Since Iron Man took flight in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been dominating the box office year after year, smashing records and creating thousands (if not millions) of new fans of comic book characters that have been held dear in the hearts of comic readers but never reaching broader audiences to the point of being part of the cultural zeitgeist. But the MCU isn’t relegated to the big screen. Once the films began to run away like a freight train in popularity, street level heroes, some of whom had seen often maligned adaptations, began getting their own television shows on the streaming service Netflix.

On April 10, 2015, Netflix released all thirteen episodes of its inaugural Marvel series, Daredevil, creating a new on-screen universe that portrayed the grittier side of Marvel Comics and was only tangentially related to its big screen brother. Since Daredevil, there has been a five more series consisting of eight seasons, some of which have been praised by critics while others…not so much.

REVIEW: Luke Cage Season 2 Is the Rare Sequel That Outshines the Original

With Luke Cage returning on June 22 for its second season, we decided to reflect on the all nine seasons thus far (including Luke Cage Season 2) in the Netflix Marvel canon, ranking them by critical reaction.

IRON FIST SEASON 1 - AVERAGE SCORE: 27

When it was announced Danny Rand, The Immortal Iron Fist was coming to the small screen, long-time fans of the character were excited to see how Netflix would handle telling the story of K’un-Lun and the man who would defeat the dragon Shou-Lao the Undying to become an Immortal Weapon. It’s safe to say that Marvel’s Iron First was burdened with the impossible question of how to properly portray the sweeping story of mystic martial arts with a white lead, and according to critics, they whiffed it.

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With a dismal critics’ score of 17% on Rotten Tomatoes and 37 Metacritic score, Marvel’s Iron Fist is by far the most derided entry of Netflix’s Marvel shows. Often cited for being muddled in its plot and lacking a compelling hero, Danny Rand’s first outing couldn’t capture the imagination of the masses. To quote Susana Polo at Polygon.com, Marvel's Iron Fist is "laughably bad."

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THE PUNISHER SEASON 1 - AVERAGE SCORE 58.5

Jon Bernthal’s portrayal as Frank Castle in Daredevil Season 2 was cited as a huge highlight of the show by fans and critics alike. It’s no wonder then that when it was announced The Punisher was getting his own show, the masses rejoiced. But while fans seem to have a soft spot for the show, critics were slightly less favorable.

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At a 63% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 55 on Metacritic, Marvel’s The Punisher was a middle of the road affair according to critics. Liz Shannon Miller with indieWire captures the overall critic reaction by saying “As a narrative about veterans trying to find their place in the world, The Punisher has something to say. But it could have been so much shorter, and its placement in the Marvel universe feels tangential at best.” Perhaps the critics' reaction to The Punisher Season 2 will match how fans felt about this season.

THE DEFENDERS - AVERAGE SCORE: 69

Touted as Netflix’s answer to The Avengers, this eight episode limited series had a lot riding on it. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 75% and a Metacric rating of 63, Marvel’s The Defenders saw Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage teaming up to take on the Hand. And despite some great fight scenes are fantastic interaction between these characters, the show never reached the levels of bliss that its premise promised.

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Tim Goodman from the Hollywood Reporter may have put it best: “Despite glaring flaws, the new Marvel show on Netflix becomes an enjoyable mashup of disparate heroes trying to save New York.” It is yet to be seen if this quartet will get another truncated season, but if they can work out the kinks, The Defenders could grow into something critics will champion a bit more.

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DAREDEVIL SEASON 2 - AVERAGE SCORE: 70.5

Daredevil Season 2 did what any follow up to a superhero story on screen does and add a few new players to the mix. Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle was well-received by critics. Reviewer for The Atlantic, Sophie Gilbert even went on to say that the Punisher was “the series’ most compelling character to date…” On the other hand, the other heavy-hitter introduced in Season 2, the femme fatale assassin Elektra Natchios, wasn’t so universally loved. Oliver Sava from the AV Club put it quite simply: “The Elektra plot is bad…”

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With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 73% and a Metracritic score of 68, Daredevil Season 2 is pretty much heralded by critics as a season filled with great action set-pieces and a lot of stellar performances, but doesn’t have the same impact as the first.

JESSICA JONES SEASON 2 - AVERAGE SCORE: 78

Jessica Jones Season 2 had a lot to live up to. The first season was a colossal hit with critics and despite losing the main villain the return of everyone’s hard drinking superhero private detective was welcomed with open arms. Earning respectable 86% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 70 on Metacritic, Jessica Jones Season 2 may have not reached the heights that the first season soared over, but according to critics, it come pretty close.

Praise for Krysten Ritter’s portrayal of the titular character certainly helped the season, though. To quote Verne Gay from Newsday, “Ritter's Jessica Jones remains the most compelling, evocative and dynamic character in Netflix's Marvel canon.”

LUKE CAGE SEASON 2 - AVERAGE SCORE: 81

At the time of this writing, Luke Cage Season 2 has not aired on Netflix, but reviews are already pouring in. Currently the season holds a rather remarkable 94% “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes and a 68 on Metactric with the current reviews averaged out.

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Critics have been calling out the grounded realism of this season as one of its greatest strengths. Olly Richards with Empire Magazine event when as far to say, “Luke Cage could now remove any superhero elements almost entirely and still function as a series.” That’s pretty high praise for a show about a man with impenetrable skin and the strength to punch through walls.

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(TIE) LUKE CAGE SEASON 1 - AVERAGE SCORE: 86.5

Set predominately in the borough of Harlem and tackling heavy topics like gentrification, political corruption, and cultural appropriation, Luke Cage Season 1 was a superhero show with a lot on its mind. Critics took note and praised the show for its stellar cast (Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali’s Cottonmouth was a standout), its sharp view point on the African-American experience, and amazing soundtrack.

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That last point was extrapolated upon by Jack Hamilton with Slate, saying, “One of Luke Cage's greatest triumphs is its use of music, which resonates more prominently and energetically than in any previous Marvel screen property.” While a Rotten Tomatoes score of a whopping 94% and a Metacritic score of 79, Luke Cage hit all the right notes with critics, by and large.

(TIE) DAREDEVIL SEASON 1 - AVERAGE SCORE: 86.5

In a Hail Mary attempt to save the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen on screen legacy from the dour affair of the 2003 Ben Affleck film, Netflix sought to make Matt Murdock a household name with Marvel’s Daredevil. And, much to critics’ delight, the show was a smash hit, opening up the door for every subsequent Neftlix Marvel series.

Daredevil Season 1 stands mighty with a colossal 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 75 on Metacritic, proving that a blind lawyer who beats up people in his neighborhood could in fact be a critical darling. As Debbie Day with TheWrap put it: “Yes, we can finally put visions of Ben Affleck in red in the rearview mirror as Matt Murdock has at long last been given the treatment his legions of fans have long-claimed he deserved.”

JESSICA JONES SEASON 1 - AVERAGE SCORE: 87

In 2001, legendary comic scribe Brain Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos introduced readers to a new breed of superhero in the pages of Alias. Jessica Jones was a haunted, hard-drinking former costumed hero turned private eye. The character was raw, vulnerable, and challenged the conventions of what superheroes can be. Fourteen years later, Jessica Jones would storm the screen, again redefining the character through the brilliant portrayal by actress Krysten Ritter.

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And the critics agreed. The first season of Jessica Jones garnered a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 81 on Metacritic, making it pound for pound the most beloved Netflix Marvel series by critics. As Eric Deggans with NPR put it: “Netflix's Jessica Jones is a proud addition to that pantheon, wrapping one of the best TV shows of the year in a woman's struggle to defeat the abuser who nearly ruined her life.”