Warning: This article contains spoilers for all Disney+ TV series from MCU Phase 4.MCU Phase 4 is coming to an end. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige first announced plans for this phase at a press conference in 2014. Now that we’re here, it’s clear that Phase 4 marked a new direction for the franchise. Indeed, over the past few years, the MCU has branched out in many ways, from deviating from initially grounded themes of realism to exploring stories from different cultures. Especially in phase 4, we were introduced to new superheroes who may become the new Avengers and new villains to face.
Perhaps the most defining feature of Phase 4 of the MCU is its foray into television. kick off with WandaVisionand his ode to television, to end, most recently, with the meta She-Hulk: LawyerPhase 4 brought a diverse collection of Disney+ TV series that ultimately helped expand the MCU as we originally knew it. Between experimenting with direction, taking a stance on political and social issues, spotlighting previously supporting characters, and spotlighting stories and cultures we’d never seen before, the Disney+ series of MCU Phase 4 generally received success and critical acclaim. Here’s how we would rank all the series.
8/8 Hawk’s Eye (2021)
Considered the more light-hearted of all the MCU Phase 4 Disney+ TV series, hawkeye marks Clint Barton’s highly anticipated first solo outing as the titular Avenger. Jeremy Renner, created by Jonathan Igla, reprises his role as Clint Barton, while Hailee Steinfield joins him as wannabe hero Kate Bishop. hawkeye takes place right after the events of Avengers: Endgame, and sees Clint trying to wrestle with the demons of his past — especially the enemies he made as Ronin — while trying to spend time with his family over Christmas. He is drawn back into the fray when Kate accidentally dresses up as Ronin, causing Ronin’s enemies to emerge from the shadows again.
hawkeye effectively gives audiences the chance to dive deeper into a character they’ve been with for over a decade. The show shows us how lost and full of anger he is in the world, while at the same time practicing compassion and care for the people around him. Indeed, the chemistry between him and Kate is perfect. hawkeye is an overall pleasant and relaxing watch, not to mention the iconic character cameos and introductions (namely Echo, Yelena Belova and Kingpin).
7/8 What if…?
The MCU is not only diving into television, but has also made its entry into animation with What if…?. With beloved MCU characters (and, in many cases, actors reprising their live-action roles), What if…? is an anthology series that explores alternate versions of iconic MCU moments and outlines the multifaceted consequences of those seemingly minute changes. Some key moments explored in Season 1 include Peggy Carter receiving the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve, our favorite heroes surviving a zombie pocalypse, and the original Avengers being killed the same week Nick Fury decides recruit them for the Avenges Initiative. Although not without problems, What if…? was eventually the first real taste of the Multiverse during phase 4. Per the directseason 2 is expected in 2023.
6/8 Loki (2021)
Loki is one of the MCU’s more cerebral Disney+ TV series. Created by Michael Waldron, the show also takes place right after the events of Endgame, and includes the Loki we saw stealing the Tesseract in New York, creating a new timeline. Because of his actions, he must face the TVA – the protectors of time – to meet his end, but instead he is recruited by Mobius to help find a variant of himself named Sylvie who is on caused devastation at different times. Of Loki, we get new information about the Multiverse, we are introduced to He Who Remains, a scientist who created the TVA in the 31st century, and we also learn that the Infinity Stones are not as important as we thought. The six episodes were positively praised, especially for the acting and directing. Season 2 is already in production and rumored to be an even bigger multiverse adventure than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
5/8 Moon Knight (2022)
Created by Jeremy Slater, Moon Knight is the sixth series in MCU’s Phase 4 Disney+ series lineup. Starring Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Moon Knight, the show is about a man living with dissociative identity disorder and becoming involved in a mystery involving Egyptian gods. By playing all of Marc’s different personalities, Isaac proves why he is one of the best actors today. More important, Moon Knight deals with sanity, Egyptian mythology and explores a darker side of the franchise than we’ve seen before. At the time of writing, Season 2 has yet to be confirmed, but Isaac and Moon Knight director Mohammed Diab have recently teased the possibilityvia a TikTok video of them in Cairo.
4/8 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Speaking of refreshing, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is an MCU Phase Disney+ TV series that decided to go political and, for the first time in franchise history, really delve into current social issues. Set after Avengers: Endgame where Sam Wilson was given Captain America’s shield, the series is about the insecurity Sam feels as a black man as the face of a nation built on white supremacy. Although it was criticized for its pace, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was very much Sam’s story about coming into his own as both a hero and Captain America. In addition to the social commentary, the series reunited Sam and Bucky on a world tour to stop an anti-patriotic organization that believed life was better during the Blip. The Disney+ series featured the return of Baron Zemo and Sharon Carter, and introduced us to US Agent and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
3/8 Mrs. Marvel (2022)
The amount of hate that Mrs. Marvel initially received was unwarranted, sadly leaving many reluctant to look at it. However, the Disney+ series broke through in many ways by introducing the franchise’s first Muslim superhero to MCU fans. More than just lip service, Mrs. Marvel explored Pakistani culture and traditions in a way that many may not have seen in a Hollywood production before. Its triumphs lie in its creative visual style, Iman Vellani’s lead performance, its cultural specificity and, in a twist-ending, the MCU’s first known mutant.
2/8 She-Hulk: Lawyer (2022)
Created by Jessica Gao, She-Hulk: Lawyer is the last of the Disney+ series of MCU Phase 4. The series is based on the Marvel Comics character She-Hulk / Jennifer Walters, a lawyer specializing in cases involving superhumans. Indeed, the legal comedy received criticism and trepidation when the first trailer debuted a badly CGI-ed She-Hulk. That being said, She-Hulkwith its meta-story and commentary on the MCU in general, has surprisingly become one of Phase 4’s best Disney+ series. More than just satisfying fans with cameos from beloved characters like Wong, Abomination and, of course, Daredevil, She-Hulk turned its attention to MCU “fans,” particularly the misogynistic trolls online, by using Jennifer’s experience of online hate as a direct allegory for what many women in the franchise deal with in real life. The season 1 finale of the series, in particular, demonstrated the self-awareness of the MCU and offered a fitting ending to both She-Hulk and phase 4.
1/8 WandaVision (2021)
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Last but not least, we have the TV show masterpiece that remains solid outside of the MCU too: WandaVision. Created by Jac Schaeffer, the premiere of the MCU Disney+ series focuses on Wanda and Vision as they live their idyllic suburban life in the city of Westview, and their reality moves through several decades of sitcoms and TV shows. It’s no wonder the series received 23 Primetime Emmy Award nominations when you consider Olsen and Bettany’s phenomenal acting, the tribute to past sitcoms, the technical feat of those involved, and the heartfelt exploration of sadness and nostalgia.