By Anne Collier Phillips

Disney Plus’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TFATWS) is the second television show released out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four, along with WandaVision, which aired this past January. 

Image credit: Disney Plus/Marvel.

TFATWS is the six-episode continuation of the story of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, two of Steve Rogers’ best friends. Steve Rogers, or Captain America, is played by Chris Evans in all of the Marvel films.  

Sebastian Stan plays Bucky Barnes, commonly known as the Winter Soldier, but he has since shed that name after breaking apart from S.H.I.E.L.D., an organization discovered to be under the influence of HYDRA during Captain America: The Winter Soldier. We see Bucky first in Captain America: The First Avenger simply as Cap’s best friend, an American soldier from Brooklyn. Then he first appears as the Winter Soldier in The Winter Soldier while working under HYDRA’s influence. Bucky Barnes is also in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. 

The Falcon, commonly known as Sam Wilson, is played by actor Anthony Mackie. Mackie’s character Falcon has been in multiple Marvel movies and is mostly considered a sidekick to Steve Rogers. He was first introduced in The Winter Soldier, where he met Rogers in the iconic “on your left” scene. He then also appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. 

The show begins with Sam handing off the shield to a member at the Smithsonian to be put on display, along with Cap’s suit and images of his life. This scene sadly alludes to the fact that the older Steve Rogers we see at the end of Avengers: Endgame passed away. My heart broke when this realization came to mind… a Marvel world without Captain America. 

We then see Bucky with his therapist, where they are discussing a list of people Bucky has that he needs to either make amends with for killing a loved one as the Winter Soldier, or people who worked under HYDRA and still have not been caught for their actions. 

I do have to make this an opinion article so I will include this statement… Chris Evans is the best Captain America. Thank you, and goodnight.

Wyatt Russell as John Walker. Photo credit: Hollywood Life.

I’ll begin my argument by saying Wyatt Russell, who plays Captain America in TFATWS, does not have the coveted “Americas Ass,” the name given to Chris Evans’ behind when Paul Rudd, who plays Antman, said “I think you look great, Cap. As far as I’m concerned, that’s America’s ass.” Russel’s John Walker is the *insert extreme air quotes* “new Captain America.” It physically pains me to call John Walker “Captain America.” The argument that Russell is, in fact, a great actor and person is valid, since only good actors have the ability to make you hate their character. 

Problems I have with John Walker include the following: he is a government puppet; he was chosen based off of his Army medals and not based off his character, like Steve Rogers; and he has the idea that he is deserving of the title “Captain America.” Going along with his more hot-headed character, John Walker’s Captain America suit does not have any white on it, while Steve’s did. White is most commonly a symbol of purity, and John Walker does not have that. 

Sam Wilson’s Captain America suit. Photo credit: Disney/Marvel.

Sam Wilson, however, is an equally exceptional Captain America to Steve Rogers. He has a very kind heart, is level-headed, and is a fantastic leader. Another thing that helps him appear more humane is that he does not have a super soldier serum. While this enhances your strength and body, it also enhances emotions felt in the mind. I think Sam would have no trouble with his emotions being enhanced, just like Steve Rogers, but it gives him more of an appeal to the people who don’t trust the serum after seeing the negative effects. 

Sam’s suit is the coolest thing I have seen since Wanda Maximoff got her new Scarlet Witch suit. It is much more similar to Steve’s suit. There is much more white in the suit compared to John Walker’s, as Sam does have that pure quality to him. The typical American red and blue is all around his suit, and thankfully Sam’s wings are kept in the suit design. The wings really set him apart from the other characters, and this way Sam’s two characters, Captain America and Falcon, can be as one. After his practice with the shield during episode five, it shows that Steve gave it to the right person.