The Falcon and the Winter Soldier first reactions are in

Falcon and The Winter Soldier
(Image credit: Disney/Marvel Studios)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier early reactions are in, as select industry members were given access to the first episode, what we're seeing so far is certainly promising. 

The show, which launches on Disney Plus on March 19, will follow Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes as they navigate their roles in a post-Captain America world. The first episode, according to Fandango editor Erik Davis, is "more somber and dramatic at the start" than you might expect, as Falcon copes with the notion of stepping into Captain America's shoes. But that somber tone quickly lifts into some of "the best Falcon action we've seen yet" with a "good mix of fights and story." 

A few viewers called the episode "solid" and quite the departure from the more out-there approach taken by WandaVision, which suggests we'll get an entire series that feels more like the final episodes of Wanda and Vision's limited series. Murphy's Multiverse creator Charles Murphy writes that the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delivers "big, visceral action" we were expecting thanks to the trailers for the series, while also giving " a couple of character moments that gave [him] chills." Certainly sounds like it'll be full of Marvel moments, specially when SlashFilm's Peter Sciretta writes flat out that it "feels like a Marvel movie in a big way."

Here are some of the other reactions to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's first episode:

If you don't have it already, here's some the best Disney Plus bundles you can get right now.  

Alyssa Mercante

Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.

Read more
Captain America: Brave New World
First reactions to Captain America: Brave New World compare the Marvel movie to Winter Soldier, but point out some major issues
Captain America: Brave New World trailer
New Captain America: Brave New World teaser gives us our best look yet at Danny Ramirez's Falcon and has everyone making the same joke
Danny Ramirez and Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World review: "Anthony Mackie's Cap earns his Stars and Stripes in this uneven, un-MCU thriller"
Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock in his Daredevil costume in Daredevil Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again first reactions say it's "unforgivably bloody" and has the potential to be the best Marvel TV series to date
Captain America: Brave New World
Marvel fans are loving Captain America: Brave New World way more than critics as very divisive Rotten Tomatoes score emerges
The cast of Thunderbolts
I'm more excited for Thunderbolts than Fantastic Four, and the latest Super Bowl trailer just proves why
Latest in Superhero Shows
The Invincible War in Invincible season 3
If you think that the Invincible War is over too quickly in Invincible season 3 episode 7, you are missing the point
A screenshot of the title card for the upcoming DC show, Starfire.
James Gunn confirms that the Starfire animated TV show will be Elseworlds like Batman and Joker
Invincible season 3
First look at the legendary Invincible War in Invincible season 3 promises a comic-accurate adaptation of a fan-favorite storyline
Invincible season 3
Star Steven Yeun is now playing 18 more characters in Invincible, because clearly one wasn't enough
Invincible season 3
We've only seen one shot of Invincible season 3's final two episodes in the trailer so far – and it reveals basically nothing
Daredevil: Born Again
First Daredevil: Born Again clip sees The Man Without Fear beat up Bullseye but leaves out the best part
Latest in News
Starfield
Bethesda breaks silence as Starfield fans hope for an update: "We have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year"
The Last of Us 2
Naughty Dog has done it: it's remastered the PS5 controller with a Last of Us-themed DualSense announcement 24 hours after Neil Druckmann dashed our hopes for The Last of Us 3
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reverses roles to show off Naoe's combat and Yasuke's stealth, and I'm suddenly sold on playing Yasuke like a clumsy Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3
Alien Earth teaser
New Alien: Earth teaser introduces us to new cast members and the cutest little cat – and if a Xenomorph eats it, I will be furious
Three RTX 5070 gaming PCs on a purple background
I'm surprised to see some RTX 5070 gaming PCs under $2,000 - these are the three prebuilds I'd buy this week
Let's Build a Dungeon
"They will cancel their subscription and your investors will have your head": This management sim about making the perfect MMO is so detailed it lets you play your own game