Daredevil Figuring out the timeline of Season One and Two

[Mike Murdock]

Hey everyone, I'd love it if we could brainstorm on when this show takes place in MCU context. Basically, any little details that are mentioned or should have been mentioned that lock things down a bit.

One thing is pretty obvious, it takes place after the first Avengers film. The Incident forms a core backbone of the show. On the other hand, it seems just vaguely after that movie. Has the show ever mentioned the events of The Winter Soldier (e.g., the fall of SHIELD) or Age of Ultron (with Sokovia)? If not, it feels like there's a lot of wiggle room. The other thing is the Netflix shows do take place in chronological order with each other. Claire Temple establishes that.

Leaving aside references, can anyone take a stab at just how many months each season covers? I remembered Season Two of Daredevil in particular at least being August to November/December. The season started with talks about how hot things were. By the end, there was snow on the ground and things seemed Christmas-y.

Anything else to point to?

 

[Darepool]

I'm thinking they want to keep it as vague as possible for creative reasons, unless it benefits ideas they may have for upcoming seasons, like using the Sokovia Accords ior example..

 

[pixen]

I think you have it figured out pretty well. Though I don't think things like Sokovia Accords are going to factor in at this level. They touch upon enough of the major movie moments that happened in NYC. Anything that happened in Sokovia/Europe seems like it doesn't really need the mention. Maybe some newspaper headlines in the set decorations but no more than that.

 

[Mike Murdock]

Still, it's surprising to me if nothing has been referenced since the first Avengers movie. Is that right? When I was trying to figure it out, it's not implausible if Daredevil season one predates the first season of Agents of SHIELD.

 

[Random490]

I believe the general consensus for the MCU is that the timeline follows the release dates. So season 2 premiered in March 2016 which places it between Ant-Man and Civil War.

As for specific contextual clues. Jessica Jones clearly references Age of Ultron and since DD Season 2 clearly references JJ we can firmly say DD season 2 is after JJ. Beyond that there's nothing else to place it. So all we know for sure is

Avengers
↓
Daredevil season 1
↓
Avengers: Age of Ultron
↓
Jessica Jones season 1
↓
Daredevil season 2

 

[Web-Head]

The Netflix shows typically take place when they're filmed.

 

[metaphysician]

I suspect part of it is a desire to not tie in too tightly to movie plots that they don't necessarily know about when in development. Besides, you could make a very strong argument that none of the succeeding movies would really have the same visceral impact on NYC as Avengers 1, anyway. Avengers 1 was the only one to really take place in New York, after all; a few super brawls near to Avengers Tower, and crazy world-saving events in other cities or countries, are the kind of stuff that would just blend into the general milieu by contrast.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

I'm honestly under the impression all 4 seasons of the netflix shows so far take place between Winter Soldier (No SHIELD to keep tabs on these heroes) and Civil War (no mention of the Accords).

I'm thinking:
Winter Soldier early 2014
DDS1 mid-late 2014
Age of Ultron early 2015
JJS1 mid 2015
DDS2 mid 2015
LCS1 late 2015
Civil War early 2016

Head canon obviously, but it works for me. Keeps the bulk of the Avengers distracted with mopping up Hydra/Ultron. Ant-Man/Spider-Man are only just becoming heroes so no major mentions of them.

 

[metaphysician]

That depends on the assumption that the Accords would even be relevant for a bunch of street level heroes of no particular import or influence past one city. Which, yes, AoS, but the way Agents of SHIELD handles a lot of things makes not a lick of sense in light of the greater universe.

 

[Random490]

I believe the general consensus for the MCU is that the timeline follows the release dates. So season 2 premiered in March 2016 which places it between Ant-Man and Civil War.

As for specific contextual clues. Jessica Jones clearly references Age of Ultron and since DD Season 2 clearly references JJ we can firmly say DD season 2 is after JJ. Beyond that there's nothing else to place it. So all we know for sure is

Avengers
↓
Daredevil season 1
↓
Avengers: Age of Ultron
↓
Jessica Jones season 1
↓
Daredevil season 2

So when discussing it in another thread turns out I may have been wrong on that AoU reference. So now there's nothing that I know of that determines place on the timeline other that, after the avengers.

The Netflix shows typically take place when they're filmed.

Since production dates can overlap I thinks it easier to just use the premiere dates.

 

[Mike Murdock]

But I think premiere dates are inaccurate. Luke Cage seems to predate the Sokovia Accords, for example.

 

[Random490]

But I think premiere dates are inaccurate. Luke Cage seems to predate the Sokovia Accords, for example.

As metaphysician pointed out the accords may not apply to a private citizen not being deployed over seas. We still haven't seen if the accords would effect street level hero. Luke Cage's series already shows how current local laws apply, it's more of a matter how to arrest the guy. In fact when Luke [BLACKOUT]is accused of murder[/BLACKOUT] Civil War could explain why Avengers didn't show up, [BLACKOUT]really the only active members are Stark and Vision (Natasha's future left in limbo and Spider-man may not be an official member) plus they could have been denied assisting because of the Airport fiasco and people don't want Harlem to brake again. I mean a superhuman who kills a cop is on the loose and they don't call in an Avenger?[/BLACKOUT] Really you can always BS a reason for one side or the other. Would be nice if they just had one line to explain that plot hole and give us something to work with. Without that we can just argue in circles.

 

[Mike Murdock]

Well, there are two responses. For the sake of caution, I'll use spoiler code:

Spoiler

First, there's Agents of SHIELD that does show the Accords apply to private citizens.
Second and more important, it would just naturally have been mentioned when Mariah is criticizing superhumans even in a "that's why we have the Sokovia Accords" kind of way. It's the dog that didn't bark.

 

[Random490]

Well, there are two responses. For the sake of caution, I'll use spoiler code:

Spoiler

First, there's Agents of SHIELD that does show the Accords apply to private citizens.
Second and more important, it would just naturally have been mentioned when Mariah is criticizing superhumans even in a "that's why we have the Sokovia Accords" kind of way. It's the dog that didn't bark.

Spoiler

Actually the AoS the accords so far have only been shown to apply to people working for shield. The only one I can think of that specifically said the accords were applying to is Yoyo. She is referred to as an asset which sounds as if she works for shield on a when-they-need-her basis. We have yet to see the accords mentioned with a non combatant. As Ross said in civil war, if you don't sign consider yourself retired. Meaning if they act as a hero they're actions will not be protected by the accords and thus subject to local laws, just like Luke Cage in his series. Basically if if you sign up and follow orders everything is okay, you don't then you're on your own and up to local law enforcement to decide whether to press charges.

Well you also don't have her saying "where are the avengers". Perhaps the showrunner knows the accords don't apply and decided not to bring it up. In the case of the accords not applying, mentioning them at all would be to the benefit of us dissecting fans and not necessarily the story and thus could have been cut.