We just finished Winter Soldier in our MCU rewatch and I have to say: it’s hands down the best so far.

It might be the best period.

I really love the tone, putting Cap in a ‘70s vibe spy thriller with all the trappings of a modern MCU movie was brilliant.

And the film does such a great job of building the personal stakes in an equal share with the comic book peril stakes.

And Chris Evans is just compelling as hell in the part.

And putting Robert Redford in the role they did was a master stroke, especially with the gravitas he brings.

It was so great that they gave him a meaty scene with just about everyone, like they all needed to take turns acting with a legend.

And I forgot that this was the first appearance of Wanda and Pietro.

It’s just a solid movie. The stakes are right. The character work is woven tightly around an already tight script. The only thing that gets loose is the last 10 minutes or so, but that’s due to the serial nature of the film.

I also think this is the best Black Widow movie.

Her own movie could be better, but I wouldn’t know because we had no leadership during a pandemic and all the theatres are still closed because people won’t put on masks and stay home like adults.

One thing I noticed this time is how the narrative is built to make an unknowing audience believe that Winter Soldier is actually Black Widow’s nemesis.

For those in the know, watching them tease the reveal over and over again might feel tedious, but it’s the right choice.

Watching with Valkyrie, she had no idea Winter Soldier was Bucky until the mask came off and was gobsmacked by the reveal.

It was great to experience that.

They build it with him being a Russian asset, and her having a past with him, and literally carrying scars from him.

To an unfamiliar audience, this makes him going after her in the freeway fight make perfect sense and let’s that audience feel more awe at the reveal.

It’s just really well designed in the screenplay, by the actors, by the visuals, everything.

These comic book movies rarely hit those sorts of well-laced highs.