With the advent of Disney+ streaming platform, Marvel Studios has finally taken its television presence much more seriously. But sadly, this wasn’t the case seven years ago when Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. first aired on television. Despite being considered as one of the best comic-book shows of its time, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. never really got the love and praise from Marvel Studios and the bigger MCU that it rightfully deserved. And unfortunately, Kevin Feige is mostly responsible for that.
Created as a spin-off to continue the story of Agent Phil Coulson after his apparent death in The Avengers (2012), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. quickly introduced its own set of memorable characters and a few popular characters from the comics too. Despite being closely connected to the MCU, the movies never really addressed the series, which forced the showrunners to go their separate ways from the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a result, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. skipped a few major events from the movies, including Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War. But nonetheless, the show truly tried its level best to mirror the consequences of the movies, and mostly succeeded with flying colors. Here are 14 instances when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were directly linked to the MCU movies.
14. Bringing Back Phil Coulson Back From the Dead
The Avengers (2012) is arguably the most important movie of the MCU for various reasons. Apart from the iconic team-up in the destroyed streets of New York, the movie had another scene that moved fans to tears: the death of Phil Coulson. Despite limited screen time, Phil Coulson had become a fan-favorite character. And thus began, Project T.A.H.I.T.I. which was originally created to bring back a fallen Avenger.
13. The First Appearance of Kree
Before the Kree had become a major part of the larger MCU via Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and alien-abductors in Captain Marvel, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had already introduced the alien race to the fans. Using the cadaver of a fallen Kree warrior, S.H.I.E.L.D. had created Project T.A.H.I.T.I. that brought Agent Coulson back from the dead. Later, Captain Marvel explained how S.H.I.E.L.D. got hold of the cadaver of the Kree warrior.
12. Lady Sif of Asgard
Unlike the comics, Lady Sif has been largely ignored by the MCU. However, she has made multiple appearances in the show, both as a friend and a foe. In the first season, Lady Sif joined forces with Coulson’s team to bring Lorelei to justice, after the events of Thor: The Dark World. In the second season, Lady Sif once again appeared, but this time as a brain-washed agent of the Kree to wipe out all the Inhumans, including Quake. But thankfully, she was brought back to her senses before she could do any real damage.
11. Agents Maria Hill and Jasper Sitwell
Agent Maria Hill is Nick Fury’s most trusted confidante who has always stayed by his side. As a top-ranking agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. it was natural to see her making an appearance in the show. Similarly, Agent Jasper Sitwell and Gideon Malick also appeared in the show, who were later revealed to be HYDRA agents. Malick went on to become a major antagonist in the third season of the series.
10. Abomination from The Incredible Hulk
Apart from making numerous references to the major events from the larger MCU, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also neatly tied up a few loose ends, including Abomination from The Incredible Hulk. Though the series never really showed the monster, Phil Coulson’s dialogue ensured that S.H.I.E.L.D. is more than capable of housing gigantic threats.
Emil Blonsky, better known as the Abomination, was defeated by Bruce Banner’s better half at the conclusion of The Incredible Hulk – and that’s the last anyone has ever seen or heard of him. That is, until Coulson decides to threaten a rebellious agent, saying, “What you’re doing is against protocol, so if you endanger an operation or if anyone gets hurt, I’ll reassign you to Barrow, AK, and you’ll spend the rest of your years pulling the night shift guarding Blonsky’s cryo-cell.”
9. The Centipede Project
Created by HYDRA while infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., the Centipede Project was aimed to create an army of super-soldiers. Though the project was promptly shut down by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, it was actually a nice throwback to the MCU. An amalgamation of the super-soldier serum that created Captain America, Extremis Tech from Iron Man 3, and gamma injections that turned Banner into Hulk, the project was also aimed to inherit some Inhuman abilities too.
8. Peggy Carter’s Old Boyfriend Made His Appearance
Related: Agents of SHIELD Makes Big Connection to Captain America: The First Avenger
Peggy Carter having herself made her appearance in the series a few times is enough to establish that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is canon. In the final season, the series went a step forward and brought Agent Carter’s former lover from the 1950s to the present timeline. Interestingly, the same actor was also credited as an unnamed cop in the Battle of New York.
7. Thanos Was Still a Threat
Related: Agents of SHIELD Ends With Major Endgame Plot Hole in MCU?
Despite its best efforts, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was never really able to affect the larger Marvel universe. As a result, the showrunners decided to part their ways by ignoring Thanos’ snap in Infinity War. However, the Mad Titan was still considered a threat courtesy of a Kree warlord named Taryan of the House Kasius. But soon after, the show focused on an entirely new existential threat instead of the infamous snap.
6. Ghost Rider’s Mystic Arts Were Quite Similar To Doctor Strange’s Style
Though Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. mostly relied on the power of science and advanced technology, sooner or later, the mystic arts were going to be incorporated into the show. While the MCU has got its own Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange, the show introduced fan-favorite Robbie Reyes aka the Ghost Rider. Interestingly, Reyes has demonstrated the ability of conjuring portals that are quite identical to the ones created by Doctor Strange.
5. Helicarriers Returned In Avengers: Age of Ultron
After years of ignoring, the movies finally acknowledged the existence of the show when Coulson appeared with a few helicarriers to save the citizens of Sokovia during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. But sadly, there was not a single exchange between Steve Rogers and Coulson, which the fans were expecting.
4. Agents Fitz Saved Nick Fury In The Winter Soldier
As a lesser known trivia, Nick Fury was actually saved by Fitz’s quirky invention when he was attacked by Bucky Barnes in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. After being ambushed by HYDRA agents, Nick Fury was viciously attacked by the Winter Soldier. But thanks to Fitz’s ‘Mouse Hole’, an advanced blowtorch, Fury managed to cut through layers of asphalt and steel to escape.
3. Nick Fury’s Appearance In the Show
Is it really a show about S.H.I.E.L.D. without Nick Fury Jr.? The talismanic leader made his appearance twice in the show to reprimand his protege for his recklessness. He also appeared once again to save Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz from a lethal situation, after which he appointed Coulson as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2. The Winter Soldier Majorly Affected the Series With Its HYDRA Reveal
Related: Agents of SHIELD’s Chloe Bennet Talks Quake’s Ending & Possibility of Return
If there’s anything that shook the MCU to its core, then it has to be the HYDRA infiltration revealed in The Winter Soldier. As the shocking reveal nearly dismantled S.H.I.E.L.D., its repercussions were also visible in the show. Agent Grant Ward was soon revealed to be a sleeper HYDRA agent, thus resulting in one of the best arcs of the show so far.
1. Stan ‘The Man’ Lee Made His Cameo
Continuing his streaks of exciting cameos, Stan Lee appeared quite early in the series in its very first season. Accompanied by two beautiful women, this cameo is definitely one of the funniest ones as Stan Lee offers his condolences to Jemma Simmons and asks Phil Coulson to ‘do better’ after overhearing their made-up conversation in a train.
