Every MCU TV Show Ranked From Worst To Best

Here are all the officers UCM TV series, ranked from worst to best, including Agatha all the time. The Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is expanding at a remarkable rate, with a steady stream of new TV shows launching on Disney+ and more set to be released, even as Marvel is rumored to be massively changing its approach to the small screen. The previous TV series were produced under the recently revived Marvel Television banner, and were always loosely connected to the mainstream MCU. Now, the TV arm will make good on Bob Iger’s promise to focus on the shows they deserve.

Marvel is first and foremost a film studio, and consequently they are envisioning these TV series as “six-hour movies,” assigning directors instead of traditional showrunners, but that has changed. Almost all productions for the small screen – with the exception of Moon Knight – created stories or had impacts on future MCU films that followed (or will have in the future). This means that Marvel needs every member of the MCU audience to watch the shows, which has – at times – proven to be a challenge, but not always because of the quality. It remains to be seen whether this will change with Marvel’s new plan.

There have been some stumbles – the studio is repeating old Marvel Netflix mistakes with pacing, in particular – but the shows have still been acclaimed by critics and audiences. Marvel Studios made history by receiving no less than 23 2021 Emmy nominations, well deserved for the quality of its productions. But how do Marvel’s Disney+ TV shows stack up? Here is Screen Rant’s official rankings of the first MCU TV series to be released on the Disney+ streaming service.

13

Secret Invasion (2023)

A major Marvel Comics event is marred by distractions from creative decisions

What a terrible shame. Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion the storyline is among the best crossover events Marvel has put together, and come to think of it, that success was due to absolutely nothing that the MCU adaptation chose to withhold. Instead of a full-scale invasion anxiety story where literally any existing MCU character could be revealed to be a Skrull, Marvel Studios decided to focus heavily on Nick Fury and repeatedly reminding everyone that the Avengers were not part of this story… until the point where all of that was thrown out the window and they – and End of the game – once again became the focal point.

Presented as Nick Fury’s final stand, which would end the Skrull story introduced in Captain MarvelIn addition to introducing the framing of potential high-level impostors, Secret Invasion abandoned two of its three objectives and made the third too confusing. James Rhodes as Skrull was smartgiven his political value and closeness to the president, but the revelation of when Rhodey became a Skrull is ruinous and somewhat illogical.

As for the Skrull story, nothing has been resolved: they still have no home, they continue to be exploited for their powers and are now enemies of the people. Meanwhile, Nick Fury avoided any responsibility, skipped his final confrontation, abandoned the Skrulls again, and returned to space. We are literally right where we started, and it will appear in The wonders for a whole new story.

Secret Invasion was finally let down by poor writingan over-reliance on twists and cliffhangers that were resolved too quickly, pacing issues (especially towards the end), and character choices that felt odd. And not in the way they really needed to.

12

I am Groot (2022-2023)

Lovable MCU hero returns for fun but inconsequential animated shorts

I’m Groot it only takes second place here because It’s a pretty inconsequential MCU show. Canonically confusing (James Gunn says it’s not canon, Marvel Studios seems to disagree), the two seasons of animated shorts provide good fun and more Groot that few would turn down. Vin Diesel returns as the baby version of the tree-shaped alien, with an anthology of stories set after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2is ending.

The animation is good without being as creative as And if…?, and the stories are mostly just vehicles for the cutest member of James Gunn’s superhero team to play with. Season two included a world-changing revelation centered on Groot’s true power level, but elsewhere the stakes are no more challenging than Groot’s attempts to buy ice cream. Still, the MCU can’t be static and homogeneous, and there’s definitely value in aiming releases directly at kids (even if it’s a confusing gateway into a trilogy of films they absolutely shouldn’t watch).

11

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Sam Wilson struggles with Captain America’s legacy, while Bucky struggles with his own past

Starring Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored the consequences of Thanos’ snap and saw Falcon finally accept his role as the new Captain America. Stylistically similar to Captain America: The Winter SoldierThis spy drama sent its titular heroes on a globe-trotting adventure as they attempted to defeat a group of terrorists known as the Flag-Smashers. Meanwhile, a shadowy presence has emerged in the background, the mysterious Power Broker – ultimately revealed to be Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter, performing a heel turn of sorts.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier it was undermined by a kind of numbers-based conspiracy; the Power Broker reveal was overly signaled, meaning most viewers discovered the truth as soon as Sharon Carter entered the picture. The show’s political message was underdevelopedto the extent that there was even debate over whether some scenes meant to demonstrate systemic racism actually achieved their goal in the first place.

And the Flag-Smashers just didn’t work well, with Marvel initially making them feel very likable and then carrying out an act of villainy that seemed out of character, before abruptly killing them off. Erin Kellyman’s Karli Morgenthau felt like she was killed off simply because Marvel had no long-term plans for her, not because it worked narratively.

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Still, despite all these criticisms that have to be made, the fact remains that Falcon and Winter Soldier it was a success. The performances were excellent – ​​especially from the two leads – and the narrative works well in the new showing. The Disney+ series was bold enough to explore themes of social justice and dared to rewrite the story of Captain America by introducing Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, the forgotten black super soldier.

10

And if…? (2021-present)

Marvel’s Multiverse Animated Adventures Look Great, But Struggle With Consistency

Marvel Studios’ first animated series, And if…? took advantage of the MCU’s nascent multiverse to explore branching timelines where history unfolded differently. Over the course of both seasons, the episodes varied greatly in quality; some were fascinating character studies, and others riffs dragon ball to send Thor and Captain Marvel into an intercontinental brawl.

And if…? Season 1 builds to a thrilling climaxwith the Watcher unwittingly releasing an Infinity Stone-powered version of Ultron into the multiverse and rallying the Guardians of the Multiverse to stop him. But the program never really seemed to live up to its potential, its weaknesses demonstrated by the conceptually similar but far superior Star Wars Visions – which was released at the same time as an episode of And if…?making the contrast particularly noticeable.

And if…? the second season went further, advancing both the good and the bad of the animated show. Some episodes – like the Die Hard-riffing Christmas episode centered on Happy Hogan saving Avengers Tower from Justin Hammer and the introduction of Mohawk hero Kahhori – are very good, while others don’t really justify their existence. The show is entertaining enough without really justifying its own What If concept: it would be better if the side stories actually tied into real events in the MCU. With season 3 confirmed, there is still hope that the stories can match the quality of the excellent animation.

9

She-Hulk: Lawyer (2022)

An expensive but hated debut for She-Hulk that sets up a promising future

She-Hulk: Lawyer It felt like one of the few MCU TV shows to fully understand the difference between a movie and a TV series. Tatiana Maslany was perfectly cast as the titular She-Hulk, aka Jennifer Walters – Bruce Banner’s cousin, who gains her own Hulk powers when she’s exposed to Bruce’s blood.

She-Hulk: Lawyer did a good job developing its secondary charactersusing a fairly traditional AB plot structure which is, however, quite uncommon in the MCU. Unfortunately, as fun as the series may have been, it also feels thematically disjointed; this was particularly visible in the finale, when Jennifer Walters’ emotional arc was sidelined in favor of She-Hulk breaking the fourth wall.

There is a strange sense of self-consciousness in She-Hulk: Lawyerbut it’s actually treated quite negatively, as if the show knows what it is – and isn’t sure it likes it. The Disney+ TV series is overly reliant on cameos, and yet it sees Jennifer Walters continually emphasize her ownership of the story. Tthe focus is apparently on how Jennifer accepts that she is She-Hulk and Jen, and yet it is unclear how this resolution is reachedwith viewers told this verbatim in the final episode rather than actually seeing it happen.

While some individual episodes are among the MCU’s best to date, others just don’t work. Unfortunately, most viewers will remember She-Hulk for its “World War Hulk” setup rather than a strong entrance in its own right.

8

Echo (2024)

2024’s opening miniseries achieves its best, but suffers from poor pacing and editing

On paper, Marvel’s first release of 2024, EchoIt was probably a tough sell. A spin-off of a spin-off (after Maya Lopez’s story began in Hawkeye, of course), the show was considered enough of a challenge for the studio to warrant a release model completely different from all other live-action MCU TV shows.

Dropping all at once on Disney+, the miniseries followed the events of Hawkeye, as Alaqua Cox’s titular villain strived to destroy Kingpin’s New York empire and replace him as the Queenpin. Promising the return of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, Echo It’s actually something completely differentdespite a marketing campaign that leaned on these recognizable character brands.

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Cox is excellent as the conflicted villain, who is confronted with her own legacy as new superpowers that link her to her ancestral home emerge alongside her war with the Kingpin. Exploring identity and belonging as main themes, the essence of the story is very good, but to be honest, it sometimes suffers from an obviously brutal editing process that changed a lot. Plus Kingpin is obviously great, and Daredevil has an interesting cameo, but the successes are mostly tied to Echo’s own journey, and the prospect of his return is very exciting. More exciting, in fact, than it was before the show was greenlit.

7

Ms. Marvel (2022)

Kamala Khan’s MCU debut opens the YA arm of the franchise in style

Based on a superhero who only debuted in comics in 2014, Ms. Marvel was the least-watched MCU TV show at the time of its release – in part because of poor timing, with episodes dropping to coincide with Obi Wan Kenobi and Thor: Love and Thunderwhich consumed the program’s advertising. It’s a shame because this was stylistically unique among Marvel fareand not just because it stars the MCU’s first Muslim-American superhero.

Ms. Marvel It featured lavish cinematography, creative visual effects – including a charming way to present text messages – and a well-developed supporting cast. Unfortunately, it was undermined by the Underground, the villains whose turnaround (and subsequent redemption) felt rushed. Ms. Marvel Either way, it landed well, with Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan returning to Jersey to face Damage Control.

Ms. Marvel is one of the Disney+ TV shows with the most pronounced impact on the shared universe, with the final episode setting up its star as the MCU’s first official mutant. There has been speculation about how Marvel would introduce mutants and the X-Men into the MCU, and Ms. Marvel managed skillfully.

6

Hawkeye (2022)

Jeremy Renner’s Avenger returns to face his endgame ghosts in a strong festive series

Avengers: Endgame saw Clint Barton transform into a brutal Ronin vigilante as a result of his family’s death, but when the dust settled from the final battle against Thanos, there were remarkably few consequences from his time in the shadows. Hawkeye righted that wrong, when Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop claimed the Ronin costume – and unwittingly won over Clint’s old enemies.

There is a sense in which Hawkeye it was the perfect Christmas foodrelatively lighthearted and with much lower stakes than typical Marvel movies and TV shows, even ending with a Christmas dinner. The dynamic between Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld was tremendous, with both partners effective.

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Most viewers will remember Hawkeye because of its impact on MCU lore, because it features the return of Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin – the character he played in the old Marvel Netflix TV shows, which have been subtly implied to be MCU canon once again. While D’Onofrio played the role as well as ever Kingpin’s introduction was a little too well-signed, meaning the villain reveal lacked impact. Hawkeye served as a launching pad for Alaqua Cox’s Echo, a member of Kingpin’s family betrayed by Wilson Fisk; she’ll get her own spinoff, though it’s unclear what direction Marvel will take her story.

5

Moon Knight (2022)

Oscar Isaac Shines in Marvel’s Ultraviolent Meditation on Trauma

Moon Knight is the perfect example of a show that stepped out of its MCU Disney+ TV show comfort zone to produce something unusual and special. Marc Spector’s exploits feel remarkably disconnected from the mainstream MCU; you can only find out where he is in the MCU timeline because of the phases of the moon.

Moon Knight’s Dissociative Identity Disorder makes portraying the character a real challenge for star Oscar Isaac, who has to switch from Steven Grant to Marc Spector quickly – sometimes in the same scene. Moon Knight explores Egyptian mythology and the supernatural, and the show is full of inventive twists, many of which are taken directly from the comics.

Many of the Disney+ TV shows struggle to reach their destination, with disappointing endings. While Moon KnightWhile the ending feels a little rushed in places, it’s thematically strong and notable for the transformation of May Calamawy’s Layla into a superhero in her own right, the Scarlet Scarab, who truly deserves her own spinoff. The post-credits scene picks up the last loose end and turns it into a setup for the character’s future – a final, deft twist that makes it truly worth it.

4

Agatha All the Time (2024)

The MCU’s First WandaVision Spin-Off Told a Surprisingly Good Story

On paper, we probably didn’t need it Agatha all the time exists, but after the nine episodes aired on Disney+, there can be few complaints with the assessment that showrunner Jac Schaeffer is one of the most talented storytellers currently working under the MCU umbrella. Built on 2021’s bold and creative style WandaVisionthe scariest, cookie The spin-off reunites Marvel fans with Kathryn Hahn’s charming antihero Agatha Harkness as she deals with the fallout from Wanda’s Westview spell.

Taking incredibly well-observed pop culture references and the same kind of irresistible mystery box storytelling that made WandaVision a high point for the MCU, Agatha all the time is the perfect response to anyone suggesting that Marvel needs to stop making such violent changes. The show not only expands on the Scarlet Witch Saga – boldly without her presence – but also adds in-depth context to Agatha as a character, as well as creating another gripping MCU story without the usual accusations of looking too far ahead.

There are very few things to complain about in good faithwith Hahn’s performance – as well as Joe Locke (as Billy Maximoff) and Aubrey Plaza (as Rio Vidal) – standing out impressively. It’s hard not to overemphasize how good the storytelling here is: it’s mature, funny, and not afraid to delay payoffs in the name of character development, and at episode 7, it can probably boast the best live-action episode. Marvel TV already done.

3

WandaVision (2021)

Scarlet Witch returns in a creative exploration of personal loss

Starring Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision, WandaVision is, to date, the most creative of the MCU’s Disney+ TV shows, in the sense that it’s as much a superhero comedy as anything else. The central concept is handled well, with viewers initially as confused as Wanda herself about what’s going on, and only gradually learning the truth. Smart writing handles retcons well; WandVision retells Scarlet Witch’s entire origin story, with Wanda redefined and configured as a force to be reckoned with.

Some of the dialogue is unforgettable, with one line from Vision in particular capturing the mood of a world in the midst of a pandemic when he asked: “What is pain if not persevering love?“To wrap it all up, WandaVision features an impressive soundtrack, with “Agatha All Along” rightly earning an Emmy nomination for outstanding music and lyrics.

WandaVision was Marvel Studios’ first TV production and raised the bar. So far, most other Disney+ TV series have failed to match it, but the reality is that it’s still early days; The second wave of Marvel TV shows has begun, with the studio now using Disney+ to introduce new MCU characters. The truth is, Marvel is just getting started – and the studio will certainly learn from its stumbles, which means future MCU TV shows should be even better.

2

X-Men ’97 (2024)

The long-awaited X-Men revival was worth the wait

Almost thirty years later X-Men: The Animated Series finished, Marvel X-Men ’97 has crushed all expectations with a 10-episode event that may make whoever is in charge of the new live-action X-Men movie worry about meeting their standards. These 10 episodes may have been accessible, but they contain a huge story, inspired by many seminal arcs from the X-Men comics, with enough originality to keep things fresh.

Although creator Beau DeMayo was careful to maintain the overall feel and appearance of the TAS, the talented animation team at Studio Mir also drew heavily from the anime to change things up. The characters feel familiar (even with some necessary recasting), and the development provided by DeMayo’s eye for history has taken them beyond the original show. This is a more adult revival, exploring collective trauma and more openly embracing the taboo subject of superhero sex.

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The highlight was absolutely Remember It – episode 5 – which married cinematic scale with a deeply painful personal narrative, but, in truth, there are no weak episodes in the first season. The three-part finale delivered, as well as setting up a gloriously exciting future with season 2 already confirmed.

1

Loki (2021-2023)

Tom Hiddleston’s God of Mischief writes his own story at the high point of the MCU multiverse

On paper, Loki was Disney+’s vehicle for Tom Hiddleston to return as the trickster god after Avengers: Endgame. There, the Avengers unwittingly created a branched timeline in which Loki escaped with the Tesseract after the Battle of New York in 2012, and this variant was arrested by the Time Variance Authority. What followed was a fun time travel adventure in which Hiddleston teams up with Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie (another Loki variant and an unlikely love interest). They finally discovered the true power behind the TVA throne and launched the new Marvel Multiverse.

Loki The first season has its flaws. Episode 3 has notable pacing problems, and some plot elements don’t work very well – mainly because the spark of romance between Loki and Sylvie caused a nexus event in episode 4, when it took place in a world that was about to be destroyed. Unfortunately, the Loki The ending demonstrates the central problem of an MCU TV show, in that Loki was essentially overshadowed in his own series by the introduction of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. But there were more than enough hits to herald it as one of the MCU’s best TV shows.

When Loki the second season has arrived, this quality has been adjusted very well. Betting on relegating Sylvie to a supporting role, Loki Season 2 immediately proved that controversial decision was justified. The story of the God of Mischief comes back to the forefront, as he struggles with his own legacy and the idea of ​​writing his own story, beautifully tying up his entire MCU thread. The high-concept sci-fi premise is complex but incredibly rewarding, and Loki the season 2 finale will take a beating like the best UCM TV finale of all time.