would follow Sam Dawn the Wakandans' personalized suit that has the same exo wings from his previous Falcon suit, but is covered in the colors of red, white & blue, symbolizing acceptance of the Captain America mantle. He heads to New York in time to protect the GRc from an array of Flag Smasher reinforcements from Europe, including LAF's Batroc who was sent by Power Broker to assist Karli. The White Wolf joins in on the rescue, as well as Sharon and Walker. Captain America fights off Batroc long enough to let the hostages leave the building. As Bucky reaches the building, Karli tries to sway him into joining her which he also refuses. The hostages try to retreat in an armored truck, only to walk into another Flag Smasher trap. Cap and the White Wolf pursue the convoy of trucks, as well as a helicopter flown by fellow Flag Smasher Diego (Tyler Dean Flores). Wilson is able to subdue him, allowing a GRC hostage take control of the aircraft and land safely. This triggers Karli to order her comrades to kill the remaining hostages in the truck. With Walker's help (who uses a custom shield), Buck is able to save the trucks. Just when Cal regroups with him, Batroc throws smoke bombs to assure the escape of the remaining Flag Smashers. Just as that happens, Karli encounters Sharon, revealing herself to be the Power Broker all along. Just when Batroc deduces this, he blackmails her for increased pay, which only results in him killing her, but she would be shot by him in return. When Cap finds them (still unaware of the Power Broker's identity), Karli would still want to fight him but is stopped when Sharon shoots her too. As she dies, he brings her corpse outside to a medical team and convinces the GRC to reconsider with the Patch Act, in order to prevent another terrorist group like the Flag Smashers to emerge. As this happens, the remaining FS are taken into custody, but are killed Oeznik, a butler that works for Zemo. After this incident, Valentina quips Walker with a new suit and gives him the codename 'US Agent'. Bucky would also take Sam's advice by confessing to Yori he murdered his son, while also giving his personal list to Christina after his mandated therapy is concluded. Before joining him in Delacroix, Sam adds a memorial in the Captain America museum exhibit dedicated to Bradley. The series would end in a shocking mid credit scene where Sharon is pardoned as promised and rejoins the CIA, but chooses to continue acting as the Power Broker intending to sell government secrets & resources with her regained access.
THOUGHTS
Due to enjoying Wandavision from the very first second of its pilot, I knew everything was gonna change for the better for how different storytelling would be with the MCU. While I was impressed with the preceding series’ creativity, I knew what was missing was telling it in a straightforward manner. Director Kari Skogland and executive producers Nate Moore & Malcolm Spellman are able to give another entertaining adventure that is investing from beginning to end. Each fight scene from each episode is intriguing thanks to great editing by the editing team of Jeffrey Ford, Rosanne Tan, Kelley Dixon and Todd Desrosiers. The visual effects also remain exciting whenever Sam takes it to the sky. I was hooked the whole time because this series as a whole contains the same political vibe as shown in The Winter Soldier and Civil War. It explores the theme of identity: How you want to be reflected by the end of the day and wanting to be proud of who you are, including what you choose to represent. This message is incredibly explored thanks to another bucket of fascinating characters. We always knew Steve Rogers’ legacy would live on through the friends that respected him deeply, and it was great to see them reach his potential. Anthony Mackie & Sebastian Stan flex incredible chemistry together, picking up where they left off in Civil War as the series’ titular duo. Both leads keep us invested for confronting their own paths of identity. As for Stan, he assures that Bucky is someone who wants to be at peace with his past but finds purpose with a second chance. What he didn't realize until the end was that he regained control to do right again and no one was gonna stop him. He proves his sense of control when choosing to spare Zemo rather than finishing him. He was hesitant to find closure when meeting Yori because he didn’t want to cause any kind of pain again. Little did he know pain is part of recovery. He gave Sam a hard time with surrendering the shield because that was the one thing he had left from the past and felt like he threw it away. Once he understood the pressure Sam was feeling, he did right by apologizing for his approach. As for Mackie, he delivers in making Wilson go through an incredible transformation as a superhero. He felt intimidated to be Captain America because he knew there would be people against it and didn’t want to bear with the feedback. He came around accepting it because he understood the mantle represents improvement, something that he wants his country to keep going through in order for future generations to find harmony. He wants to give hope like Steve did, inspiring him to never feel oppressed and oppressed wherever they are. I don’t exaggerate on costume designs because it’s a given on how those are what make the characters come to life. However, I can’t help admitting both of Sam’s costumes, from his updated Falcon suit to his long awaited Captain America suit are so impressively made it was like they were pulled from the pages. His speech in the finale is everything we needed to hear because it shows there can be a positive change in society, as long as you act with the steps to succeed. Now that he is finally on the same page as Bucky, you bet they’ll continue to have each other’s back in future adventures. Now since we didn’t get to know that much about Torres, I am sure that off of Sam’s trust, he would do well as the next Falcon. I also got to give a shoutout to Amy Aquino for not making Christina the ideal therapist. She acted a bit cynical, but it worked to help Buck open up as much as he could. She would see through his lies and would call him out, which wasn’t something others did before which is the unlikely gift of therapy. She’s a veteran herself so she has an idea how Bucky is thinking and from there, she was able to give enough direction for him to figure out where he wanted to be mentally. And for that, I applaud her work. While these two heroes go through personal rehabilitation, there are many characters that remain who they are whether it’s a good or bad thing. I was delighted to see Emily VanCamp return as Sharon, but I would’ve not guessed the 180 that would come from it. It was a surprise for her to go all in with the criminal lifestyle by becoming the Power Broker, for the sake of survival at the time. But the longer she had unchecked power, the more she enjoyed the life of crime which is why she chooses to keep the act going after being rightfully pardoned. In the long run, you can only prey on either Sam, Buck or anyone to figure out how to stop her. Considering that Wakanda is responsible for helping Barnes be free of the WInter Soldier identity, it made sense for someone from Black Panther to show up and they made a great choice in allowing Ayo to represent. Like Dania Gurira’s Okoye, Florence Kasumba shines in making the character a warrior devoted to protecting her country. She honors it to the point where she’ll go after the previous king’s murderer. It was a wild revelation for her to have a failsafe on Buck’s vibranium arm because it implied not all of Wakanda really trusted him. However, I still identify him as the White Wolf because it symbolizes his new lease on life. Since Zemo was the first villain to cause the Avengers to disband before the Blip, you knew he left behind a significant impact. With that being said, I was very open minded to see Daniel Bruhl return to the role. Years later, the actor picks up where he left off in having us see him as one who is a soft spoken and honorable veteran, yet cold individual who can never forgive the Avengers for inadvertently killing his family. He destroys the last super soldier vials and orchestrates the execution of the remaining Flag Smashers because he doesn’t want others to be in the same predicament as him, constant mourning pain. Once he heard his plan worked again, it became a second time in a row for him to have the last laugh, which is something to respect. Going into the new characters, I believe the most interesting has to be John Walker. Wyatt Russell makes him so captivating because he’s not a guy who really abuses power, but is given too much power for him to handle before giving himself the serum. He got appointed to be Captain America solely off of being a perfect soldier rather than the good man Steve saw in Sam. Off of that, he chooses to act way over his head thus seeing the chip on his shoulder. He did have his moments of arrogance since neither half of the protagonist duo gave him a chance, but it doesn’t change he was trying to honor a legacy he respected. With that being said, I don’t think he deserved the extensive punishment that came his way since he was just doing his job. He was trying to change the tide with the enemy while seeking vengeance, and that bothered America because this country cares about its image way too deeply. Sadly, his confusion would lead to him walking into more trouble. I am actually glad this came out before Black Widow, as the opposite was the plan before the COVID-19 pandemic. I say this because it set up a more appropriate introduction for Valentina. Julia Louis Dreyfus owns it in telling us she is someone very mischievous due to having big plans in the long run. She is the total opposite of DC’s Amanda Waller, whereas she’s not gonna be straight up with her opinion as people think she is. Recruiting Walker is the first setup for Thunderbolts, which only tells us she’ll have one hell of a team to do her dirty work. Another character that must be acknowledged at every possible chance is Isaiah Bradley. Carl Lumbly is able to make his own impact in his given time for playing a man who was betrayed for doing the right thing. He loved his country until it turned his back on him, which is exactly the doubt Sam was feeling with the mantle. Hearing Bradley’s backstory inspired him he can be different by not giving up on his beliefs and he kept his guard back up when needed most. And for that, he shows his gratitude with the exhibit because he deserved it more than anyone else he knew. With his grandson Eli (Elijah Richardson) idolizing him, the door is open for him to be a hero as well. It does get crazy to understand the morals of a villain, but it gets crazier when you feel they’re kinda right. It was cool to see George St Pierre have a return as cunning Batroc who last seen in The Winter Soldier, the true force to be reckoned with was the Flag Smasher Karli. Erin Kellyman got my attention for portraying her as one who wanted society back to being united, which wasn’t like so after the Blip era concluded. All that were displaced were her motivation to bring back unity, but she chose to act as a supremacist once she gained power she wasn’t prepared for. The serum brought out the worst of her the way it would with Walker. She wanted to play fire with fire, but she lost control of the message she was going for. The only bright side that came from her actions was Sam understanding her point of view and had he not, he would’ve not been able to call out the GRC for their way of actions. It is a shame she would die just as the progress she was seeking would occur. Whichever afterlife she finds herself in, I’m sure she’ll be proud of what Sam is doing. I may have enjoyed this series very much, but there were still a handful of things that confused me as I watched along. What really got confusing from the get go was how Batroc was at the front of the door Sam opens while the plane was airborne, but doesn’t get sucked out in the process. Since he is the villain, that would’ve been a hilarious way to be defeated. Ignore this, then you’ll still enjoy each episode for what they go for. I don’t want to pick on Sam, but I find it odd for him to work on his tech in the middle of the open. He’s lucky no one tried to jack it from him. And how come no one recognizes Bucky in the pilot? There’s a mural of him in the Captain America museum exhibit, so he should be looked at as famous as Sam and the other avengers. That’s more shocking than the second truck hijacked by Flag Smashers not doing anything when he breaks into the first one and meets Karli. I even got annoyed when Sam made fun of Buck for getting his ass whipped by her when the same thing happened to him. You can’t crack a joke if it involves hypocrisy. I don’t want to be that guy, but I’ll tell you there were no sound effects when Buck plays electric Battleship and it’s freaking weird. I can almost call it weirder than people in a bar for the corrupt in Madripoor would more likely whip out their phones to see people fight each other than civilians witnessing someone get racially profiled in the US. It even gets me wondering why he has a jacket sleeve for his metal arm? If he’s gonna rip it off before a mission, he should make or buy a custom. And seriously, what would Sam do with getting the supplies off the truck if Buck didn’t show up? That is the biggest piece of luck in this show. It’s even weird how Torres survived a punch from a Flag Smasher when he had no armor like Iron Man when he fought Steve in Civil War. I don’t know about y’all, but wasn’t it weird for Walker to have a gun on him during his GMA interview? I know he wants to be prepared for the worst but if his old school is already guarded to the tee, he should’ve not had it on him during that moment. It doesn’t matter that Steve used to wield one, he didn’t need to. Also, how did the bounty hunters track down the heroes in Madripoor? It’s not like Sharon would put herself at risk, so it’s a bit confusing we don't know what gave them away. It was a cool set up for Ayo to alert Buck with her trail of beads, but she is lucky no one else saw them because that would’ve been awkward. The Dora Milaje even make a mistake of throwing a spear at Walker instead of Zemo, the one they’re after. And I’m glad Sam gets to keep the shield since it belongs to him more than anyone else at this point, but how come the government didn’t question it? John used it as a murder weapon that can be used in evidence so it’s crazy they ignored it. Now that’s weirder than Walker himself not being questioned for aiding the fight against the Flag Smashers. Other than that, you’re still in for a trip worth taking. Overall, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is an entertaining action series that gives us an appropriate passing of the torch of an iconic superhero mantle. If you have Disney+ and love the idea of Captain America, see this show now.
Comments