I just can’t quit Disney+. I initially subscribed to the service back in the day to have all the major Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar stuff at my fingertips. Still, the service has managed to surprise me with easily bingeable shows and docuseries that I didn’t know I needed.
I love Star Wars, and while many of its Disney+ series have been hit-and-miss, I’ve really enjoyed some of the excellent animated anthology shows on offer. Speaking of animation, there’s a ton of Marvel stuff to binge on, too. Then there are the fantastic documentary series available—see, it’s tough not to find something great to watch. Here are three of my current binges.
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Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
Two of my favorite characters from the excellent Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series (watch it now if you haven’t) are given some well-deserved focus in this six-part anthology series that was released on Disney+ in May of this year. I easily tore my way through all the episodes in a single evening.
Broken up evenly, the first three episodes get right to it by resurrecting the delicious character Asajj Ventress, Count Duku’s notorious Sith apprentice and assassin-turned-bounty hunter. Thought dead in the canon, Ventress is given a second chance and aims to live a peaceful, quiet life in Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. However, she soon finds herself stepping up to protect a young padawan who is trying to find the Jedi refuge set up by her former lover, Jedi Quinlan Vos, who, along with Obi-Wan Kenobi, laid her to rest. Will she seek him out? Many believe that this storyline may lead to a future for Ventress in a live-action series.
The latter three parts focus on another fan fave, Cad Bane, but this time we get to go back in time to his troubled youth on Duro for a glimpse into what made him the ruthless bounty hunter he would come to be. It follows his early life as Colby, scrounging for a living with his best friend Niro, and through his entry into a life of crime when the friends’ paths diverge. Their eventual showdown is tense and worth the investment in the whole series.
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld is among the Tales anthology series of shows that includes Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire, which similarly focus on side characters in the Star Wars universe. The animation is breathtaking and will have you glued to your screen.
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X-Men ’97
The ’90s is so hot right now, as evidenced by the near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of this revival of one of the decade’s most popular cartoons. A continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series that had a successful run from 1992 to 1997, X-Men ’97 picks up right where things left off—many of its original voice actors came back for more.
With the characters and overall aesthetic designed to look like you remember it, the new series is et a year after the events of the old series’ finale. Professor X is thought to be dead, and the X-Men—Cyclops, Jean Grey, Rogue, Beast/Hank McCoy, Magneto, Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, and Gambit—struggle for mutant acceptance in the human world.
Over season one’s 10, 30-minute episodes, we see Magneto take leadership in the wake of Charles’ death, the birth of Scott and Jean’s son, and the underlying plot of Mister Sinister. We also get a handful of standalone episodes focused on individuals like Storm, Wolverine, and others.
Talk about nostalgia, if you were a fan of the ’90s series, this will scratch all the itches and check all the boxes for old-school X-Men love. You’ll also be interested to know that season two has already been greenlit, and it should see the light of day sometime in 2026.
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Behind the Attraction
If you’ve ever been to any of the six Disney theme parks that are scattered around the world, experienced their world-class rides, attractions, food, hospitality, and much more, then you know why they’re known as “The Happiest Places on Earth.” But few who’ve attended these magical theme parks and resorts really have a clue what goes on behind the scenes or the people who make it all happen. If you’ve even been curious, the two seasons of Behind the Attraction offer up a fascinating inside look at the rides, the castles, the history, and the wonder of the world of Disney theme parks.
Disney+ has some incredible docuseries, and this is no exception. With 10 episodes in season one and six in season two, there’s a lot to explore, with nearly an hour of focus put on several fascinating themes. You’ll explore the design and creation of some of Disney’s most iconic rides and attractions like Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Galaxy’s Edge, Indian Jones Adventure, Epcot, and much more.
The behind-the-scenes footage and interviews are unique, and you feel as though you’re really getting some insider information as the series also breaks down the history (including how Walt Disney hosted Disneyland’s opening day himself in 1955) of the park that started it all. Behind the Attraction could be the perfect withdrawal tool for families after they’ve returned from one of Disney’s legendary vacations.
Just when I think I’ve tapped out Disney+, a few scrolls and some clicking around always reveal a few new things I haven’t seen before, much of which is low-commitment and easy to binge.
