The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Much weaker than WandaVision. It’s more traditional, without any standout ideas. The digital action is solid, and the actors come and go without leaving much of an impression. While WandaVision managed to turn a side character into a central figure, Falcon and Winter Soldier just sort of drifts along with the new Captain America, and I watched it all in silence, feeling nothing. It’s a superhero show that plays it safe — Daniel Brühl easily steals the spotlight, while the main characters don't bring anything new to the table. Hardcore fans might still find satisfaction in the numerous comic book nods. (08/22/2021)

If someone wanted to argue with me that this stopover of popular characters in a TV series is just filler, I wouldn't have much in the way of opposing arguments. "Just" that Sam's handling of his legacy and possible future and, on the other hand, Bucky's painful return to the gloomy past drive both heroes where they belong and gives them just the kind of work I would expect and wish for. This all happens in a cynically acting political world where there is no time for nostalgia and touching memories. The show and the shield must go on, no matter what. Moreover, the script is not afraid to touch on social issues that there is not enough time for in feature-length films and which still need to be addressed. Luckily, it presents them in an unrefined, but pleasantly conversational and thoughtful way, and that is what has the greatest merit for my extremely positive final impressions. This is much more of a personal, future-oriented step than just a sigh over a story of a beloved and absent person with stars and stripes on their chest that has already been closed. And as for Sebastian Stan being "played out" so perfectly that he has outgrown his role in a good sense, we can talk about that somewhere else. (10/02/2023)

As an expansion to the Marvel Universe, it’s fine. I would call it an add-on that doesn't offend, it presents some new features and gadgets, but I wouldn't call it very exciting or, God forbid, a full-fledged movie, although it has its bright moments. The action is OK for a series, the visual effects are passable (except for a few minor things) and it has the drive and dynamism we've come to expect from Marvel. There is not much to say about the story, it does have a main plot, but the large number of characters and their confrontations in various situations are far more interesting. I’d be fine with a sequel, but it’s not necessary. (05/02/2021)

An excellent series that I'm getting to late, but I'm enjoying it all the more. A spy thriller atmosphere, great action and to my surprise a great script, which especially in the last two episodes is overflowing with well-written and acted dialogue and monologues that nobody would expect from Marvel. Apart from the two leads, I really liked John Walker's character and his development. If we see him again in the future, I won't be mad at all. (08/04/2024)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier works almost perfectly in terms of action and offers more than one imaginative (albeit slightly overdone here and there) sequence that both thrills and excites. In terms of the story, however, I often had a hard time accepting and believing the motivations of the "bad guys", which was certainly helped by the (to me) exceedingly unlikeable casting. Of the storylines, Bucky's therapy sessions and the return of Zemo and the Wakandans appealed to me the most. I found Falcon to be vastly unbalanced and far too "American", while John Walker just went almost completely out of my head throughout (except perhaps at the end of episode 4). Along with action and sci-fi adventure, the series tries to highlight (not only) contemporary issues (racial discrimination, "powerless individual" x "all-powerful government", terrorism, etc.), which it only half succeeds in doing. The series doesn't outright offend, but it doesn't impress either - especially after the genre-bending WandaVision. (04/25/2021)