The first episode of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which was released on Friday, has a strange start. It is a re-introduction to two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s lesser-featured heroes and analyses some underlying issues for the Avengers. The episode doesn’t feature Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in a single scene and ends by introducing a new, US Department of Defense-endorsed Captain America (Wyatt Russell).

The show catches up with post-Avengers: Endgame lives. Sam Wilson (Falcon) is in Tunisia one moment, Washington DC the other and then in Louisiana. 106-year-old Bucky Barnes seems to be living in New York but it is not specified. Also, there’s no sign of villain Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), at least for this episode.

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Directed by Kari Skogland and written by creator Malcolm Spellman, the episode opens up four months after the events of Avengers: Endgame with Stan packing the Captain America shield. During the scene, his exchange with Steve Rogers from Endgame about the shield ring in his ears. 

Set in Tunisia, the show involves Sam being sent in to rescue a US Air Force officer from the clutches of some paramilitary terrorists. It has the typical Marvel movie start with an action sequence and we are only 10 minutes in. Sam has to deal with missiles, guns and really need to put his neck on the line.

After the fight, he spends some time on the ground with a fellow American officer Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) over tea in a Tunisian market. Joaquin introduces Sam to the Flag Smashers, a new bunch of terrorists, who believe life was better during the five-year Blip and want to see an end to international borders. Joaquin jokes he has heard conspiracy theories Rogers live in a secret base on the moon.

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The scene cuts to Washington, Sam surrenders Captain America’s shield for display in Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. James Rhodes/ War Machine (Don Cheadle) is also at the event and has a quick chat with Sam. He suggests Sam he should be taking the Captain America mantle for himself. It felt like someone else’s, Sam reiterates.

And now here comes Bucky. The hero has recurring nightmares about his time as Hydra’s most deadly assassin. He wakes in time to bluff his way through a counselling session with therapist Lt Grace Billetts from Bosch (Amy Aquino) and reveals how he’s been spending his time ignoring Sam’s messages. He has been pardoned by the US government but must live by three rules: don’t do anything illegal, don’t hurt anyone, and make amends.

Bucky has befriended Yori (Ken Takemoto), the father of an eyewitness he killed.

Switching back to Sam, he is visiting his sister Sarah Wilson (Adepero Oduye)  in Lousiana— who is new to the MCU. Here we find Sam is unable to help his family business that has been struggling for quite some time. Sarah is considering selling a family boat, which Sam tells her to delay, promising that he can secure a new loan.

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The episode flip backs to Bucky, who’s on a date with a waitress, Leah (Miki Ishikawa). 

The show now introduces its villains. Joaquin arrives in Switzerland, where a bunch of people have gathered using an app of some sort. He is beaten unconscious by two masked terrorists and they are very strong and hopefully the reason Sam will try messaging Bucky one more time. 

Cut to Sam, he and his sister go to a bank to secure a loan. The loan officer quickly recognises the Avenger and wants a selfie with him. Unfortunately, Sam’s last 5-year-record doesn’t show any income and therefore he can’t get the loan. The loan officer wonders if Iron Man (Tony Stark) paid the Avengers a salary, for Sam to remind him that he did it for the love of his country. After this, Sam and Sarah then get into an argument.

Later, Sam gets on a video call with the injured Joaquin, who explains what happened to him. During their conversation, they bring up the term “Flag Smashers”. 

Just then, Sarah walks in, asking Sam if he’s heard the news. On the TV, a government official announces that in the wake of the Blip, the country needs to be inspired again and it needs a new symbol. As we’re told throughout, Captain America is a symbol, a hero for the times.

The episode concludes here but the pictures behind the end credits reveal that the new Captain America is called John Walker, who is played by Wyatt Russell. While Sam was reticent to pick up the shield because he felt it belonged to Steve Rogers, his country has no qualms about handing it over to someone else.

The MCU series is streaming on Disney Plus and a new episode will be released every Friday. Each episode is expected to be 40 to 50 minutes long. The final episode will is expected in the third week of April.