First episode of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” builds hype for future Disney+ projects

Disney + released the first episode of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” last Friday, March 19. This show dives head first into the lives of James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), otherwise known as The Falcon, both the former best friends of the late Captain America. The show is set just a few months after the events that take place in the last Avengers movie: “Avengers: Endgame.” 

This show opens up and explores the character James Barnes’ background as he is haunted by the memories of when he was brainwashed by the organization Hydra. When he was under their control, they used him as a weapon, but now that he is free from them, he is forced to come to terms with what he did, and what he wants to do with his life. His main focus at the moment is trying to make amends with the people he hurt when he was with Hydra, although he’s struggling. This show expressed the inner battle that James is going through in depth, and this really helps the watchers understand him better. The former military personnel therapist that James was talking to might be a way for watchers to connect with the character on certain levels as well. 

After the “blip” in “Avengers: Infinity War,” half the universe has been “missing” for five years before they returned in the film “Avengers: Endgame.” Sam now has to adapt to his life being different than when he left it. Groups of people have popped up trying to fight against the government because they thought the world was better during the blip. As Sam starts to deal with what’s going on in these other countries, he additionally has conflicts of his own. Including trying to help his sister and pick his life up from where he left it, if its still the same. This demonstrates Mackie’s character Sam in a new divergent light from his family and personal life side of things, as well as his ‘work life’ that we know as too well. 

The CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) was top notch, looking like an actual movie, with higher quality than the typical TV show. This is because the budget for the show was upwards a hundred million dollars. This can be seen from the intense action scenes already present throughout the first episode. In general, this is an action-packed show that keeps you intrigued like a movie, and feels like a movie. With the characters ever growing and developing, it feels the first part of a movie got released and the other five parts are on the way. With a new one releasing every Friday until April 23, Disney + is keeping everyone on their toes.