Marvel TV Shows - Good or Bad?
When Marvel first announced their collaboration with Disney+ and their reveal of Marvel universe-connected TV shows, fans were unbelievably excited. More superhero content and more awesome new characters? Sign us up! But since releasing their shows, the franchise has been hit by a series of negative reviews - why? Here are 10 reasons why Marvel's TV series failed to hit the mark, and 10 ways they've met expectations.
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1. Poor CGI
While Marvel Studios' shows on Disney+ still receive larger-than-normal budgets, they're nowhere near as big as their movies, meaning certain aspects will be lower in quality. One factor that repeatedly suffers in their shows is the CGI; with the films already receiving negative attention for the visual effects in recent years, you can only imagine how much worse the TV series are.
2. Characters People Don't Care For
Although Marvel fans were initially excited by the prospect of getting more unique characters on screen, the lackluster delivery of certain shows have left people regretting their initial enthusiasm. Many are left wondering why they're watching less important characters when what they truly want is to see more of their favorite heroes.
3. Poor Storytelling
Fans loved the exciting, well-developed, and high stakes storylines found in Marvel movies, but the overproduction of their Disney+ series has left most wondering where all the talent went. A lot of Marvel fans have complained about the poor storytelling in these shows, namely Secret Invasion and She-Hulk for instance, two that received some of the most negative reception.
4. Too Much Content
With the Marvel franchise best known for its ability to connect all storylines into one massive ensemble, there's been something going around lately called Marvel fatigue. To put it simply, people are tired of how many shows and movies they need to watch just to feel caught up! The addition of all the different TV series has started to put people's heads in a spin.
5. Unclear Futures
Despite being a part of the Marvel universe, most viewers finish the series and are left with a billion questions. Are we going to see more of this character? Are they going to be in movies? What is their future going to be in the MCU? Marvel has built up a bit of a culture where expectations need to be met or else major disappointment follows through.
6. Strange Pacing
One complaint many viewers have commented on the Marvel TV series is that the pacing seems off. They're not like traditional shows, meaning they almost feel like giant movies split into several parts. And while that might be appealing to some, most seem to find it difficult to understand how the episode breaks work.
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7. Feel Disconnected From The Franchise
Although the shows are a part of the Marvel universe, with exceptions like WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki, the others often feel quite disconnected. They tend to feel like they belong in their own little world rather than a piece of the big puzzle.
8. Forgettable
How much do you really remember about the Marvel shows? While many of the movies leave memorable imprints in our minds, much of the shows tend to be forgettable. It's hard to remember a majority of the details, except for maybe a few key scenes here and there. Sadly, when most people think of Marvel, they still only think of the films as a result.
9. Overhyped
For years, Marvel was at the top of the mountain, providing audience members with hit after hit. Unfortunately, no one can stay at their peak forever. Much of their recent content, primarily their shows, have received negative reception from fans because they're simply overhyped. They expected much more than what they were given.
10. Too Cheesy
Although the Marvel universe has always been known to be fun and light-hearted (though mixed with serious and emotional elements), it seems they may have taken it too far for their shows. While there are exceptions of course, many argue that their TV series veer towards being too cheesy and cringy. It seems like Marvel took the "playful" element a little too seriously.
1. Niche Characters
While many Marvel characters aren't interesting enough to have their own dedicated solo movie, the beauty of TV shows is that it allows fans of the comics to see their beloved characters come to life on a much smaller scale. The stakes tend to be a lot less significant, but that doesn't mean it still isn't cool to see.
2. Unique Aesthetics
One really cool advantage of TV shows is that showrunners can explore lots of different genres and aesthetics within a short amount of time. They can play around per episode or use a unique theme as a whole to try. It gives creators a lot more creative license to work with!
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3. Closer Look At Beloved Characters
Though fans tend to think of the Marvel TV shows as focusing on new, lesser-known characters, a lot of their work has been centered around beloved favorites from the movies. Heroes like the Winter Soldier, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and more have all received attention from Disney+. As a result, Marvel has been able to expand upon their stories and provide viewers with a new look into their lives.
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4. Revival Of Old Favorites
Though they weren't always a part of Marvel, after buying the rights, fans can now enjoy amazing revivals and reboots of other popular shows like Daredevil. It's incredibly exciting thinking about how they're going to connect these storylines to the bigger universe in this franchise, something fans could've only once hoped to imagine.
5. Watch At Your Own Pace
Does starting a long movie late at night feel like too much of a commitment? Well, the nice thing about shows is that you can pause and stop whenever you want! Watching by episode makes things a lot easier to stomach and tends to be something most people only have time for.
6. New Meets Old
One way Marvel tried to attract their fans is by including small cameos of their favorite movie characters. There is something pretty cool about getting to see new meets old, with our beloved superheroes making an impact even in the smallest of roles. It also helps the whole universe feel a lot more connected.
7. More Content
We've placed this on both sides of the list because depending on your preferences, having more Marvel content to watch can be an exciting thing too! If you're a die-hard fan who can never get enough superhero content, we're certain that this Disney+ collaboration has been nothing short of amazing.
8. Easter Eggs
Speaking of die-hard fans, Marvel has always been great about placing fun easter eggs that only true fans can uncover. It gives every episode of every show a fun and exciting element that makes you want to pay extra special attention to make sure you don't miss anything.
9. Unexpected Reveals
As we all know, this franchise is one of the best at keeping secrets hidden. Just take a look at how successful Avengers: Endgame turned out! Marvel tries to do their best with their shows too, leaving big reveals as secrets until the episode finally comes out. You never really know what to expect!
10. Awesome Casting
Regardless of how well the show actually turns out, if there's one thing you can never complain about with Marvel, it's their casting ability. Always compromising of top notch performers, you may question the show's story, writing, and visual effects, but never the acting.
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