By Sofia Palomino and Kevin Perez 

This Story Contains Spoilers

After the coronavirus delayed countless of film and show releases, people are now turning to streaming services as the screens of public entertainment. Leading networks like Netflix and Hulu have uploaded more than a few binge-worthy items —among them, Disney Plus.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The long awaited miniseries, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, made its long-awaited  debut on March 19th and has since then been active every Friday. It picks up after the Avengers: Endgame where Captain America (Steve Rogers) retires from his role and passes down the shield to the falcon. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has incorporated several social issues from this world into the series that reflect some of the current events that are circulating throughout the world. 

The storyline begins with Sam’s internal struggle of whether to give up the shield or take up the mantle, highlighting a dilemma of wielding the American symbol as a Black man. Although it is subtle, and not many characters directly discuss the possibility of the new Captain America being Black, there is a push for Sam to be the bearer of the shield.

As the series progresses, the plot introduces a new terrorist/revolutionist group, the Flag Smashers. As an active sect, they claim to direct a movement that will restore the world to how it was during the five-year blip. This new fight emerged in the antagonistic group’s struggle to revive traditional border regulations. The people that were present during the blip had innovated a new system of life, and once everyone returned, it created problems between communities and countries. 

In a way, this struggle is very similar to that of present-day affairs. It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic and the world is trying to find a sense of what the new normal will be. New restrictions were applied at airports and stores, social distancing guidelines were set in place, and masks were introduced into the daily routine. Now that vaccines are on their way to widespread availability, the world is on the path to restore an idea of normalcy; that includes big events and group gatherings — but there is still some uncertainty on how to get there. 

Ironically, both realities are set with the difficult task of creating a world that has an accommodated environment for the circumstances they are faced with.

The Mighty Ducks

Another mini series on Disney Plus revolves around The Mighty Ducks. It is an American TV trilogy produced by Walt Disney Pictures. 

This product of Disney is also a real world National Hockey League Team, Anaheim Ducks. Founded by the Walt Disney Company, the Ducks have been in the NHL for over two decades and have won one Stanley Cup in 2006-2007. 

In the three movies, a young misfits group is put into a hockey team by famous hockey and future coaching star Gordon Bombay. With their unique personalities they undergo several challenges, but eventually come out on top. They compete in the Minnesota State Championships and even go onto the Junior Goodwill Games.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

Fast forwarding to 2021, Disney has released a remake of the famous Mighty Ducks Trilogy: “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”. This TV series is debuting every Friday as of now, and revolves around a group of outcasters getting together and forming their own hockey team, the “don’t bothers.”

The Ducks are pictured as the bad guys in this new action film. The early episodes of the season heavily focus on critiquing the modern day problem with youth sports. “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” is a reminder that youth sports is about fun for the youth and not strictly highlighting the skill advantages one player might have over another. 

Most of the audience from its initial release, back then were youths between the ages 7-10, who now in 2021, are in their late 20’s and early 30’s.The remake of this trilogy also serves as a remembrance to the past for both children and adults alike. During a time of hardship and grieving due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a blast from the past is the perfect way to bring joy to viewers.