Falcon and The Winter Soldier Episode 1 Review

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please read with caution.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier finally dropped on Disney+ on March 19, 2021. I have been waiting for this series forever, but the wait was absolutely worth it. This episode had a couple issues, but what show doesn’t?

Let’s dive into what happens with Buck and Sam post-Endgame.

The major downside of the episode was the lack of interaction between Buck and Sam. I understand the reasoning for the split though, as it allowed the first episode to set up its world post-Endgame, and how these two men are navigating through that mess. Bucky’s development in this episode was absolutely perfect, and Sam’s was amazing too with his background grounding him as a character.

The lack of interaction was the only major downside though. I just wanted to address the split, and how that could’ve made some people kind-of upset. I was kind-of upset too. It’s okay though. We’ll see them together by next episode. Hopefully…

The legacy of Captain America also hung over Sam’s head throughout this episode. After Steve Rogers passed the mantle to Sam at the end of Endgame, he decided to keep being Falcon. Sam even donated the shield to a museum because he felt the shield will always belong to Steve. I’m understanding why Sam wouldn’t feel worthy yet, and I’m excited to see this story continue to unfold.

The new “Captain America” plot twist at the end revealed that the US Government will do whatever it takes to push their own personal agenda, which included taking the shield. It hurt seeing that scene. He cannot pose as stoically as Steve Rogers.

Bucky’s scenes in this episode intrigued me because it begged the question, “Who is he without a fight?” The identity crisis is very similar to Captain America’s struggle to find a purpose beyond fighting, but it has added trauma and guilt attached.

Bucky is pardoned and trying to make amends for his crimes as The Winter Soldier. He is also forced to do government mandated therapy, which forces him to face a lot of stuff. I enjoyed the Bucky-Therapist scenes very much. I’m just having a great time seeing Buck hate therapy. Who is Bucky without a fight and his best friend?

Overall, I enjoyed the first episode. I’m looking forward to episode 2! Thanks for reading my thoughts. See you all next time!