Daredevil & The Defenders Complete Timeline: What Order To Watch

It can be a chore to figure out exactly how to watch The Defenders and the related MCU TV shows that originally aired on Netflix (but are now available exclusively on Disney+), but release order matches in-universe chronology and is the best approach. Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist all received their own series to set up the characters before coming together in their entirety for the first time in The Defenders. The approach mirrored the MCU’s success on the big screen, though the Defenders Saga shows’ collective MCU canon status is still up in the air.

Following the collective cancelation of each show in the saga in 2019, it was unclear if Marvel Studios would embrace each character and story into the official ongoing MCU continuity or leave them in limbo like Agents of Shield. Now, as a few characters trickle back into the modern MCU timeline, excitement is back on the rise for these shows, especially with Daredevil: Born Again being a major success. Below is the best way to enjoy their stories and how to follow up with the ones who have already re-appeared after the Netflix era.

Netflix’s The Defenders Watch Order

They Should Be Watched In Release Order

• Daredevil Season 1
• Jessica Jones Season 1
• Daredevil Season 2
• Luke Cage Season 1
• Iron Fist Season 1
• The Defenders Season 1
• The Punisher Season 1
• Jessica Jones Season 2
• Luke Cage Season 2
• Iron Fist Season 2
• Daredevil Season 3
• The Punisher Season 2
• Jessica Jones Season 3

The above is the Marvel Netflix shows order as originally released. While it might seem tempting to watch them out of order, binge the seasons of a particular character, or skip a character, this will have a negative impact on the viewing experience. Each of the shows includes references to the other series, and one character appears in all but one of the shows. Jessica Jones season 1 introduces Luke Cage, while Daredevil season 2 provides The Punisher’s story. Some seasons are more easily watched independently than others, but this Defenders watch order is undoubtedly the best.

It is worth noting that The Defenders and the related shows are not as lighthearted as most other MCU projects. Disney is acknowledging this, and the introduction of the Netflix Marvel shows to Disney+ has led the platform to introduce new changes to provide age-rating advisories for the series. With streaming platforms yet to adopt the practice of advising viewers on their respective sites regarding the best way to see interconnected shows, watching the Marvel Netflix shows in order of release date can fill this void.

Alongside Netflix’s The Defenders Saga, Marvel Studios has begun to build out that side of the universe, most notably with Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. Though both of these can be enjoyed without watching The Defenders Saga, they continue on some character threads from before, focusing on Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk.

• Echo
• Daredevil: Born Again Season 1

How To Watch The Defenders Saga Within The MCU Timeline

What Movies & Shows To Watch Before Each Defenders Project

After increasingly suggesting the Defenders Saga was part of the MCU, Disney+ released a version of the complete MCU timeline that included showing where each Netflix release would also be in this chronological order. This makes watching the entire series together with the MCU much easier and also suggests some interesting things about prospective future Defenders characters coming to Marvel’s main on-screen universe based on how their personal lives would have to fit into the overarching narrative of the wider franchise.

Based on this, the entire Defenders saga takes place in Phase 3 alone, with Echo and Daredevil: Born Again coming later in the timeline. That said, the range of releases is reasonably spread out between the Phase 3 releases they take place between, meaning it’s not just a case of the entire series being lumped in wherever it fits. Starting after I Am Groot/Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and ending just after Thor: Ragnarok doesn’t give the franchise plenty of time to stretch out in the wider universe, but this shorter stint does make sense with the bigger picture in mind.

Given that Phase 3 contains a five-year time skip between the end of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, featuring any shows past this point wouldn’t work without retroactively adding a five-year time skip into one of the series, meaning this timeline is set up for practical reasons as much as it is for foreshadowing.

Underlining how relatively quickly the entire Defenders saga takes place according to its prospective place in the MCU timeline adds a certain level of ease to those attempting to rewatch the whole franchise as well, because it means those wanting to see how the shows fit into the MCU don’t have the shows too split up between other releases.

Interestingly, this also means that any Defenders who do appear in the MCU from this point onwards have years of missing history in the franchise that audiences will not yet be aware of – even if this stretch for some may simply consist of them being Snapped. For example, Daredevil: Born Again takes place seven years after the events of Daredevil season 3, as explained by the series’ showrunner, Dario Scardapane.

The Defenders Saga Is Continuing In The MCU

Kingpin & Daredevil Are The Underlying Connections

While anticipation is high to see what will happen to the Defenders characters in the MCU moving forward, Daredevil and Kingpin have already both appeared in multiple projects, while also leading Daredevil: Born Again. Daredevil’s MCU journey continued with a tease as Peter Parker’s lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home and with a short stint in She-Hulk where he got a new suit and was Jennifer’s love interest for a couple of episodes. He then appeared briefly to battle Maya Lopez in Echo, showcasing the hand-to-hand combat he was known for in his series, which continues in Daredevil: Born Again.

Kingpin has had a similar journey. NYC’s king of organized crime had an extended cameo as the secret big bad of Hawkeye, where he comes face-to-face with Kate Bishop before being shot in the face by Maya Lopez, who would go on to star in her own series, Echo.

Kingpin has a much more significant role to play in Echo, where his backstory with Maya unfolds. The end credits scene for Echo teased more of Kingpin’s plan, including the possibility of running for mayor, which unfolded at the very beginning of Daredevil: Born Again season 1, as Wilson Fisks when the election in the very first episode.

Daredevil: Born Again essentially acts as a continuation of season 3, though it could technically be watched without prior knowledge, but loses some of its emotional resonance that way. The series picks up years after Daredevil season 3, with Matt Murdock, Karen Page, and Foggy Nelson all working together as partners at their law firm.

The status quo is immediately changed from the very first episode, setting Matt Murdock on a brand-new path outside of being Daredevil, while also coming face-to-face once again with Wilson Fisk, this time as he steps into the role of mayor of New York City.

Will Daredevil: Born Again include The Defenders?

The Show Features At Least The Punisher

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 has been a rather personal season for Matt Murdock, who has struggled with stepping away from being Daredevil following the death of Foggy Nelson at the hands of Bullseye, who Matt tried to kill. Given that it focuses on the internal struggle of Matt, season 1 has been light on other Defenders, with only Frank Castle appearing in the show so far.

It does not seem like any other Defenders will be seen in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, but it is more than likely they will begin to be included in season 2 and beyond, especially if they adapt Devil’s Reign and the fallout of Wilson Fisk outlawing vigilantes, and Matt attempts to bring them back together.

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

The Defenders

5/10

Release Date

2017 – 2016

Showrunner

Marco Ramirez, Douglas Petrie

Writers

Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramirez

Franchise(s)

Marvel

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