With one episode remaining,WandaVisionwill soon be coming to an end, much to the disappointment of fans. While the last episode has a lot of things to wrap up, it seems safe to now say that Marvel’s first Disney+ series has been a huge success.WandaVisionhas captivated audiences from the first episode and remained the most talked about show on television while also earning critical acclaim for the bold new direction. Of course, fans won’t have to wait long for the next MCU show to roll out asThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieris set to debut just two weeks after theWandaVisionfinale. However, that show already has some big shoes to fill.
With the MCU forever expanding, Marvel looked to Disney+ as a new platform to tell different stories that were still directly connected to the movies. Originally,The Falcon and the Winter Soldierwas meant to be the first Disney+ series to debut, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced Marvel to reshuffle its entire release schedule andWandaVisionwas pushed to the front of the line. As it turns out,WandaVisionbecame theperfect introduction into Phase 4 of the MCU, but it set a high bar for whatever came next.
RELATED:Kevin Feige Is Hopeful For WandaVision Seasons 2 And 3
The MCU has explored everything from more grounded human stories to adventures in the cosmos to ancient gods. However,WandaVisionfeels like something completely new and exciting for the cinematic universe. It took a very bold and strange narrative approach, recreating classic sitcoms to tell this supernatural story. It turned Wanda and Vision, two relatively overlooked characters, into two of the MCU’s most complex characters. And most importantly, it hooked fans in a way that few shows have. With every new episode,countless fan theories emergewith people picking apart every inch of the screen looking for clues. It became clear that the passion fans have for the movies in the MCU can be recreated in these shows. But withWandaVisionbeing so different from what has come before,The Falcon and the Winter Soldiermight seem like a disappointing return to form for the universe.
Certainly, the anticipation forThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieris incredibly high, withthe latest trailer only adding to that excitement. But it seems like that level of enthusiasm has increased due to the response toWandaVision. While it suggests Marvel is taking these new shows very seriously, it seems likeWandaVisionandThe Falcon and the Winter Soldiercould really not be more different. Judging by the trailersThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieris a buddy-action adventure more in line with the Captain America movies. While there are certainly plenty of fans who would love a six-episode action-packed show, following the thrilling insanity ofWandaVision, it’s possibleThe Falcon and the Winter Soldiermight seem a bit basic.
While the finale promises to take things up a notch,WandaVisionhas been quite small in scale for an MCU project thus far. With no really big action set pieces, the show has still managed to hook viewers with its captivating story, a compelling central mystery, and the development of its key characters.WandaVisionalso seems to havebigger stakes in the overall MCUthanThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In fact, it seems to be the project that will kick off the multiverse storyline that will play out inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessas well asSpider-Man: No Way Home. In terms ofThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it seems to be more of a footnote on the Captain America story.
So how canThe Falcon and the Winter Soldiersuccessfully followWandaVision? Firstly, it seems as though Marvel isn’t scaling back on the action with sequences said toas big as in any MCU movie. Perhaps some big-budget thrills are exactly what fans are looking for afterWandaVision. And likeWandaVision,The Falcon and the Winter Soldierhas two very interesting MCU characters to explore. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have mostly been relegated to sidekick roles, but they are great characters to step into the spotlight. Bucky is perhaps the most tragic character in the MCU and it will be fascinating to see him deal with his complex past. The show also promises to explore Sam’s position as the new Captain America in some bold ways that could also flesh out his character. However, its biggest draw is the legacy of Captain America.
By the timehis arc ended inAvengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers aka Captain America had arguably become the most popular character in the MCU. While chances of him appearing inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieras slim to none, his presence will be all over the show. Every central character in the show, not just Sam and Bucky, is linked to Steve Rogers in some profound way. From Sharon Carter to Baron Zemo and even the new character John Walker. After the long wait to see Phase 4 of the MCU finally start, being able to explore the impact of one of its biggest heroes could be what hooks fans to this story.
Regardless of how it compares toWandaVision,The Falcon and the Winter Soldierlooks to be an exciting next chapter in the MCU. If nothing else, it seems like a good indication that Phase 4 will be trying a lot of different types of stories going forward.
WandaVisionis currently streaming on Disney+.The Falcon and the Winter Soldierwill begin streaming on Disney+ on March 19.
MORE:Will The Disney Plus MCU Shows Set The Standard For The Superhero Genre Again?
