Falcon and Winter Soldier

Of course the internet has been speculating about what this show would hold since before the conclusion of WandaVision, and I am willing to bet most of that speculation is wrong as it was with WandaVision because you people can’t seem to come up with fan theories that make any kind of sense. But we’re off to a great start it's been rumoured for the last week that the first episode of the new series was to be titles “Rest in Peace Cap” causing the internet to frantically theorize about whether or not that was death to Steve Rodgers or death to the legacy title of Captain America...well it actually doesn’t matter as the actual title for the first episode is “New World Order” so here we go, week one of Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

We open on Sam putting the shield away after getting dressed for what looks like a funeral, and we hear his and Steve’s last exchange, I think we can conclude that Steve is dead. Sam’s first mission has him diving out of a plane, like Steve used to. The first fight scene is very on brand with ones that we’re used to seeing in Captain America films and the way they jumped right into the action was appropriate for this specific story.

They did in fact kill Steve in the first episode, which is super rude and I hate it here. We have Rhodey in the first episode which feels a little irrelevant but here we are. We got to see Bucky kick some ass and I love him and he, like Wanda, can do whatever he wants. It turned out to be a nightmare, him relieving his memories as the Winter Soldier. Bucky is in therapy talking about how he was making amends for the things he did as Winter Soldier. Bucky has to explore his feelings of loneliness now that Steve’s gone. Bucky has 1 friend and it's an old man, which actually makes a lot of sense, they are out to eat and the old guy makes Bucky a date and then starts talking about losing his son and it looked like it made Bucky think of Steve, and/or all the things he had done as Winter Soldier. We get back to Sam and he is visiting his sister and nephews, they are struggling financially and Sam wants to help. I love that they are really connecting us to the boys, we are really seeing their more vulnerable scenes right off the bat and that is so important for their character development and I love how well balanced it is with the action. Bucky’s reaction to Nakashimas story was due to the fact that the Winter Soldier killed his son. Sam and his sister try to get a loan, but are rejected by the bank and I am left wondering why his first call wasn’t Pepper...also I know that this show is going to make me hate Steve’s ending. The government decided to appoint a new Captain America and I am irrationally, physically angry about someone else holding Steve’s shield. I want Sam and/or Bucky to kick his ass and take the shield back.

Overall the first episode set up the series very well, we have foundation for the big bad, the subplots, and both men’s character development all of which was set up in a smooth, and non-expositional way. I really hate that we have to wait another week for the next episode but, I am looking forward to it. I knew it was going to be good, but Marvel has set the bar high and I have equally high hopes and expectations for this series.