‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Confirms Just How Good ‘The Falcon And The Winter Soldier’ Really Was

Four years ago I wrote that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was one of the best entries, if not the best, in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Since then, there have been an additional twelve major motion pictures in the MCU, and another twelve series (or additional seasons thereof). The most recent of which, of course, is Captain America: Brave New World. While entertaining in its own right, the film still proved one thing to me: FATWS remains among the best of the MCU.

Please don’t interpret this to mean that I thought Brave New World was bad. Quite the contrary. I found the film very entertaining. Anthony Mackie has more than proven that he can carry the weight of an MCU lead. His Sam Wilson is equal parts wit and solemnity, and each attribute often carries the scene in BNW in which he exhibits it. That’s especially true for every interaction Sam shares with Isaiah Bradley, whom actor Carl Lumbly plays with emotional perfection. It’s one scene, however, that reminds us just how good The Falcon and the Winter Soldier really was.

Captain America: Brave New World stands on strong shoulders

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was full of real-world allegories, from racial inequity to governmental overreach. Sam Wilson still struggles with those notions in Brave New World. President Ross at one point tells Sam “you’re no Steve Rogers.” The barb is particularly cutting as Sam himself has always felt the same. Bucky, however, reminds Sam that he doesn’t have to be Steve, and that in many ways Sam is and can be even better:

With those words Bucky (Sebastian Stan) reminds us of the importance of Sam’s journey through The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Brave New World is the culmination of that journey. No, Sam Wilson is not Steve Rogers. He didn’t have to take a serum to be the Captain America the world needs. He just needed to be himself. Honestly that’s one of the best parts of Brave New World – watching Sam embrace the role, despite the many burdens that come with it.

[Read our official movie review HERE.]

It’s obvious that many people complaining about Sam Wilson being the new Captain America either never read the comics, or didn’t watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. If they had, Brave New World likely would have had a much deeper impact. For those of us who did, however, the series becomes even better because of the film, and vice versa. Many underestimated the quality and impact of the series’ storytelling at the time of its release. It’s hard to do so now.

Captain America: Brave New World is currently in theaters. All episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are streaming on Disney+.