4/5
Avengers Of Shield.
6 Episodes. Starring: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Georges St-Pierre, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl & Don Cheadle. Creator: Malcolm Spellman.
Baby Yoda, can you move your child seat up? Yeah you're cute and 'The Mandalorian' is good, but have you ever become Disney +'s most streamed premiere ever? Even this many people didn't tune into 'WandaVision', "Wan-da-da-vision"...and she brainwashed a whole town. But now what follows the most creative thing Marvel has ever done comes the spiritual Smithsonian sequel to the greatest movie out the MCU, 'Captain America-The Winter Soldier'. Yeah I said it Thanos...go snap yourself. The creator Malcolm Spellman's super spell with Marvel even reference recommends the classic, comprehensive 'Trouble Man' soundtrack like Cap's notebook, because everybody loves Marvin Gaye like Ray. On your left, the sequel to Chris Evans' 'First Avenger' that stripped away the capes (Sam leaves the feathers in the nest for an entire episode here and you don't even notice) to give us a spy thriller for S.H.I.E.L.D complete with 'All The Presidents Men' legend Robert Redford also starred Scarlett Johansson (which gives us spy high hopes for her long awaited, eagerly anticipated 'Black Widow' solo movie that finally comes out this Summer in theatres and Disney +) and Samuel L. Jackson...of course...he's in everything, especially Marvel movies. Even the hostage holding hench, maverick mixed martial artist Georges St-Pierre who mocked that he thought Cap "was more than a shield", before he found out just what it felt like to get gymnastic kicked into next week (or a new season...au revoir) is here. So you know it's a sequel. But it was 'The Hurt Locker' star Anthony Mackie's skyscraper soaring introduction as The Falcon, the Robin bird to Cap's Bat that really got the fans amped for this cinematic universe. And we can see it again in the outstanding opening scene of aerial action that swoops and soars between canyons and carnage for Mackie's shared series with shades of his modern warfare Oscar movie (we can't get over the raw emotional Humvee confessional of "Sam Wilson" telling "Clint Barton" he wants a son) with Jeremey Renner, whose 'Hawkeye' has his own family show this year with Hailee Seinfeld. Locked down in this planetary pandemic. This out of this world set-piece is deserving of the big-screen it looks like it was filmed for. Forget an awesome 'Altered Carbon' that won't be replicated for another new sleeve. Although that like his "fight" with 'Watchmen's' Dr. Manhattan and 'Aquaman's' Black Manta, Yahya Abdul-Matten II in 'Black Mirror' was the future. Mack is back. Just like when he put his hat on and stole the show from the then world's biggest movie star Matt Damon in his 'Adjustment Bureau' breakout like fate would have had it. And it's when he goes home to a fishing village Clint Eastwood's 'Blood Work' would be proud of, or even Wolverine in the comics off-port would call a vacation home, that's when he really gets to the heart of family matters. But it's not all sunshine and sea air. There's dark times too. Of course 'The Winter Soldier' movie featured one more arc for your character. That of Steve Rogers childhood best friend Bucky Barnes. Resurrected and turned into an assassin as cold as the blood that ran through the fans veins when this shock twist for anyone who hasn't read a comic turned over in cinemas. Sebastian Stan's 'Winter Soldier' masking up ahead of his time was like the Terminator, complete with a metal arm. He even had his own jarringly iconic theme music, which even made this Disney character scary. Now following one of the best post-credits scenes, alive in Wakanda for the cheers that came after everything we had already seen in the late, great Chadwick Boseman's 'Black Panther' and the shameful sidelining in the 'Infinity War'/'Endgame' epics, the White Wolf, Barnes is back. The Winter Soldier too in formidable flashback. But it's Bucky's hurt heart and brutally beaten soul dealing with the darkness of all that he's done in all its old haunts and harrowing nightmares that will really stay with you (one moment of 'Homecoming' has him acting up a rage and range of emotions), as you realize that when it comes to the M.C.U. they are a marvel at the human side of these superheroes. In their Netflix defence did you forget about 'Daredevil', 'Jessica Jones', 'Luke Cage', 'Iron Fist', 'The Punisher' and for your ABC's all those 'Agent Carter's' and ones of SHIELD?
Carrying the torch, who's holding the shield though? Who's the Captain now? Sam? "It feels like it was meant for someone else." Buck? Nah that wouldn't really play after all he's done and all we've been through. But watch these two play frisbee in the garden with this thing before we see who waves the flag for these stars and stripes. Slapping five at the Superbowl of parades. When they do get it together however, Stan and Mack's 'Hobbs and Shaw' dynamic is fast and furious. Funnier than their comedic, Comic Con press panels. Peep the one were Mackie roasts a young fan trying to put him in his down. It's like the kid calling him, 'Black Falcon' here. Even when where their going, they don't need roads. Although how about a highway hijacking scene on the top of trucks that pays somewhat homage to the days Dom and them use to lift DVD players (the good ole days hey) with the Nobody of 'Tombstone' legend Kurt Russell's son (of Ego) Wyatt (what a way to name your kid) in really the agent role of his life...trust me? Now Tom Holland's Spider-Man is more likely to reveal a spoiler than understand either of those references, but at least the kid with the juice box still in his underoos isn't here to hand them both an eight-legged, 'Civil War' airport sized beat down. After all one of them is a senior citizen. The cameoing War Machine of Don Cheadle's Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes is however in his best guest appearance since he used a polygraph to tap into Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA'. All in salute and order to show off his medals, give some Stark advice and preview his own solo series 'Armour Wars', which looks 'Bourne' for the '24' hour binge cycle as Marvel rinse and repeat like they do counting that cash in Disney dollars for your Mickey money. The war doesn't stop there either. Add the Academy movie pedigree of Daniel Brühl back as war dog Baron Zemo (there's just something about an international villain of mystery using your full, government name. Isn't that right James?), complete with classic car, rich fur swagger, cherry blossom tea and that iconic purple balaclava fom the comics in a time were we should all mask up instead of suit up. And how about that dancing Zemo? Although the real villain here is the rising star under the mask of 'Solo: A Star Wars Story', 'The Green Knight' and the BBC 'Les Miserables' series Erin Kellyman and her blood handprint army of 'Flag Smashers' (they do know you can't smash fabric right?). Although this isn't an excuse for Trump supporters to take exception at the likes of a real Kap taking a knee as he respects the flag. This in this series of race and politics instead has shadows of the racists that stormed the Capitol in Washington DC (even if it was filmed months before). Even if they did it without masks. Way to get yourselves identified and arrested...COVidiots. Also on hand to help in this crazy world is the daughter of Peggy Carter, Emily VanCamp's agent gone rogue and giving the rouge of Scarlett's Black Widow a run for her ass kicking Russian rubles. Sending villains on their way in a classic shipping container set-piece with a pipe as per all action and we really have a series. And an epic episode set in the fictional and formidable, mesmerizing city of Madripoor in all its hypnotic neon and venom that could give South Korea's bustling Busan scene in 'Black Panther' a run for its won. But wait...there's more. But we'll spoiler avoider save that for the show itself. One were these Marvel miniseries' playing like weekly comics for this one off, one series shot like a graphic novel duet (we need the science bros of 'Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk'), even feel like they cliffhanger conclude with a full page finale every Friday like a White Vision and a classic Paul Bettany working alongside a big actor tease.
Minecraft world building for the first half of the season, it's in the second half that after honing it's craft this miniseries finds its movie like crimson boots with color running the same. A pivotal moment for the shield against an army of soldiers who would sooner smash it like Thanos than pass it with avengance. It makes for a compelling narrative and perhaps one of the darkest things Marvel has ever done (especially with the move to Mickey Mouse territory) hidden behind their inspiring spangled mask of stars and stripes. It's a banner moment for these blockbuster shows that are tiding us over before we can go back to cinemas with Scarlett Johansson (we wish), that next up give us the ultimate God of mischief in the trickster Loki doing the time warp again in a year that Marvel are subtlety owning again (from a constant stream of shows to the final theatrical and Disney + release of tent-pole game changers to come like Scarlett's Widow's peak and 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (that double punch and sick kick on the bus in the terrific trailer)). Complete with a grey, cropped cut and moustached Owen Wilson who looks more like the 'Mad Men' version of Howard Stark than the guy who used to crash weddings and Google internships with Vince Vaughn. WOOOOOOW! And let's not forget the 'Robot Chicken' hilarious like stop-motion of 'M.O.D.O.K.' coming to Hulu. But it's the penultimate, wing-clipping episode that really packs a wallop, as these two talk power and responsibility shop. With its epic training montage getting ready for the final showdown only missing a jogging nephew keeping up with Sam and mockingly saying, "on your left". But how about the real wise, worn words from an old soldier (not Cap, don't have a corany. Although his stars and stripes spirit shines throughout the show) and that classic comedy cameo about nothing that plays for more than laughs on this bass line? And to top all that off for the ultimate 'Pulp Fiction' type cliffhanger what's in the case (Brad Pitt "box" voice)? Oh, just you wait. Because before we get to the last in the series, let's take a moment for Wanda and her Vision. The most refreshing and revolutionary thing to come out the M.C.U that everyone loved like 'The Mandalorian'. Only to erase it after the epic end because they thought the formidable forcefield of a finale drowned out the small town setting. But how about the Vision(s) of the Ship of Theseus? Time to rethink why you tuned out. And it looks like Anthony's fear of this being Marvel's first flop are unfounded. This epic end above the Hudson and between the New York skyline really brings it home though with a stirring speech of substance. Straight to the heart of what and who matters and the black icon carrying the symbol for all those the flag forget...even if it folded for them. Now this is one hero you can really salute. With the coming of Winter behind him soldiering on, this Falcon flies like an American eagle. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'WandaVision', 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier', 'Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw'.
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