What does it mean for a show to be underrated? It means a lot of things, but mostly that the show is great but not as well known as it should be. It means that the show was probably overlooked for awards it could have won. Superhero shows in particular seem to be shoved into either the overrated or underrated categories; this does not mean that one group of shows are inherently better than the other, maybe just that one group is more widely revered than the other.
With shows like WandaVision and Loki often categorized as overrated (whatever that may mean), and shows like Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. categorized as underrated, it's safe to say that Legion is one of those superhero shows that is entirely underrated, but why?
What is Legion?
Legion is not automatically obvious as a superhero show. It takes time for that story to be revealed as it is first presented as a show about mental illness and schizophrenia. It is later revealed that David, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia from a young age, may actually be a mutant (like the X-Men). The show serves as an origin story of the X-Men and the idea of mutants, as David is the son of Charles Xavier; yes that Charles Xavier.
The show is mainly about David (Dan Stevens), how he deals with his mutant abilities, and the mutants and government officials he meets along the way (which includes a very young pre-fame Amber Midthunder from Prey, Jean Smart from Hacks, Jemaine Clement from What We Do in the Shadows and Flight of the Conchords, Katie Aselton from The League, and the great Hamish Linklater from Midnight Mass). Perhaps the standout character comes from Aubrey Plaza, however, who plays multiple variations on David's friend Lenny in an astounding, dangerous performance.
The story is told in a very psychedelic and trippy manner. The show feels like an acid trip, with ultra-hip music playing alongside kaleidoscopic imagery and a nonlinear narrative in an enthralling manner. It's ironic that people who hate superhero media love this show, because Legion was made especially for fans of the X-Men universe, and it's a shame that many of them have never seen or even heard of the show. This is all due to its lack of press inside superhero circles, which has ultimately led to the show being massively underrated.
Why is Legion Underrated?
As previously mentioned, one of the big reasons the show is underrated is the fact that it doesn't seem to be talked about with other superhero shows. This could be because the show aired on FX, a network that did not have any other superhero shows at the time. This could also be because the show was not produced directly by either Marvel or DC and thus was not included in either company's promotions.
Technically, it now falls under the Marvel umbrella, as that is who currently owns the X-Men, but it was never promoted as a Marvel show (or even as an X-Men show). Legion was also promoted as more of a trippy experimental series than a typical superhero show. Marvel has begun to move away from the textbook superhero model, but when Legion was released this was very uncommon. Thus, Legion didn't exactly fit in anywhere with the other superhero shows of its era.
Should You Even Watch Legion?
If superhero shows and movies are your thing, then yes! If they aren't, then yes! Legion does not rely on dozens of other films and series like the MCU, but instead tells a stand-alone story with incredible characters, amazing visuals, great music, and a killer narrative; it just happens to massively underseen. A show like Legion being underrated is not particularly a bad thing. In fact, it is seen as a good thing in many circles. It means that the show isn't often grouped in with others of similar style or topic.
Legion is underrated because it is not often talked about with other superhero shows or even with other science fiction shows, in which it could fit in as well; it also premiered at a time when superhero shows on network television were a dying breed and on a network that has not previously delved into space. Thankfully, you can still watch Legion on Hulu now, give it the love it deserves and maybe learn more about the origins of the X-Men franchise as a whole. Just the first five minutes of the show alone will give you a great feel for it.