In 2021, Marvel gave us WandaVision, the first show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since then it's been off to the races, with shows like Loki, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel and more following. Personally, I feel the decision to expand the MCU to television was a genius idea. In fact, I’d argue that in some ways the shows have been better than the movies because they are able to go more in depth.
With that in mind, we thought we’d look back at all of Marvel Disney+ shows we’ve gotten so far and rank them from worst to best. Bear in mind that being “the worst” doesn’t mean the show was a disaster, because Marvel rarely puts out anything bad. It simply means that it did not match the level of hype and excitement as the other series.
Now, without further adieu, let’s get ranking. SPOILERS ahead!
14. Secret Invasion
Remember when we said that Marvel rarely puts out anything bad a second ago? Well, there are exceptions, or at least series that come very close to being exceptions. Secret Invasion, which follows Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as he tries to stop an alien conspiracy to take over the Earth, is one of them.
Secret Invasion is competently put together. It gets us from point A to point B alright. But it feels awfully small for the room. Skrull aliens are supplanting the most powerful human leaders; that’s a big deal! But most of the resistance boils down to Nick Fury and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) chatting, driving in cars and breaking into people’s houses. Why aren’t people more upset about this?
New characters like Gravik and G’iah fail to make much of an impression, despite noble efforts from actors Kingsley Ben-Adir and Emilia Clarke. The low point of the season comes when these two have a super-powered clash that suffers from some seriously underwhelming special effects.
It’s not all bad. Charlayne Woodard is excellent as Priscilla Davis, aka Varra, Nick Fury’s wife. (!) The two of them have some tender, tense scenes together. Olivia Colman also has a blast as British spymaster Sonya Falsworth. But mostly, we’re willing to look past Secret Invasion in favor of better shows like… – Dan Selcke
13. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier takes the number six spot in this list, but it’s not because it isn’t a great show. If anything, it was exactly the type of show we needed after the madness of WandaVision. It felt like it took us back to the roots of what Marvel is at its core and reminded us of the classic Avengers storylines.
Admittedly, it was a drastic shift from the multiversal madness of WandaVision, and perhaps that’s why it ranks so low. While I loved the classic vibe, it lacked the imagination of some of its sister shows. This was more of a grounded and socially conscious series that gave us an update on Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) following the events of Avengers: Endgame.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced us to a post-Blip world. Everyone is struggling to return to normalcy after half the world blinked out of and later back into existence, and the process hasn’t always been smooth. I appreciated this because we haven’t gotten many looks at how the Blip impacted everyday people. This series takes a serious look at how folks are affected after being gone for five years, and what that means for their daily lives.
Furthermore, Falcon reminded us that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is gone and it’s up to Sam and Bucky to forge a way forward. I still can’t describe the emotions I felt as Sam took on the Captain American mantle; there were chills, goosebumps and pride. It’s such a profound moment to see a Black Captain America on screen. And the best part? He’s coming back for his own movie!
12. Werewolf by Night
As a fan of Gael Garcia Bernal, I already knew I’d love this special from the get-go. His work on Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle spoke for itself, so when I learned that he’d be entering the MCU, I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. Werewolf By Night is a fun homage to all the classic monster movies Universal did back in the day. We have yet to see Universal bring some of these monsters to life on the big screen in modern times, but Marvel has done its part to keep their memory alive.
What I loved about this special is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It embraces the cheesy essence of classic horror movies by using practical effects and keeping everything in black and white. It’s so stylistically singular you might not even realize it’s a Marvel property! Sometimes taking a break from the multiverse is worth it.
Anyway, Werewolf by Night revolves around a character named Jack Russell, played by Bernal. He joins a group of monster hunters following the death of the group’s leader. Things get out of control when all the hunters are given the task of killing a monster in order to obtain the Bloodstone and take control of the guild.
We then meet Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), the rightful heir and estranged daughter of the late leader Ulysses Bloodstone. She shows up to claim the Bloodstone and immediately finds herself pulled towards Jack. She knows something is up with him…and she’s right!
I have to say that watching the werewolf transformation was the most un-Marvel thing I have ever seen, and I was so here for it. It was gory and frightening. I really think Marvel is onto something with these specials. This wasn’t even the best one they did this year…
11. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
What better way to officially conclude Phase 4 of the MCU than with a Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special? As a huge fan of this movie franchise and a lover of the holiday season, I was very happy to see these two things come together. From start to finish, this short special encompassed all the fun elements that make the Guardians unique, and is a great showcase for Mantis (Pom Klementieff).
The special starts off with an animated segment about how Yondu (Michael Rooker) essentially spoiled Christmas for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Kraglin (Sean Gunn). As Mantis hears Kraglin recount the story, she is inspired to save Christmas for Peter, with Drax’s (Dave Bautista) help. Shenanigans unfold, including the kidnapping of Hollywood star Kevin Bacon, Peter’s hero.
What makes this special so fun is that it doesn’t focus on all the Guardians but rather gives Mantis and Drax chances to shine. Mantis in particular absolutely kills it. James Gunn has a lovely way of making secondary characters stand out. Here, he reveals something big about Mantis that gives her some new layers.
All in all, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a heartwarming, emotional 43-minute ride that reminds us why the holidays are so precious, and why there is nothing better than being surrounding by your loved ones who will do anything for you.
10. She-Hulk
What can be said about Marvel’s She-Hulk that hasn’t been said already? The show got mixed reviews, but I was here for it. The half-hour legal comedy gave us a little bit of everything, including She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) breaking the fourth wall. And of course, we can’t forget that She-Hulk officially introduced Daredevil (Charlie Cox) into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, we saw him briefly in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but only as lawyer Matt Murdock. This time he put on the superhero gear.
I liked that She-Hulk continued with the multiverse mayhem the MCU has been exploring of late, but approached it in a comedic way that allowed us to laugh it off. The lower stakes gave us a nice break. And and as a Tatiana Maslany fan, I was over the moon that she gets to be a part of this world.
Plus, we got a ton of cameos, including Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk, Tim Roth’s Abomination, and Wong, played by Benedict Wong. It was a fun, light-hearted show that didn’t get enough credit for not taking itself seriously. The only qualm I had was that some of the CGI could have been done better, but I got over it pretty quickly.
From start to finish, She-Hulk gave us a different perspective of the MCU, exploring what it was like when you’re forced to become a superhero, rather than willingly stepping into the role. If there’s a chance for another season of She-Hulk, I’m all for it!
9. Moon Knight
Marvel’s latest Disney+ series, Moon Knight, is worth the watch. First and foremost, this series did its homework on Egyptian culture and tradition. Not only did it bring on Egyptian writers, directors, and actors to make it as authentic as possible, it also incorporated cultural elements into the background music, the language, and production design. I was simply in awe of how genuine everything felt. As a Pakistani American, this makes me feel very excited for Ms. Marvel, who is a younger Muslim Pakistani superhero living in New Jersey.
Anyway, for those that have not yet watched Moon Knight, it follows a man named Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) who finds himself grappling with multiple personalities, one of which — Marc Spector — is the avatar for an Egyptian god named Khonshu. There’s no shortage of twists and turns in this series, and the performances from Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke (who plays the villain) are top-of-the-line excellent.
While Moon Knight doesn’t rank as my number one favorite Marvel Disney+ series, I did enjoy that it took a different approach. The show has almost no references to the wider MCU, so we were able to spend quality time with a completely new character; it was nice to sit back and enjoy the series rather than theorize about what guest star might pop up. Moon Knight is a wild adventure through the mind of Steven Grant. More often than not it leaves the audience in the dark about what’s going on…and I loved it.
Isaac’s performance as multiple characters is tremendous. You never have a question of which personality he’s embodying at the moment; you could see the switch turn off and on every time he teeter-totters between identities. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before (except for maybe James McAvoy’s performance in Split), and it continually bowled me over.
The future of Moon Knight is unknown, but given the way it ended, there’s more story to tell. Whatever Marvel decides, I am here for it!
8. Echo
Marvel has officially released its first series under the Marvel Spotlight banner, and it did not disappoint! Of course, we’re talking about Echo, starring Alaqua Cox, who returns as Maya Lopez/Echo after her first appearance in Hawkeye.
Casual viewers don’t need to know much about the overarching Marvel Cinematic Universe to enjoy Echo. They can simply watch the series without being in the know about all the events that preceded it. Side note: I’m not entirely sure that is the best way to market a show, because it makes it seem like it’s not very important when in fact Echo still has some relevance and connection to the wider MCU. But that is just me.
In any case, Echo stands on its own two feet as it focuses on the events following the finale of Hawkeye, where Maya avenges the death of her father William (Zahn McClarnon). She learns that the man that raised her, Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), was in the fact the man that murdered her father. The last thing we hear in Hawkeye is a gunshot go off, and we assume that Fisk’s days are over. Of course, Echo reveals that Fisk is indeed not dead, which should not come as no surprise considering D’Onofrio has already been announced to be a part of the new Daredevil series, Born Again.
What is captivating about Echo is not just the story of what happens when Fisk returns to Maya’s life, but learning about Maya’s Choctaw origins. There is a strong spiritual essence about the series; it ties into the stories of Maya's ancestors, who are they are how they make Maya who she is. It is a beautiful, unique story riddled with complicated feelings. There is a certain beauty to Echo that isn’t present in other Marvel shows, with its focus on Indigenous communities and Indigenous actors being part of the story.
I love what they did with this series. Watching Maya battle her inner demons and conflicted feelings about the man who raised her carries us through the five-episode arc and leaves you wanting much more, especially when it comes to that post-credit scene.
7. What If…?
What If…? isn’t the most beloved Marvel TV show but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. This series takes pivotal moments and asks what would have happened if they’d gone differently. We saw T’Challa take on the role of Star-Lord (R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman) and Benedict Cumberbatch play a different version of Doctor Strange, a version we see in the first teaser for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness!
What If…? is also Marvel’s first animated series that connects into the larger MCU. I’m really excited to see the ramifications of What If…? especially after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. We’re stepping into the multiverse and I think those that didn’t pay attention to this series before are going to start to realize that it is a very important part of the MCU’s future.
Even though it is ranked number four on this list, I believe that the future of this series has a lot of potential and will shape the MCU in ways that we haven’t even thought of. In many ways it already has, with Doctor Strange Supreme and an upcoming spin-off series based on the episode, “What If… Zombies?!”
What If…? may not be as game-changing as WandaVision and Loki or as thrilling as Hawkeye, but it shouldn’t be written off as a mere curiosity. There are plenty of fun and exciting moments that we will never get elsewhere (What if Ultron won? What if Thor was an only child?), so if you haven’t given the series a chance, I urge you to do so. You won’t regret it.
6. Hawkeye
What can we say about Hawkeye that everyone hasn’t already? The series brought together two worlds that many fans have waited a long time to see collide: I’m talking about the union of the MCU and Marvel’s Netflix content!
It was a long-standing rumor that we’d see Daredevil villain Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), aka Kingpin, in Hawkeye. And lo, it finally happened. D’Onofrio strut his stuff as Kingpin in the season finale, and while it was a short reunion, it gave us hope for the future. His appearance coincided with Charlie Cox’s cameo as Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home, so it’s safe to say the Netflix gang are here to stay.
Apart from the Wilson Fisk of it all, I truly enjoyed Hawkeye for its action, comedy, and of course, the backdrop of New York City during the holidays. It gave attention and love to a character who often gets overshadowed by the other Avengers: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). Watching him team up with Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) was absolutely amazing, and their on-screen chemistry made every one of the six episodes so much fun to watch.
I don’t think I ever imagined the Hawkeye/Kate Bishop storyline from the comics looking this great on-screen. Hawkeye’s allure increased tenfold once Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), from Black Widow, showed up. Seeking revenge for the death of her sister Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Yelena tried to kill Clint but eventually accepts that she has been misled.
Hawkeye also introduced us to Echo/Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), who’s getting a spin-off series of her own. And she’s just one of the many gifts the show gave us!
5. X-Men '97
In 2024, Disney debuted X-Men '97, a continuation of the X-Men animated series that started way back in 1992 and ended, you guessed it, in 1997. The animation is improved, but tonally, the show doesn't skip a beat. The reboot has the same exaggerated aesthetic, direct continuations of plotlines from over 25 years ago, and even several of the same voice actors. And of course the iconic theme song. It's a nostalgia delight for fans of the older series and a fun new world for newcomers.
If X-Men '97 has a weakness, it's that it's so tied to the sensibilities of the original, even though tastes and trends have changed in the past quarter century. The show may play best for people already familiar with the original series, but newbies will find plenty of pulpy superhero drama to enjoy, as well.
X-Men '97 is unique on this list because it's the only show that's not actually a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (so far as we know). It's in its own continuity, but it still deserves mention because it's a new Marvel show released on Disney+, and because it's just a good watch. - Dan Selcke
4. WandaVision
Ah, the Disney+ Marvel TV show that started it all. When I think back to the premiere of this series I’m reminded of the countless theories, Clubhouse discussion sessions, and late-night talks it inspired. More than any other show Marvel has yet given us, WandaVision got people talking. It was such a blast trying to figure out what was happening and what it all meant.
WandaVision focuses on Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olson) journey of grief after losing Vision (Paul Bettany) during Avengers: Infinity War. His death left her completely shattered, and that pain manifested in her creating a whole new world where Vision was still alive…a world that just happened to be based on the American sitcoms she watched growing up.
I think that’s the simplest way to describe this show without getting too deep down the rabbit hole. I will say that while this show takes the number two spot, it did toy with our emotions a lot by implying certain characters were going to show up even though they didn’t (aerospace engineer, huh?) or by bringing in characters who weren’t actually who we thought they were (ugh, the Evan Peters cameo still hurts).
But hey, it gave us Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), so we can’t complain too much, can we?
WandaVision was a wild and crazy ride that prepared us for the madness that lay ahead in Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home. And we revisited many of the mind-bending elements of the series when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came out. I couldn’t wait!
3. Agatha All Along
Agatha All Along season 1 was quite a witchy treat, and the fact that it ended on the day before Halloween makes the journey all the better. While WandaVision laid the foundation for what happens in Agatha, this series takes the story to wild new places. Throughout its first season, we learn more about the witch that is Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) — who she is, where she comes from, and why is she so dang angry all the time? Much like WandaVision, the series begins by parodying popular TV shows, but after it breaks out of that mold, it steps into the stranger, mysterious world of covens and witches. We meet many memoroable witches along the Witches Road, including Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), and Alice (Ali Ann). And let’s not forget poor Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp).
Perhaps the most fun and interesting aspect of this series is Joe Locke’s character, who tags along on Agatha's journey. Learning about his identity and his connection to the Scarlet Witch makes this series an incredibly fun watch, and seeing his unique bond with Agatha Harkness almost makes you side with the villainous witch who was once a mother that lost her son.
The casting is a highlight. Watching Kathryn Hahn interact with Aubrey Plaza’s character Rio Vadal made this show go up a couple of notches by itself, because they know how to play bad so well. Agatha All Along was a perfect addition to the MCU television slate, and has breathed so much life back into what was beginning to feel mundane and hopeless. We needed a jolt to the system and Agatha All Along gave it to us. It sets the stage for many stories to come in the supernatural part of the the MCU.
The witchy band of misfits coupled with the unpredictable storyline made Agatha All Along a must-watch. Plus, how catchy is The Ballad of the Witches Road? We hope there is more of this to come in the future — give us a season 2, please?
2. Ms. Marvel
While Ms. Marvel was on, I was ranting and raving about how special I thought it was. The series stars Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, a young Pakistan-American Muslim teenager who aspires to be like Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). Over the course of the series, we see Kamala obtain powers through a family heirloom passed down to her. This heirloom — a bangle — gives Kamala powers involving light (“Noor” in Arabic) and sets her on a path of self-discovery leading to a group of otherworldly begins known as the ClanDestines.
Ms. Marvel pays a lot of attention to Kamala’s Pakistani culture, her Muslim upbringing, and her family roots. They didn’t cheap out on hiring a team that understood the assignment; Pakistanis all around the world can be proud of this series. As a Pakistani-American Muslim myself, I was overcome with joy over how perfect this series was, and how much it meant to me and my family. Growing up, we didn’t see superheroes that looked like us. Fast forward to 2023, and I can’t wrap my head around the fact that we got a Ms. Marvel series that featured songs I recognized, a language I spoke, and a cultural I have been brought up in my entire life.
I am so proud of the creative team, the cast, and the crew that made this series possible. They put their hearts and souls into it, and it shows. In addition to the cultural celebration, there is quite a bit of lore in this series that connects to many interesting corners of the Marvel comic book universe as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As we saw in the post-credit scene, there is something special about Kamala’s bangle that allows her to communicate with Captain Marvel. That connection was further explored in the movie The Marvels. And there’s that one scene that alludes to Kamala being a mutant—an X-Men mutant! I don’t think another Marvel Disney+ series has stuck the landing quite like Ms. Marvel has (apart from Loki), and I simply cannot wait to see what’s in Kamala’s future.
On a final note, a big shout-out to Mr. Saagar Shaikh who played Kamala’s brother, Aamir. His wife is a friend of mine, and it was just a pleasure to see a familiar face living it up on a Marvel Disney+ series and representing our community in such a fun and exciting way.
1. Loki
Now that we’ve seen the second season of Loki, it’s safe to say that the spot for the #1 Marvel Disney+ series is spoken for. This is the only Marvel series so far to get a sophomore season, and it did not disappoint. It was emotional, moving, and revealed us to that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is no longer that evil villain wreaking havoc in New York City. He has grown in a way we never saw coming, and is now sitting at the center of the multiverse.
With Loki’s new position, there are going to be many repercussions for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is literally controlling time, and we all know that time and space has been the name of the game in the MCU for the last few years. I’m looking forward to where Loki takes us next, even if there is not another season. The story in season 2 will dictate much of what is yet to come, and even if there is no more seasons of his show, Loki could very well be a huge part of future movies and shows.
Season 2 certainly blew us all out of the water with its moving storyline, and gave us hope that even the most evil of villains can redeem themselves. Truly, I am in awe of what the second season gave us, and I am so excited to see how the threads of Loki season 2 carry us through the next chapters of the MCU.
And that’s a wrap on our ranking of all the Marvel TV shows on Disney+. And remember: there’s more headed our way! Check back here for our updated rankings.
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