The Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced a mix of excellent and underwhelming TV shows, with Wonder Man being the latest addition. It began with Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter on ABC, both of which took place after the events of The Avengers and Captain America: The First Avenger. While several other Marvel shows exist, they weren’t originally considered part of the main MCU storyline. This includes shows previously on Netflix and others like The Runaways, Cloak & Dagger, and Helstrom, though the Netflix series are now sometimes included in discussions about the MCU.
Here’s a ranking of the best Marvel TV series, considering only those that were officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when they first came out. This list excludes short, standalone specials like Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
19) Inhumans
Most fans agree that the worst Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV show is Inhumans, which aired on ABC. Marvel had high hopes for the series, intending it to be a significant part of the MCU. They were so confident that they even released the first two episodes in IMAX theaters before they appeared on television. However, the show was critically panned, with many criticizing its cheap-looking effects. Ultimately, Inhumans failed to gain traction, though Anson Mount did reprise his role as Black Bolt in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
18) Secret Invasion
Despite having a strong premise, the Secret Invasion series disappointed both critics and fans, especially considering the potential of its source material. The comic book version was a large-scale event involving all of Marvel’s heroes and a widespread Skrull infiltration. The series, however, focused almost entirely on Nick Fury. While the idea of Skrulls infiltrating the government and media felt relevant, the show suffered from a weak portrayal of Super Skrull, the needless death of Maria Hill, and a hurried ending. Though it had some bright spots, Secret Invasion ultimately felt like a significant misstep for the MCU.
17) The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
While The Falcon and the Winter Soldier had some strong points – particularly Sam Wilson grappling with relevant social issues and the dynamic between Sam and Bucky – those were really the highlights. The villains, unfortunately, weren’t very compelling. The premise – exploring anger over borders being re-established after the Blip – was interesting, but Karli Morgenthau didn’t quite live up to the potential of that idea. On the bright side, the introduction of U.S. Agent and Joaquin Torres as the new Falcon were definite wins for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
16) Agent Carter
Following the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, Agent Carter tells the story of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) as she begins her career with SHIELD. Having fought alongside Captain America during World War II, Peggy continues to serve her country as a top secret agent. The series also stars Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, Tony Stark’s father, and James D’Arcy as Edwin Jarvis, who later inspired the name of Tony Stark’s AI. This exciting spy series ran for two seasons.
15) Eyes of Wakanda
Following the success of the Black Panther films, Eyes of Wakanda was an animated series presented as a collection of stories connected by an overarching plot. While the series offered a fantastic exploration of Wakandan history and culture with compelling storytelling that left fans wanting more, its short length – only four episodes – and the way Disney+ released them all at once meant it didn’t have a lasting impact. Many viewers watched it quickly and then moved on, which is unfortunate given the quality of the story and its potential to build excitement for future adventures in Wakanda.
14) She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Many fans unfairly criticized the MCU series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Online, the show was attacked for strange reasons – some claimed it was changing Hulk’s gender, despite She-Hulk being created by Stan Lee in the 1970s. Others accused it of copying Deadpool, even though She-Hulk was breaking the fourth wall in her comics as early as the 1980s, long before Deadpool existed. She-Hulk was a genuinely fun show that balanced comedy and superhero action, and it had some clever concepts. It was far better than most of the negative online reactions suggested.
13) Marvel Zombies
The animated series Marvel Zombies started as a spin-off of What If…? and successfully brought the comic book’s horror and gore to life. However, the show differed from the comics in a key way: instead of the heroes simply being zombie-like and hungry, they were all under the control of Scarlet Witch. A smart move was focusing the story on Kamala Khan, who consistently elevates any project she’s a part of. Seeing her interact with Ironheart and Kate Bishop highlighted the potential for a Young Avengers series.
12) Echo
Despite not receiving much initial attention, the series Echo was a strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Picking up after Hawkeye, the show follows Maya Lopez, a former assassin, as she tries to escape the clutches of Kingpin. Notably, Echo featured a Native American crew and was filmed on a reservation, authentically portraying Maya’s struggle against both Kingpin’s enforcers and, ultimately, Kingpin himself. The series successfully re-established Kingpin within the MCU, which is a significant achievement. Beyond that, Echo was truly exceptional in its depiction of Native American culture.
11) Hawkeye
Though Echo fully integrated Kingpin into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hawkeye marked his official comeback. The series was packed with new developments: it introduced Kate Bishop as the new Hawkeye, brought back Yelena Belova seeking revenge for Black Widow, first introduced Echo to the MCU, and featured the Swordsman, who later reappeared in Daredevil: Born Again. Despite all this, Hawkeye doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, offering compelling storylines, particularly for Yelena and Echo.
10) What If…?
What If…? was a really enjoyable animated series with a lot of creative stories set in different versions of Earth. Some viewers felt it focused too much on Peggy Carter, but she was a fantastic character! Jeffrey Wright gave an amazing performance as the Watcher, Oatu, and Ross Marquand was brilliant as Ultron, who eventually became the series’ main villain. Over three seasons, the show delivered some truly spectacular episodes, making it a great watch for comic book fans and anyone who enjoys stories about alternate universes and superheroes.
9) Ironheart
Despite being one of the MCU’s lesser-known shows, Ironheart is a standout success. Dominique Thorne shines as Riri Williams, the superhero known as Ironheart, after first appearing in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The show really comes alive thanks to its villains: Anthony Ramos is fantastic as The Hood, Alden Ehrenreich is compelling as Zeke Stone (the son of Iron Man’s original enemy), and Sacha Baron Cohen makes a memorable cameo as Mephisto. Overall, Ironheart is a well-made show from beginning to end.
8) Moon Knight
Not everyone will enjoy Moon Knight, but if you’re a fan of unusual, fantastical superhero stories, this Marvel series is definitely worth checking out. Oscar Isaac plays Moon Knight, and a key element of the show is that we rarely see his fight scenes in their entirety. This is because his character has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and when he switches between personalities, the show jumps forward to when he regains control, showing us the results of the fight instead of the action itself. While some viewers found this frustrating, it was a clever storytelling choice, and the series only became more compelling when Moon Knight ventured into the underworld. For years, Marvel fans have been asking for something different, and Moon Knight successfully delivered on that request.
7) Agatha All Along
Following the events of WandaVision, Agatha All Along is the second installment in a three-part story that will conclude with VisionQuest in 2026. The series picks up with Agatha Harkness, whose mind was manipulated by Scarlet Witch and left stranded in a town once controlled by Wanda. Agatha finds herself embroiled in a new mystery, leading her to reunite her coven of witches and embark on a journey along the Witch’s Road. The show introduced Joe Locke as Billy Maximoff (Wiccan) and featured Aubrey Plaza as Death. Agatha All Along was a compelling supernatural series, further demonstrating Disney+’s success as a platform for innovative Marvel storytelling.
6) Agents of SHIELD
Some Marvel fans who only watched the early seasons of Agents of SHIELD might be surprised to see it ranked so highly. The show started by following up on The Avengers, bringing Agent Coulson back to life and assembling a new team. It also tied into the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But Agents of SHIELD really found its stride when it moved beyond directly connecting to the Marvel movies and started exploring time travel and alternate universes. The later seasons became one of the best superhero shows on TV, rivaling anything Marvel or DC had to offer.
5) Daredevil: Born Again
The Marvel shows originally on Netflix are now officially part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). When they first came out, these shows intentionally didn’t mention anything happening in the MCU movies. However, recent MCU projects like Hawkeye, She-Hulk, and Spider-Man: No Way Home started connecting them, particularly by featuring characters like Kingpin and Daredevil. The new Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again, fully integrates the Netflix shows into the MCU while maintaining their darker, more realistic tone. Fan favorites Daredevil, Kingpin, and Punisher have returned, and Jessica Jones will be back in Season 2. This represents a return to more traditional, season-based television for Marvel, and the quality is impressive.
4) Wonder Man
Let me tell you, everyone – and I mean everyone – had Wonder Man pegged as a flop before it even hit Disney+ in 2026. The fact that Disney dropped the whole season at once felt like a white flag, like Marvel didn’t even believe in it. So, the reaction to its success has been genuinely astonishing. We’re talking a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. People are calling it the best thing Marvel’s done in years! It’s great to see them swinging for something different, and in this case, they absolutely nailed it. I’m worried a lot of viewers will be misled by early negativity, but trust me: Wonder Man is legitimately good television, and it’s easily one of Marvel’s strongest shows to date.
3) Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel was a significant achievement for Marvel, and the MCU hasn’t fully utilized its potential. Iman Vellani’s portrayal of Kamala Khan is the strongest new character introduction in years, and Marvel would be smart to make her a leading figure in Phase 7. The series uniquely brought the action to a high school setting, telling a compelling story about teamwork against powerful enemies and a dishonest authority. Vellani has quickly proven to be the MCU’s best new star since Robert Downey Jr., making her limited appearances so far – in The Marvels, What If…?, and Marvel Zombies – a real missed opportunity.
2) Loki
I was completely hooked by Loki! The show starts right after the craziness of Avengers: Endgame, when that version of Loki managed to escape during the time heist and ended up creating a whole new timeline. That’s when the TVA stepped in to try and fix things, and it just took off from there. Tom Hiddleston was, as always, amazing as Loki, and Owen Wilson was a perfect fit as Mobius. But honestly, Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie really stole the show! Then when Kang showed up, things got really interesting, and the whole series was just fantastic for both seasons. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
1) WandaVision
Many fans still consider WandaVision the best of Marvel’s Disney+ series. Released in 2021, the show took a bold new approach to its characters and proved to be a huge hit. Following the events of the Avengers films, Wanda Maximoff and her husband, Vision, were living in the seemingly idyllic town of Westview, New Jersey. The mystery? Vision was deceased, and their lives were presented as a 1950s sitcom. Each episode playfully shifted to a different decade of television, and the couple eventually had twins. The series drew inspiration from the House of M comic storyline, and as the truth about Westview came to light, Wanda—struggling with immense grief—needed to be stopped. The show’s writing, clever use of sitcom tropes, and performances remain unmatched within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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2026-01-30 19:17