Every so often there is a movie that comes along that rallies people to come together for the event. In the 1970s these were movies like The Exorcist, Jaws, and Star Wars just to name a few. Movies that, despite the genre, brought people together to discuss the epic scope of these films around the water cooler. The 1980s brought us events like the finale to the previously mentioned Star Wars saga, The Goonies, and the various “brat pack” movies of peak John Hughes. It seemed like with every passing decade that epic scope effect began to fade. Movies were no longer events but just another slice of entertainment that we experienced. The 1990s brought several films under this ideal but honestly there are too many to name. Probably the most famous example of this would be Titanic, a film that sailed all the way to become the biggest movie of all time for over twenty years, cashing in a cool 2.2 billion dollars.
With the turn of the century, these spectacles became more and more common. Nowadays it feels like every movie that studios release are all big events. Looking at the top 10 lifetime movies at the box office - nine out of ten of them are all from this century. For all you movie nerds out there, eight out of ten of them are released by Disney. Probably the closest spectacle film we have seen in the last decade would be Avengers: Infinity War. Of course, being a movie nerd I was there opening night with my wife. There was not one open seat in our theatre. It was packed wall to wall, front to back. Walking into Infinity War, I was filled with pure joy and hope. Walking out of the blockbuster, though, was a completely different experience.
I’ve only had a handful of movies that have filled me with dread coming out of them. Infinity War gave me a sense of hopelessness that not even Joker would give me the following year. The heroes I had spent the last 10 years of my life getting to know through this cinematic universe were gone with a simple snap. I’m just the viewer but I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for their actual characters. It’s part of the reason I’m excited about Marvel’s Disney+ shows. Sure, we saw Spider-Man: Far From Home explore the aftermath of people coming back post blip. They barely scratched the surface though. A couple of years later and Marvel has given us more insight into the trauma of this event for the heroes, loved ones of the heroes, and just normal folk like myself. WandaVision was a terrific start, demonstrating the impact of loss and grief.
For the second series in Marvel’s Fourth Phase we get to experience what the five years were like for some of the universe’s other heroes. We are also treated to see how those who stayed handle those who come back. Set eight months after the blip, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier depicts Sam (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) navigating their way back into the world while simultaneously taking down a resistance group and the new Captain America (Wyatt Russel). Marvel really broke away from their formulaic approach to storytelling with WandaVision which followed through with the aftermath of the blip, losing a loved one and humanizing one of the universe’s strongest characters. With Falcon, Marvel falls back into traditional motifs with action and big flashy finales.
This is where the series began to lose me. The finale, “One World, One People”, is the biggest offender in this. There are satisfying moments in the episode but they are few and far between, diamonds in the rough of formulaic action sequences. Don’t get me the wrong - the show has some of the best moments the MCU has ever had. The majority of those moments come from Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Sam has always been a featured player, with a few quips here and there but never really rising to anything bigger than a supporting character. Falcon completely changes that dynamic and allows Mackie to really step up in a tremendous way. Mackie steals the series in every way imaginable. He finally feels like a three-dimensional character now. Mackie’s arc feels very timely as well, allowing the MCU to truly capture the American struggle of an African-American in America. With the addition of Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley and Sam’s sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye), the series elevates itself in storytelling, taking a grounded and timely approach to these characters.
Simultaneously we have Stan’s performances as Bucky, who is attempting to make amends for his time as The Winter Soldier. While Stan delivers a notable performance, it feels like white noise to what the rest of the series is doing around his arc. I understand that these series are an attempt to take supporting characters and bring depth to them. Stan never seems to grow at all in the span of six episodes; lacking the character development necessary to make him compelling. The series most prominent elements, and subsequently most developed, come from Mackie’s arc. Mackie commands the screen in every frame that he is in. The series' most problematic elements draw from its busy nature. When Captain America: Civil War was released in 2016, hardcore Marvel fans were disappointed at the lackluster villany of Zemo (Daniel Bruhl). It was announced that Bruhl's Zemo would get another chance to demonstrate his comic roots in a new platform.
Unfortunately, Bruhl feels like an accessory to the series rather than an actual antagonist. If anything he plays into the overcrowded narrative that attempts to rehash the events of The Winter Soldier’s finale. There are essentially three antagonists that come into play throughout these six episodes. The central villain in the group the Flag Smashers, who are essentially the MCU’s equivalent to Anonymous, making an attempt at a better life. Then you have John Walker who is the new Captain America, appointed by the government. Finally you have the aforementioned Zemo. You could even make an argument for a fourth villain in the mysterious Power Broker. All of this converges into a formulaic showdown during the show’s finale. I understand that a part of all MCU content is worldbuilding towards the grander vision a la Thanos. Falcon feels too overwhelming for its own good at times. I sincerely wish the series would have chosen one villain to focus on. Any of them would have been an interesting villain to make the focus. The need to address all four antagonists robs characters like Bucky from feeling more developed.
Overall, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a compelling commentary packaged with predictable action, formulaic plots, and lackluster villains. The series does bring a few power dynamics to the larger universe; which makes it important. Its commentary on race relations and poverty however make it significantly important for different reasons. Performances by Anthony Mackie, Carl Lumbly, and Wyatt Russell are among the series breakout performances. Mackie in particular is nothing short of incredible. Russell is such a compelling character. I can’t wait to see what they do next with him. He does a phenomenal job. Despite a small performance, Lumbly nonetheless makes quite the impression. Unfortunately the narrative suffers at the hands of being overcrowded and even formulaic at times. While The Falcon and Winter Soldier doesn’t break any grounds for Marvel, it is nonetheless entertaining.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: A minor spoiler for the series, but Carl Lumbly is revealed fairly early on to be another super soldier from Steve and Bucky’s era. In the show’s fifth episode, Lumbly chronicles in detail how he was a prisoner of war, and furthermore what they did to him during his imprisonment. As a white man, I won’t even begin to think I understand the black experience or struggle of African-Americans in this country. I can read all the books, watch all the movies and talk to everyone I know about their history and experience but I will never come close to understanding the gravity of fear or devastation African-Americans experience in this country.
All I can do is rally for change and learn from the past to prevent a recycling of history in the future. I can use this platform to speak out against racism, inequality, and prejudice. I can be an ally. Furthermore, I can reaffirm you of your value. Regardless of color, race, religion, political standing or what have you - you, yes you, reading this right now have value. You have worth. The world is a better place with you in it. I applaud The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for using their platform to make a difference and challenge the narrative of race relations. You have value. No matter what anyone tells you. Like Mackie said “they can’t keep me from fighting.” Consider our resources and our Black Lives Matter series.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are property of Marvel Studios. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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