Marvel TV Shows 2022: Monsters, Mayhem and More!

As the year comes to a close, it’s always fun to reminisce on what TV has given us. From unflinching, heavy-hitting dramas to whimsical sitcoms and sprawling period pieces, I think it’s safe to say we’re genuinely living in the golden age of television. There’s something for everyone!

It wouldn’t be a true year of TV without entertainment juggernaut?Marvel, whose live-action offerings have left a mark on the small screen. This year saw the end of Phase 4, among other things, but I want to delve into the best of what it had to offer on the Marvel television front. Spoilers lurk ahead, so proceed with caution.

Moon Knight

The first entry in Marvel’s 2022 TV slate is?Moon Knight. This Oscar Isaac-led vehicle follows Steven Grant, a museum gift shop employee who experiences frequent blackouts and inexplicable memories of another life. Steven learns he has dissociative identity disorder (DID) and shares his body with Marc Spector, a ruthless mercenary. Marc is in service of the Egyptian god Khonshu, the God of the Moon, who bestowed Marc with his abilities so he can mete out justice.

Unfortunately, Steven becomes embroiled in Marc’s high-stakes life. He must stop their archnemesis, Arthur Harrow, from resurrecting Ammit before the goddess delivers her version of divine retribution.

Moon Knight?is undoubtedly one of Marvel’s darkest live-action shows thus far. It tackles themes such as identity, mental health, and death. Oscar Isaac churns out a brilliantly nuanced, searingly vulnerable performance as Steven and Marc. He fully fleshes out both men and seamlessly switches between like the pro he is, capturing their darkness and light in equal measure. The show, in general, handles Steven’s DID with grace and tenderness.

In addition, May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly becomes the MCU’s first Egyptian super hero as the Scarlet Scarab. Representation always,?always?matters.

Favorite episode:?“Asylum” (Season 1 Episode 5)

Ms. Marvel

Pakistani-American teen?Kamala Khan?spends her time daydreaming and fangirling over?Carol Danvers?while residing in New Jersey with her family. One day, she finds a bangle from her grandmother Sana. After the bangle injects her with mysterious powers, Kamala sets out to uncover the mystery behind her family heirloom. She takes a trip to Pakistan, where she learns the bangle’s origins and that her great-grandmother is a?ClanDestine. ClanDestines are super-powered beings who hail from the Noor Dimension. The Noor energy is what powers Kamala’s bangle.

Later, Kamala discovers a plot developed by her love interest Kamran’s mother, Najma (also a ClanDestine) to turn Earth into the Noor Dimension. With the help of a quick trip to the past to connect with her great-grandma Aisha, Kamala searches for a way to stop Najma’s plan. Naturally, she saves the day, does?the thing?(embiggens), and becomes the?Ms. Marvel?we know from the comics.

Ms. Marvel?brings more much-needed representation into the Marvel sphere. Kamala is this cinematic universe’s first Muslim super hero. Identity plays an integral role in her story. It lovingly shapes who she is as a person and super hero. Iman Vellani is utterly charming, stealing every scene she’s in (which is all of them). She cultivates Kamala as a multifaceted, clever, kind, and nuanced human being (who happens to be super).

All in all, this series is sweet, bursting at the seams with heart, beautiful representation, and Kamala’s oozing charisma.

Favorite episode:?“No Normal” (Season 1 Episode 6)

She-Hulk

Sigh. Shows like?Ms. Marvel?and?She-Hulk?went through the internet wringer this year, incessantly plagued by social media dude bros and trolls. I wonder what the common denominator is here? Hmm. Best not to ruminate on that for too long. Anyway,?She-Hulk?follows LA lawyer Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner’s cousin, who absorbs his?Hulk?blood after an accident and becomes, you guessed it, She-Hulk. Jen tries to reject her Hulkness by focusing solely on her career, but when a law firm hires her to head their super-powered division, she must come face-to-face with her smashing self.

Eventually, Jen dukes it out with Titania. She puts another foe, HulkKing, in his place, who’s part of the Intelligencia. Before that, Jen bangs Matt Murdock, AKA?Daredevil. She also has a heart-to-heart with K.E.V.I.N., the AI responsible for Marvel’s storylines.

She-Hulk?breaks the Marvel mold in that it’s a straight-up sitcom. Yes, there’s some semblance of an overarching seasonal narrative, but each episode is very contained, story-wise. Perhaps that threw some viewers for a loop after becoming conditioned to the constant onslaught of fast-paced action with the occasional serving of quippy humor.

Some More Shulkie Thoughts

But guess what? I loved it. The series brought regular MCU-ers into the fold (Bruce Banner, Wong) while introducing new characters like Madisynn, Pug, and Nikki and reintroducing Marvel veterans like Daredevil and Abomination. Tim Roth is hilarious in this, as is Patty Guggenheim as the lovable Madisynn. Plus,?She-Hulk?serves as Matt Murdock’s bona fide welcome into the MCU (I’m not counting that two-second scene in?Spider-Man: No Way Home). He even has a new suit!

Tatiana Maslany is fiercely funny as our titular character, but if you’ve watched?Orphan Black, you know she has the chops.?She-Hulk?is a delightful romp through Meta Land, with?fourth wall breaks?and plenty of creative Marvel Easter eggs. Phew. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Favorite episode:?“Whose Show Is This?” (Season 1 Episode 9)

Werewolf by Night

As much as I loved?Moon Knight,?She-Hulk, and?Ms. Marvel,?Werewolf by Night?eclipses them. In fact, it might be my favorite Marvel TV offering in Phase 4, along with?WandaVision. Gael García Bernal stars in a black-and-white classic monster movie homage as Jack Russell, a werewolf who participates in a competitive hunt alongside four other monster hunters to determine who will wield the Bloodstone, previously owned by the late Ulysses Bloodstone. Elsa Bloodstone, his daughter, also joins the hunt.

Jack encounters his fair share of challenges while hunting for the Bloodstone, including his competitors. He reunites with Ted, his monster buddy also known as?Man-Thing, and tries to shield him from the other hunters. Jack also intends to help Elsa retrieve the Bloodstone since she should have it by right. Unfortunately, Elsa’s stepmother Verussa captures them, triggering Jack’s werewolf curse. Thankfully, he doesn’t kill Elsa but turns on everyone else. Elsa eventually seizes the Bloodstone and takes control of her father’s manor.?

Michael Giacchino, known for composing the scores for Marvel projects such as 2016’s?Doctor Strange?and the first two films in Tom Holland’s?Spider-Man?flicks, helms a stylized, sleek monster presentation that’ll become a staple of Marvel fans’ Halloween watches. It’s just plain fun and a breath of fresh air from the usual fare. Gael García Bernal makes for a fantastic Jack Russell, managing to be down-to-earth while playing someone who transforms into a werewolf.

Werewolf by Night?hits the horror sweet spot, and I hope we see more of Jack and Elsa Bloodstone (and Ted, of course).

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

The Guardians partake in some festive fun this year with?The Guardians of the Galaxy?Holiday Special. The premise is simple: The Guardians are now on Knowhere, having purchased it from the Collector, and added Cosmo the Spacedog to their ranks. Kraglin tells Mantis and?Drax?a story about how Yondu ruined Christmas for?Peter. Thus, Mantis persuades Drax to accompany her to LA to bring Kevin Bacon, Peter’s childhood hero, as a Christmas present.?

After having a few impromptu Hollywood adventures, including drunkenly dancing at a club, vandalizing Kevin Bacon’s sprawling home, and getting in a fight with law enforcement, our pair gives Peter their gift. Mantis, Drax,?Rocket,?Nebula,?Groot, and Cosmo throw together a stunning holiday display on Knowhere to lift Peter’s spirits, along with the arrival of Kevin Bacon. Later, good ol’ KB departs for Earth, and Mantis finally drops a family bombshell on Peter: They are brother and sister.?

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special?boasts James Gunn’s brand of wholesomeness with a side of snarky humor, complete with a toe-tapping rock soundtrack. It’s zany and heartfelt and bursting with holiday cheer. It’s lovely to see these characters bonding after what they’ve endured together (and the inevitable pain on the horizon with?Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). And Kevin Bacon! The Baconator! Always a good time.

What are your favorite Marvel projects from 2022? Share your thoughts with other fans at?side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!