The second Disney+ series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially wrapped. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier gave viewers a deeper look into the characters of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes but also featured a slew of other people who could be key pieces to the greater MCU.
Regardless of your opinions on the show itself, it certainly did provide six episodes' worth of character moments. That's more time than side characters would get in a standalone film and it allowed the audience to truly determine how they feel about these people, whether they are the heroes or the villains of the story.
John Walker
As soon as John Walker appeared at the end of the first episode, fans everywhere had hatred for him. Being the man to take over the Captain America mantle for the government and not for Steve Rogers was always going to bring him disdain. Although he was arrogant, the show set him up as a guy at least trying to do the right thing.
Taking loss after loss hurt Walker and he snapped. He took the super soldier serum and when he watched his friend die, he murdered someone in broad daylight. That's bad enough but then Walker tried to justify his actions and threw a tantrum when he was reprimanded for them.
Sharon Carter
A lot of fans were happy when the return of Sharon Carter was announced. She instantly shined in her first appearance, gaining sympathy for where her life took her after the events of Captain America: Civil War and looking like a badass by beating up several goons in a fun fight scene.
It quickly became clear that Sharon was hiding something and in the finale, it was revealed that she was the Power Broker. Fans expected it but the confirmation proved that she was mostly helping Sam and Bucky for her own personal gain. The post-credits scene showed that she has dangerous plans ahead.
Baron Zemo
It probably surprises some to consider that Baron Zemo ranks above Sharon Carter. Audiences have seen him do worse things than Sharon, after all. However, Zemo is slightly more likable because he's just more entertaining to watch. Being a good person and being likable don't always go hand in hand on TV.
Whenever Zemo was on screen, the viewer was fully engaged. They didn't know what side he was on or what he would do. It's also appreciated that he stuck to his values, destroying the serum rather than taking it. Plus, his now infamous dance scene got a laugh out of everyone.
Lemar Hoskins
Considering Lemar Hoskins' friendship with John Walker, he's another character who might rank higher than expected. The thing is that Hoskins was actually a pretty good guy. He mostly seemed to want to do the right thing and never went to the extremes that Walker eventually did.
Hoskins was actually his voice of reason a few times, including when suggesting they allow Sam to talk it out with Karli. Though he said he'd take the serum, he believes that it would only magnify the good qualities of a good person, which is an admirable thought process.
Sarah Wilson
Sarah Wilson feels like the kind of character who would rank higher if she had more to do on the show. Although she appears in many episodes, Sam's sister is mostly there to give the hero something to fight for and keep him grounded. That said, she gives no reason to dislike her.
Sarah supports Sam and is actually the one who ultimately helps him see that being Captain America is the right move. She's clearly a loving mother to her children and a hard worker. Plus, even though she was scared, she didn't show much fear when talking to Karli, which is another likable quality.
Karli Morgenthau
Although Karlie Morgenthau was technically the villain of the series, that doesn't mean she was unlikable. In fact, it was easy to relate to and understand what she was doing as the leader of the Flag-Smashers. Karli was something of a hero for people who were displaced and was fighting for what she believed was right.
On paper, that kind of vigilantism is honorable but like so many villains before her, Karli's problem was that she went too far. She took lives and didn't understand when it was time to pull back. Ultimately, her death helped paved the way for Sam to shine a light on what needed to change in the world.
Isaiah Bradley
He may not have appeared in most of the episodes but Isaiah Bradley was incredibly important to the overall show. He was also someone who audiences could immediately feel for. The story of how he was a super soldier who was unjustly held captive and experimented on made everyone sympathize with him.
Although he's short with Sam at the beginning, you can totally understand why he is that way. It's also easy to like the fact that he takes care of his grandson and the way that he explained his feelings on a Black man being Captain America. The moment at the end where he gets his statue was one of the most emotional on the show.
Ayo
Ayo was definitely not a character who many expected to see in this series. Her appearance at the end of the third episode was a great shock. She could've just shown up and been a Dora Milaje member who kicked a bunch of butt. Thankfully, the show gave her a bit more.
The flashback scene of her helping Bucky showed that she was a caring person who was more than just a warrior. Having a bond with a character who fans already adore only added to her likability, as did seeing her stand up to John Walker and Baron Zemo.
Bucky Barnes
It would've been tough for any characters to surpass Sam and Bucky on a show centered around them. Bucky's journey was less pronounced than his but still pivotal. He was trying to repent for some of the awful things that he did while he was the Winter Soldier.
Watching him do his best in that avenue while also being there to support Sam at every turn made him even more likable than he was. However, he did do some questionable things like let Zemo out of jail and go against what was agreed upon with the Wakandans. The highlight was how great it was to see him apologize to Sam for not fully understanding what it meant for a Black man to have the shield.
Sam Wilson
The main focus of the series was getting Sam Wilson to the position of being Captain America. It worked because like Steve Rogers, Sam was basically the ultimate good guy of this story. He's quick to say that he won't take the serum, helping to prove that he didn't think he needed an enhancement.
Sam is the one who constantly tries to talk Karli down rather than go at her with brute force. He understands that the system is broken and it led him to struggle with taking up the Cap mantle, which is relatable. Sam also showed a lot of care for everyone around him, from his family to Bucky to Isaiah.