Marvel has recently been expanding its small-screen presence through several Disney+ original series, which are canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More Marvel TV series are on the way, including some, like Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, that tie into Marvel’s pre-Disney+ era.
For those looking to catch up on every Marvel Television and MCU TV show, this guide will demonstrate how to watch all the shows in order.
Marvel’s ABC Series
Before Marvel Studios began producing MCU shows on Disney+, Marvel Television and ABC collaborated to create several Marvel series that tie into the MCU films. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013) and Agent Carter (2015) are excellent series for viewers looking for a blend of the superhero and spy genres.
Both are fast-paced, action-packed series centered on the government organizations tasked with investigating superhuman activity, tracking undercover agents, conspiracies, and protecting humanity. If you loved Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) in The Avengers (2012) and Peggy Carter (Haley Atwell) in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), you’ll especially love Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, which give these characters the spotlight.
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)
- Agent Carter (2015)
- Inhumans (2017)
Netflix’s Defenders Saga
Although now considered part of the MCU and available on Disney+, the Defenders saga originated as a series of interconnected Marvel shows on Netflix. These shows offered a darker, grittier take than the films in the MCU. Daredevil (2015) and Jessica Jones (2015), in particular, garnered high attention and acclaim for their focus on darker, mature themes and a more unrestrained approach to violence and sex.
Viewers will also appreciate the interconnectedness of the shows. Instead of just taking place in the same universe, they’re properly interconnected, culminating in the crossover series The Defenders (2017). If you’re looking for something between the lighthearted nature of the MCU and the gratuitous violence of darker superhero shows like Invincible (2021) and The Boys (2019), the Defenders saga offers mature yet balanced superhero entertainment.
- Daredevil (2015)
- Jessica Jones (2015)
- Luke Cage (2016)
- Iron Fist (2017)
- The Defenders (2017)
- The Punisher (2017)
Marvel YA Series
Marvel Television produced two interconnected series directed toward younger audiences: Runaways (2017) and Cloak & Dagger (2017). Both shows feature teenagers forming unexpected bonds in response to supervillain threats or the onset of their powers, touching lightly on topics such as romance, family dysfunction, and rebellion. They’re faithful to their source material and find a nice balance between the lighthearted and gritty.
Runaways and Cloak & Dagger are pretty reminiscent of the shows in the Arrowverse, such as The Flash (2014) and Supergirl (2015), in that they make for excellent, slightly gritty superhero shows for teens. Ultimately, viewers who love the MCU but are looking for a bit of teen drama and friendly viewing for adolescents will be interested in Runaways and Cloak & Dagger.
- Runaways (2017)
- Cloak & Dagger (2018)
Marvel’s X-Men Series
Marvel Television produced two series loosely connected to Fox’s X-Men universe, Legion (2017) and The Gifted (2017). The Gifted takes place in an alternate timeline where the X-Men don’t exist, leaving mutants in a particularly vulnerable position, while Legion centers on David Haller (Dan Stevens), the mutant and psychic son of Professor X. They’re two very different takes on the X-Men franchise, as Legion is an intimate, mature superhero story that subverts genre tropes, and The Gifted parallels Runaways and Cloak & Dagger with its teen superhero premise.
Legion’s exploration of mental health is reminiscent of Moon Knight (2022) and Split (2016), although it delves far deeper into its subject matter. Legion and The Gifted also evoke nostalgia for the X-Men series and its exploration of thought-provoking themes through mutants, including mental illness and discrimination.
- Legion (2017)
- The Gifted (2017)
Adventures into Fear Series
Similar to its interconnected YA series, Hulu planned to create a slate of interconnected shows focused on fear-inducing Marvel properties. However, only one show came to fruition: Helstrom (2020). The series follows the adventures of the Helstrom siblings, who are the children of a notorious serial killer. If you’re looking for a cross between a superhero show and supernatural drama, Helstrom is the series for you.
Like Cloak & Dagger and Runaways, Helstrom shares a similar vibe with CW dramas such as The Secret Circle (2011) and Supernatural (2015). It offers a good deal of family drama and some standard elements of dark fantasy. While not as sharp or ambitious as Werewolf by Night (2022), Helstrom is still a passable foray into Marvel’s relatively meager supernatural collection.
- Helstrom (2020)
Marvel Cinematic Universe Series
All Marvel Studios-produced shows are on Disney+ and part of the MCU canon. The shows started in 2021 with WandaVision and have expanded to include 12 live-action series, four animated series, and two TV specials. The extensive collection means there’s a little something for everyone. Shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, and Loki most closely resemble the MCU both in tone and featuring highly recognizable characters from the movies. Others, like WandaVision and Moon Knight, take a more creative approach, featuring comedy, nostalgia, and psychology.
Marvel Studios has also slowly been expanding into more mature territory with Echo, Daredevil: Born Again, and Marvel Zombies, offering shows for viewers who prefer darker, more violent, and mature superhero series in the vein of The Watchmen (2019) and the Defenders saga. If you love the MCU and are looking for a little more variety in its stories, the MCU Disney+ shows are sure to appeal.
- WandaVision (2021)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
- Loki (2021)
- What If…? (2021)
- Hawkeye (2021)
- Moon Knight (2022)
- Ms. Marvel (2022)
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
- Werewolf by Night (2022)
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
- Secret Invasion (2023)
- Echo (2024)
- Agatha All Along (2024)
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025)
- Daredevil: Born Again (2025)
- Ironheart (2025)
- Eyes of Wakanda (2025)
- Marvel Zombies (2025)
