20 best superhero TV shows of 2018, ranked

Credit: FreeForm and Marvel Television for Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger — Aubrey Joseph as Tyrone Johnson/Cloak and Olivia Holt as Tandy Bowen/Dagger

19. Cloak & Dagger

After much anticipation, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger arrived on the scene with its premiere season back in June, kick-starting what looks to be an incredibly interesting story. Set within Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, the show centers on teenagers Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson, who both shared a tragedy during their childhoods – with Tandy losing her father the same night that Tyrone’s brother was killed.

The tragic event linked them together and, when they’re both older, one unplanned interaction awakens powers within them. Tandy can suddenly summon light daggers while Tyrone is suddenly able to disappear into thin air, transporting himself to another location by channelling the powers of the Darkforce dimension. However, they soon learn that their powers aren’t the only things they should be fearing.

Although it may air on network television, Cloak & Dagger possesses a rather mature tone (not all that different from Marvel’s Netflix shows) that it undoubtedly benefits from. The characters are more cynical than you’d expect and, considering it takes place in the MCU, it is steeped in realism, highlighting everyday issues like homelessness and racism. But it wouldn’t be what it is without the two leads – and both Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph do a stellar job conveying the drama, conflict and humour in this compelling series.

It still feels like it’s only getting off the ground and thus, there is always room for improvement, but it’s hard to deny that it hasn’t been a great start and, after an exciting first season, it looks like all good things are set to continue for the series when it returns for its second season next year.