James Poniewozik of The New York Times called the series "sharply written, but its visual panache is the big surprise", praising the "groovy, 1960s-70s retro-futuristic look" and soundtrack. He concluded, "You will not always know what's real in Legion, but the thrills are 100 percent genuine." Writing for The Guardian, Emily Zemler said that Hawley's representation of Haller's perspective on reality was "the strength of Legion ... It's disjointed on purpose, and there's something deeply satisfying in the edge that gives the viewer. It's not a comfortable watch, but it doesn't need to be." Zemler did warn that the series may be disorienting for viewers with no context or knowledge of the character's comic origins.
