Disney’s 6-Episode Thriller Series Sets Up a Defining Cinematic Event of the Decade
Sam Wilson’s path to Captain America
In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson grapples with whether to take on the Captain America mantle, following the possibility raised in Avengers: Endgame. The show explores his morals, motivations and hesitation before he accepts the role.
The article argues that the series handled this transformation more fully than Captain America: Brave New World, Wilson’s first big-screen story as the lead. His leadership is expected to be central to Avengers: Doomsday, making the earlier character work relevant to the film’s setup.
Early MCU shows shape later stories
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was among Marvel Studios’ first television productions for the MCU. The article also points to WandaVision, which came first in the studio’s television venture and provides the basis for Vision Quest, described as the last Disney+ MCU show of 2026.
Loki established the MCU multiverse, which is expected to matter in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The films are set to bring characters from other MCU universes together with those from the main timeline.
Most series have smaller connections
The article ranks The Falcon and the Winter Soldier behind only Loki in importance to Doomsday among Marvel Studios’ 19 original TV shows. It describes WandaVision and its follow-ups, Agatha All Along and Vision Quest, as mostly self-contained, while making a similar assessment of Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again.
Key points
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows Sam Wilson’s decision to become Captain America.
- Sam’s leadership is expected to feature prominently in Avengers: Doomsday.
- Loki’s multiverse story is also important to Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
- Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for December 2026.