After the high that was Wandavision, Marvel released another show, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. From the trailers, it looked like it was gonna be a generic Marvel show, which had many people disappointed even before it released. On March 19, 2021, the first episode dropped to a unanimous “eh okay,” but as the show went on, it gained popularity. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier stared Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) as they face a revolutionary group known as the Flag Smashers, lead by Karli Morgenthau (Erie Kellyman), but also having to deal with a new Captain America, John Walker (Wyatt Russel) getting in their way. The show in tone is vastly different from Wandavision, but in a way, which only makes the show that much more powerful. The show is six episodes and it aired weekly, after its initial release. Each new episode has left the audience in shock, and the internet has been flooded with theories and discussions over it.

To give some context to this show, it takes place about six weeks after Wandavision, which means it has been at least a month or two since Avengers Endgame, when Iron Man brought everyone back from the snap. During those five years between the snap and Endgame, a lot of countries have opened their borders and actually helped those in need. But when they came back, things went back to the way it was before, leaving Karli and the soon-to-be Flag smashers, furious. So they take an experimental super-soldier serum and lead a revolutionary group to fight back and get the world back to how it was before the events of Endgame. Around this time, America was looking to get morale up in their country, thus making John Walker the new Captain America. So now Falcon and the Winter Soldier are investigating the Flag smashers as they deal with the new Captain America. To fully understand the plot of this, you do not have to have watched everything, but it would definitely help you understand these characters and the world.

Marvel has never been a stranger to getting into politics, they’ve been showing their ideas for years, even in past movies such as Civil war or Endgame. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a very political show, that tackles very heavy issues such as foreign aid, police brutality, and racism. Each of these is done gracefully and powerfully. I have never seen a show able to capture so much raw emotion and anger, like this one. My friends and I would watch this show over discord when new episodes aired, which has been amazing, but it left us yelling at the characters and in genuine shock. If you remember how episode four ended, you know exactly what I am talking about.

This show initially flew under everyone’s radar, but now it is a beloved show among marvel fans. It is a great show full of emotion and power. Even if you do not know much about Marvel at all, I still would say to give the show a chance. It’s brilliantly made and portrayed. Although the show can be slow and heavy at times, it is very well made and entertaining. Its heavy themes, electric cast, and powerful emotions make it a truly iconic show that really stands out from the rest.