Falcon’s current activities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as seen in the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier dangerously mirror those of Bucky when he was the Winter Soldier – here’s how. The MCU is ready for a new era of content now that the Infinity Saga is over, and its highly anticipated Phase 4 has officially begun with the TV series WandaVision. What makes this new wave so exciting is that it will not only cover the movie side of this universe but also TV/streaming, and now that WandaVision came to an end, Marvel fans will now catch up with Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Set a couple of months after the events of Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) as he goes through some personal struggles and professional ones as well as he decides whether or not to take on the mantle of Captain America, and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who even though went through a healing process in Wakanda, is still dealing with his past demons from his time as the Winter Soldier. The two will team up to bring down a group known as the Flag-Smashers, along with other threats as is Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl).
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 1 was all about catching up with the title characters, and while Bucky goes to therapy and does his best to make amends with the people he hurt during his Winter Soldier days, Sam is going through some family issues while he continues his work as a superhero. Sam is currently working with the U.S. Air Force and was sent on a mission to Tunisia to stop Georges Batroc and the terrorist group LAF who hijacked a plane and took an Air Force officer hostage. The scene was action-filled and saw Sam fighting Batroc and company and killing some of the terrorists, but this new phase in Falcon’s career as a superhero can have dangerous repercussions, as it mirrors that of Bucky’s Winter Soldier days.
Falcon is now pretty much a mercenary or hired gun for the government and its shadier deeds, and has been killing without remorse – he killed terrorists this time, but it’s unknown what he has done between Endgame and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Bucky as the Winter Soldier was used for some of HYDRA’s most dangerous and obscure missions, as they turned him into a weapon through heavy experimentation, memory wipes, and brainwashing. Although they obviously have different backgrounds and purposes, if Sam doesn’t show any remorse for killing people as instructed by the government, he’s doomed to have a similar history to that of Bucky. What can keep Sam afloat is his family, as he’s shown to be helping his sister and nephews continue working while saving their family’s boat, but still, this doesn't guarantee that he can’t reach a point where his actions won’t be exactly those of a hero.
It’s yet to be seen what other missions Falcon will be sent on in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's upcoming episodes and how well he will work with Bucky in a world post-Thanos, post-Iron Man, and post-Steve Rogers, and most importantly, they can help each other overcome their respective darkness: Sam and his actions mirroring those of the Winter Soldier, and Bucky with his past demons and trauma from his Winter Soldier days.