I decided to split up this feature into two posts for the MCU Phase Four, one for the movies and one for the Disney+ series. And because it doesn't seem fair to be lumping everything together, I'm leaving out the one-offs, "Werewolf by Night" and "The Guardians of the Galaxy Special," and the animated series, "I Am Groot" and "What If…?"
From best to least, here's the Disney+ series of Phase Four:
She-Hulk - Tatiana Maslany is so good as Jen Walters that my biggest issue with the show is that the animation of She-Hulk can't quite keep up with her performance. Otherwise, this is a nice break from the rest of the MCU, just a fun, casual, low stakes sitcom about surviving everyday life with superpowers and all the rest of the comic book nonsense that comes with this universe. And it's a perfect format for guest stars, fourth wall breaking, and the occasional wedding episode. It's the series least vital to the MCU in terms of story, but the one I would definitely miss the most if it were canceled.
Wandavision - This was doing so well up until the finale. I loved all the TV parodies, Katherine Hahn, Evan Peters, and Teyonah Parris. I loved that Wanda got to be dark and complicated, and Elizabeth Olsen got to play some really dramatic scenes. This was a great choice to kick off the Disney+ shows with, because this is the kind of messier, more difficult story that couldn't have been done in the films. However, the creators evidently still felt obliged to cap it all off with a big battle and tee up for the next "Doctor Strange" movie, which set expectations for all the series that followed it.
Loki - I've been going back and forth on this one, because I don't think the plotting really works, and it ends just when things are getting interesting. However, I like the characters that are introduced, especially Sylvie and Mobius. I have high hopes for Kang, and it was pretty gutsy that he was introduced here. This is also the most ambitious Disney+ series when it comes to concepts and designs - some executed better than others. Also, "Loki" is an ongoing series, with a new season in the works, so a lot of these loose threads and incomplete arcs are going to get more attention in the future.
Ms. Marvel - This show wasn't made for me, because it's very much YA content. However, it definitely has an underserved audience, and I'm so glad that this exists for them. You can tell how thrilled everyone involved in the production was with the opportunity to put Kamala Khan and her Pakistani family and community onscreen. All the episodes following Kamala in New Jersey are great. However, when the show takes a field trip to Pakistan for a few episodes, things go sideways. The villains are also probably the least interesting MCU foes to date - some sort of interdimensional djinn?
Hawkeye - This one was fun. The Christmas theming was a great decision, and Hailee Steinfeld is a great addition as Kate Bishop. I wasn't sold on some of the villains, however, and I'm worried about Echo getting a spinoff based on what I saw of her here. The big surprise baddie was also kind of a letdown, especially since he was dispatched so quickly. Still, all the comedy worked, Hawkeye got some needed time in the spotlight, and all the little cameos and side characters were used well. However, I've had enough of the "Rogers" musical. After D23, the joke's been run into the ground.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier - I understand that the production was majorly disrupted by the pandemic, and certain plot points had to be rewritten. However, the end result is still an uneven mess of mixed messages and unclear themes. The series got me to like the two central characters more than I did at the outset, and introduced some promising new players, but this is a prime example of a show with way too much going on. It also feels very much like a connector piece, too busy setting up future movies to give its two leads the fuller, more satisfying character arcs I was hoping for.
Moon Knight - This was the series that I was anticipating the most at one point, because of the cast. Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke playing a superhero and villain? How could this go wrong? Well, despite a good start, "Moon Knight" almost immediately turned into a subpar "The Mummy" pastiche that kept undercutting itself. The action was unsatisfying. Horror elements were quickly abandoned. The writing was especially poor, and made me suspect that this was originally intended for much younger audiences. Congrats on the first Egyptian superhero, RIP Gaspard Ulliel, and let's move on.
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