Which Marvel Disney+ Shows Actually Matter?
Updated
Only 2 Marvel Disney+ shows are essential: Loki and WandaVision. Here are all 19 released MCU shows with our verdict (Essential, Recommended or Optional) and the reason behind each. VisionQuest is airing now, so we'll add our verdict after its finale on November 10, 2026.
| Show | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Loki (S1 & S2) | Essential | The multiverse plot itself: the TVA, variants and the Sacred Timeline. Doomsday is built on this. |
| WandaVision | Essential | Wanda becomes the Scarlet Witch; sets up Multiverse of Madness, Agatha All Along and VisionQuest. |
| The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Recommended | Sam Wilson’s road to the shield; pays off in Brave New World. |
| What If...? (S1–S3) | Optional | Multiverse flavor and Captain Carter, who turns up in Multiverse of Madness. Otherwise standalone. |
| Hawkeye | Recommended | Introduces Kate Bishop and Echo and brings back Kingpin. Not needed for Doomsday. |
| Moon Knight | Recommended | A self-contained origin. No Doomsday connection yet. |
| Ms. Marvel | Recommended | Kamala Khan’s origin, which The Marvels builds on directly. |
| I Am Groot (S1 & S2) | Optional | Animated shorts. Pure fun, no plot to keep track of. |
| She-Hulk | Recommended | Introduces Jennifer Walters, with Daredevil’s first Disney+ appearance. Comedy first, plot second. |
| Secret Invasion | Recommended | Nick Fury’s story after the Blip and the Skrull refugees. The lowest-rated MCU show, so it’s the easiest Recommended title to put off. |
| Echo | Recommended | Maya Lopez’s street-level story; the Kingpin thread continues in Daredevil: Born Again. |
| X-Men ’97 (S1 & S2) | Optional | The best-reviewed Marvel animation in years, set in its own universe. A great watch, but not part of the live-action story. |
| Agatha All Along | Recommended | The WandaVision follow-up, and part of the trilogy VisionQuest completes. Not needed for Doomsday. |
| Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man | Optional | Animated alternate-universe Spider-Man. Standalone. |
| Daredevil: Born Again | Recommended | The street-level MCU’s flagship, and Frank Castle’s setup for Brand New Day. Watch Netflix’s Daredevil first. |
| Ironheart | Recommended | Riri Williams’ story after Wakanda Forever. Not needed for Doomsday. |
| Eyes of Wakanda | Optional | Animated Wakanda anthology. A bonus for Wakanda fans. |
| Marvel Zombies | Optional | Animated What If...? spinoff. Standalone horror fun. |
| Wonder Man | Recommended | Simon Williams’ origin, a Hollywood satire with real heart. Self-contained for now. |
The two-sentence version
Watch Loki and WandaVision: they’re the shows the films lean on most. The live-action character shows are Recommended rather than required, with Daredevil: Born Again the pick of them, while the animated series (What If...?, I Am Groot, X-Men ’97 and the rest) are Optional and can be skipped without losing the plot.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the Marvel shows before Avengers: Doomsday?
Loki (both seasons) is the one series on Marvel’s official Doomsday watch list, and the one we’d call required. WandaVision is essential for the saga overall but only recommended for Doomsday itself. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier helps with Brave New World, and the rest are optional for Doomsday.
What is the best Marvel Disney+ show?
Loki is the consensus pick; it carries the entire multiverse plot. X-Men ’97 is the best-reviewed animation Marvel has made.
Can I skip Secret Invasion?
You can. We grade it Recommended because it covers Nick Fury after the Blip, but it’s the lowest-rated MCU show and no film so far requires it.
Are the Netflix shows on Disney+ worth watching?
Daredevil Seasons 1–3 are excellent and now MCU canon; they enrich Daredevil: Born Again enormously. See our canon Q&A for the full picture.