Tuning in to the 5 Best MCU Live-Action TV Shows

Originally published September 29, 2026. This article covers five of the best live-action television shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Marvel is known for its extravagant blockbusters and interconnected cinematic universe, but what about its TV properties? While there have been Marvel shows on the air for decades, the Marvel Cinematic Universe began its small-screen adventures over five years ago, regularly producing TV shows for Disney+ that connect to the larger film continuity.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of the five best MCU live-action TV shows since the whole shebang began. A few are even essential viewing before the MCU’s next TV entry, VisionQuest. These five are the cream of the Marvel crop, and they certainly exhibit the range and versatility this franchise is capable of.

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WandaVision

You never forget your first MCU live-action series. While one could argue that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is (or, rather, should be) canon to the Earth-616 timeline and came first, this article is about Marvel content produced for Disney+, so we’ll save AoS for another day.

WandaVision heralded a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one brimming with magic and intrigue. The series is an homage to sitcoms of yore, of course, but it also has elements of The Truman Show. Elizabeth Olsen turns in her best performance as the titular Wanda Maximoff, and even though she holds a town hostage to create a picture-perfect, white-picket-fenced life with Vision, you feel for her. Wanda’s grief is so tangible. Vision’s line about this both beautifully and succinctly sums up the crux of this series: “What is grief, if not love persevering?”

The show also blesses us with Evan Peters returning as Pietro Maximoff, Kathryn Hahn as the iconic Agatha Harkness, and the birth of a hero with Monica Rambeau. And who can forget the toe-tapping bop that is “Agatha All Along?”

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Loki

Listen, I’m a sucker for the magical aspects of the MCU, so, naturally, Loki is on this list. Tom Hiddleston’s mischievous, utterly charismatic villain gets his time in the light in the second live-action MCU series. The production values are through the roof here, as with any Marvel project, but there’s something simultaneously cozy and dazzling about the Time Variance Authority setting for this show. Perhaps it’s the muted, ’70s-esque color palette, but I digress.

Loki is a genre-defying affair, marrying sci-fi and fantasy for a bonkers viewing experience. It feels like the real introduction to the Multiverse Saga of the MCU as we meet Loki variants across different timelines. Richard E. Grant as Classic Loki in season 1, episode 5 is such a memorable turn for this character, as is Owen Wilson as Mobius, whose comedic rapport with Hiddleston is a blast to watch. Plus, there are surely some plot seeds here for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

All the intricate narrative details and timey-wimey shenanigans aside, Loki’s character development is what really drives this story. He transforms from mercurial antagonist to a bona fide hero, someone who lays down his life to hold the Multiverse together. He finally fulfills the burden of his “glorious purpose.”

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Agatha All Along

Loki taught us that a comic book series can be led by a stereotypical baddie and still be compelling, laying the groundwork for Agatha All Along. Serving as the second chapter in the WandaVision trilogy (with the upcoming VisionQuest as the conclusion), the show puts Agatha Harkness center stage.

Our favorite witch embarks on the treacherous path of the Witches’ Road to regain her powers, joined by a motley crew of witches hoping to get rewarded with what they’ve lost. What transpires next is a series of magical trials that are both surreal and high-stakes, complete with a treasure trove of pop culture references much like its predecessor, from The Wizard of Oz to True Detective to The Craft.

Agatha All Along pays homage to the hit witchy track from WandaVision with another earworm: “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road.” Hell, it’s now stuck in my head as I type this. This series is a love letter to pop culture, specifically witches in media, to musicals, and to the strong women who take life-or-death risks to achieve the seemingly impossible. More importantly, it’s a love letter to Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza’s sizzling chemistry.

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Wonder Man

The most recent entry on this list, Wonder Man, is perhaps the most grounded of them all. In it, Simon Williams, an actor struggling to get his big break, lands his dream role with a remake of the in-universe film Wonder Man. He befriends fan favorite Trevor Slattery on the journey to win said role, all while attempting to conceal his own superpowers following a ban on superpowered individuals working in Hollywood.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley are electric together. There’s a real earnestness to Mateen II’s performance, in particular, and if you’ve ever waded through the war zone that is the audition process, you’ll resonate with Simon’s plight. Wonder Man has more universal appeal than the MCU’s other live-action TV offerings because it’s less comic book-y than its predecessors.

However, when the Marvel aspect of the series kicks into high gear, you’re already on board thanks to the sharp writing, which does the legwork of meticulous character building early on. You root for Simon and Trevor to succeed, even in the face of betrayal, a career blowup, and a high-speed chase with the Department of Damage Control.

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Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel deserves more love. It’s an underrated gem. A major contributing factor to its charm and whimsy is Iman Vellani’s performance as the titular character. She is Kamala Khan. The miniseries sees Kamala, a fangirl of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel who’s prone to daydreams and doodling, reckon with her burgeoning powers courtesy of a bangle belonging to her grandmother.

The delightful six-episode series is a beautiful tribute to Pakistan and the Muslim community, the complex dynamics of immigrant families, and the evergreen theme of fulfilling one’s destiny. It’s an equal parts hilarious and heartwarming adventure that’s just plain fun. It feels like a great representation of Kamala’s personality, and that really drives its overall vibe. Plus, it leads into The Marvels, which also deserves more love than it got.

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What’s your favorite MCU live-action series so far?

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