4. Loki (Disney+: 2021-)
Loki was a massive delight when its first season dropped in 2021. And it remained one of the better MCU projects in season two, which wasn’t nearly as great but still rose beyond most of the franchise fare in 2023. The series works because of its devotion to evolving a long-established Marvel character, taking him from a scary villain to an extremely vulnerable and easy-to-root-for hero. Hiddleston is terrific as he finds nuanced ways to depict his character’s time-traveling journey. In the new episodes, Loki fights for his friends, realizing he does not actually want to be alone at all. Loki keeps its momentum alive by recognizing they have a captivating protagonist, whether he’s paired with Mobius (Owen Wilson) or another Loki (Sophia DiMartino). We don’t know yet if Loki will return as a series, but at least now we have two highly enjoyable seasons focusing on one of the MCU’s most fascinating characters. [Saloni Gajjar]
