TV Review: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Directed by: Kari Skogland
Rating: 8/10
Review by: Scott Reckers
As opposed to a surface-level Marvel series where Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes just march around, beating up bad guys, the show faces its characters with tough decisions. Taking a refreshing look at systemic issues like racism and police brutality in America, the show sees Marvel taking a sharp left turn, with Sam turning in his friend Captain America’s shield to a museum and continuing onward as the Falcon.
John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell, is the latest Captain America, carrying himself a sense of self-entitlement that’s overbearingly present in every situation, especially with Sam and Bucky. He’s a fascinating character, adding another layer to the MCU dynamic, but he’s often just insufferable.
Though the series sometimes fell victim to a convoluted plot, each episode of the show was solid and entertaining with a cohesive, entwining conclusion on most fronts of the story and subplots. Like most of the MCU now, there’s at least some prior knowledge of the past required to understand what is going on, as the show wouldn’t even exist if Steve Rogers hadn’t died. But, if you have some spare time, and know a decent amount about the franchise, I would definitely watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.