Falcon and the Winter Soldier Ep. 3 Review

Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode Three Awkward Execution.

For those of you keeping pace with the new series on Disney plus may have noticed that while the show started in a strong place with its first two episodes that something was off when going into to third. Now I am not saying it was bad, just off. Lots of theories have come out online trying to put a finger on what made the episode stumble a little, but I would like to share my thoughts on the show do far as we reach the halfway point in the six-episode series.

What I like.

To be clear I am enjoying the show. The first episode does an excellent job of fleshing out our main characters and give them some much needed development. Sam and Bucky both are favorite characters but in light of their support status in the MCU so far, they have been lacking in development. Both actors also produce excellent performances and their dynamic with the supporting characters is strong during the first two episodes, especially with each other. I really like the use of the new Captain America to highlight a truth about the symbol that we have known since the first avenger film. That symbol is not about being the perfect soldier but being a good man. Steve was chosen in spite of his condition physically because his strength of character. Walker is chosen because he is a good soldier but deep down the cracks in his integrity are already showing through specifically in his episode three material. Another character who gets plenty of development is out villain, the leader of the flag smashers, Karli Morgenthau. I particularly like how she is portrayed as a sympathetic likeable figure and then her ruthlessness is shown in episode three as she avenges her friend’s death of tuberculosis by blowing up the guards and workers, a truly despicable act that she justifies as being necessary to make a point. The film surrounds Sam and Bucky with characters who are all very human and very flawed to contrast their own virtues and prove to the audience why Steve chose both of them really to carry on his legacy.

So, what gives?

The cracks formed in episode three come from more than one source. First is pacing. Episode three marks the buildup to the halfway point of the story but is missing the pivotal element that go in that section of a story. In the standard three act structure the midpoint should contain the second plot point which should then set the heroes of the story on a path to the end of the story. By this point all the main characters should be established in the story and the main characters should stop reacting to the crisis and begin being proactive in solving the problem. In a novel there is some flexibility to placing the midpoint but in film it almost always occurs at the fifty percent mark exactly. K. M. Weiland refers to the midpoint as the “turn in a row of dominoes,” meaning that the story needs a punch that changes the course of the events and the development of the characters, moving them toward the goal instead of away from it. In short, the story of the Falcon and the Winter Soldier is beginning to drag, and the audience can feel that something is off. Most may not be able to pinpoint it, but they can feel it none the less. Now this could be solved quickly enough in episode four with the beginning of the episode introducing the second plot point of big shake up/ reveal. In other words, they is still hope for the series for sure but no matter what happens in episode four I am afraid episode three is doomed to “the one” episode that drags.

A second problem I noticed is that the established careful pace of introducing and fleshing out the cast is suddenly and jarringly abandoned. To provide context let’s look at the shows excellent character introductions from episodes one and two. Sam is introduced into his “normal world,” he is still working, doing odd jobs for the government but he is also trying to re-integrate himself into his family after his disappearance from the world for more than five years including the two, he was a fugitive. Bucky is on a similar journey trying to stabilize his life working to right his wrongs as the winter soldier and also to build a new life for himself. We get lots of little personal moments like Sam arguing with his sister about the boat and their business and Bucky drinking with the father of one of his victims, caring and looking after him and going on a date with the girl from the bar. We are not being told about Sam and Bucky’s struggles, we are shown them. The new cap gets a lot of quick development through short but clever introductions. In one det of seems we see he has someone he loves and cares for and friends who believe in him. We see through the interview that he genuinely wants to be a good Captain America, even if he is somewhat off center about what “the job” requires. Slowly though we finally see the chinks in his character, he has an explosive temper and grows more and more frustrated with the problems of the story. It is perfect that we can compare in real time the differences in Sam and Bucky’s approach to New Cap and it further showcases why cap left his legacy with these two men. Both men don’t want to be good soldiers they want to be good men and honor Steve’s legacy.

Then poor Sharon comes along. Now to be clear this is not a critique of Emily VanCamp’s portrayal of the character. She does an excellent job considering what she was given to work with. But that is the problem, her character is not given the attention needed or deserved for the story. The issue stems from how different her character is from the last time we saw her in Civil War. We know what Sam has been through and is going through to reach this point of the story. Similarly, we know what Bucky has been through and going through. Even Zemo, who I will circle back to receives a better intro because we he is A, right where we left him at the end of civil war and B has not changed at all since then as a character. He still has the same motivations and drives he always has. Sharon has changed drastically, one could argue more than Bucky or even Sam, but all we get is a “tell” not “show” session in her place at high town. Her inclusion feels tacked on and rushed and the character deserves better than that.

The third issue can be summed up as a retcon problem. Falcon and the Winter Soldier actually has a lot of retcons occurring in it but this is not to say I have a problem with retcons. But I will say that retcons that change a story element are more palatable to audiences that retcons that change a character, especially ones that change a character as beloved as Steve Rogers. Just think of the backlash surrounding hydra cap back in the day. Changing Zemo to a baron, not a big deal, it brings his character closer to his comic origins and actually goes a long way to explain how he procured the resources he needed to pull off his plan in Civil War. Another example pointed out by fans is the change in the Winter Soldiers status. Described as a ghostly and unknown figure in the films upon reaching Mandripore suddenly Zemo is showing him off like he is John Wick. But again, this sort of makes some sense, nobody knew who he was until Civil War but after that and the release of Hydras files everyone suddenly knew who he was and his reputation would likely have spread quickly. But Steve Rogers has been built around his reputation of being fiercely loyal to his friends. He risked everything for Bucky and refused to leave his fellow avengers in prison. Even after Civil War he reached out to Tony with his cell phone. Steve is not perfect, but one of his defining features is his loyalty. So, when we are told that Sharon was left forgotten after Civil War it is a hard sell. It is implied she did not disappear during the blip and considering how much she would have been needed it’s hard to believe Steve or even Natasha would not have tracked her down and at least offered her a spot on the team during the five-year period between Infinity War and End Game.

How to fix it…

I am not opposed of Sharon’s change in character, but we need an explanation for the change that does not damage Steve’s established character. This would not be hard to accomplish, A flashback early in episode four justifying her exclusion from the avengers in the following movies that is in line with Steve’s character would fix the continuity and help fans understand her current state. Don’t tell us things have been hard for her, show us things were hard. As it is her standing in her expensive apartment drinking with the Sam, Buck and Zemo hardly sells how “hard” her life has been. As far as the other issues I think the show needed more time to breath than six episodes. I know that budget is a real factor for all this but Sharon’s rushed introduction negatively effect’s Zemo’s re-introduction as well, but I think I will come back to that in a future article. All that said episode four has to deliver the second plot point early or the second half of the story will be rushed creating still more pacing issues. I really have enjoyed the series so far and I hope that Sharon’s character gets more attention to explain her character change. I really don’t like the implication that Steve just abandoned her or forgot her since it is inconsistent with his established character but other than this wrinkle the show, with few exceptions, has been solid and enjoyable.

Thanks for reading!