Screen Scene of a Geek: 10 (Modern) Live Action Superhero Shows that redefined the power of the small screen

Okay, Reader.

I promised I would be sharing some legitimate writing on geeky screen content, so why not start with something fun and simple.

As an avid binge-watcher of superhero television shows, doing a top ten about the subject matter was a no brainer for me. However, merely doing an opinionated ranking of such would be lackluster in substance; for the geek readers that need an excuse to delay their binge watching of a new show - (such as the recently released second season of The Punisher on Netflix) - I’ll be discussing the impact the ten shows listed had on the industry and community beyond the subjective perspectives of whether or not these shows are any good in my opinion.

Before we begin, let me lay down some ground rules:

I only included shows that I have watched at least a season of. This blogger may have the journalism experience of a child with their first diary so far, but I’m going to maintain a level of integrity in being honest about my knowledge for the subject matter. You’d need to be superhuman, a paid professional that is obliged to watch all of the shows, or someone completely lacking a social life beyond geek culture, in order to have seen everything about every show; neither are applicable to this full-time college student who dabbles in theatre, writing, and YouTube work. Not every show could be featured on this list - even if I did the impossible and watched them all.
The order of the shows is irrelevant compared to the achievements themselves. I ranked them how I did due to personal relevance and how much I could write about them, not because I’m some intellectual whose opinions are better than anyone else. Consider this list is having no particular order if it will help you sleep at night.

With this in mind, this is my list of

10 (Modern) Live Action Superhero Shows that redefined the power of the small screen - in no particular order:

Let the countdown commence...

10. Titans (DC Universe Original Series)

Starting with the most divisive and controversial pick - which has probably led some of you to either leave automatically or doubt my competence as a geek - is the very first original series of the DC Universe streaming service. Titans is a more mature, live action adaptation of the Teen Titans characters, focusing primarily on the characters of Dick Grayson (who attempts to leave behind the mantle of Robin), Rachel (Raven to comic book fans), Kory (Starfire to comic book fans), and Gar (Beast Boy to comic book fans). Regardless of whether or not you think the show is any good, there is no denying the project was ambitious from start to finish. Not only was it the first production to be run solely by the people at DC, not through another television network or streaming service, but they stopped at nothing to world-build their new universe by utilizing many characters from their vast comic catalog throughout the 11 episode season - including an episode dedicated specifically to backdoor piloting their upcoming Doom Patrol spinoff. Just when everyone expected Titans to fail after a pitiful marketing campaign, the show was met with a mostly positive critical and audience reception, and can be streamed on the DC Universe app in America and Netflix and everywhere else.

9. The Punisher (Marvel/Netflix Original)

Especially in light of several mass shootings in America, it is weird to think that one of the most endearing characters in the comic book TV world turned out to be Frank Castle’s unhinged Punisher. Debuting as an antagonist for Matt Murdock in the sophomore season of Daredevil, with an unbelievable performance from Jon Bernthal, the reason why this emotionally broken shooter got to this list is because of the fans he garnered. The positive response from audiences was so strong that it prompted Netflix to order a solo series for the character - which was never a part of the initial four show and crossover deal that they made with Marvel in the first place. The reason why it remains on this list, beyond being a solid show with stellar performances and action sequences, is because of how it showcases PTSD and trauma, especially in the first season with an original character by the name of Lewis. Very few television shows have attempted to showcase the tolls of service in the military, especially when they don’t even belong to that genre type. This show tackles it head on, all while being rooted in themes of government conspiracy and betrayal. With a controversial and divisive sequel season having just been released for viewing on Netflix, the future of the character and its cast has been determined - it has been officially cancelled alongside its fellow series at the hands of the streaming giant.

8. Luke Cage (Marvel/Netflix Original)

After nearly stealing the show in his cameo appearances throughout Jessica Jones Season (season 1), Luke Cage’s own series became iconic for its representation of African culture - expanding from Harlem’s African American variety, through the representation of Jamaican African culture in its second and (unfortunately) final season. The symbol of a lead protagonist being a bulletproof black man and the political-social debate surrounding racial tensions really solidified the culture significance and relevance of this show, resonating with audiences of color long before Black Panther made it to theaters. The show is essentially a celebration of African culture, all the way down to its inclusion of musical interludes from many different African American musicians performing at the fictional Harlem’s Paradise club. Despite some pacing problems and questionable character choices, I (as a rather pale white critic) can even understand just how important this show was. Fortunately, the cancellation of Luke Cage by Netflix in October of 2018 did not leave the TV department at Marvel completely losing their representation of African American culture… more on that when we reach the Top 5, but you can still watch both seasons of the show, in addition to Cage’s appearances on Jessica Jones & The Defenders on Netflix.

7. Supergirl (DC, CW/CBS)

The first female flagship hero in the television side of the DC superheroes has stopped at nothing to make a political statement about American society at every turn - for better or worse. Don’t be fooled by the notion of Kara Danvers being the cousin of the famous Superman - Supergirl is clearly a force to be reckoned with in this character adaptation, going as far as to even win in fights against said iconic cousin on a few occasions. Notable historical highlights include the series dedicating a massive sub-plot to a character coming out as LGBT, and as recently as this season, it became the first superhero screen property to bring a transgender character to a superhero role. Not only are these story elements relevant to justify its inclusion on the list, but the production had to overcome several obstacles between its first and second season that more than solidify such: specifically, making a crossover possible with a character from a different network, and eventually having to move to that network afterwards. Supergirl’s previous seasons can be streamed on Netflix, and its current season is airing weekly on the CW.

6. Agents of Shield (Marvel/ABC)

Before you close out of this tab and never read my blog again, I hope you will hear me out on why I think this (criminally) underrated show cemented its place in television history. After the massive success that was The Avengers on the big screen, director and writer Joss Whedon brought his talent to the small screen alongside his brother in expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the television market. A show built by the fans, for the fans, the idea for a show that would loosely tie in and reference the film universe seemed just as risky as the notion of building the movie universe in the first place, especially on a network as big as ABC instead of a streaming service. However, Agents of Shield not only turned out to be a successful enterprise in that regard, but it actually transcended above that premise into a wildly successful show that survived without relying on whatever happens in the film world. Featuring Agent Coulson as the tether between the two screen worlds, the remaining cast of smaller and lesser known heroes and villains have found a special place in the hearts of many. The show, while not without its struggles, managed to bring some of the most iconic characters (Ghost Rider) and most complicated story premises (Life-Model-Decoys and The Framework) to the screen, especially when implementing the “pod” storytelling model - connecting three unrelated comic arcs together and segueing between each over the span of one television season. It also survived several possible cancellations due to outcry from its overwhelmingly strong fanbase, only arguably rivaled by only one other in the Marvel community - more on that when we reach number 1. Agents of Shield’s older seasons can be watched on Netflix, as new seasons are scheduled to appear this year on ABC.

5. Cloak and Dagger (Marvel/Freeform)

I had no expectations for this show going in, but I instantly became hooked on its youthful and flawed protagonists, grounded in a gritty world that is on par (and subtly connects) with the Marvel Netflix properties. This show goes the extra mile in its representations of people of color - showcasing the loss of a loved one in a controversial police shooting - and in poverty - through the arc of a family who lost everything financially because of a death in the family - in the refreshing setting of New Orleans. Including a soundtrack that perfectly encapsulates the show moments and resonates with audiences of different ages, and some stellar performances by its leading stars, the overall focus on the idea of loss is pivotal in awarding the show a spot in the top 5 on the list, especially in Episode 7 of the 10 episode season that went as far as bringing this geek to tears - which, whether you take my word for it or not, is a rare occurrence. Met with praise from both critical and audience standpoints, this underrated show demands to be seen if character storytelling is in your wheelhouse. All episodes of Cloak and Dagger can be streamed on Hulu, as a new season is expected to arrive soon to Freeform.

4. The Flash (DC/CW)

The creative team on Arrow took a big risk when attempting to backdoor pilot character Barry Allen in their show for a few cameo appearances. The character was certainly redeeming enough to audiences, but the demands for heavy visual effects exceeded those of their current show. When it was announced that The Flash was making its way to the network not long after then, nobody expected it to become the staple of comic book television it has become over the course of 5 seasons. The visual effects technology on a television budget was superb for the most part, especially since costumes, sets, props, and actors also had to factor into that financial mess of a situation (I would sure hate to be the accountant running the books for them.) Despite its repetitive and predictable episodic storytelling and soap opera-level drama, which is not unlike any other CW DC counterpart, this sequel essentially became the fan favorite of the network. Beyond that, this show made it possible to expand the universe into the concept of Multiverse storytelling (the idea of multiple realities existing at the same time) and use of time travel leaving the door open for an infinite number of story arcs to be told as the show trucks along with new seasons, and with crossover events between its counterpart shows on the network. Previous seasons can be streamed on Netflix, as the current season can be seen on the CW.

3. Jessica Jones (Marvel/Netflix)

The first female-led show in the Netflix corner of the Marvel world is a stark contrast from Marvel’s first female led show in Agent Carter. Taking on the darker storytelling tone from its predecessor, Daredevil, and ripping iconic moments from the pages of the Alias comic source material, Jessica’s rough edged, mostly drunk, and always sassy and sarcastic personality makes her the unconventional lead that leads the way for breaking female character tropes. The way the show illustrates her own PTSD from being a rape victim and a sole survivor in an accident that killed the rest of her family is bone-chilling. The narrative oozes in noir feel from classic detective storytelling, while also housing some of the most jaw-dropping performances from its hero and its first season villain, Kilgrave. Beyond that, it has fixed itself in television history by having the entirety of its second season be directed by women, as a statement on the filmmaking world lacking desperately needed diversity. A show that proudly embraces such diversity on camera and behind the scenes is a show worthy of anyone’s attention to some degree. Like the other Defenders programs, it has been officially cancelled - but with a third season of the series coming to Netflix this year, at least it will go out with a swan song.

2. Arrow (DC/CW)

The show that started it all, Arrow was the Iron Man of the DC television world without really knowing it. A solid show in its first few seasons alone, it eventually paved the way for a small screen cinematic universe with spin offs like The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl coming to fruition over the years. Through descent characters and impressive action set pieces on a television budget, Arrow remains to be the longest running superhero show of this modern renaissance for the genre. While The Flash can be credited for bringing the universe to new worlds and realities through a variety of crossovers, the existence of The Flash itself is entirely owed to Arrow and the success and endurance it has maintained over the years. While not perfect, and definitely hitting some critical and audience low points over time, its ability to continue on after all of this time while also being the start of an entire universe is worthy of holding the number one spot… if not for the impossible achievements of the show it is runner up to… Previous seasons can be streamed on Netflix, and the current season airs on the CW - although next year will see the show coming to an end in an 10 episode 8th season.

And number one is...

*drumroll*

1. Daredevil (Marvel/Netflix)

Daredevil has been, and probably always will be, my favorite on screen superhero property, in film and television. As biased as I may be in having it as a number one entry on this list, I have more than plenty of reasons why this is deserved, regardless of my fanboy level status for it. When it was announced that Marvel was attempting to replicate their successful movie formula on the small, Netflix streaming service screen, critics and audiences were excited yet cautious, especially when Daredevil would be the flagship of the lot - many still had a bad taste in their mouths from the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck for the character. The ambitious plans to develop four shows that would crossover into a mini-series event seemed like they would fail, as lightning typically does not strike twice. The show’s first look at the costume was met with concern and confusion, as some people thought the show would be too cheap to be good, while comic book fans geeked out over it actually paying homage to an iconic run on the character by author Frank Miller. The performance of relatively unknown actor Charlie Cox in the leading role seemed promising, but the counterpart performance of Vincent D’Onofrio was met with mixed appeal after the first trailer was released. When the show made its debut in April of 2015, critics and audiences alike couldn’t get enough of it. Daredevil had elevated the storytelling ability of the small screen through its treatment of episodes being small parts of a 13 hour feature film. The acting, writing, cinematography, and especially the action sequences, elevated the show to be on par with high budget action films - especially since it became iconic for its one-take hallway action set pieces in each season, especially one lasting 11 straight minutes in the third season. It brought the otherwise kid-friendly Marvel Cinematic Universe into a far more mature and gritty realm, keeping balance with the heart and soul that was lost in the attempts of other properties to go to the dark side (*cough cough* DC Films.) It was also known for adapting comic book characters into proto-versions, in order to develop them over the season narrative into versions that more closely resemble the iconic source material depictions. It remained the most popular and most highly rated series out of all of the Defenders characters; until its shocking and unfortunate cancellation a month after Season 3 premiered in 2018. The final reason for why this show deserves the number one spot - as if it even needed any more - is because of the fanbase it has grown. A fan campaign by the name of #savedaredevil created a change.org petition that reached an unprecedented 200,000 signatures and counting, thanks in part to catching the attention of the actors from the show and getting them to share their support for the movement. Not only is the show itself an achievement in pushing the envelope for small screen storytelling, and being the start of a mini universe itself, but it inspired a passionate fan base to continue pushing the envelope for social media campaigning on its behalf. If that doesn’t define small screen power, I honestly don’t know what would.

Conclusion:

Whether they provided new outlets for showcasing elements of storytelling, technology, or the power of the fans, all of these shows have transcended beyond the medium to change the ways of the world - even if all of it began on the small screen.

Do you agree or disagree with my list? Did I miss any shows that you think deserved a spot? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, or in an email to me (which you will find in my bio). Let’s keep the conversation going!

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