Which of Marvel's tv shows reigns supreme?

2021 saw the MCU transition to the small screen, with the release of 5 MCU-adjacent tv shows: Wandavision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If...?, and Hawkeye. These shows have dominated online conversations over the course of the year, with fans debating which of the shows was the best. So, I thought I would throw my hat into the ring with my own definitive ranking of this year's shows...

SPOILERS AHEAD

5. WHAT IF...? dir. Bryan Andrews

What If...? is an anthology series comprised of alternative storylines to the main MCU. Said alternative storylines included: Peggy Carter as Captain Carter (instead of Steve Rogers as Captain America), T'Challa as Star-Lord, zombies, dead Avengers, rampant party-boy, only-child Thor, and a world decimated in the wake of Ultron's success, among others. Personally, I didn't enjoy What If. A few of the episodes had potential, such as 'What If Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?' In this episode, Doctor Strange loses his girlfriend, Christine Palmer, in the crash that, in his movie, lost him his hands. As a result, Strange becomes obsessed with trying to bring her back, turning to dark magic in an attempt to successfully manipulate time and save her. It is impossible, but Strange's resolve is absolute. The result of this is an all-powerful, 'evil' Strange, doomed to grieve alone after tearing reality to shreds. This was probably the best episode of the lot; it was intriguing and emotional, with exceptional voice-acting from Benedict Cumberbatch. The show definitely peaked with this episode, though, and the rest struggled to live up to it.

While I liked the initial premise of the show, I ultimately felt like it was a waste of time. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Captain Carter character, not when we have Sam Wilson as Captain America now. I feel like Captain Carter has been given a great deal more marketing and attention than SamCap which, considering the events of TFATWS, is unfair. Also, on the Captain Carter point, giving Steve and Bucky's story over to Steve and Peggy feels lazy, disingenuous, and unfair. As with the ending of Endgame, Steve and Bucky's relationship is once again relegated in favour of Steve and Peggy. The end of What If confirms that the Winter Soldier arc is also being given to Steve and Peggy. Peggy, as Captain Carter, is living in the future (or, well, present), just as Steve was when he woke up in 2011. The Hydra Stomper, which a non-serumed Steve piloted during the war, is discovered in the present day with a body inside. It is obvious that this body is going to be Steve, and he has been brought to the future to be with Peggy in the same way Bucky was, when he was introduced in the Winter Soldier. This is just exhausting to me, as someone who loves Steve, Bucky, and their relationship. Captain Carter would be a much more likeable character if she was given her own interesting storyline rather than a rehash of the Steve Rogers/Captain America story. Obviously, she has her own individual struggles, but I find myself not engaging with her because I already know the trajectory of her arc. But, hey, it's happening and there's nothing I can do about it.

As for the other What If episodes, I thought the Tony Stark/Killmonger episode was truly awful and nonsensical. It is one of the worst, least-engaging pieces of television I think I have ever seen. The show's final episode was anticlimactic, and I found it difficult to care about the consequences of the 'Guardians of the Multiverse' versus Ultron fight. One of these Guardians was a Gamora variant who had killed Thanos, wore gold armour, and allied with Tony Stark. She was extremely interesting, but wasn't given an episode of her own. This seemed strange, especially considering all of the other Guardians had had their own episodes throughout the show so far; Captain Carter from episode one, Star-Lord T'Challa from episode two, Strange Supreme from episode four, Killmonger from episode six, and Thor from episode seven. Where was Gamora's episode? Her episode could've easily replaced either episode three, in which (most of) the Avengers died, or episode five, in which the world has succumbed to a zombie apocalypse (another waste-of-time episode, in my opinion).

I feel like I've maybe been a bit harsh on What If, but there's no point in lying about how I felt about it. I will, begrudgingly, watch the second season, but I'm not looking forward to it.

FAVOURITE EPISODE: #4 - What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

LEAST FAVOURITE EPISODE: #6 - What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE: Benedict Cumberbatch - Doctor Strange, Chadwick Boseman - T'Challa, Lake Bell - Natasha Romanoff

4. LOKI dir. Kate Herron

It took me 6 days to watch the first episode of Loki. After that, I was hooked. I couldn't wait for each new episode to come out, and I was avidly discussing theories with my friends. I fell in love with Loki - a character I hadn't been bothered about before - as well as the new characters the show introduced: Mobius, Hunter B-15, Sylvie, even Casey, who hardly got any screentime and managed to steal all of our hearts anyway. The second episode of Loki is probably one of my favourite episodes of television ever. Episode five was similarly amazing, and Richard E. Grant put in a star turn as Classic Loki.

However.

I - and many others - felt as though Loki ended up being sidelined in his own show. The show wasn't really about Loki at all - it was about setting up the next phase of the MCU. Which, fair enough, something has to set it up, but I don't think it was fair to Loki or Loki fans to use his show as a vehicle to do so. The finale episode felt lacklustre and anticlimactic, and while Jonathan Majors was incredible as He Who Remains, I just couldn't get excited about it. Not only that, but I'm really not a fan of the Loki and Sylvie romance - it felt shoehorned in, in a show where no romance was necessary. Plus, I feel as though it is a gross misjudgement to call Loki a narcissist, and to say "well, of course he would fall for himself!". I also don't think it's possible to call the romance an act of 'self-love'. For one, I don't think Loki is actually much of a narcissist at all - I think he truly, deep down, despises himself. He may posture, and act as though he thinks he's all that, but really we know that he sees himself as a monster. Therefore, I just can't see him falling for himself as realistic.

Not only that, the show kept flip-flopping on whether it wanted Loki and Sylvie to be 'the same' or not. One minute, Sylvie was asserting her independence and the fact that she wasn't a Loki; the next minute, Loki and Sylvie are referred to as 'Lokis' plural. I think, at the end of the day, it comes down to the fact that even though Loki and Sylvie may have had different upbringings and different lives, they are fundamentally the same. That's what makes me so uncomfortable about their 'romance'.

I think Loki ultimately had an interesting arc throughout the show. I think seeing his entire life play out early on in episode one was sobering for him, and his following actions were impacted as a result. However, I think his development happened far too quickly, and it did feel as though he kind of faded into the background in what was supposed to be his own show.

In saying that, I did enjoy it. For the most part, anyway. I've watched it twice through now and I don't think I'd rewatch all of it again, but I'll definitely return to episode 2. I'm tentatively looking forward to season 2 for more Mobius, B-15, Loki, and Sylvie, though. I say tentatively, because I'm dreading more Loki/Sylvie. Please, Marvel writers, I'm begging you to stop listening to the frankly deluded ideas some people keep having about relationships in your projects. Michael Waldon and Nate Moore are each responsible for two of my least favourite couples in the MCU: Loki and Sylvie, and Steve and Peggy (the Endgame version of them, anyway). I don't trust them anymore.

FAVOURITE EPISODE: #2 - The Variant

LEAST FAVOURITE EPISODE: #4 - The Nexus Event

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE: Owen Wilson - Mobius, Wunmi Mosaku - Hunter B-15, Jonathan Majors - He Who Remains

3. THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER dir. Kari Skogland

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was my most anticipated of all the Marvel shows, thanks to my love for Bucky Barnes. I did enjoy the show a lot, but I have some issues with certain aspects of it - specifically the way Bucky is written/handled. To be perfectly honest, I don't think Marvel know how to write Bucky in the MCU. They did a good job of it in the Cap trilogy, and he was hardly in Infinity War and Endgame so those are irrelevant, but The Falcon and the Winter Soldier really highlights their indecision around him. I've read some interviews with writers and Marvel creatives where they talk about Bucky as a villain and as undeserving of forgiveness. It's like they forget about his background - the brainwashing, the torture, the manipulation, all of which excuse everything he was forced to do as the Winter Soldier. He was absolutely sidelined in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as he so often is, and most of his development happens offscreen. He is, also, still being referred to as the Winter Soldier by the end of the show, when he has been shown taking steps to absolve himself of that residual darkness. The handing over of the completed 'amends' notebook in the show's finale is indicative of him shedding the remnants of the Winter Soldier, so it would've made sense for him to be referred to by a different title by the end. What more do you want him to do?

On that point, the aforementioned Nate Moore has been cited as saying that Sam Wilson still needs to prove himself as worthy of the Captain America title and shield, and that struggle will form the basis of Mackie's first solo movie. I think, when you consider the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, that this is grossly unfair. Sam has already proved himself ten times over, even before he was given the shield. Why does Sam have to prove himself over and over again, when Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter didn't have to?

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - or, rather, Captain America and the Winter Soldier, did give us some great moments. I know some people felt it was anticlimactic, but I personally loved the reveal of Sam as Cap. It is probably one of my top television moments of all time. No matter how many times I watch it, I always get goosebumps. It's also really affirming to see how happy Bucky is at the end of the show, hanging out with the Wilson family. As a Bucky fan, it's all I've ever wanted for him.

On the whole, I think the show is a decent watch. It's more raw and real than the others, and I respect that about it. I know people think it didn't delve deep enough into social issues, which I suppose is a fair critique. It is a Marvel/Disney show, though, and we know are only willing to go so far. I'm interested to see where Sharon Carter will go next; I think Emily Vancamp plays the darker, more villainous side of her very well. Wyatt Russell played John Walker so brilliantly that he made an entire subsection of the Internet despise him. It's a credit to his talent, but it's also unacceptable to target an actor for the actions of their character. I liked Erin Kellyman as Karli Morgenthau a lot, and I'm sad we won't get to see her again. I don't think her death was necessary, but is of course supposed to be seen as collateral; a consequence of the state of society. I hope to see Torres again, hopefully suited up as Falcon this time!

FAVOURITE EPISODE: #4 - The Whole World Is Watching

LEAST FAVOURITE EPISODE: N/A

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE: Sebastian Stan - Bucky Barnes, Anthony Mackie - Sam Wilson, Carl Lumbly - Isaiah Bradley

2. WANDAVISION dir. Matt Shakman

It took me a while to watch Wandavision, but once I started it I fell in love with it. If not for my extreme love for Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, it probably would've been my favourite show of the lot. Elizabeth Olsen is absolutely magnetic, and her performance in the last few episodes is on another level. I honestly have never cried at a tv show the way I cried at the last two episodes of Wandavision. Wanda's grief at seeing Vision's mangled body is palpable, and her subsequent reaction is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen. I can't wait to see Wanda again in Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness now that she has become the Scarlet Witch. I think it's going to be very interesting seeing her grapple with having extreme power, along with the ability to traverse the multiverse. That will no doubt present some dilemmas for her, especially surrounding Tommy and Billy.

It was so fun to see Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis again, and they made a great trio with Monica Rambeau. Monica herself is a really cool character, especially now that she's superpowered, and I'm looking forward to seeing her again in the next Captain Marvel movie. Kathyrn Hahn was also electrifying as Agatha Harkness, and I have no doubt that her show will be as darkly comedic as she is.

If I had to critique the show, I suppose I'd say that the whole Quicksilver/Ralph Bohner thing was a bit of an anticlimax. I still don't completely understand that whole part of the story, but we move. It wasn't bad enough to detract from my enjoyment of the show as a whole, so I'll allow it.

Overall, I loved Wandavision. I thought the structure was extremely clever and innovative, especially for a brand as formulaic as Marvel. I don't think Wandavision would've been as good as it was if it was structured in a different, more conventional way. I did think it was a bit slow to start, but it picked up quickly and easily enough. Wanda and Vision are definitely one of the most compelling duos in the MCU, owing largely to Olsen and Bettany's chemistry, and it was great to see them in action again.

FAVOURITE EPISODE: #8 - Previously On

LEAST FAVOURITE EPISODE: #2 - Don't Touch That Dial

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE: Elizabeth Olsen - Wanda Maximoff, Teyonah Parris - Monica Rambeau

1. HAWKEYE dir. Rhys Thomas

Hawkeye was SUCH a dark horse. I wasn't all that excited about the show when it was first announced, because Clint Barton has long since been one of my least favourite characters. However, Hawkeye gave him a rejuvenation, and has turned him into a character that I can enjoy. I think this is partly because he seemed a bit more true to his comic counterpart. The inclusion of his canonical deafness, which had been ignored in the MCU until the release of Hawkeye, was one of the best choices the creative team could've made.

The Ronin arc from Endgame felt largely ignored and unfinished, and I'm so glad that it was brought to fruition in Hawkeye. It always felt unfair that Clint's past as Ronin was never brought up again, and it was fulfilling to see it dissected and explained further in Hawkeye. I think it was essential that we saw some repercussions surrounding Clint's actions, because until that point he'd seemed untouchable.

Hawkeye also gave Natasha Romanoff the sendoff that she deserved, and that her own movie wasn't able to give her. Clint and Yelena's final conversation on the ice-rink about Natasha made me cry. She sacrificed herself for the soul stone, and in doing so Natasha Romanoff saved the world. She deserves to be lauded for that. She deserves to be mourned, and grieved, and loved, even in her absence. She is a phenomenal character who was historically unfairly treated, and Hawkeye finally gave her story a fitting culmination.

Speaking of Yelena, Florence Pugh was phenomenal and really brought the show up a notch. I love Flo anyway, especially as Yelena, and seeing her interact with Hailee's Kate was such a treat. Every scene they had together was exceptional, especially in the elevator in the finale. However, I think it was a bit unfair of the show to imply that Kate would be able to hold her own against Yelena. Don't get me wrong; I love Kate, and she is clearly a great fighter, but I don't think she'd be able to hold out against a trained Widow. Suggesting as such feels a bit disingenuous to Yelena, but again that's probably a nitpick.

Hailee Steinfeld is Kate Bishop. She is, undoubtedly, one of my new favourite characters in the MCU. I loved the fact that she felt like a real, authentic 22-year-old. All too often, characters in their early 20s are made to seem mature and like they have their lives together. Kate is living proof that that is just categorically untrue, and I loved that she was a bit of a disaster. She is such a genuine character; empathetic, kind, and loyal to a fault. Hailee plays her so beautifully that she just becomes the character. Kate and Clint had such a great mentor/mentee relationship, and I look forward to seeing her take on the Hawkeye mantle. I think it's so fun that, even after working with Clint extensively, she's still such a fangirl. She learns from Clint, yes, but she also teaches him things, too. She's talented and powerful in her own right, now just as an extension of Clint and Hawkeye.

Alaqua Cox also gave a beautifully nuanced performance as Maya, and I thought she provided much of the show's emotional core. You could really sense her struggle and her grief, and you didn't blame her for the path she found herself on. I believe she's getting a solo-show in the future which will be so exciting! The rest of the cast - specifically Vera Farmiga and Vincent D'Onofrio - were awesome, and I loved the extra layers that their characters added to the show.

One critique was that the finale felt rushed. I thought it could've done with a few more episodes just to neatly wrap up all of the storylines. The Laura Barton SHIELD Agent storyline could've done with more depth, but I suppose that'll be expanded in future projects. I still really enjoyed the finale, though, despite the frankly baffling credits sequence. No more ROGERS: The Musical, please.

FAVOURITE EPISODE: #5 - Ronin

LEAST FAVOURITE EPISODE: N/A

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE: Hailee Steinfeld - Kate Bishop, Florence Pugh - Yelena Belova, Jolt - Pizza Dog, Alaqua Cox - Maya Lopez

So, there we have it. That's my definitive ranking of the Marvel shows released in 2021. What are your thoughts? Feel free to let me know what your ranking would be!