Right after I saw Captain America: Civil War I can remember saying that I could watch an entire movie with Falcon and Winter Soldier just acting like an old married couple. So, you can imagine my excitement when they announced that we would be getting not just a movie, but an entire mini-series with those two.

Unfortunately, I’ve only made it through the second episode and I won’t be watching any more. It’s sloppy storytelling, with plot driven characters as opposed to characters driving the plot. The characters do not even act like real human beings, let alone the same dudes we already know and love. It’s exposition heavy and it talks down to its audience. It wasn’t made for fans, like the rest of the MCU has been. It assumes you haven’t seen the movies that led up to these moments. It was bad.

I hope it’ll be like Agents of Shield and won’t really matter if I skip it, cause I didn’t watch that shit either. Anyway, I could go on and on about why I don’t like Falcon and The Winter Soldier, but instead, I want to look at a single scene in my favorite MCU movie Captain America: Winter Soldier that did everything right.

On your left.

With those three words, the Russo Brothers were able to introduce a new character, establish instant chemistry between this new character and our hero, give audiences a subtle back story for both of them and establish solid characterization that ends up feeding into the rest of the movie as well as into three additional films. It took less than three minutes. No exposition dump, no talking down to the audience, just two competitive dudes giving each other shit and then bonding over shared experiences.

Let’s break it down. The scene starts out with a character we haven’t seen in the MCU yet, Sam. It’s before dawn and he’s running with the Washington monument and the Lincoln memorial in the background.

Without any dialog this has shown us we are in Washington DC, no need for even simple location text, we get it. This mystery character is dedicated. He’s awake really early and is exercising at a pretty good clip. He’s in good shape.

We then see another character come up on Sam really fast. Cue horns. On your left. We instantly know who it is, Steve Rogers aka Captain America. We are reminded without being told that he’s a super soldier. He can do everything better than a regular person, including running. He is just as dedicated as Sam, up before the dawn to exercise. And he’s a considerate runner, letting the person he’s about to pass know that he’s coming up on his left.

Wide shot from inside the Lincoln memorial. We know how far Sam has been running because we saw this spot in the background of the previous shot. It’s slightly lighter but the sun isn’t quite up yet. Sam is running. Steve comes up behind him again running really fast. On your left. Because of the columns, we are able to accurately determine that Cap is running about 75% faster than Sam. This is the first time Cap laps him. Sam is getting annoyed. Uh hun. On my left. Got it.

Wide shot again, it’s now morning. The Lincoln Memorial in the background, Sam in front of the reflecting pool, Cap coming up on him fast. Closer shot of Sam and Cap running straight at the camera. Sam’s sweatshirt, that has what looks like some kind of logo with a plane on it, is discolored around the neck, indicating he’s working up a sweat. Cap, in his two sizes too small Under Armor shirt (we get it, he’s in incredible shape), looks pristine. He’s running literal laps around Sam and hasn’t even broken a sweat.

This time Sam knows Cap is coming up on his left. He doesn’t need to be told. He even turns his head and tells Cap not to say it. On your left. Sam tries to run faster to catch up with Cap but quickly tires. He’s been running since before the sun came up, after all.

Cap is being a dick. He could have taken any other route, but instead he keeps lapping Sam. And this time he didn’t have to say on your left, but he did anyway. Like a dick. But we have seen two whole movies before this point that tell us that Cap isn’t a dick. He’s one of the sweetest Avengers, right up there with Bruce Banner. So why act this way with someone he hasn’t even met? Because something about Sam makes Cap feel comfortable enough to tease him.

Cut to Sam sitting on the ground against a tree trying to catch his breath, holding his side. Cap comes up to him, probably after running yet another lap, still looking like he just walked out of a spa instead of running 13 miles. He teases Sam knowing full well no normal human being could keep up with him. In awe, Sam tells Cap he just ran 13 miles in 30 minutes, which is insane. And Cap jokes that he must have had a late start, insinuating that he wasn’t even really trying. Instead of getting angry, being someone who is competitive and just lost, Sam jokes right back at Cap.

Cap notices and recognizes the logo on Sam’s sweatshirt and asks what unit he’s with. Sam is in an airborne division, which makes sense to an audience member who didn’t know what the logo was, because it was recognizable as something to do with planes. It also makes sense that Cap recognizes it, being in the army. This is information that the audience needs to have for a future scene but it’s disseminated in a way that isn’t forced because it’s a conversation that would really happen.

They introduce themselves. Sam has obviously heard of the famous Captain America who fought in World War II and showed up to help defend New York City from Aliens. Plus he runs around in a silly star spangled costume. Sam makes a reference to Cap being frozen. It’s a nice throwback for the audience, but he also sounds like someone who is trying to connect with someone famous.

That’s when Cap, very politely, tries to exit stage right. He’s probably been around adoring fans and he doesn’t particularly like it.

It’s your bed, right?

This stops Cap for two different reasons. First of all, that’s a really weird thing to say to a complete stranger. And second, it is Cap’s bed that has been the hardest thing to get used to. You see this look on Steve’s face as Sam is describing how he used to sleep on the ground. It’s a look of realization. Either he hadn’t been able to put into words what was wrong with his bed, or perhaps it was something he had, but no one around him had been able to relate to. There’s an openness to both Sam and Steve in this moment, where they are realizing they are both dealing with the same stuff.

This moment feels so real, because it is real. The issues that follow veterans after any kind of tour is real. You have to think about who Captain America has been surrounded by. First of all, none of the Avengers were around during World War II. No one has even been to war. Tony was a war prisoner, and Nat was spy but neither were in prolonged battle. Sam was.

But because opening up too much too quickly can be scary, Cap does a marvelous job of ending the moment with humor.

The internet, so helpful.

Sam then shares one of his favorite things Marvin Gay, Trouble Man Soundtrack. Cap actually writes down Sam’s suggestion, which means he thinks it will be worth his time to investigate. It didn’t strike me as strange, him writing something down with a pen and paper, until Cap gets a notification on his cell. He is still more used to writing a note as opposed to typing a note on his phone which he obviously carries with him. He’s still a man out of time and thrown into these crazy technological advances. But he does use the phone and it’s a perfect excuse to end the meet cute between these two future friends.

They part ways, and instead of a super awkward “Hey I like you, do you wanna be friends?” moment, Cap gives Sam crap, showing instead of telling.

Thanks for the run, if that’s what you wanna call running.

And Sam responds with his own “I like you too.”

Oh that’s how it is?

Oh that’s how it is.

Then, their next meeting is set up perfectly by Sam inviting Cap to the VA. Sam says it would be a favor, making him look good in front of the girl at the front desk, but it’s also a completely non-pressuring way to invite Cap to possibly get some help. It’s brilliant.

Black Widow drives up in a damn sexy Chevy Corvette Stingray to pick up Captain America, and Sam, as well as the audience, is reminded that Captain America, as much as he might have real human problems, is still a superhero. A famous superhero.

Then, the scene ends with Sam flirting with Black Widow. It’s very funny but it also makes a subtle statement that Sam and Steve’s relationship won’t be romantic.

Can’t run everywhere.