Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode 1.
Falcon & Winter Soldier examined the positives of The Blip, as well as more of the negative aspects. Equally, the show gave more attention to Bucky's psyche as he embraced a rare respite from war to finally start reckoning with his painful past.
During Far From Home, The Blip was viewed through a more comedic lens. The film touched on the idea of displacement and housing struggles. Regardless, the focus was mostly on students reintegrating at a school that had moved on. This included dealing with previously younger peers and younger siblings now being the same age — or even older. Peter Parker had a new rival for MJ's affections. And the situation was humorously recapped by Betty Brant and Jason Ionello in a school news report. It was a necessary palate cleanser to round out Phase 3 and the overall Infinity Saga. Going into Phase 4 of the MCU, though, the fallout warranted a deeper examination. To that end, Falcon & Winter Soldier continued Marvel's shift in approach to The Blip. However, it also retconned how exactly Bucky was viewed by the world.
During the aforementioned report, Betty Brant paid tribute to The Avengers — both fallen and surviving. She mentioned that they were responsible for bringing everyone back, denoting a wider knowledge of what transpired in Bucky was globally known as a hero. However, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier suggested that's far from the case. In fact, it was presented that he'd generally remained completely unknown. Now pardoned for his crimes, Bucky was, within reason, free to do as he wished with his life. He chose to actively try and make amends. And, as viewers saw, he did so with almost complete anonymity.
After meeting with Dr. Raynor, Bucky Barnes ventured openly through Brooklyn. He directly interacted with Yori's neighbor. He had lunch with Yori in a crowded restaurant and was suggested to be such a regular that they knew Bucky's usual. Yet, despite Yori being an avid reader of the paper and the events of Endgame still dominating the news, everybody remained none the wiser. Even when on a date with Leah and alluding to his true identity, nothing was picked up on. Obviously, that may have been different had he revealed his metal arm. As it stood, though, based on face alone, Bucky was merely an average joe. That was definitely counter to Far From Home — which suggested he should be something akin to a household name following The Blip.
It proved to be a stark contrast to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier merely offered up a fresh hiccup in the ever-expanding continuity that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
