Falcon and Winter Soldier Official Thread - How they gonna use that power?

[faizoff]

So this is a TV too? Where does this fit in?  Should I be watching this now, or holding off?

You'll have to finish the avengers movies. Both the marvel shows so far happen after the Endgame movie

[Orbert]

I've watched the first two episodes, and I think it's all pretty good so far.  We checked to see if there were any bonus features or anything, and there were the four "Legends" things from before.  Wanda, Vision, Falcon, and The Winter Soldier.  We'd seen the first two, but didn't realize there were some for Falcon and The Winter Soldier, but it made sense and we checked them out.  This was a week or so ago.  Then the other day, there were two more, for Sharon Carter and Zemo.  Momentarily tabling the question of whether or not Sharon and Zemo are "legends", we checked them out as well, as it appears that they will figure into this series.  It was good to review some of the plot points from the movies that they'd each been a part of.

It all made me realize how much background was laid in the movies, background I'd forgotten, so I watched Civil War today for the second time.  The first time was way back during the original run, when we were basically watching them as they came out.  I remember Civil War being really long and having nearly all the characters in it that they'd introduced (Ant-Man, Spider-Man, and Black Panther were all basically pulled into the Avengers storyline here), but I'd forgotten most of the details.  It's a good one to re-watch, since it looks like the series is going to follow up on Zemo and Sharon.  Also, I'd forgotten that Sam and Bucky had already encountered each other and had a few run-ins, and they pretty much happened here, too.

Anyway, I like that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier has a different "feel" from WandaVision.  More action, more "cinematic", but still bringing the character beats.  Also it feels different because the episodes are longer, but there will be fewer of them, so each one packs a bit more punch.

[Zantera]

It's not as good as Wandavision so far but it's a perfectly fine B-tier show that you can watch and enjoy without anything deeper to it.

[Adami]

So anyone else think they might switch things up and make Zemo one of the good guys since he hates super soldiers?

Might eventually even lead to a Thunderbolts thing.

[jingle.boy]

So anyone else think they might switch things up and make Zemo one of the good guys since he hates super soldiers?

Might eventually even lead to a Thunderbolts thing.

I just thought the SS's in Civil War was a means to an end. I never came away with the sense he fundamentally hated SS's.

[Adami]

So anyone else think they might switch things up and make Zemo one of the good guys since he hates super soldiers?

Might eventually even lead to a Thunderbolts thing.

I just thought the SS's in Civil War was a means to an end. I never came away with the sense he fundamentally hated SS's.

He killed them all. I think he even spoke out against wanting more of them. I don't know if he used them out of hatred but he definitely didn't want more of them.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

.

[hefdaddy42]

So this is a TV too? Where does this fit in?  Should I be watching this now, or holding off?

Hold off until you finish the films.

Everything coming out now (except the Black Widow film) is set after the already-released films.  So finish those up.

[Adami]

So this is a TV too? Where does this fit in?  Should I be watching this now, or holding off?

Two episodes in and I have a sneaking suspicion you will not end up liking this show very much. 

[soupytwist]

It's not as good as Wandavision so far but it's a perfectly fine B-tier show that you can watch and enjoy without anything deeper to it.

I think the first two episodes are better than the first two episodes WV personally.  But WV did get much better, whereas I'm not sure this has the same scope for growth.

[ZirconBlue]

I think the first two episodes are better than the first two episodes WV personally.  But WV did get much better, whereas I'm not sure this has the same scope for growth.

Well, we've gotten twice as much story in this show as in the first 2 episodes WandaVision.  For a similar place in the story, you'd need to compare to the first 4 episodes of WV.  Personally, I see these D+ shows as more like 6-hour movies than traditional tv shows.  It's hard to judge a movie after just seeing Act 1.

[Orbert]

I think the first 3 episodes of WandaVision and the first 2 episodes TFaTWS might be a better comparison.  We're 1/3 of the way through TFaTWS which has six episodes, and WandaVision had nine episodes.

After three episodes of WandaVision I was intrigued, but still had no idea what the fuck was going on.  But the original plan for WandaVision included dropping the first three episodes at once, then episode 4 the second week.  All the WTF with the first three episodes would've been resolved when "act 2" kicked things into gear a week later.  Instead, the WTF was drawn out for nearly a month and I was pretty close to bailing.

The first episode of TFaTWS was obviously laying the groundwork, but started right off with a good old-fashioned Marvel action sequence.  Episode 2 brought them together and we already have a good idea where we're going with things.  It's still the end of "act 1" and things look to start getting serious this week, but it has a much different feel from WandaVision.  But that's also by design.  They are very different shows with very different approaches to storytelling.

Also possibly of note is that TFaTWS was originally going to air first.  It was ready to go last year when all the Covid shit came down.  That also means that all the references to racism in TFaTWS were scripted and shot before all the racism-related events of last year, which I find interesting.

[gmillerdrake]

What I like about this show thus far and WandaVision is that as someone who doesn't know all the 'easter eggs' and isn't a massive MCU buff.....just an 'average' viewer.....I can still watch it and enjoy it. I'm sure those out there who have a more vast knowledge of that universe and what not can spot things and may enjoy it more....but for me, I'm just glad I can watch it and not feel like I'm missing something.

[jingle.boy]

What I like about this show thus far and WandaVision is that as someone who doesn't know all the 'easter eggs' and isn't a massive MCU buff.....just an 'average' viewer.....I can still watch it and enjoy it. I'm sure those out there who have a more vast knowledge of that universe and what not can spot things and may enjoy it more....but for me, I'm just glad I can watch it and not feel like I'm missing something.

I'm just glad I have jingle.son to fill in some of those blanks/eggs for me.  He does all the spoiler-y background research and such.

[jammindude]

What I like about this show thus far and WandaVision is that as someone who doesn't know all the 'easter eggs' and isn't a massive MCU buff.....just an 'average' viewer.....I can still watch it and enjoy it. I'm sure those out there who have a more vast knowledge of that universe and what not can spot things and may enjoy it more....but for me, I'm just glad I can watch it and not feel like I'm missing something.

I think I've posted this before, but I've been saying since phase two that this is the bare essence of "comic book storytelling" that until the MCU, no one had really tried to recreate.

You didn't even have to like Thor. But if you were reading a Spidey comic and Thor showed up mentioning that he just came from a such and such place/adventure...it would have an asterisk with a footnote referencing the Thor comic book where you could read about the adventure he was talking about...but not knowing didn't effect the Spidey story at all. It was just a side note that might give Thor's presence more meaning. Or whatever...rearrange and solve for X as you please...but the idea of a bigger world being referenced without bringing down the story you're currently reading (watching).

[hefdaddy42]

You didn't even have to like Thor. But if you were reading a Spidey comic and Thor showed up mentioning that he just came from a such and such place/adventure...it would have an asterisk with a footnote referencing the Thor comic book where you could read about the adventure he was talking about...but not knowing didn't effect the Spidey story at all. It was just a side note that might give Thor's presence more meaning. Or whatever...rearrange and solve for X as you please...but the idea of a bigger world being referenced without bringing down the story you're currently reading (watching).

Exactly.

[DoctorAction]

This is great so far. I was fine with ep 1 but number 2 really pulled me in. Great character work.

[lonestar]

Another solid episode, they're really developing this nicely. Great surprise at the end, very curious to see how this wraps up.

This one is only 6 episodes, right?

[jingle.boy]

Another solid episode, they're really developing this nicely. Great surprise at the end, very curious to see how this wraps up.

This one is only 6 episodes, right?

Agreed.  I totally was not expecting that ending.  I mean, it wasn't as surprising as Evan Peters showing up in WV, but it got a decent  out of me.

[lonestar]

Another solid episode, they're really developing this nicely. Great surprise at the end, very curious to see how this wraps up.

This one is only 6 episodes, right?

Agreed.  I totally was not expecting that ending.  I mean, it wasn't as surprising as Evan Peters showing up in WV, but it got a decent  out of me.

Yup, and I love her character too.

[ProfessorPeart]

I went back and watched Civil War on Thursday in preparation for this weeks episode. Proved to be a very good idea. Made the episode that much more enjoyable. I needed the refresher.

[faizoff]

I like how the plot of each episode is tied so heavily to previous Captain America movies. It's making things very intriguing. Though there were some scenes that felt kinda odd in the last episode like them walking on the bridge and getting picked up, it just felt so weird. That and the lab interrogation, something about the way it was edited. Minor gripes aside, Zemo was fantastic throughout the episode and the highlight for me.

[Orbert]

I went back and watched Civil War on Thursday in preparation for this weeks episode. Proved to be a very good idea. Made the episode that much more enjoyable. I needed the refresher.

Yeah, there was one particular callback in yesterday's episode (no spoiler!) that had both myself and Mrs. Orbert laughing out loud.  It was great. 

[faizoff]

I went back and watched Civil War on Thursday in preparation for this weeks episode. Proved to be a very good idea. Made the episode that much more enjoyable. I needed the refresher.

Yeah, there was one particular callback in yesterday's episode (no spoiler!) that had both myself and Mrs. Orbert laughing out loud.  It was great. 

Which one are you referring to?

[jammindude]

It's my understanding that this is the "spoiler thread", no?

[Orbert]

I think so, but with WandaVision we usually waited until after the weekend when a new episode dropped before getting spoilerish.  That kinda crumbled a bit towards the end though, I think.

Anyway, it had to do with sitting in a car, who's in the back seat, who's in front, and refusing to move the seat up.  'Twas a great callback.  There were lots of great callbacks, but this one was light-hearted and funny.

[jammindude]

Ah yes. That got a big belly laugh in my house as well!

[jingle.boy]

Yeah, that callback was great.  Not surprising that there's so much reference back to the Cap movies, since Falcon and Winter Soldier are so tightly intertwined with Cap in the comics as well.

I like the direction they're giving Sharon - much more edge to her, and I'm looking forward to her return.  Ayo showing up was entirely unexpected, and makes things much more interesting.

[hefdaddy42]

Agreed, the episode was fantastic.  I loved the introduction of Madripoor as a location - it was heavily associated with the X-Men and other mutants in the comics, so this could just be a way of laying the foundation for their eventual introduction into the MCU.

Zemo's dancing skills though

[ProfessorPeart]

I've seen this mentioned elsewhere, but Mackie and Stan really have some awesome chemistry. The whole comedic buddy cop kind of thing they have going is fantastic. I would love if this 6 episodes weren't the end, but I fear this is all we'll get. Would love another few seasons.

[lonestar]

Zemo's dancing skills though

Just glorious, I'm sure it'll be a stock gif in no time.

[Zantera]

Kinda zoned out in the last episode, didn't really get into it.

I got mixed feelings on this show overall so far. I really enjoy the buddy cop element and the banter between Falcon and Bucky, and the addition of Zemo was enjoying to watch as well. What doesn't work as well for me is the story telling and the plot doesn't feel super interesting, but how it's told just feels very weird. Every stand alone episode so far feels almost irrelevant compared to the previous, they introduce some lame "we gotta go to X to do Y" thing so they can add some action scenes but the end of it, the story doesn't progress in a satisfying way imo.

[DoctorAction]

I didn't enjoy ep 3 as much as 2 but didn't dislike it at all. I like that both characters and actors are getting fleshed out. I dig them both a ton more now.

It's tonally a bit uneven and I agree that the plot feels kinda bolted together rather than naturally flowing but I'm happy enough with it.

[lonestar]

Well that was an intense episode and ending, I kind of saw that turn coming but they handled it really well. Can't wait for next week, this shit is getting really good.

[faizoff]

Holy SHIT! what an episode! the action in that last episode 4 was intense! Story for me has been kinda iffy so far and I'm hoping it connects well together by the end but man the action so far has been fantastic.