Marvel cinematic Universe, by mrsteiners.deviantart.com
I have been asked a few times “Avengers was good, what else should I watch?” or “What should I watch before Agents of SHIELD?“. Of course, the answers for these can vary a bit depending on the source of the query. Peoples personal preferences being what they are.
Anyway, as a result of some of these sorts of queries, I have spent a few moments putting together a somewhat canonical list of what I consider a reasonable order in which to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to now (between the end of Agents of SHIELD season 2, part 1 and the premiere of Agent Carter). Surely I will have some reason to update this list in the near future.
I try to minimise disc changes, but put everything in the correct continuity. The most radical change from the order of release is moving Captain America The First Avenger first, but I think it works at least equally well there and helps inform Iron Man 2, in particular. I have also tried to reduce unnecessary disc changes. Oh, and I have included the Marvel One Shot short films which flesh out some bits and pieces and/or have some cool stuff along the way, I also note which disc you can find them on.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Marvel One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Thor’s Hammer (on Captain America: The First Avenger BluRay/DVD)
- Thor
- Marvel One Shot: The Consultant (on Thor BluRay/DVD)
- The Avengers
- Marvel One Shot: Item 47 (on The Avengers BluRay/DVD)
- Iron Man 3
- Marvel One Shot: Agent Carter (on Iron Man 3 BluRay/DVD)
- Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 1-7
- Thor: The Dark World
- Marvel One Shot: All Hail The King (on Thor:The Dark World BluRay/DVD)
- Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 8-16
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Agents of SHIELD Season 1 Episodes 17-22
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Agents of SHIELD Season 2 Episodes 1-10
Happy watching!
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Shouldn’t the Agent Carter one-shot be straight after Captain America: The First Avenger? Then the Agent Carter show (although the show looks like it may actually de-cannonise the one-shot by covering the same ground).
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jaythreadbear, that is a fair point. And certainly something I considered. At the time of writing (which was actually just before Agent Carter season one had started), I felt that was the best place for it. It prevented a couple of annoying disc changes, and I thought it’s proximity to the start of Agents of SHIELD and Winter Soldier worked well. Having some distance from First Avenger before we find out what happened to Peggy Carter and associates also seemed right. I didn’t think it was necessary to follow the timeline too directly. I am also lead to believe that the One Shot actually takes place after the first season of Agent Carter. So, at this particular point in time the chronological order of these things is sort of in flux. I fully expect by the end of this season of Agent Carter and Agents of SHIELD there will be a significant revision (Age of Ultron? Daredevil?). So, stay tuned ! (And, yeah, it will probably move at that time)
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It’s a fair point; chronology isn’t necessarily more important than the narrative flow and you’re probably right that a little bit of time before finding out whst happened next with Peggy could be worthwhile.
I’ve heard that about the Carter one-shot/show timeline, but I’d be surprised if they don’t trip over themselves at some point; it’s not at all clear yet when exactly SHIELD was founded, or how Peggy was a founding member as Cap mentions in Winter Soldier (which itself seems to contradict the one-shot).
It’s quite possible I’m thinking about it all too much though!
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There is certainly an argument for it both ways…
I think that whole part of the timeline will become much clearer over the next couple months. I believe they have a plan. And I am definitely happy to watch it unfold.
Whether you are thinking about it too much… you may be asking the wrong guy. :)
Cheers!
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