The 5 Best Marvel TV Shows on Disney+ in 2021, Ranked
2021 was a whirlwind of a year for Marvel fans. After the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic halted the release of any Marvel projects in 2020, the studio released nine new installments into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021. And five of them were Marvel television shows on Disney+ that all excited fans in their own ways. But there’s no doubt that some shows were more well-received than others.
5. ‘What If…?’ is the worst Marvel Disney+ show
Every Marvel Disney+ show on this list is fantastic and a testament to the studio’s dedication to creating quality work. However, if we had to choose which series was the worst, it would have to be What If…?
The MCU’s first animated show was fun and showed fans what some of their favorite characters might be up to had significant moments occurred differently. Some episodes worked well, like episode 2 featuring Star-Lord T’Challa, while others fell flat, like episode 6 featuring Killmonger. Overall, What If…? didn’t hold the same emotional weight as the other Marvel Disney+ shows.
Nevertheless, What If…? is getting a season 2. And one of its characters might appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, officially tying the show’s stories to the MCU.
4. ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was important in so many ways. And even though everyone knew that the series would end with Sam Wilson taking up the mantle of Captain America, the buildup to that moment was still rich with emotion and excitement.
In terms of the other Marvel Disney+ shows, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier didn’t have many surprises. But that’s OK because it contained the undeniable chemistry between Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan.
Now, we can’t wait to see Sam wield the shield in Captain America 4. Hopefully, Bucky shows up because his friendship with Sam was undoubtedly the best part of the Marvel Disney+ show.
3. ‘Loki’
No one saw the cliffhanger ending of Loki coming, and, thankfully, a season 2 is currently in development.
Tom Hiddleston has always been brilliant as the God of Mischief, but Loki gave him the spotlight he always deserved. Somehow, the writers were able to develop the villain into a hero in a believable way, even though Loki has gone through this process multiple times in the MCU.
Similar to Sam and Bucky’s relationship in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the friendship between Loki and Mobius was a highlight of the show. We look forward to seeing more of them, and more amazing visuals, in season 2.
2. ‘Hawkeye’
It may be challenging to rank Hawkeye right now since many fans are still processing the finale, which aired on Dec. 22. However, we are confident that it’s the second-best Marvel Disney+ show of 2021.
Hawkeye had the beautiful mentor-mentee relationship between Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, a catchy song from a musical based on the Avengers, the return of Yelena Belova and Kingpin, and the closure to Natasha Romanoff’s death that fans never truly got.
Plus, the mac and cheese scene between Kate and Yelena has to be one of the best in the MCU, right? Now, all fans need is for Marvel to announce a season 2.
1. ‘WandaVision’ is the best Marvel Disney+ show
As if there was any doubt, WandaVision tops our ranking of the Marvel Disney+ shows. Every week, the whole world tuned in to WandaVision to see what would happen next. The series united everyone during a difficult time, and it will be hard to forget the impact of WandaVision. And the line, “What is grief, if not love persevering?” will remain with us forever.
Elizabeth Olsen was outstanding as a grief-stricken Wanda. Her performance, along with Paul Bettany and Kathryn Hahn’s, earned them all Emmy nominations, which was a ground-breaking achievement for the superhero genre.
During an interview with The New York Times, Olsen discussed the success of WandaVision.
“We didn’t know there was going to be a pandemic when we started telling the story of a woman creating a bubble and wanting to keep her family within that bubble,” the actor shared. “And we’re all in our own bubble with Covid, dealing with this fear of the outside. At the same time, American sitcoms have been our comfort place through the decades, and the show spoke to these two different elements that were happening at the same time.”
She continued, “Sometimes you don’t know when something’s going to work, especially if it’s a high-concept show. But it was just comforting for people. And although the weekly aspect was kind of a scary choice, it ended up paying off because it was paying homage to how we used to watch television and the ritual of it.”
All five Marvel shows are available to stream on Disney+.
