The Avengers: Endgame uniting an expanse of Marvel heroes' storylines, including The Avengers, The Guardians, and the peoples of Wakanda. This formula of converging narratives is proven to deliver instantaneous success for the MCU, with Endgame ranking as the 2nd highest-grossing film of all time.
Despite the unbridled success owed largely to the gratuitous WandaVision is the first true MCU show despite its TV roster stretching back to 2013, while its director Matt Shakman has itted it is not a prerequisite for the MCU's creative teams to watch older Marvel TV installments. Kevin Feige's absence at the helm of older MCU TV series has further cemented this idea in the Marvel consciousness that the majority of MCU-inspired television is somehow a separate entity from the universe's canon.
Yet, there is a growing clamor to reinstate all 12 Agent Carter paved the way to establishing the canon the Infinity Saga exists in, with their elimination as origin stories throwing up numerous continuity issues for the modern MCU. Here are all 12 MCU TV shows that aren't currently canon but should be.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Debuting in 2013, Joss Whedon's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. broke swathes of new ground as the first TV show to be set within What If...?'s versions suggest that many MCU fans' last decade of dedication may have been misplaced, as well as making the vast majority of pre-Infinity War Avengers installments feel very jarring.
Agent Carter
Agent Carter's lack of ission from the Marvel creative team is, in ways, even more damning than the refusal to note Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as canon. The series expands on MCU TV series to be produced by Kevin Feige, making its erasure from confirmed canon all the more confusing. As with its predecessor, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter establishes key plotlines on which The Avengers movies are erected, with Jarvis' emergence as Tony Stark's mentor the pick of the bunch here.
Daredevil
The Defenders and brings various MCU characters such as The Punisher into the fold, which means Daredevil's absence in the MCU is keenly felt given the enduring popularity of Cox's character. As Daredevil is stated to take place immediately after the fallout from The Avengers' battle of New York, removing it from the MCU undermines the very reason The Avengers assembled in the first place.
Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones is the first MCU TV installment to champion a previously unseen female character from the Marvel comics, paving the way for the likes of Scarlet Witch to thrive onscreen in WandaVision. While critical consensus dwindled for Jessica Jones' two follow-up seasons, her position as a critical component of The Defenders should not be overlooked when considering the wider MCU.
Luke Cage
On the surface, Black Panther in this way.
Iron Fist
While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which marries the same martial arts focus with a far more compelling series of events.
The Defenders
Acting as a culmination of a quartet of Thanos' snap in Infinity War, subverting audience expectations and setting up numerous character regressions such as Fat Thor and Smart Hulk. Not including The Defenders in the MCU canon paints the miniseries as almost a dry-run for Infinity War's release just a year later and does a big disservice to its revitalization of previously marginalized Marvel characters such as Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.
Inhumans
Marvel's Eternals release, in which an alien race seeks shelter on Earth before deciding to protect the planet. Despite ABC prematurely canceling the show, Inhumans' IMAX release proves its singularity within the MCU, backed by persisting rumors that Disney+ will helm a reboot in the coming years.
The Punisher
Frank Castle is one of the most beloved Marvel characters and an intersecting point in many Marvel storylines throughout history. The Punisher has appeared in multiple continuities alongside Marvel stalwarts the The Punisher's 2nd season ended in quintessential style, with Castle reprising his mantle and leaving the narrative wide open. As a result, The Punisher's cancellation was taken hard by many fans, who hold out hope he can be reintegrated into the MCU down the line rather than cut out of its canon completely.
Runaways
Despite a 2017 release, Iron Man within the universe's canon. However, protracted script discussions, among other factors, delayed its creation, with The Avengers releasing in 2012 ahead of Runaways. The success of The Avengers story, even in its infancy, convinced Marvel to shelve the Runaways project, where it would lay dormant for several years before its Hulu revitalization in 2017. Runaways has drawn positive commentary from numerous reviews that point to its accurate portrayal of teenage angst that still feels natural despite being surrounded by standard superhero fare. Runaways' recent renewal for a 3rd season confirms its enduring popularity amongst Marvel fans, with numerous nods to the MCU continuity contained within its narrative.
Cloak And Dagger
The fact that Disney+'s first direct Marvel shows.
Helstrom
On a surface level, it is perhaps easier to see why the MCU creative team would be unwilling to accept Doom Patrol.