Marvel’s TV Future Depends on Looking to the Past

Marvel fans, it’s time to talk about the state of Marvel content on Disney+. Let’s face it, the MCU shows on the streaming service have left a lot to be desired. When Disney+ first launched, we were all excited about the idea of high-quality Marvel content on our small screens. We were more pumped about this prospect than we were about Star Wars on TV. But unfortunately, Disney has missed the mark by not exploring the potential of smaller, standalone Marvel characters like Netflix did in its hit Marvel series.

Before Disney+, Marvel TV content was all over the place. We had the family-friendly “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” on ABC and mature audience-oriented shows like “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” and “Luke Cage” on Netflix. While the ABC show and later shows on platforms like Hulu have their fanbases, the Netflix series became a worldwide sensation. They brought us everything we thought we couldn’t have in the MCU – grit, realism, and a darker tone. The only downside was the lack of connection to the Marvel movies.

Personally, I was among the fans who wished we could see characters from the Netflix shows in the Avengers movies. But now, looking back at the Disney+ content that took over from shows like Daredevil, my perspective has changed. Not being tied to the movies was actually a big strength of the Marvel Netflix content. Trying to force connections with the movies has been a weak point in Disney+ shows.

For example, “Loki” was a hit on Disney+, but it spent a lot of time setting up Kang the Conqueror, only to have those plans derailed later on. Connecting shows too closely to films has led to missed opportunities for some of our favorite Marvel characters. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Secret Invasion, and Ms. Marvel all tried to set up future movies, but it came at the expense of telling standalone stories that could have been more satisfying on their own.

The beauty of the Marvel Netflix shows was that they existed in their own space, free from the constraints of the larger MCU. This allowed them to tell unique stories about heroes like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage without worrying about fitting into the Avengers’ world. They could dive into darker themes and engage in storytelling that wouldn’t have been possible in big-screen Marvel movies. If Disney+ wants its future Marvel shows to succeed, it might be time to take a page from the Netflix playbook and focus on standalone storytelling rather than setting up future blockbusters.

Let’s face it – the clock is ticking for Marvel and Disney+. If they want to revive the franchise, they might need to rethink their approach. Sticking to the Netflix model could be the key to keeping Marvel content fresh and engaging on the small screen. Otherwise, we might be looking at a future where even a stunt-casting decision like bringing Robert Downey Jr. in as Doctor Doom won’t be enough to save the day.