6 Superhero Shows That Peaked With Their Very First Season

Superhero shows are more popular than ever, even though they’ve been around for a long time, with a new series appearing almost every year. Besides the many projects from Marvel and DC, shows like The Boys, Invincible, The Umbrella Academy, and Gen V have become popular recently, showing that there’s still a strong audience for superhero content on television, despite claims of people getting tired of the genre.

As a big fan of superhero shows, I’ve noticed they all have different trajectories. Some are amazing right from the start and stay that way, while others take a few episodes to find their footing or really hit their stride in the middle seasons. But honestly, it’s a little heartbreaking when a show comes out swinging with an incredible first season and then just…can’t recapture that magic. It’s rare, but it happens, and it’s a shame when a great show peaks so early.

Look, I loved the first seasons of a lot of these superhero shows – they really grabbed me! But it’s funny, none of them ever quite lived up to that initial magic, you know? They all started so strong, with amazing first episodes and seasons that had everyone hooked. It’s just…following that up was clearly a huge challenge, and they never quite recaptured that initial spark.

6. What If…?

Disney/Marvel

While the first season of What If…? wasn’t flawless, it introduced some compelling ideas and delivered a few truly great episodes, hinting at a promising future for the show. It was expected to be the most experimental season – not because it was poor quality – but because Marvel was testing the waters to see what fans enjoyed, allowing them to deliver more of what viewers wanted in later seasons.

Sadly, the show never quite lived up to its potential. The episodes featuring Doctor Strange and Ultron in the first season were the strongest, while the second season felt like a letdown. The third season was even more disappointing. What If…? had great source material in the comics and hinted at exciting ideas in the opening sequence, but those ideas weren’t fully explored.

As a critic, I felt this show started strong with its first season – it had flaws, sure, but a lot of potential. Unfortunately, Marvel seemed more focused on tying everything into the larger MCU and setting up future storylines than just letting these characters have self-contained adventures. They didn’t capitalize on what made that first season work, and honestly, that’s a real shame, especially considering the show had so much promise and was ultimately cancelled after only three seasons.

5. Batman Beyond

Compared to What If…?, Batman Beyond maintains a consistent quality throughout its seasons, but the first season is generally considered its strongest. It effectively introduced the new hero, Terry, in the premiere episodes, clearly establishing his background and reasons for becoming Batman. The show also did a great job of building its futuristic Gotham City and explaining Bruce Wayne’s retirement from crime-fighting.

I was completely hooked by Batman Beyond after those first few episodes! What I loved was how they kept introducing totally new and interesting villains, but they weren’t afraid to bring back favorites like Mr. Freeze too. Season two was still really good, though it didn’t quite have the same magic as the beginning. And while season three didn’t quite reach those early heights, it gave the series a satisfying conclusion, which I really appreciated.

While Batman Beyond stays consistently good throughout its run—some fans even like the later seasons better—the initial 13 episodes were truly groundbreaking, offering a completely fresh take on Batman. The fact that Terry McGinnis hasn’t been prominently featured since suggests even DC recognizes how special and difficult to recapture that original run was, proving just how strong it was.

4. Harley Quinn

Image via Max

Even though Harley Quinn is still being made, it’s unlikely future seasons will be better than the first. Seasons 2 and 3 have some of the strongest episodes, but the initial season is more consistently good and created a particularly iconic version of Harley Quinn for DC.

While some people might not appreciate Harley Quinn’s edgy humor, the first season did a great job of showing her break away from the Joker and become her own leader, revealing she’s not really a villain at heart. It was interesting to see lesser-known bad guys become part of the crew and to get fresh perspectives on familiar characters, but that novelty eventually wore off.

The animated HBO show Harley Quinn started strong, but later seasons became less consistent as the show tried to do too much. It’s unclear if season 6 will return to the quality of its first season, which was a standout thanks to its focused story and consistent quality – something the show has struggled with recently.

3. The Punisher

With only two seasons, The Punisher is fairly easy to evaluate. The first season was significantly stronger than the second. While I still found season 2 enjoyable – Giorgia Whigham’s character was a great addition, and Jon Bernthal continued to deliver a fantastic performance – it didn’t quite reach the same level as the first season.

The fight between Frank and Billy in season one was a standout moment, and Jon Bernthal’s scenes with Ebon Moss-Bachrach created a more consistent storyline. It was exciting to discover the hero’s past and watch him transform into a tough but still principled vigilante, proving Frank Castle deserved his own show.

Overall, The Punisher holds up well, and season 2 is a worthwhile watch. However, even his recent appearance in Daredevil: Born Again didn’t capture the depth and intensity of Frank Castle like he was in season 1 of The Punisher. That first season really explored the reasons behind his violence, and many consider it the best live-action portrayal of the character.

2. Jessica Jones

Following a fantastic debut, Jessica Jones seemed poised to become Netflix’s top Marvel series, potentially surpassing Daredevil. However, the show wasn’t able to keep up that initial quality. The first season presented Jessica as a flawed but compelling hero, supported by strong characters like Malcolm and Patsy.

David Tennant’s portrayal of Kilgrave is considered one of Marvel’s strongest villain performances in live-action, captivating audiences with his chilling charisma. The first season also successfully introduced the character Luke Cage and featured a compelling storyline with Nuke, promising a bright future for the show. Unfortunately, the series declined significantly in its second season.

The second season didn’t live up to the first, largely because it lacked a compelling villain to fill the void left by Kilgrave. Several characters also suffered – Patsy, once a fan favorite, became unlikeable, Malcolm was constantly causing conflict, and Nuke’s storyline ended abruptly. With Luke Cage also absent, the season felt significantly weaker overall.

I was relieved the third season was a bit of an improvement, and the villain was genuinely scary! But honestly, it was hard to watch because Jessica’s friends didn’t feel like themselves, and they were constantly fighting. Jessica herself was still great, but everything around her just didn’t have the same edge and quality as the first season. That first season is still, by far, the best this show has to offer.

1. Young Justice

The first season of Young Justice was exceptional, setting a very high bar for the show. While it ran for four seasons, it struggled to recapture that initial magic. The series began by focusing on a small team of heroes, gradually introducing more characters. This allowed viewers to become invested in each hero’s individual story and development.

The first season of Young Justice was a standout superhero show of the 2010s, thanks to its strong team dynamic, diverse villains, and compelling overarching conflict. While season two was still good and kept a similar feel, the time skip and introduction of numerous new characters weakened it somewhat.

Although a few characters shone, many others felt underdeveloped, making the limited appearances of the main cast particularly striking. The show’s third season revival didn’t recapture the original spark; while still enjoyable, it didn’t compare to the quality of the first season.

Season 4 seems to be the final one for now. While there’s always a chance Young Justice could return in the future, it’s difficult to envision any continuation reaching the heights of season 1 unless the show is completely reimagined. Season 1 remains the strongest and most definitive part of the series.

2026-01-24 18:30