Not long ago, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made headlines by saying the MCU will make fewer Disney+ shows that will be "further apart" throughout phase 5 and beyond. For the past few years, Disney+ has been the home of small-scale stories shining a light on overlooked characters who never got into the spotlight in the movies, as well as introducing exciting new characters into the franchise.
Even if there will be fewer shows from now on, fans have a ton of them on Disney+ ready to be rewatched. While all of them have something good to offer, some even reaching "great" status, ones like WandaVision are far easier to revisit than others like the recent Echo, whether because of their scope, humor, visual effects, or a combination of all these factors.
10 'Secret Invasion' (2023)
Created by Kyle Bradstreet
After years of playing a major supporting role in the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury finally stepped into the spotlight with 2023's Secret Invasion. The show adapts the now-iconic eponymous storyline, which sees the Skrulls replacing key members of the international community in an all-out invasion attempt. Jackson stars alongside an all-star cast, including Ben Mendelsohn, Don Cheadle, and Cobie Smulders reprising their roles from previous MCU projects, and newcomers like Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman, and Emilia Clarke.
If there's any MCU show that would've benefitted from a full release to binge-watch each episode rather than a weekly release, that's Secret Invasion. The series is a (very) slow burn and features a rather negative portrayal of the aging Nick Fury. However, it has several interesting ideas that would work better as a continuous viewing experience. Secret Invasion has multiple moments of utter genius – the tense stand-off between Fury and wife Priscilla in episode four, for instance, ranks among the best scenes in the franchise. This is far from the best MCU show, however: it's flawed, unfocused, has few moments of true excitement, and doesn't know what story to tell, making it harder to revisit than any other MCU show.
- Release Date
- June 21, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
9 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' (2021)
Created by Malcolm Spellman
Perennial supporting characters Falcon and Bucky Barnes finally got their chance to shine with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which tried to recapture the essence of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The show follows the two heroes pairing to take down a group of terrorists while dealing with the emergence of a new Captain America, whose worthiness of lifting the shield is brought into doubt.
Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are at the top of their game, bringing the same chaotic synergy that made them scene-stealers in the movies. However, the show doesn't know what it wants to be, featuring unrealized villains and an anti-climactic ending that's a huge disservice to Sam's debut as Captain America. Still, the show serves as a direct prelude to the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, meaning fans will have to revisit it sooner or later, even if it's more out of obligation than genuine desire.
8 'Echo' (2023)
Head Written by Marion Dayre and Amy Rardin
The Disney+ MCU universe is already at a point where its spin-off shows are getting spin-off shows. Echo continues the story of Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox), who was introduced in Hawkeye as a sort of secondary antagonist. In this miniseries, she must face her past and reconnect with her Native American roots as she returns to her Oklahoma hometown, where her actions in New York City inevitably catch up to her. The show may not have fully lived up to expectations, but it has plenty of what the MCU needs more of.
Echo is the first show released under the Marvel Spotlight banner, intended to be a label for standalone stories that require little to no prior knowledge of the larger MCU. Echo's story has plenty of emotionally resonant moments, and its TV-MA rating (a first for the franchise) allows it to have plenty of fun with its action sequences, even if they are relatively tame. This, along with the long-awaited return of fan-favorite villain Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), makes it more enjoyable to rewatch than one might think. However, the uneven pacing and the terribly underwhelming ending that ends up amounting to nothing make it so that, even with the fun action, fans might see no good reason to experience it all again. – Diego Pineda Pacheco.
7 'Moon Knight' (2022)
Created by Jeremy Slater
Oscar Isaac stars as the titular character in 2022's Moon Knight. The show follows Marc Spector, a man with dissociative identity disorder manifested in three personalities. Spector is also the host for Khonshu, the Egyptian moon god whose ancient fight comes to the 21st century when a cult tries to release the imprisoned goddess of death to bring judgment upon humanity.
Moon Knight features great action sequences and an impressively committed performance from the ever-reliable Isaac, who made his character one of fans' favorite MCU heroes. However, Moon Knight is surprisingly forgettable by the time it ends, the kind of effort with little rewatch value. Fans who've seen it once will know everything they need to know about the character, and although the fun mythological and fantastical elements offer some entertainment value for those rewatching, there's little to no desire left to revisit the story in the first place.
6 'What If...?' (2021 - )
Head Written by A.C. Bradley
The MCU's first animated effort left a lot to be desired, but it also had a lot of fun surprises in store. What If...? presents alternative realities where one major change led to a wildly different future for prominent characters like Captain America, T'Challa, and Doctor Strange. It features an impressive voice cast of returning MCU actors and a dynamic animation style that goes a long way in complementing the show's showy premise.
However, What If...? falls short of living up to its potential more often than not. It feels rather subdued, which is bizarre considering the animation medium allowed for a full exploration of the series' hypothetical setups. Its second season didn't really improve fans' opinion of it much, but it's still widely considered a serviceable enough anthology series with plenty of outstanding stories to revisit, such as "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" from season one or "What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" from season two. It's one of the highest-rated Marvel shows on IMDb for a reason, after all.
What If...?
Cast
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Sean Gunn
- Release Date
- August 11, 2021
- Seasons
- 3
5 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' (2022)
Created by Jessica Gao
She-Hulk is a complicated character to bring to live-action. Unlike her male counterpart, She-Hulk lends herself to stories that are a lot sillier and campier. She-Hulk often breaks the fourth wall and comes across as an effortlessly charming character that starkly contrasts with the raging green monster that originated her powers. Still, the MCU tried to bring her to their ongoing franchise, and they mainly succeeded.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is wonderfully meta, a refreshing and much-needed change of pace for a franchise that too often feels trapped in its own devices. Tatiana Maslany makes for a delightful protagonist, much more a rom-com leading lady than a hero; however, the choice fits the show's tone, presenting a new kind of superhero that still works within the MCU's confinements. Sure, the visual effects are shoddy, and some of the show's choices don't land, but the pros far overcome the cons, and the laid-back tone makes the series a joy to revisit.
4 'Hawkeye' (2021)
Created by Jonathan Igla
Who would've thought Hawkeye would end up being so rewatchable, especially around the winter period? The show is a small-scale adventure about Clint Barton and his new protegé, Kate Bishop, becoming the target of a criminal gang, a conflict that brings them face to face with a dangerous foe. For those who enjoy street-level Marvel stories full of action, this show is a treat.
What Hawkeye lacks in excitement, it makes up for in charm. Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld are brilliant together, playing an odd couple that ranks as one of the best pairings in the franchise. The two Hawkeyes are among the best heroes in Phase 4 of the MCU, and even if the long-awaited arrival of Kingpin doesn't live up to the hype, the two central performances are nearly impossible to resist. A rewatch of Hawkeye every other holiday season isn't too bad a way to spend one's time.
Hawkeye
Cast
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Fra Fee
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Brian D'Arcy James
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Hailee Steinfield
- Release Date
- November 24, 2021
- Seasons
- 1
3 'Ms. Marvel' (2022)
Created by Bisha K. Ali
Ms. Marvel is endlessly charming, arguably the most thematically and stylistically cohesive entry into Phase 4 of the MCU. The show follows Kamala Khan, a sixteen-year-old Avengers hyper-fan who becomes a superhero after receiving a magical bangle that allows her to wield cosmic energy. Kamala is a deligtful character who's sure to play a key role in whatever the Young Avengers project ends up being (and it absolutely should be a TV show).
Thanks to Iman Vellani's star-making performance, Ms. Marvel is a heck of a good time. The show is a classic superhero story, unburdened by the larger world-building that hindered most of the MCU's Phase 4 projects. Instead, it organically blends the larger MCU elements through Kamala's youthful eyes, allowing for a sweet story about family and adolescence that just happens to have superpowers. The mutant reveal at the show's end bothered many, but it isn't enough to spoil Ms. Marvel's reputation or rewatch value.
Ms. Marvel
Cast
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Iman Vellani
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Matt Lintz
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Zenobia Shroff
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Yasmeen Fletcher
- Release Date
- June 8, 2022
- Creator
- Bisha K. Ali
- Seasons
- 1
2 'WandaVision' (2021)
Created by Jac Schaeffer
Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany star in WandaVision, arguably the MCU's best and most ambitious Disney+ effort. The show follows Wanda and Vision living a seemingly idyllic life in the small town of Westview, although things seem far from normal. Paying homage to classic television sitcoms in one of the franchise's most mysterious entries, WandaVision proves that Wanda is perhaps the most powerful Avenger, and certainly one of the most interesting.
WandaVision succeeds as a showcase for Olsen and Bettany's considerable acting abilities and a powerful exploration of grief. Aided by the scene-stealing Kathryn Hahn, the show soars to the upper tier of Marvel projects, offering a compelling, layered, and entertaining plot that keeps the audience on edge. While the ending does derail what came before, the show remains a thrilling and rewatchable adventure that fans can binge in one day.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2021
- Seasons
- 1
1 'Loki' (2021 - 2023)
Created by Michael Waldron
Tom Hiddleston finally gets to stand in the spotlight, alone and undefeated, in the Disney+ show Loki. It centers on the God of Mischief, now a prisoner of the Time Variance Authority, who is recruited to help bring down a dangerous threat to the Sacred Timeline. Over the course of its two outstanding seasons, the show cemented Loki's as some of the best and certainly biggest character development in the MCU.
Loki is everything a Marvel project should be: thrilling, ambitious, visually dazzling, and with a non-stop, engaging story that offers plenty of laughs while still challenging its audience. Hiddleston shines opposite Owen Wilson, who nearly steals the show. Loki is fun and incredibly rewatchable, as it remains consistently thrilling throughout its whole run and goes out with a hell of a bang.