Before the days of Disney+, Marvel Television’s main platform for streaming original shows was Netflix.
These shows, like “Daredevil”, existed in a unique, quasi-canon limbo where they seemed to be part of the larger MCU but never had any explicit crossovers that made it obvious. Despite a lack of collaboration with the theatrical heroes, the Marvel Netflix characters would eventually form their own interconnected universe that allowed street-level heroes like Luke Cage and Jessica Jones to interact. While these shows have since left Netflix, it seems that the characters are experiencing a renaissance thanks to “Daredevil: Born Again”. Aside from Iron Fist, every Marvel Netflix character made an appearance throughout the first two seasons of “Born Again’, and fans were ecstatic to see them return. Both “Born Again” Season 3 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day have confirmed that these characters will continue to have their stories told in future MCU projects.
With these beloved heroes returning, now is the perfect time to revisit the original Netflix shows that made them all so great. However, Marvel fans know that not all of these series were executed properly. Some of these shows soared far above expectations while others fell flat within the first season. How well do these projects fare against each other? Let’s find out by ranking all 6 Marvel Netflix shows from worst to best!
“Iron Fist” (2017-2018, 2 seasons)
It hurts my heart to put “Iron Fist” so low on this list, because, prior to viewing these shows, he was easily my favorite character out of the lot. Perhaps the general expectations for this show added to the disappointment most people felt while watching it. “Iron Fist” is arguably THE best martial artist in Marvel Comics, but it is impossible to picture that while watching this show. The action is slow, has no real sense of impact, and is constantly being cut around by the choppy editing. The main character also seemed to be aggressively uncharismatic, which is an utter disservice to Iron Fist as a being. While Danny Rand is known for being extremely disciplined, he also has an iconic sense of humor, which makes his interactions with characters like Luke Cage so much more fun. It is hard to blame Finn Jones for this portrayal of the character because, when he made a later appearance in “Luke Cage”, he seemed much more akin to his comic counterpart. Overall, the show failed to deliver on the very concept which made it interesting, which resulted in a 38% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The Defenders” (2017, limited series)
Even though the first season of “Iron Fist” fell short in some aspects, Marvel fans were still excited for the highly-anticipated crossover, which would bring together all of the Netflix heroes. The trailers revealed that, not only would The Hand be returning as the villains, but a resurrected Elektra would also be their leader. This was Marvel’s attempt at creating Avengers-level excitement for a smaller-scale project, and it definitely led to some high expectations. Unfortunately, “The Defenders” ended up being okay at best. It was fun to watch Daredevil fight Iron Fist, Iron Fist fight Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones argue with Daredevil over the values of being a hero. However, that was all the show really was.
So much of the screen time was spent showing these characters argue, bicker, and constantly question one another because of a lack of trust. While there are always ideological differences, the best part about a superhero team is watching its members eventually form a rapport that leads to playful interactions and teamwork during fights. “The Defenders” had small moments that were able to capture this fun energy, but it largely felt rather boring. The villains were also very bland, with strange, cookie-cutter motivations that felt completely out of place in the established universe. This show’s mediocrity also affects the other series that follow it. Since they decided to “kill” Daredevil, the 3rd season of his show begins in a very clunky way, which personally upsets me because I feel that it hampers an otherwise excellent season.
“The Punisher” (2017-2019, 2 seasons)
Jon Bernthal is amazing as Frank Castle, and there is no debating that. Bernthal is able to bring so much grit and anger to this character while clearly indicating that these abrasive emotions come from a place of trauma. The Punisher’s origin in “Daredevil” Season 2 is the best part of that season, and it is not surprising that Marvel Studios is intent on keeping him around. However, when watching “The Punisher,” it begins to feel like Frank Castle might work better as a side character in someone else’s show. Perhaps the writing is to blame, because so much of this series just feels repetitive. Bernthal’s excellent performance starts to lose weight when he is forced into the same situations over and over again. The Punisher might be a character who simply works better in smaller doses.
This problem is made even more noticeable because the supporting cast of characters in “The Punisher” are so weak. The show also severely lacks a compelling central antagonist, which cannot be said for any of the series that I have ranked above it. With all that being said, “The Punisher” is not bad, and that is reflected in its positive critic scores. The brutal action scenes certainly deliver and, as I have already said, Bernthal’s performance really carries the series. There are so many emotional moments that Bernthal fully commits to, which carried over to his compelling return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
“Luke Cage” (2016-2018, 2 seasons)
Luke Cage is a truly endearing character, but I do think Netflix stretched his story farther than it needed to go without fully exploring its potential. This first season of “Luke Cage” is really great. There isn’t too much introductory material because he had already appeared in “Jessica Jones”, Mike Colter is immensely charismatic, the superpowers are simple but executed in a fun way, and Mahershala Ali‘s performance as Cottonmouth is just excellent.
The shows I have ranked in my top 3 are all there because I feel that they have something powerful to say about the issues represented within the series. “Luke Cage” explores complex themes like race and wealth inequality, which all feel very personal to Cage as he returns to his hometown of Harlem. The setting is another major positive. Harlem felt so lived-in and authentic that I was really rooting for Luke as its sole defender. However, one of the most fun things about Luke Cage in the comics is his interactions with Iron Fist and Jessica Jones. Cage’s best friend and wife, respectively, are barely in this show, which is awful because, when they do appear, it feels like they should have been there the whole time. The show also takes a noticeable dip after Cottonmouth’s departure. Starting off with such an excellent villain makes it really difficult for someone else to follow him up, which is why Daredevil is still fighting Kingpin in 2026. All in all, “Luke Cage” would be ranked higher if it had gone in a different direction after Season 1, but I am still ecstatic to see Mike Colter return in “Daredevil: Born Again” Season 3.
“Jessica Jones” (2015-2019, 3 seasons)
If I was ranking these shows solely off of their first season, “Jessica Jones” would easily be my number one pick. Unfortunately, like many of these other series, it went in a strange direction after an excellent first season. This show lacks action, but that is because Jessica is not a traditional superhero; she is a detective. Krysten Ritter turns in an amazing performance as a woman who is wrought with trauma and plagued by survivor’s guilt. The show excellently handles the very sensitive topics that are integral to Jessica’s origin. The finale of the first season is immensely empowering, brings Jessica’s arc to a satisfying close, and sets her apart from other Marvel characters. David Tennant is also exceptionally creepy in this show. It is so eerie to watch someone who truly believes they are a good person, even after all of the awful crimes they have committed.
“Jessica Jones” also has one of the better supporting casts. Trish Walkerand Jeri Hogarth have interesting storylines that do not feel like they are taking away from Jessica’s screen time. Unfortunately, the fascinating mystery and intense confrontations of Season 1 are not continued throughout the rest of the show. The detective aspect of Jessica’s character begins to feel a lot goofier, and, after Kilgrave’s death, the show is unable to conjure a villain who is nearly as memorable. Thankfully, we got to see a lot of Jessica Jones in “Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2, and it seems that she has moved forward in her life while maintaining her signature attitude.
“Daredevil” (2015-2018, 3 seasons)
No one is surprised to see “Daredevil” in the number one spot. This is one of the few characters whose comic iteration is as beloved as its live-action iteration, largely because of this show. Charlie Cox is not just a stellar Daredevil, he is an amazing Matt Murdock. From the Catholic guilt to the captivating hallway fights, and even the gripping courtroom deliberations, this show captures all of the best aspects of Daredevil. This is also the show that introduced beloved antagonists like Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, and Wilson Bethel as Bullseye, each of which delivered an iconic performance that challenged Daredevil both physically and ideologically.
Every season also has an insanely impressive one-shot fight scene that depicts Daredevil fighting through waves of enemies in an attempt to save someone. With that being said, I do not love this show solely for the action. One of the best aspects of “Daredevil” is how it balanced it is. Every endearing or heart-wrenching emotional scene is matched by an equally brutal fight. My favorite scenes in the entire show are the ones where Matt simply has a conversation with one of the other characters. Whether it’s Foggy, Frank, or Karen, these moments perfectly encapsulate the very core of Matt’s character while also highlighting how his choices affect the people around him. There are too many amazing aspects of this show to list, which is exactly why, more than a decade after its debut, Charlie Cox and the rest of the cast are still continuing to tell Daredevil’s story in “Daredevil: Born Again”.
Marvel’s Netflix universe had a distinct feel that was unique amongst MCU projects. Regardless of where I ranked each series, they will always bring me a certain level of comfort because they are representative of a different era of Marvel. Although, thankfully, it seems like we might get a Defenders reunion sooner than we think…
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