The 25 best TV shows on Disney+ to watch in October: 'Andor' is the best of 'Star Wars'
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There's more to Disney+ than just the movies you loved as a kid.
While Disney+ has no shortage of classic movie favorites and modern blockbuster films to enjoy, its TV library is decidedly more mixed and leans primarily on children's content. While you'll easily find something to distract a 6-year-old for half an hour, parents might be more likely to try Disney's other streaming service, Hulu, for something a little more mature. But Disney+ is slowly adding more shows for grownups,
The service is now the home of new Marvel and "Star Wars" TV shows including "Ms. Marvel," "Ob-Wan Kenobi" and "Loki." Other recent series include "WandaVision," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "Moon Knight" and "Hawkeye." Disney+ also recently acquired more R-rated Marvel shows originally made for Netflix including "Daredevil," "Iron Fist," "The Defenders" and "The Punisher" (along with stronger parental controls).
And for adults who aren't into genre television, Disney+ is now the home of new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars," after 30 seasons on ABC.
So, from the obvious ("The Mandalorian") to the gems you didn't realize were streaming ("Agent Carter"), we picked the 25 best TV series available on Disney+ as of October 2022 (listed in alphabetical order).
More: Disney+: How streaming service will load up on new Marvel, 'Star Wars' and Pixar series
1. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Ranging from slightly hokey to thrilling and gripping, "S.H.I.E.L.D." is the Marvel series that wore its very large heart on its sleeve. Airing on ABC from 2013-20, the series (initially) follows S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) who appeared in films like "Iron Man" and "The Avengers," as he leads a team to deal with superhero cleanup. But it morphs into a much weirder, supernatural series over the years that felt far removed from those early Marvel films, in the best way.
2. “Agent Carter”
The advent of new Disney+ Marvel series marks a new chapter for the comic-book brand on TV, after a bumpy few years of experiments on ABC, Netflix, Hulu and Freeform. Among the stinkers (“Inhumans”) and also-ran superhero shows was this fantastic ABC series starring Hayley Atwell’s “Captain America” character, canceled far too soon after a mere 18 episodes. A spy series with a vintage flair, “Carter” relied on Atwell and her costars' chemistry and charm rather than a deep knowledge of Marvel lore, to terrific success.
3. "Andor"
The "Star Wars" prequel series tells the origin of Diego Luna’s character from the 2016 film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The series is smart, gripping science fiction, and the “Star Wars” of it all is almost incidental. That’s actually a very good thing, and there’s an energy and springiness to “Andor” that’s lost in some of the other “Star Wars” shows that are burdened with fan service, canon events and self-seriousness. By striking out on its own, "Andor" creates something uniquely exciting.
More: Every Marvel TV show, definitively ranked (including 'WandaVision')
4. “Boy Meets World”
Cory (Ben Savage), Topanga (Danielle Fishel), Shawn (Will Friedle) and Mr. Feeney (William Daniels) went through the ups and downs of growing up for seven seasons on ABC. One of the few series that followed its characters from childhood to college and adulthood, "Boy" packs an emotional punch.
5. "Daredevil"
"Daredevil" is dark, gritty, unique and exciting (so much so that its somber style was often copied in subsequent superhero TV shows). While the show is a bit meandering and long, its villains (including Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk and Jon Bernthal's Punisher, who later got his own lesser series) are unparalleled in their complexity.
6. "Doogie Kamealoha, M.D."
Dr. Lahela Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is a genius, a doctor and a teenage girl trying to make her way in the world and care for her patients. Wholesome without crossing over into cloying, the series – a remake of ABC's "Doogie Howser, M.D.," which starred Neil Patrick Harris – feels like a more mature version of a Disney Channel show, as Lahela encounters death and suffering, but grows (and grows up) in the process.
7. “Doug”
More than its earworm of a theme song, "Doug" is a surprisingly sensitive take on a kid with fears about friends, crushes and growing up. With quirky animation, funny fantasy sequences and the best character names around ("Patti Mayonnaise" is unparalleled), it's a treat to revisit the Nickelodeon series as an adult or watch with young kids.
8. “DuckTales” (2017)
Those without tiny people to entertain in their homes might have missed this Disney XD reboot of the classic cartoon. If so, they’ve missed out on one of the most sophisticated kids’ shows around. With a stellar voice cast, including David Tennant, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan and Danny Pudi, and jokes for kids and parents alike, it's one of the best new children's shows in recent years.
9. “Girl Meets World”
Fans of "Boy" were delighted by Disney Channel's sequel, which follows Cory and Topanga’s daughter as she makes her own way in the world. It ran for just three seasons but had a charming young cast and updated issues for Cory and friends to deal with in the modern world.
10. “Gravity Falls”
Disney Channel's weird, silly, absurd animated series about twins who spend the summer at a quirky tourist trap in Oregon is a kids' show with an adult following. The series is hilarious and mature (but not too grown-up), with a voice cast that includes Jason Ritter, Linda Cardellini and Kristen Schaal.
11. “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”
Leaning into the silliness of its concept, this mockumentary starring chart-topper Olivia Rodrigo is the unsung (well, outside of its talented musical cast) hero of Disney+ originals. Funny, sweet and accurate in its representation of high school theater that Hollywood has attempted in recent years, “Musical” doesn’t feel like a soulless brand extension, but an innovative way to get good stories into existing franchises. Season 3 episodes are streaming Wednesdays.
12. "Jessica Jones"
The first season of "Jones" is ideal, a boldly feminist and realistic approach to the genre, and it's a shame the series couldn't hold onto the magic. But Krysten Ritter's performance as the hero, a woman reeling from personal trauma with super strength, is electric enough to overcome occasionally weak storylines. "Jessica" also has what might be the most terrifying Marvel villain in Kilgrave (David Tennant), a sociopath with mind-control powers.
13. “Lizzie McGuire”
Although the millennial touchstone sitcom’s adult revival is officially dead, the comedy about a preteen girl remains one of Disney Channel’s best series. Hilary Duff stars as Lizzie, a middle-schooler yearning for popularity and a boy with great hair. The relatable storylines (shopping for your first bra, not being able to afford stylish new jeans) and Lizzie’s animated inner monologue elevates the series above its contemporaries.
14. "Loki"
Tom Hiddleston stars as everyone's favorite Marvel villain turned antihero in this genre-bending Disney+ original, in which the god of mischief is captured by an all-powerful group of time-travelers aimed at keeping the "sacred timeline" in order. The series is fun and zippy, reminiscent of the more casual and comedic Marvel films such as "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Ant-Man."
15. "Luke Cage"
Mike Colter is masterful as Cage, the bulletproof hero of Harlem. First introduced on "Jones," Luke comes into his own in this series, which examines examined the superhero experience for a Black man two years before "Black Panther" hit theaters.
16. “The Mandalorian”
More than just Baby Yoda, the "Star Wars" drama, Disney+’s most prominent original series to date, is an old Western in space clothing. Pedro Pascal stars as the always-masked title character, a bounty hunter with a strict moral code and impressive fighting skills.
17. "Moon Knight"
Oscar Isaac stars in this Marvel adventure drama as Steven Grant, who discovers his struggle with dissociative identity disorder allows him to share a body with Marc Spector, an Egyptian moon god and mercenary. The show's nonstop thrills and exquisite bending of reality make for an adrenaline-pumping watch.
18. "Ms. Marvel"
Disney+'s teen Marvel series captures the spirit of one of its most groundbreaking comic book characters: a Pakistani-American Muslim teen girl from New Jersey. Kamala Khan's (Iman Vellani) journey of self-discovery, her conflicts with protective parents and romantic entanglements make it the ideal teen superhero series, a female Spider-Man of sorts. Vellani, a newcomer destined for at least one Marvel movie after this six-episode show, is a joy to watch and certain to inspire a new generation of young girls to try on a cape.
19. “Once Upon a Time”
What started as a simple, what-if-fairy-tales-were-real story evolved on ABC into a promotional opportunity for Disney’s latest movies (the “Frozen” ladies eventually join) and a wildly complex genre show. The entire ride is a lot of fun, with a great, appealing cast and plenty of nostalgia.
20. “On Pointe”
This Disney+ documentary about students at the School of American Ballet will satisfy viewers who love rousing sports stories and beautiful dance practice. Quibble all you want about calling ballet a sport, but the dancers are incredibly athletic and the narrative is like all great underdog sports stories.
21. "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder"
The beloved animated sitcom, which ran on the Disney Channel from 2001-05, gets the reboot treatment with "Louder and Prouder," which follows the adolescent adventures of 14-year old Penny Proud, along with her eclectic family and friends. Penny's youthful antics and the Prouds' tight-knit bond offer an endearing mix of humor and sweet relatability.
22. “The Simpsons”
At a time when the quirky citizens of Springfield feel less odd than those in real life, Fox's (very) long-running animated comedy feels almost quaint in its rude humor and pop-culture parodies. But it’s comforting and satisfying nonetheless.
23. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”
A superb animated series, which originally aired on Cartoon Network, is set between “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith." George Lucas was ambitious and experimental in an animated format, and with returning characters from the prequels we love (and some, like Jar Jar, we love to hate), it’s familiar and new at the same time.
More: Want more than 'The Mandalorian'? A guide to the galaxy of 'Star Wars' animated TV series
24. "WandaVision"
Marvel's first Disney+ original is a departure for the comics brand: a trippy, genre-bending take on the history of sitcoms. The series follows Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), a super-powered couple trapped in some kind of sitcom world. The best thing about "WandaVision" is the charming lead actors' ability to let loose. They're having fun and showing off their performance skills, which is not always possible in feature films with 15 other superheroes, fight sequences and villains.
More: Review: Marvel's trippy Disney+ sitcom 'WandaVision' is funny but frustrating
25. “X-Men: The Animated Series”
The classic 1990s Saturday morning Fox Kids cartoon holds up remarkably well as both a children's show and a superhero story. Long before Hugh Jackman played Wolverine, Cathal J. Dodd voiced his own iconic version, a hulking, yellow-and-blue-clad hero with white eyes. Like the comics, and later the movies, the series was never afraid to dig into deep issues and topics.
Contributing: Edward Segarra
Have a different streaming service? Here are the shows worth checking out:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 25 best TV shows on Disney+ October 2022: 'Andor'
