Review: Avengers: EMH “Winter Soldier”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The (not) secrets of the Winter Soldier revealed! Since the first episode of Avengers that featured Cap we were teased with the appearance of the Winter Soldier. One of the most legitimately cool characters in Marvel comics today. What we finally get as far as an origin is somewhat similar but does differ in many respects. And while this episode does have the Red Skull in it its obvious its less about the Skull and more about how he has affected Captain America and Bucky respectively.

There are technically two stories here one that follows Captain America and the Winter Soldier and another with the rest of the Avengers. The “Sleepers” are the supposed threat of this episode. Giant robots that are somehow basically invulnerable without ever explaining why or how. They are the Skull’s contingency plan in the event his brilliant plot as Dell Rusk failed. That’s right the semi-intelligent plan he threw away just to gloat at Captain America face to face. If that wasn’t stupid enough the final group of Sleeper robots combine to what i like to call the Skulltronic. A voltron like gestalt robot that is just ridiculously stupid looking and stronger than all the Avengers put together.

In the end we are left pretty much where we started out. The Red Skull is back in custody the day is saved and the Winter Soldier makes a cool exit. There are a few cool moments that we learn from Nick Fury in this episode mostly brief stuff about the Soldier’s career including how he was responsible for Nick losing his eye. On a side note i would like to point out that the new S.H.I.E.L.D base on Hydra Island is basically the worst guarded military complex on the planet. There is another example of why i believe this coming up in “The Deadliest Man Alive”.

Final Score for “Winter Soldier” 3 out of 5.

Review: Avengers: EMH “Code Red”

 

 

 

 

 

 

A foe from Captain America’s past finally catches up to him in “Code Red”. This episode is bitter sweet for many reasons. I have personally been waiting with great anticipation for the Red Skull to return. The story is an obvious rush job which really works against it. There is no way that anyone could excuse the rapid pace that this episode unfolds in. This should have been an arc that was part of a larger season similar to the way season 1 was broken down. Instead its a single episode that barely had any set up and that’s what works against it the most.

The largest plot hole is the most apparent from a story stand point. The Red Skull has been working in secret the entire time Captain America was frozen and during his time with the Avengers. He has 50 plus years of preparation and countless resources at his disposal. Instead of continuing to build up his forces and simply working slowly to discredit the Avengers standing he decides to throw it all away on a direct attack. One that clues Captain America off instantly that the Skull has returned. He even goes as far as to bring Captain America to the pentagon to gloat directly to his face.

With the proper development and seeding this should have been THE defining Arc for Captain America and maybe the show in general. Instead it was an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. Final Score 2 out of 5.