The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review | Safe for Kids?

Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier safe for kids? Is the new Marvel television series on Disney+ OK for children? Read the The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the Disney Plus streaming TV show. No spoilers! #TheFalconandTheWinterSoldier May contain commissioned links.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide

And they’re back!

The intense and hilarious sidekicks of Captain America are back in Marvel’s first ever TV-14 rated show, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. But is this a dynamic duo or an awkward couple? And more importantly, do they keep that magical snarky relationship?

Only six episodes compared to the WandaVision nine, is this new series on Disney+ worth watching with the family? In this The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review | Safe for Kids?, we are breaking down the visuals, the story, and that TV-14 rating for violence, language and adult themes, all in a full parent review – no spoilers!

Is Falcon and Winter Soldier OK for kids? Let’s find out.

The Visuals

CGI, explosives, fancy superhero moves and camera tricks, it’s basically what you would expect from the Marvel visuals department.

Don’t underestimate the 48-minute episode length for packing in the great Marvel visuals you would expect in this live action show. There’s no skimping here!

The Story

Anthony Mackie (“Twisted Metal“) and Sebastian Stan (“Gossip Girl“) reprise their title roles in this 6-episode Marvel miniseries. Directed by Kari Skogland (“The Handmaid’s Tale“) along with Wyatt Russell (“Overlord“) as newcomer John Walker, this mismatched duo of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson team up for a global adventure that will test their survival skills — as well as their patience.

For the kick-off for a highly anticipated six-episode series, it’s the semi painful origin story I was expecting. Catching us up on the lives of these two heroes post “vanishing” aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, we get a peek into how these characters have been handling reentry into society with some back story flashbacks thrown in.

(If you need a Marvel refresher before diving into this series, I recommend watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War and Endgame.) While there are lots of action-packed scenes and some funny one-liners, the story does seem to move at a snail’s pace, with just enough interest to keep you hanging on for episode two.

As expected, be on the lookout for two cameos (one villain you may remember from the Captain America movies and one hero), also a good Marvel Easter egg name drop you may notice as well. After episode one, I’m really finding myself more attached to Bucky’s character. Just enough cynic snarky humor to make me literally laugh out loud. But the supporting characters are truly becoming my favorites of the show. There’s one Asian old man who is LIFE!

That TV-14 Rating Explained

Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier safe for kids? Ironically the last time we were told that a Marvel television series was PG rated (looking at you, WandaVision), we had a surprise last couple of episodes rated TV-14 that scared my 8-year old. So is this new Marvel TV series about to shock our television screens again and be too scary for kids? Or is this more of the Marvel predictable age rating for kids?

Why is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier rated TV-14? The Falcon and Winter Soldier series is rated TV-14 for “strong coarse language and intense violence.” With film ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is kid friendly – and worth paying those Disney+ subscription fees. (Soul movie review, am I right?)

Is this The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Review | Safe for kids? Here’s what to expect for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier parents guide for this first ever TV-14 rated Marvel television series (the whole series). But warning: I only had access to preview the first episode of the six-episode series. So this TV-14 LV rating breakdown is strictly for the episode one only.

Adult themes. Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier sexy? Well, not in the first episode. Hopefully (fingers crossed), Marvel sticks to their low innuendo trend. However, there is heavy use of drinking alcohol in just the first episode of this six episode series. This includes shots and beer drinking.

Language. I count 8 and 1/2 swear words. Two H-E-double-hockey-sticks (once in correct connotation), two @ss references, but the majority of the language usage is from sh!t including a close “sh-“ (hence the half) and mostly said from one of main heroes, Falcon.

May seem like a low amount, but let me put into perspective. In one 48-minute episode we have more swear words than some entire Marvel movies (Thor at 2 swear words and Captain America: The First Avenger at 7). But keeping with the “overall” Marvel theme, there is no use of the F-word (not even once), which is a good sign. But there is one “Oh my G-d” phrases.

Violence. How violent is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier show? In some cases, pretty graphic. I would compare this series to the Captain America: The Winter Soldier Movie. There is heavy use of guns (including kill shots), other weapons like knives used in graphic scenes (some may be too violent/graphic for young children), lots of hand to hand fighting, a choke scene, and visible blood.

***Update: Episode 3 and episode 4 drastically increase in violence intensity.

Falcon and Winter Soldier Age Rating for Kids

Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier kid friendly? This Marvel show is the first one to be rated TV-14. While it may seem harsh with all of the adult themes, language and violence references listed above, what I do appreciate of this Marvel series versus that of WandaVision is that Marvel is setting the scale early.

No surprise hidden higher rated episodes later on and remember, no R-rated anything on Disney+, so a lot of that initial parent shock can be processed and a kid age rating recommendation can be determined early on.

How many episodes are in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? This 2021 all-new Marvel miniseries has six episodes.

What is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier comparable to? This Marvel miniseries is most comparable to the Marvel intensity of Captain America: The Winter Soldier movie.

Does The Falcon and The Winter Soldier have an end credits scene? Yes, the episode six finale does have one post credits scene for Marvel fans.

Why is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier rated TV-14? The Falcon and Winter Soldier series is rated TV-14 LV for “strong coarse language and intense violence.“

What age rating is recommended to watch The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Obviously, this show is not one I would recommend for young kids who are easily scared, not exposed to foul language or not comfortable with alcohol use. Due to the heavy graphic blood/gore nature, violence, anticipated heavy language use and potential dark story line, I would gauge the tween/teen age rating as very appropriate.

Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier OK for kids? Based on my The Falcon and The Winter Soldier parents guide and mom review above, I recommend this intense Marvel streaming series for older, more mature kids aged 11-12 years old.

Recommended for my 12-year old teen son (who said this is the Marvel show he was expecting to see on Disney+), but is not appropriate for my 8-year old daughter. But for those young kids who have been watching the Marvel movies, this show is the same level as the Captain America movies (Captain America: The First Avenger, The Winter Soldier, and Civil War) with intense violence, adult themes, language, and heavy dialogue.

The Overall

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier show is much more what I was expecting to see from the Marvel universe. Unlike the creative, edgy and sometimes kooky WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is very similar to the heavy fighting/realistic movies (since these heroes have less of the obvious supernatural super powers).

What Marvel gets right this time around is putting everything up front early as far as what to expect for the TV-14 age rating.

While this first episode is more of a story setup (lots of back story and detail fillers to help connect the dots), I’m hoping more of the humor, that special snarky relationship between this unusual pairing picks up with the 5 episodes remaining. I’ll be honest, if the hilarious banter is missing, I’m going to be sorely sulking all season. There is NO end credit scene on episode one.

While The Falcon and The Winter Soldier series first episode is pretty tame for a season kick off, I’m already highly anticipating what will happen in episode 2.

For the snark? Absolutely. For typing excessive use of the word “the” in this show title? Absolutely not. Here’s hoping that this short 6-episode series punches a wallop of balanced hilarious intensity that we all could use in 2021. And maybe the Marvel duo that we didn’t know that we needed.

Follow The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on social:

• Website: https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier/1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/falconandwintersoldier
• Twitter: https:https://twitter.com/falconandwinter
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/falconandwintersoldier/
• #DisneyPlus #TheFalconandTheWinterSoldier

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