Lately I’ve noticed that people have been ranking the MCU tv shows alongside the movies. I just can’t bring myself to rank them side by side, but I figured I might as well give my opinion on the shows. Just like with the movies, I have opinions you disagree with, but here they are.
Also, I have to admit, I have not seen all of these shows to their completion.
Daredevil
The pinnacle, not only of MCU television, but all Marvel television, and all Live Action comic television. The only reason this isn’t definitively the greatest comic television series ever, is because Batman: The Animated Series really gives it a run for it’s money.
Best: Matt and Foggy’s chemistry and true dear friendship. I’d say this friendship is almost on par with Frodo and Sam.
Worst: Elektra is so incredibly toxic. Yes, that’s the point, but man it made most of Season 2 just unfun to watch.
Jessica Jones
A whole series on rape culture, toxic masculinity, abuse of power, all through the lens of a supercool private detective with superpowers. Also, David Tennant’s /Killgrave Purple Man is still the greatest MCU villain of all time.
Best: Jessica Jones is such a well developed character, played wonderfully by Krysten Ritter.
Worst: Season 2’s mom arc felt a little forced and weird.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The overall story of this show is so incredibly predictable, that there’s not a single plot twist or mystery in the entire show. However, this show understands the legacy of Captain America, and how that legacy is different to different people. Cap is my favorite Marvel character of all time, so I’m definitely ranking this higher than I would if I didn’t worship Steve Rogers, but I still loved this show.
Best: Isaiah Bradley, in his entirety.
Worst: Falcon knowing that the Flag Smashers were right, but still defending those who keep the status quo.
WandaVision
The overall story of this show is so incredibly unpredictable, up until the final episode CGI-fight-fest. I loved the format of a different decade each episode, the mystery from outside the Hex, and the slow-burn villainy of Wanda. What a great way to start Disney+’s intro to their Marvel shows.
Best: The almost anthological style of the first half of the season.
Worst: Agatha All Along
The Punisher
The most violent show on this whole list, this show really nails what the Punisher is, and why he’s so engaging to watch. While the story fell a little flat, the themes that were being tackled, like gun control, PTSD, and the nations support of non-active veterans, are what carried the show, as well as the perfectly shot action.
Best: Jon Bernthal brings a level of work to acting that most actors can’t even touch.
Worst: I literally cannot remember what Ben Barnes is trying to do in this show.
Luke Cage
What do you do if you have powers, but don’t want to be a superhero? I really think this show tackles the “Great Power, Great Responsibility” better than most Spider-Man movies. Luke just wants to live his life, work for a good boss, and find a little romance. However, he finds he cannot sit by while those in power abuse their position, when it hurts those around him.
Best: Mike Colter is so cool. He’s just a cool guy.
Worst: Season 1 drops their perfect villain, Cottonmouth, for a terrible villain, Diamondback, right at the end, making the finale just bad.
What If…?
Let’s see what happens when MCU writers are told to change things up. I dig an anthology, especially one that plays on such familiar tropes and archetypes.
Best: The Doctor Strange episode, which then led heavily into Multiverse of Madness
Worst: That murder mystery episode, watching everyone die isn’t very engaging.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The first MCU show created, we have a lot to thank this series for. Sure, it didn’t have all the characters we wanted it to have, and the writing always felt like they had no idea what was coming with the movies, but a procedural FBI-type show set in the MCU is exactly what we all wanted and needed from the first.
Best: Seeing the boots-on-the-ground response to the movies.
Worst: Who was still watching in Season 7?
Loki
A cool ’50s-esque time travel agency is a cool aesthetic, just like The Umbrella Academy. The premise of the show was fun, but I didn’t love the execution. We see post-Avengers Loki, but we already had all the character progression from the other four movies, so let’s just give him all that back through a montage of what happens in those movies. Honestly, if you ask me, Thor: The Dark World is a better Loki story than this movie.
Best: Owen Wilson dreaming of Jet Skis.
Worst: Loki falls in love with his Sister-Self.
Moon Knight
There are two really good episodes in this six-episode series. Episode 1 shows a really engaging format of these massive blackouts where something cool has happened, and we need to The Hangover our way to the truth, and Episode 5, a difficult look at how childhood trauma can affect the rest of a person’s life.
Best: Spending an entire episode on a therapeutic look at a backstory.
Worst: Who are we supposed to cheer for in this show? Is it Marc the lying killer, or Steven the annoying coward?
The Defenders
You know how for shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc it takes 13 episodes? So then why does the show with four different heroes only take 8 episodes? This show really could have used some more time to tell this story, and why there are DRAGON BONES UNDER MANHATTAN?
Best: Everyone yelling at Danny for being so annoying.
Worst: Why did this threat come out of nowhere? I wish there was a bit more lead up in the other shows. It should have been Madame Gao.
Hawkeye
Take two really cool characters, and take them out of their best environments, and the show will SUFFER for it. The best parts of Clint Barton are when he cares about his family, so the whole show is about him away from his family. The best parts of Kate Bishop is when she is struggling and learning what to do, so her entire training takes place during the opening credit sequence. Also, it’s just as Christmasy as Die Hard, so it’s not actually very Christmasy at all.
Best: Yelena is a treasure.
Worst: So…is the Stepdad a bad guy? I still can’t tell.
Iron Fist
It’s hard to enjoy a show about the best kung-fu fighter, when the main character is constantly complaining about things, and the actor can’t do kung-fu.
Best: Wasn’t there a drunk fight at one point? That was fun.
Worst: I am the Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-Lun. I am the Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-Lun. I am the Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-Lun. I am the Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-Lun. I am the Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-Lun. I am…
Shows I Haven’t Seen
- Agent Carter – I heard good things, but I never got around to watching it.
- Runaways – A show about the kids of villains, who run away and get into hijinks. I think there’s a dinosaur in there too.
- Inhumans – Kind of like X-Men, but they live on the moon, and their powers are too cool for a TV budget, so it all gets taken away.
- Cloak & Dagger – YA rogues get into crime (???)
What shows do you like more or less than me? Let me know in the comments below!
<All Images from Netflix, ABC, or Disney>
The Nerdd 