Wondering if you know enough about the Marvel Cinematic Universe to enjoy The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? Here’s the recap you’re looking for.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe took a year off in 2020, but it’s returned in a big way thanks to WandaVision and a slate of other new shows premiering on streaming service Disney+ in the coming months. The next series to debut is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which has Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprising their MCU roles as Captain America’s high-flying partner, Sam Wilson, and former war buddy (now cyborg assassin), James “Bucky” Barnes, respectively. Set to premiere March 19 on Disney+, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows Wilson and Barnes as they deal with the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame and the ramifications of a world that’s without Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) — but with a new Captain America. In order to get you up to speed with the current status of Falcon, Winter Soldier, and the rest of the series’ heroes and villains, here’s everything you need to know before jumping into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Note: Discussion of plot points from prior Marvel Cinematic Universe movies will occur from this point forward, so consider this a spoiler warning. James “Bucky” Barnes and Sam Wilson are Steve Rogers’ closest friends from his childhood and the modern era, respectively, with Barnes first introduced in the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger and Wilson making his MCU debut in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. A skilled soldier who fought alongside Rogers during World War II, Barnes was presumed dead after suffering an accident during a dangerous mission. In The Winter Soldier, however, it was revealed that Barnes was captured, brainwashed, and augmented with various cybernetic enhancements (including a new left arm) by the Soviet Union and the terrorist organization HYDRA. He spent the next few decades operating as HYDRA’s top assassin until Rogers tracked him down and forced him to get the help he needed to cleanse his mind and body, with some help from Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) of Wakanda. After battling alongside Captain America and the rest of Earth’s protectors against Thanos, Barnes was one of many heroes to disappear when Thanos snapped his fingers in Avengers: Infinity War.
