The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Finishes Debut on Disney+
Over the course of March and April 2021, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier premiered on Disney+. This latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is composed of six episodes following Anthony Mackie as The Falcon and Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier as they work to thwart the Flag Smashers, an organization that has risen after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
The show’s costuming and set design are excellent. Whether it is the costumes of ordinary people in their lived-in kitchens or the sleek and mobile suits of superheroes as they dangle from moving vehicles, it’s clear that careful consideration went into each piece of the environment. The pacing sometimes feels more suited to that of a movie rather than a six-episode season, but the show rarely feels boring or slow moving, even when action scenes are set aside for furthering plot development. While the cinematography can be somewhat confusing to those with a trained eye for cinema, it does include some beautiful shots as the season progresses (especially in the finale). These elements, combined with a less greyed-out tint than many previous marvel movies and series, makes for a generally visually appealing show.
The show’s writing was decent for the most part, though its various villains and some of the different subplots came off as somewhat shallow. However, much of the series is focused on addressing racism and injustice, so it is understandable that some elements fell by the wayside.
Some audiences have criticized the abundance of purposeful political narratives, especially those throughout the show involving race and gender, but even those who weren’t a fan of the show’s biases could generally agree that the main duo’s chemistry and camaraderie was worth the watch. Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier points out the show’s strengths, reading, “Packed with blockbuster action and deft character beats, Falcon and the Winter Soldier proves itself worthy of Captain America’s legacy with its globetrotting intrigue, mature social commentary, and the sparky rapport between stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.”
“It’s far from a perfect show, but it had moments of emotion and connection that have often been lacking in the MCU as a whole,” says Tasha Robinson, a Tomatometer-approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. This seemed to be a common sentiment among critics; the show has its faults but is an enjoyable and even heartwarming watch regardless.
Overall, with funny, lovable characters and a genuine, heartfelt narrative, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a show worth checking out. It is available for streaming on Disney+.
