The Falcon and the Winter Soldier -- Okay Show

Disney+ has released its second limited Marvel series: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier -- this time centering around the Captain America side of the universe.

Overall it was decent, but the first three episodes had me concerned. After a strong opening with a fun chase involving planes, canyons, and plenty of explosions, things slowed down to a crawl -- possibly because it spends a lot of time setting the stage. At one point I thought of Beastmaster 2 with its strong opening followed by nothingness.

Also, I was getting annoyed with the chess-piece setup and movements -- where everyone feels like a pawn without much character, and many people exist only to help move the Falcon and the Winter Soldier along the story line -- giving the one clue they needed to push forward.

I also got a little confused with all the jumping around the world, while trying to stay awake.

Or maybe I was just spoiled after the strong and hilarious Wandavision. 

And then when I was about to give up, a major plot twist turns the whole show around, and the last three episodes ended in a satisfying manner. Even the events from the first three episodes started coming together and making sense.

So, the plot? The Falcon doesn't want to be Captain America and gives away his shield to be put up for display. But then the shield goes to a new Captain America -- a patriot with no super powers, but a very capable and determined soldier. Not knowing this was going to happen, the Falcon regrets giving up the shield.

At the same time, a group of terrorists -- the Flag-Smashers -- people who had lived during the difficult five years after Thanos, only to be displaced by people returning and reclaiming their lands -- threaten to kill a lot of people. 

With both of these plot lines, we get a healthy dose of "refugee" and "civil rights" politics -- some of which is a little heavy-handed, but yet reasonable and organic within the story.

And just like Wandavision, it appears to be setting the stage for further story telling in this universe.

My advice -- if you're a Marvel fan, this is required watching. It's worth soldiering through the first three episodes so you can get to the good stuff. Now I'm ready for the next installment -- whatever's coming next.