FEATURE - The Falcon & The Winter Soldier is like the Star Trek: TNG Movies
THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is like the STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION movies, and you know what, that’s fine by me.
By Charlie Carden
I know what you’re thinking.
‘Charlie, what the HELL are you talking about? How is moldy old Star Trek as sleek and sexy as the hip Falcon and the human staring machine?”
That one’s not too tough; in fact, my partner Todd Oxtra remarked in a recent episode of SECRET FRIENDS UNITE that the show is “very same-y” and “just like the movies.”
It did make me think, however, about another podcast topic that hit our SFU airwaves in recent weeks, when Erin, Rich and I talked about the film STAR TREK GENERATIONS.
Released at the end of 1994, following the conclusion of a very successful run of seven seasons, STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION revived the 1960s “Wagon Train to the Stars” for a new, ahem, generation (dammit, where’s that thesaurs when I need it…) The movie took on the task of moving the characters into a new medium while at the same time transitioning out the OLD franchise from the 1960s, and killing off William Shatner’s venerable Captain Kirk as he falls off a bridge or whatever.
Tell… Spock… I… LOVED HIM!
Did they do a good job? Not so much. Pretty forgettable film. Costume errors. Lame-o script. Sloppy direction--most of which owing I think to the fact that the movie was crammed into production and the director of the film was a stranger to feature films.
So, anyhoo….
What does that have to do with the bulletproof Marvel Cinematic Universe?
The new Disney + Marvel shows (including “Wandavision” and “Loki” and a burgeoning group of new programs in development) are taking on the end of TV series to start a movie franchise in reverse of Star Trek.
“Wandavision” and “Loki” (with only a few episodes released so far) have managed to be a bit more ground breaking, admittedly. While those shows pulled from the MCU films, they didn’t seem quite as dependent on the source material as Falcon and his frowny companion.
But if you scroll back up and read the headline, that’s FINE by this Marvel Zombie.
Wait… wrong Marvel zombie
In my increasingly-humble opinion, I think the six-episode run of CAPTAIN AMERICA (that’s right, I said it) and THE WINTER SOLDIER breaks the TNG reverse-curse and provides some vital character development, drives future developments of world building, and was such a success, it’s propelled this duo into a 4th CAPTAIN AMERICA film, Chris Evans-less (or so we are lead to believe)
CUT THE CHECK!!!
Wondering what I mean? Character Development what now? World Building whosit?
Well, I can’t give you ALL my answers. I was told “write something short, you should be able to handle that, you out-of-practice writer.”
So that’s what I did! Watch the series and/or watch it again. I would LOVE to hear some alternate perspectives about where the series “fits” in the “Cap-a-verse”
Where, you say? Well, on Twitter, of course! @SecretFriendsU ! or on Facebook! We aren’t that hard to find!
Charlie is a hardcore (to the extreme) Marvel Zombie, Star Trek Dweeb and Star Wars goon, since before he was born, past life experience or some junk. He’s been making the magic that is Secret Friends Unite with Bald Todd Oxtra since 2014. He lives in Michigan with his lovely wife April, codependent dog Albus and three obnoxiously needy cats.