The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

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.

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.

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.

Marvel’s second Disney Plus series is off to a very promising start, finding a healthy balance between the blockbuster thrills fans love and the personal drama that gives them meaning. It’s still anybody’s guess as to where this story will go next, but you shouldn’t have any hesitation about going along for the ride.

This slamming action series that, you know, really feels like a six-hour movie. ... In this case, the boot actually fits, and better yet, there are thrusters in its heels. ... Mackie and Stan are natural stars, commanding each scene they're in. And while the movies established that the actors have chemistry it'll be interesting to watch that expand and mature over the course of the series.

“TF&TWS” feels right now, even though it was originally scheduled to come before “WandaVision.” After that ground-breaking series cleansed the palate, it’s good to have something this lavish popping on home screens. Mackie and Stan deserve the attention. We saw that in earlier films when they got to banter. Now, they’re in the drivers’ seats.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The premiere ends abruptly; not on a cliffhanger, but before the real thrust of the story can even begin. “New World Order” feels bogged down by exposition and setup of a (so far) seemingly throwaway plot, but at least the character moments feel true and fleshed out. There’s enough here that I’d be willing to hear more about their individual plotlines, but both seem remarkably hopeless alone.

It says something about the sturdy foundation of character and concept “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” has built within its debut installment that, even as it’s largely setting up for what lies ahead, it never feels like treading water. Instead, we get a clear sense of who these men are and what their mission will require. A journey we’re ready to go on.

A wild ride (as expected), better still a promising one.

The balance of action and story is nimble, and in the series' first episode — only one of six episodes was provided for review — seeds are planted for conflict, team building and drama of the personal and global variety.

"The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" feels more conventional based strictly on its muscular premiere, while offering a welcome showcase for Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” is a bit of a come down from “WandaVision.” “Falcon” isn’t bad, just more familiar.

The success of this show will depend on how well it says what it has to say rather than how impressive it looks. The first episode is a good start, but there's room to go further.

That the expectations here are low seems like a fair response to more than a decade of movies that tend to treat situations as divorced from ramifications; to acknowledge that the story here is exceeding those expectations is fair, too. Stan and especially Mackie help the show’s case.

For someone who isn’t especially moved by the MCU, a mumblecore Marvel where superheroes mostly spend their time struggling through difficult conversations as they reckon with their legacy feels kind of great. I’m worried, though, that it won’t last past my idea of what the series could be.

After dozens of adventurous movies and the visionary WandaVision, I feel confident that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is going to take flight and soar—but right now we’re still on the runway.

We’ve only got the first of the series’ six episodes to work from, but so far Spellman and director Kari Skogland have something winsome, if slightly average, in store for our heroes.

For those who love the punchy, kicky, international espionage Marvel movies, "Falcon" will likely check all the boxes. But after watching one episode I can't help but want more, and it's unclear whether the series will go deeper or simply offer more of the same. But maybe I'll be surprised.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier looks as though it will play out as a fine, straightforward action series. But no Marvel output can exist in a vacuum and so far, with its by-numbers action sequences and troubled hero narratives, it’s a little unimaginative.

Once it gets its heroes together it starts to feel more confident, and interesting issues are touched upon, but so far it’s just a little routine.

For MCU die-hards, there will naturally be much to enjoy in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but the show doesn’t immediately declare that it’s doing anything that interesting either.

This table-setting opener has oodles of potential. But, in a departure from Marvel’s recent track record, it fails to set the world alight.

The balance isn’t quite figured out yet but there’s enough here to suggest that it’ll get there, a show that’s flying low but could ultimately soar.

It’s stocked with action scenes, instead of sitcom homages, and while twists and turns will certainly be a part of the six-episode rollout, this isn’t a mystery box show. It’s a buddy flick, mostly running on autopilot.