10 Greatest Live-Action Marvel Series

10. The Defenders

A long-awaited series from the collaboration between Marvel and Netflix. The Defenders is a crossover event that brings together the heroes from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, as well as Iron Fist. The show’s impressive action sequences and great chemistry between the cast make it a must-watch for Marvel fans. The show was renowned for its portrayal of the team-up between the different Marvel heroes and its exploration of their relationships. The series only lasted one season, but many of the characters are projected to return for future Marvel projects.

9. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a thrilling adventure series that follows a group of agents as they navigate the world of superheroes and villains. Considering it was a series on the ABC network and not produced by Netflix or Disney+, the show still produced impressive special effects and complex storylines, coupled with great performances by the cast, making it one of the most successful Marvel TV shows. Often praised for its tie-ins to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its portrayal of Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), one of Marvel’s most beloved characters. The series finally came to a conclusion in 2020 with 7 seasons behind it.

8. Agent Carter

Following the story of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) as she works for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) after World War II. The show’s excellent performances by Atwell and its portrayal of a strong female character make it a standout entry in Marvel’s TV lineup. The show took a dive into the sexism and misogyny of the time period and its portrayal of Peggy’s relationship with Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper). The series only survived for two seasons, but still was still highly acclaimed for its run.

7. Luke Cage

Luke Cage is a superhero drama that follows the titular character as he tries to save his community from corruption and violence. The show’s gritty and realistic portrayal of Harlem, coupled with its excellent soundtrack and performances, make it a standout entry in Marvel’s TV lineup. The show introduced and helped kick off the career of Mahershala Ali with his portrayal of Cottonmouth, one of Marvel’s most complex villains. The series went on to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series.

6. Moon Knight

Moon Knight follows the story of Marc Spector (Oscar Isaac), a former mercenary with multiple identities. The show’s unique premise and excellent casting make it a highly anticipated addition to Marvel’s TV lineup. The show displayed an exploration of mental illness and its portrayal of Moon Knight’s various personalities, which allowed the series to take Marvel into darker territory. Moon Knight also brought a new level of mysticism to the MCU with its deep dive into Egyptian mythology and the battle between its gods. Producers of the series have stated there was no plan for a second season, but could still be an option for the series.

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5. Jessica Jones

A noir-style detective story that follows the titular character as she tries to solve cases and deal with her own personal demons. The show’s dark and mature themes, coupled with Krysten Ritter’s fantastic performance as Jessica Jones, make it one of the best live-action Marvel TV shows. The show received an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series and is highly regarded as one of the better collaborations between Netflix and Marvel.

4. The Punisher

First appeared in the second season of Daredevil and loved so much by fans, that a solo series only made sense. The Punisher is a vigilante drama that follows Frank Castle as he seeks revenge on those who killed his family. The show’s brutal and violent tone, coupled with Jon Bernthal’s fantastic performance as Frank Castle, make it one of the most intense and gripping Marvel TV shows. While Daredevil had its moment of sheer brutality, The Punisher took it to a whole new level. Bernthal will be returning as The Punisher in future Marvel series.

3. WandaVision

The first series kicked off from Disney+. WandaVision is a unique and innovative take on superhero storytelling that follows Wanda Maximoff and Vision as they navigate a strange and surreal world. The show’s excellent performances by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany and its creative storytelling make it one of the best live-action Marvel TV shows. The show is often praised for its exploration of grief and trauma and its unique take on classic sitcoms, a spin on superheroes audiences had not been introduced yet before this series release. No second season has been announced, but a spin-off titled Vision Quest is currently in development.

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2. Loki

We follow the god of mischief (Tom Hiddleston) after the events of Avengers: Endgame as he travels through time and space to fix the timeline. The show’s excellent performances by Hiddleston and its exploration of the character’s complexity make it a great addition to Marvel’s TV lineup. The show was praised for its exploration of time travel and its portrayal of the TVA (Time Variance Authority), while also introducing new characters like Owen Wilson’s Mobius and Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie. The show is known as a major turning point for the MCU, opening up the multiverse concept.

1. Daredevil

One of the most iconic Marvel characters and the TV show does an excellent job of portraying him. The series follows the story of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights crime as Daredevil at night. The show’s gritty and realistic tone, coupled with its excellent fight scenes, make it a standout entry in Marvel’s TV lineup. The show lasted for three seasons, each season just as strong as the last, eventually the series came to an end when the series transferred from Netflix to Disney+. But the Man without Fear eventually reappeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and will get be getting his own Disney+ series with Daredevil: Born Again.