The Falcon & The Winter Soldier: Every Main Character Ranked From Worst To Best

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier revolved around the legacy of Captain America, the famous shield, and the super soldier serum, and though the two titular characters both had incredibly strong ties to Steve Rogers, much of the heart and meaning came instead from Isaiah Bradley.

Portrayed excellently by Carl Lumbly (whose voice DC fans may recognise as Martian Manhunter in Justice League Unlimited), Isaiah brought to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier a brand new dimension that fans had never seen before.

His story was thought-provoking and incredibly emotional, shining a light on the series' themes of inequality and prejudice, whilst unpacking what it truly means for a Black man to take on the mantle of Captain America - a symbol of the United States - when so many Black Americans have been denied the guarantee of liberty and justice for all on a historic scale.

Isaiah was the key to a past the US government tried to hide, and was instrumental in pushing Sam towards ultimately following in Steve Rogers' footsteps, even though it wasn't necessarily his intention. His involvement helped elevate this series to something deeper than simply unpacking the legacy of Captain America, and confronted the MCU with the real world history it had so far opted to ignore.

Some of the most powerful moments of the entire series had America's first Black super soldier at their centre, and every single one of them was far richer for it. His embrace with the new Captain America after seeing his own statue, and the recognition of his sacrifices, will go down as one of the most pivotal moments in the series.