6. Moon Knight
In the time since Moon Knight‘s conclusion, there seems to be this growing misconception that the show wasn’t good. But if you were there, watching it weekly as new episodes were unveiled, you’ll know that’s not in the slightest bit true.
There was a lot riding on the show’s success, namely Moon Knight’s career in the MCU as it was the character’s first ever live-action adaptation. The odd thing about it was how disconnected from the wider MCU that it was, with little-to-no references to anything that had happened before it. And, in a way, that’s a good thing, as it allowed Moon Knight to feel like its own contained TV show in a world overwhelmed by big-budget cinematic showdowns.
The show was able to breathe as it introduced the MCU to a new lore, one that focused on Egyptian Gods, like the moon god Khonshu, who used Marc Spector (a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder) as his avatar to fight injustice – something that Mark’s other personality Steven Grant was unaware of. It was ambitious for a character introduction, but Moon Knight pulled it off, delivering a cinematic story that made full use of all six of its episodes. And though there may have been occasional pacing issues, it all came together because of Oscar Isaac’s career-defining performance.
5. Daredevil: Born Again
After what seemed like a lifetime, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen finally made his return to screens in Daredevil: Born Again. A sequel series to Netflix's Daredevil, it brought back Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk. And, after a creative reboot early on in production, it also brought back a huge portion of the other cast members from the previous series too, officially making the events of all the Netflix Marvel shows canon to the MCU.
As violent and gritty as its predecessor, Born Again was a huge moment for the MCU. This wasn't your typical Marvel Studios project; it was violent, gritty, and tragic in a way that the typical Marvel fare isn't. Many didn't think Disney would commit to the mature tone but they absolutely did, and Born Again benefitted because of that.
Now, there were some issues. The show struggles with the transition between the original vision and the post-creative reboot episodes, leaving the first half feeling a little uneven. There are pacing issues and the newer character simply don't carry the gravitas or depth of the ones from the Netflix series. However, once the season reaches the back half, it finds its footing and produces four thrilling installments that don't stop. The most exciting thing about them is how effectively it sets up what is looking to be a far superior second season - one that is destined to feature even more of the Netflix show's characters.
When that arrives, expect Daredevil: Born Again to move up this ranking.