When "WandaVision" premiered in January, many viewers found themselves drawn to the show for reasons beyond the usual action and superhero fare, such as its classic sitcom references, examination of grief and trauma, and catchy Catchy theme song. It still pushes Marvel further into Phase 4, but it also proves that the MCU's upcoming slate of TV shows isn't just for die-hard fans. The next entry in the lineup , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , should be just as accessible to Marvel newcomers. You'll need this primer first.
What is "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" about?
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier picks up the events of Avengers: Endgame approximately six months after the world's mightiest heroes defeated the Mad Titan Thanos. At the end of that movie, Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) went back in time, put the Infinity Stones back in their proper place in the timeline (long story short), and decided to stay in the past so he could live The life he missed. First time with his long lost love, Peggy Carter. Today, an aging Steve hands his iconic shield to his wingman Sam Wilson, as Steve's best friend Bucky Barnes looks on with admiration.
Now that Cap is too old for a superhero, Sam and Bucky will continue to carry on his legacy in any way they can - including potentially facing threats that Steve thought he had defeated.
Already lost? Let’s take a step back and cover the basics.
Who is the Winter Soldier?
James Buchanan Barnes (aka Bucky), played by Sebastian Stan, is Steve Rogers' oldest friend - literally. They were childhood friends in Brooklyn in the 1940s until Bucky enlisted in the Army to fight in World War II, leaving behind a scrawny Steve. Thanks to the experimental serum, Steve became Captain America and led many missions against the Nazis, including rescuing Bucky from behind enemy lines. Unfortunately, Bucky was quickly lost in the battle against Hydra...at least that's what Steve thought. The injured Bucky was actually captured by Hydra, experimented on, and turned into a brainwashed super soldier assassin, codenamed the Winter Soldier. (Because Bucky was frozen between missions, he's essentially the same age he was during World War II.)
While fighting HYDRA's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve learned that his best friend was still alive and successfully broke through Bucky's brainwashing, which was enough for Bucky to start recalling bits and pieces of his past life. Thanks to Wakanda's advanced science, Bucky was finally "cured" and joined Steve in the fight against Thanos. He was one of the heroes lost when Thanos snapped his fingers and left half the universe in dust, but he was resurrected along with the other Avengers at the climax of Endgame . After Thanos was soundly defeated, Bucky said goodbye to Steve, knowing that his friend wanted to stay in the past.
Who is Falcon?
Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, encounters Captain America when Captain America and Black Widow escape from SHIELD, which has been infiltrated by Hydra. With no one else to trust, they turn to Sam, an old acquaintance of Steve's. Fortunately, Sam's experience piloting an experimental flight suit came in handy during the battle against the Nazi organization - during which he first came into contact with the brainwashed Winter Soldiers.
After learning that the Winter Soldier was Steve's friend Bucky, Sam helped Steve find Bucky. He didn't fully trust the recovering but psychologically damaged assassin, but they still fought alongside Captain America in Avengers Civil War. Like Bucky, Sam was exterminated during "Flashpoint" but was resurrected along with all the other heroes in the final battle with Thanos. With this threat completely eliminated, Steve returns to the past to live his old life. When he reappears as an old man, he passes his shield and his legacy to Sam.
Is there anyone else you should know?
Yes, actually.
Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp)
Steve is surprised when the cute nurse next door turns out to be an undercover agent sent by SHIELD to spy on him. He was shocked when he learned that the agent turned out to be the niece of his true love, Peggy Carter. But that still didn't stop him from kissing her, and Bucky and Sam gave him brotherly nods of approval. Sadly for Sharon, ultimately Steve chose her aunt over her, staying in the past to live with Peggy. (Also, if you believe the theory that Steve was Peggy's husband all along , that would mean he kissed his niece. They might cover that part up on the show.)
Helmut Zemo (played by Daniel Brühl)
After Zemo's family was killed during the Avengers' battle against the evil robot Ultron, he became obsessed with tearing the superhero team apart from within. To this end, he followed a series of clues that eventually led to the identity of the assassin who killed Iron Man's parents, Howard and Maria Stark: the Winter Soldier. After luring Tony, Steve, and Bucky to a remote location, he reveals the truth and witnesses the chaos unfold. Tony wants to kill Bucky for murdering his parents, and Steve can't let his teammates kill his best friend; the two nearly fight to the death, and Steve leaves a fugitive on Vulcan Da seeks help for Bucky. Zemo's mission to dismantle the Avengers was accomplished, and he was prevented from committing suicide and handed over to the CIA.
James Rhodes (played by Don Cheadle)
Bucky and Sam aren't the only ones mourning the loss of their comrade. That's why it's no surprise to hear that James Rhodes will be making an appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier . James Rhodes himself is currently mourning the death of his best friend Tony, who sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos. Another thing he has in common with Bucky and Sam is a career in the military, serving in the Air Force for many years before donning the exoskeleton that turned him into a war machine. These traumatized, grief-stricken veterans turned superheroes certainly have a lot to relate to and sympathize with.
Georges St-Pierre
While relatively minor in the pantheon of Marvel villains, fans will be happy to see the acrobatic Algerian pirate Batroc reappear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. What do you need to know about him? To be honest, probably not much: he speaks French, loves parkour, and has nefarious intentions.
How about the new characters?
In addition to those familiar faces, there are also many characters that old fans and newcomers are meeting for the first time.
John F. Walker (played by Wyatt Russell)
Wyatt Russell ( Lodge 49 ) will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Troopers in The Falcon and Winter , playing John F. Walker, who in the Marvel comics goes by the code name " American Agent”. who is he? Well, while Steve may have intended to pass his shield on to Sam, it soon became clear that the U.S. government had a very different idea of who should inherit the mantle of Captain America — and (surprise, surprise) the truth Not so a black man.
Carly Morgenthau (played by Erin Kellyman)
Fans of other Disney series may recognize the red-haired Kellyman as fan-favorite rebel Enfyth Nestor from Solo: A Star Wars Story . In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , she plays Cali, the young leader of the anti-patriotic terrorist group known as the Smashers. (In the comics, Flag-Smasher is the alias of a man named Carl, not the name of an organization, but the Marvel Universe is always happy to create new twists on old Marvel ideas.)
Sarah Wilson (Adepero Oduye)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is sure to delve into Bucky and Sam's personal history, and the show also tapped Adepero Oduye ( 12 Years a Slave ) to tell Sam's backstory. Oduye plays Sam's sister Sarah Wilson, and it will be interesting to see how she feels about her brother becoming Captain America.
Will Captain America show up?
After all the talk about Captain America, viewers may be wondering if the hero will show up at any point. While the folks at Marvel are tight-lipped about a possible Chris Evans cameo, keep in mind that even if Steve Rogers appears, it will be as a wrinkled, gray-haired old man. (Unless The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is ready for more time travel and/or multiverse shenanigans, which seems unlikely.) In fact, fans should probably brace themselves for the unimaginable. Since the new show is focused on carrying on Captain America's legacy, is it possible that the writers could - gulp - kill off Captain America?
What movies should you watch to catch up?
Okay, now that you've had a crash course on the characters and story of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , maybe you're ready to delve a little deeper. If you want to see any movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Captain America movies are certainly a must-see, especially the last two:
- The Winter Soldier : This movie introduces Sam and reveals Bucky's turn to the dark side as the eponymous assassin. (You'll also meet Sharon and Bartok.)
- Civil War : In this movie, Bucky and Sam officially meet and start fighting alongside each other instead of against each other. (You'll also see more of Sharon and meet Zemo.)
If you have time, you should go back and watch the first part of the trilogy:
- The First Avenger : The movie that introduces Bucky and gives you an inside look at his relationship with Steve before his brainwashing.
For extra points, add this to your list:
- Avengers: Endgame - or at least the final scene, shows Bucky and Sam saying goodbye to Steve, and Steve passing the torch/shield to Sam.
For the perfectionists among you, pop this in before Endgame :
- Avengers: Infinity War showed the progress of Bucky's recovery in Wakanda and the scene where he and Sam were captured by Thanos.
