Best Superhero Show? Not Loki, But This Forgotten Sci-Fi Drama with 91% Tomatometer
This show tells the story of a superhero's life from a very different perspective.
Who would have thought that a superhero series could look like a mix of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? It would seem that in the superhero world, where the game was turned upside down many years ago by Daredevil and Jessica Jones, nothing could surprise the viewers.
But there is a man named Noah Hawley, who has already managed to turn the near-perfect Coen Brothers movie Fargo into an excellent modern series of the same name. But Hawley didn't stop there – he made a show from the X-Men universe that doesn't play by the rules of the genre, and follows its own strange logic.
Legion Became One of the Most Unusual Superhero Shows
Legion, which debuted in 2017 and ran for three seasons, can be called one of the most outstanding superhero shows on modern television. Noah Hawley proved to the world that comic book adaptations don't have to follow the usual formula.
Legion combines stunning visuals with a dynamic plot that mixes awkward comedy with intense drama. Based on the X-Men comic book series, Legion revolves around David, a mutant who does not accept his powers, believing them to be a mental illness.
In the comics, Legion is the son of Professor Xavier and Gabrielle Haller.
What is Legion About?
David Haller suffers from a mental disorder from an early age, he is haunted by eerie visions, hears voices and from time to time falls into oblivion. His family puts him in a psychiatric hospital, where the young man is convinced that his problem is schizophrenia, which, if not cured, can at least be kept under control.
In reality, however, David is under the supervision of a special government organization that suspects the ward to be a powerful mutant. Directly from the hospital, David is kidnapped by a group of mutants who have their own plans for him.
Legion Is More of a Twisted Personal Drama Than an Action Show
The show has no direct connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which clearly worked to the show's advantage.
Noah Hawley has created his own surreal world, woven from Haller's twisted perception of reality. This is not a show where action scenes await you at every turn. Legion pays much more attention to the main character’s inner contradictions, his endless wanderings and search for himself.
Where to Stream Legion?
All three seasons of Legion are available on Apple TV, Prime Video and Hulu.