After eight theory-filled weeks, WandaVision has finally come to an end. Whether you laughed, cried, cheered, or stormed out of the room because your favorite fan-theory didn't happen, the first MCU Disney+ is in the past. Next stop: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Although this was unexpected, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise when you consider that this series kicks off in just two weeks. It looks like there will not be a second season of this show led by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, so it's all or nothing over the course of these six episodes.
The hype will begin to really grow once WandaVision is further in the rearview mirror, but for now, it will be hard to not compare the two. WandaVision was the first look at the MCU's Phase 4 and their first project on Disney+. It became an incredibly popular show and now Mackie and Stan will try to keep up Marvel excitement in this new series.
STAN TEASES MORE GROUNDED SHOW
In the latest issue of Total Film magazine, Sebastian Stan directly compared The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and WandaVision to each other. Stan explained that WandaVision is "tonally in its own world" and that his MCU Disney+ series is "tonally in our own world." Stan went on to say that he thinks they "follow a much more ground, relatable approach" in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
"I think WandaVision is a really interesting, different show from Marvel, and it's tonally in its own world. I think we are also tonally in our own world in line with what the Captain America franchise movies have been -- The Winter Soldier, Civil War -- and so I think we follow a much more ground, relatable approach.
Stan went on to relish at the fact that "we finally get enough time with these characters" compared to in the previous Marvel film.
"It's a continuation of the story, and we finally get enough time with these characters. We never got a chance to really fully understand where they come from and the ability to explore that in the tone of the movies, having the action and now more of the character, has been really nice."
BACK TO MARVEL BASICS
One of the best parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is how different each project can be in tone, setting, and more.
The Captain America franchise has been the cornerstone of the more "ground, relatable approach" as Stan perfectly put it. Especially in the film like Captain America: The Winter Soldier that, sure, featured two enhanced humans with Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, but it also starred Black Widow, Sam Wilson, and Nick Fury who all lack superpowers.
2014's The Winter Soldier is the pinnacle of a grounded MCU film, fans don't love it for the crazy CGI, they love it because of the gritty hand-to-hand combat and grounded story. Viewers who are fans of Captain America's second installment should be overjoyed by the premise of The Falcon and The Winter Solider.
This spirit-successor to the franchise Chris Evans built will harken back to these earth-bound heroes dealing with government and organizational issues. Of course, space-jumping in Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 was fun, but the MCU needs another intimate, small-scale story.
Knowing cosmic projects like Captain Marvel 2, Secret Invasion, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3, and Thor: Love and Thunder are coming soon, it is important to keep the balance with a series anchored on Earth. The return of Baron Zemo, Agent Carter, and War Machine should give fans plenty to theorize about when The Falcon and The Winter Soldier begins March 19, 2021, on Disney+.
