The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s premiere left us in need of a LOT of answers.
Marvel Studios wasted little time following up on the success of WandaVision as the release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has come just two weeks later. The second in a long line of Marvel Cinematic Universe shows set to premiere on Disney Plus over the next couple of years, it catches audiences up with Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes as both of them attempt to return to a life of normality – whatever that may be – after the Blip.
The premiere episode, “New World Order”, was primarily concerned with table-setting for what is yet to come on the series, reintroducing us to Sam and Bucky so that we can find out where they are in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame and familiarize us with the new normal of the wider MCU.
A strong start for the show, no doubt, it has left us wondering where the story will go. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the questions “New World Order” had us asking.
5. Is Captain America really dead in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier?
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier opened with a number of scenes that heavily implied Steve Rogers, Captain America himself, died. This doesn’t line up with his apperance in the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame when an aged Steve revealed that he traveled back in time to spend his life with Peggy Carter, creating an offshoot timeline in the process.
While there is always the possibility that the implications are true and that Captain Rogers did quietly pass away after returning to the original timeline, the fact that the show has danced around what actually happened to him suggests that this is just a story that Sam and Bucky have told the government. Steve may be “gone” but “gone” doesn’t mean dead – he’s probably just back in his timeline with Peggy, meaning that the rest of the world likely thinks he died in the battle with Thanos.
Here’s hoping we find out at some point during the show’s run – if not the MCU’s fourth phase.
4. Will Joaquin Torres become the next Falcon?
Marvel Comics fans quickly sat up and paid attention when they heard the name Joaquin Torres – the reason being that, in the comic books, the character ultimately ends up becoming the next Falcon. Granted, it’s quite different from Sam Wilson’s iteration of the character and the MCU almost probably won’t go down that route, but it doesn’t mean he won’t become the Falcon.
After all, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will tell the story of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes honoring the legacy of Captain America and that story is expected to culminate in Sam becoming the next Cap. And if that is the case, the Falcon mantle would become vacant.
We’re in an all-new, all-different era of the MCU, so it’s not surprising that Marvel Studios is looking to All-New, All-Different Marvel for a little inspiration. The question is: Is Joaquin destined to become the second Falcon in the MCU?
3. Can superheroes live normal lives in the post-Blip MCU?
Thanos’ world-changing actions in Avengers: Infinity War and the aftermath of that in Avengers: Endgame shaped the events of WandaVision and they are already shaping The Falcon and the Winter Soldier too. From that, it’s pretty clear that the impact of the Blip will continue to be felt throughout the remainder of Phase Four and no doubt beyond that.
One of the themes that both this premiere and the preceding show tackled was the question of whether superheroes could live normal lives. It’s an interesting question that isn’t explored enough in the genre but it’s all the more interesting in this post-Blip world Marvel Studios has created.
Just like Wanda struggled to move on to a life without Vision, Sam is struggling to reintegrate himself back into a world that had moved on without him. From his family’s financial troubles (and the bank’s refusal to help his sister) to his refusal to accept the Captain America mantle, he is dealing with a lot of conflict and facing a number of situations that continue to raise some interesting questions that the MCU has not tackled before.
Then there’s Bucky who is just struggling in general, unable to forget the heinous crimes that he was forced to commit during his time as the Winter Soldier and desperately attempting to atone for them – all while punishing himself with a life of solitude.
When all is said and done in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, will Bucky or Sam find that inner peace neither one is able to obtain right now?
2. What will make Sam and Bucky join forces?
The series may be called The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but there weren’t any signs of the pair’s future team-up as of yet. So, obviously, we have to ask: How will the Falcon and the Winter Soldier reunite on screens?
We know Sam and Bucky are still in each other’s lives in some capacity. Bucky’s therapy session revealed that he had been ignoring the former’s attempts to contact him. That’s not surprising given that he’s going through his own personal battles at the moment and he’s not particularly a big fan of Sam, but it would be good for him to have someone who understands some of what he’s going through in his life. But, again, what is that will bring them back together?
Will Sam’s investigation into the Flag-Smashers result in him needing a super soldier of his own for back-up? Will Bucky’s battles lead him to reach out to an old friend (of a friend)? Or will another threat entirely result in them unwittingly crossing paths with each other? We’ll have to wait and see.
1. Who is the new Captain America?
Sam Wilson looked devastated when he saw the news that the US government had chosen a second Captain America, using the original’s iconic Shield to round-out that replacement’s uniform. A fear of a missed opportunity? No, what Sam was feeling was probably a mixture of disgust, anger and betrayal.
He decided to relinquish the shield because he didn’t feel he could live up to Cap’s legacy. However, he would have made sure that he tried to – which is something he can’t guarantee that the new one will do. Sam didn’t want to be Captain America, but the only thing he wanted less was for somebody else to become the hero when Steve had specifically chosen him.
So who is this new Cap? Is he a super soldier like Steve Rogers or does he have a different type of heroic talent? Is he worthy of carrying the shield?
Of course, Marvel Comics fans will know the answers to a number of those questions already, but just in case you’d rather find out for yourself in next week’s episode, we’ll not spoil it for you.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier adds a new episode to Disney+ every Friday.
Which questions were you asking after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s season premiere? Let us know in the comments below!