Critic Reviews

Created with care and a depth of focus, the series leads to a rewarding, and in some ways, unexpected story that is nothing but a win for the Marvel faithful.

Spectacular entertainment. As Avengers sidekicks who’ve graduated to the star spot, Mackie and Stan prove they can get laughs while grounding their characters in genuine emotion. Streaming deepens their impact without skimping on Marvel’s cinematic dazzle.

One can’t speak to the entirety of “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” based on one episode and there’s surely big MCU action, comedy, and more traditional elements to come, but episode one is terrifically promising, a rich and layered entrée into the notions of identity, legacy and the difficult-to-swallow reminder that no African-American is exempt from the challenges of being Black in America. Not even a superhero.

The physical confidence exhibited by Sam in that set piece, followed by the fun banter between him and a government handler, quickly cements Mackie’s upgrade from sidekick to lead hero. ... If Disney+’s second Marvel series stays on track, it will be as well-received as WandaVision, even if it is a more traditional Avengers offshoot.

Despite the cinematic quality of this action set piece, which will no doubt thrill certain fans who missed that level of visceral destruction in WandaVision, this brutality is by far the least interesting thing that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier does in its first hour (or rather, 48 minutes, which is all that was provided in advance to critics). ... Where TFATWS really shines [is] by using Avengers as an analogue to dive into issues of PTSD and much more.

Guided by sturdy performances and a premise that promises buddy comedy, anti-terrorist combat and world-building in equal measure, the premiere of Marvel’s latest shows off few radical moves but delivers just what the faithful want.

Pacing that requires patience is a risky move, especially in Episode 1, and within a franchise that’s conditioned its audiences to crave nonstop action. But the methodical buildup works, subtly creating tension on several fronts.

Both Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie boast a ton of charm and charisma, and the themes Marvel works with here — trying to show the everyday labor of coping with the Snap, the beginnings of Sam’s ideas about legacy and how race may factor into it, how superheroes deal with trauma — haven’t really been mined yet within the MCU. There’s easily enough story to keep both hard-core and casual fans coming back for at least a couple of episodes.

There's enough here to make one optimistic that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could emerge as a second Disney+ winner for Marvel.

Falcon and the Winter Soldier is definitely more traditional Marvel fare, but it kicks into gear so quickly that this feels like less of a letdown than it might have been. ... Whether The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has something meaningful to say from a political standpoint remains to be seen. What is clear, one episode in, is that Skogland directs with skill and polish and that Mackie and Stan are instantly comfortable sliding back into these roles they already know so well.