The finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuts this weekend, bringing an end to an action-packed and genuinely surprising Marvel Studios adventure. The Disney+ series has introduced a number on interesting characters while showcasing the journey of Sam Wilson/The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) — some returning veterans in the MCU, and others new faces entirely. The newest and most unexpected face arrived in the series’ fifth episode, when Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus made a surprise appearance as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a fan-favorite character who becomes Madame Hydra in the comics. The arrival of Valentina was definitely unexpected for Marvel fans, many of whom were quick to research her Marvel Comics history. In a recent interview with The Toronto Sun, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland revealed her own familiarity with Valentina prior to working on the series.
