Marvel’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores Prove They Have A TV Problem

The difference in Rotten Tomatoes score between Marvel‘s pre-MCU shows and the MCU’s Disney+ series reveals a problem with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s long-form titles. After the MCU became a colossal franchise with the Infinity Saga’s 23 movies, Phase 4 aimed to increase the franchise’s output with the release of Disney+ miniseries. Unlike previous Marvel series like Daredevil and Agents of SHIELD, these shows serve as MCU chapters as relevant to the shared universe as the movies.

MCU shows like Moon Knight and She-Hulk have expanded the franchise with standalone stories starring new heroes who will likely play a big role in future films and crossover events. Others, like Marvel’s What If…? and I Am Groot, take a more laid-back approach with rather self-contained plots. However, the MCU’s Disney+ series still struggle to match the reception of previous shows, as evidenced by their Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

Rotten Tomatoes’ Non-MCU TV Show Ratings Hint At A Phase 4 Problem

As of September 2023, Marvel’s top TV shows on Rotten Tomatoes include Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil, Legion, and Cloak and Dagger, closely interlaced with Ms. Marvel, Loki, Hawkeye, and WandaVision. Despite dealing with Captain America’s legacy and being the second MCU show ever released, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier fails to catch up to the less promoted Cloak and Dagger, Captain Carter, and MODOK; and both She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and Secret Invasion — which feature Daredevil and an adaptation of a famous comic book storyline, respectively — fall below the poorly received Defenders.

Given their place within the MCU and their ability to include characters and storylines from the main franchise, MCU shows should have everything in their favor to earn the top spots not only in the Tomatometer but also in every audience and critic list. Instead, it seems like the limitations that popular non-MCU Marvel shows used to have motivated them to tell more engaging stories. Expectations around A-list Marvel heroes and around the MCU’s future may have also opened the door for disappointment, whereas lesser known characters with little to no connection to a wider franchise could be developed with more freedom.

Why MCU’s TV Show Ratings Hint At A Hopeful Future Still

While MCU shows haven’t always met the high bar set by MCU movies, some Phase 4 Disney+ titles have stood out as popular releases. Ms. Marvel holds the top Tomatometer spot in all of Marvel TV due to its authentic style and family dynamics; What If…?‘s unique anthology format proved quite popular; Loki stands out due to its unique style and ambitious story, and WandaVision was well received thanks to its innovative format and humor. The strengths of all well-received MCU shows seems to lie in the originality of their ideas and their unique take on certain aspects of the superhero genre.

Although subverting expectations isn’t an infallible strategy, authenticity is key to Marvel TV shows. Just like ABC’s Agents of SHIELD doubled down on its larger-than-life scope and Netflix’s Daredevil kept its tone dark and grounded, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special embraced its Christmas setting and Hawkeye kept things appropriately lighthearted. With ambitious plots like WandaVision and Loki‘s, future MCU Disney+ shows could keep audiences engaged to a degree similar to or above the most popular pre-MCU Marvel series.