10 most disliked MCU characters, ranked

1. John Walker

I will never forget the response to the closing moments of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier's first episode. When those doors opened and John Walker stepped into the light in a new Captain America uniform, the internet went into meltdown. From calling him "Walmart Captain America" to the outrage over the notion that Steve Rogers could be so unceremoniously replaced in the role by him, fans were not having it.

Thankfully, this was all by design, as Marvel Studios gave us the Cap we didn't want so it could set the stage for the Cap that we did. Walker was merely an obstacle to overcome for Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, as the duo wanted to respectfully continue Steve Rogers' legacy in a way that he just wasn't. His eventual downfall was one of the most compelling arcs that the MCU has produced in recent memory, as it all paved the way for his eventual transformation into US Agent.

Wyatt Russell acted the heck out of the role, while the writers gave us a nuanced arc that highlighted Walker's frustration with the situation too. The moment where he crumbled over the loss of his friend LeMar Hoskins and killed one of the Flag-Smashers was a jaw-dropper. However, it solidified his move out of the role of manufactured hero and into one as an antihero.

This experimental introduction was a successful one, and even though the fans hated John Walker, they loved to hate him. And they will love to do it all over again when he returns in Thunderbolts.