Disney’s Best Marvel Show Is a Forgotten 3-Part X-Men Series

Published Jul 24, 2026, 7:02 PM EDT Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows. In addition to reviewing, writing, and commentating on both new and old releases, Liam has interviewed talent such as Mark Wahlberg, Jesse Plemons, Sam Mendes, Billy Eichner, Dylan O'Brien, Luke Wilson, and B.J. Novak. Liam aims to get his spec scripts produced and currently writes short films and stage plays. He lives in Allentown, PA. Marvel has unquestionably changed the entertainment industry with the success of its superhero films, but to say that its live-action television efforts have been disappointing is an understatement. In the modern era, the Netflix Marvel shows hinted at interesting storylines that were never completed because the universe was abruptly cut short, and the output on ABC felt like run-of-the-mill network content. The Disney+ era of originals has faced the opposite set of issues because Marvel seems to approach these shows as if they were films and doesn't ensure that they have the type of stories that sustain weekly installments. Legion is a rare victory for Marvel on television because it takes place outside any established universes (or multiverses, for that matter), and thus doesn't require any “homework” before it can be binged. Best of all, Legion is the rare superhero show that was consistently engaging and concluded in a strong way. Even though most comic book adaptations leave the door open for future adventures, Legion’s sense of finality makes it a completely fulfilling experience. ‘Legion’ Features a New Stylistic Approach to Superheroes One of the smartest decisions made for Legion was basing it on a relatively obscure line of Marvel comics, which ensured that there were fewer expectations and more room for expansion. There are few showrunners out there who know how to revamp tired brands better than Noah Hawley; through his working relationship with FX, Hawley has captured the essence of what makes certain properties special, but tells original stories that could only be depicted in his unique way. Legion might be the antidote for comic book fans who have been frustrated by the contemporary trappings of the genre, but it’s also an option for those who have dealt with superhero fatigue. Legion stars Dan Stevens as David Haller, a mutant whose power allows him to possess various supernatural abilities, including levitation, telekinesis, telepathy, and physical transformation. However, David’s powers take the form of different personalities, which leads to him being diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age. Legion is sincere in its exploration of mental health as it relates to characters who feel “othered” by their abilities, and David’s experience in psychiatric facilities means that seeing him team up with other mutants is even more empowering. At the same time, Legion doesn't absolve David of all responsibilities simply because he's been misunderstood. Among the many reasons that Legion feels more like a prestige genre series than a typical superhero show is that David is an anti-hero, similar to many of the prominent protagonists from the “peak TV” era. Legion offers a breath of fresh air because it's a psychedelic show with flashy visuals, inventive storytelling techniques, and a willingness to experiment with its style. Simply showing how a superhero’s powers break from reality is an outdated storytelling method that only puts up a greater barrier between the characters and the audience; Legion distinguishes itself because it is often told from David’s perspective, offering a window into the chaos and beauty that he sees in the world. Thanks to wild musical numbers, creative animated scenes, and trippy sequences of esoteric storytelling, Legion guarantees that there’s rarely a dull moment, even when the story has to deal with exposition or flashbacks. Even though the idiosyncrasies of Legion are what differentiate it from other Marvel shows, it’s not an instance of “style over substance.” The filmmaking choices in Legion are grounded in the characters, and they’re utilized appropriately to make certain decisions feel honest. ‘Legion’ Is a Character-Driven Superhero Show Legion is a compelling feat of character analysis because it is both a puzzle box and a deconstruction. There are more than a few “mystery boxes” that lead to fun reveals throughout the series, but Legion also questions the hero’s journey by pointing out that most stories are told from a slanted perspective. The conflict within Legion is not a case of two sides colliding, but of multiple groups of people trying to find a way to co-exist. It’s not a show with obvious takeaways; rather, it acknowledges that mental health issues can’t simply be “solved.” While there was a possibility that this could have felt unbearably pretentious or condescending, the nuance with which Legion follows through on its aspirations makes it even more rewarding upon a rewatch. Legion has all the boldness and eccentricity that has come to be expected from FX, a network that deserves to be held in the same regard as HBO or Apple TV. At the same time, Legion isn’t short on what makes a great superhero series, and certainly captures the aesthetic of reading a comic book better than most other adaptations. While it was a popular show at the time of its release, and has certainly granted more opportunities to both Hawley and Stevens, Legion still feels like an underground hit that is begging to be discovered by a wider segment of Disney+ subscribers. The only issue with speeding through a binge of Legion is how dull other superhero shows are going to look in comparison. Legion Release Date 2017 - 2019-00-00