The Big Picture

• Netflix's superhero shows, like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, were a hit before Disney+ and the MCU took over.
• The Defenders series and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are streaming on Disney+ in the correct chronological order.
• With the release of Echo, Marvel has added the Netflix shows to the 616 timeline, seemingly confirming their canonicity to the MCU.

Before the age of Disney+ and the consistent stream of both MCU and Star Wars-related content, Netflix cornered the early market on superhero shows. These shows are built around characters such as Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple. Even before the crossover event in The Defenders, characters, references, and actions were very much linked. For a time, fans of the series thought that these favored shows would be pushed into the shadows forever. That is until Matt Murdock flew into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the movie Spider-Man: No Way Home. He was followed shortly by Vincent D'Onofrio’s Kingpin in the MCU series Hawkeye, which raised questions about what the state of the rest of The Defenders would be.

Shortly after, Disney added The Defenders series to Disney+, and that's where all the series are now streaming, along with the show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. With the release of the Marvel Spotlight series Echo, Marvel added the Netflix shows onto their ordered timeline of MCU projects, seemingly confirming their canonicity to the MCU. Unlike some of the more convoluted timelines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Defenders Saga was conveniently released in the correct chronological order. That order can still be a bit confusing to the outsider and involves weaving from show to show. It is important to note that it would be very difficult to skip any season and understand the entire timeline. For example, both Claire Temple and Turk appear in the first seasons of virtually all the Defenders shows. There are multiple side quests in each show that eventually become their own storylines or show themselves. For example, Daredevil Season 2 focuses on Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) and he eventually has his own show later on. But if you're interested in rewatching all the shows in the series, here's the right way to go about it.

The Defenders Shows in Order of Release

1. Daredevil Season 1 - April 10, 2015
2. Jessica Jones Season 1 - November 20, 2015
3. Daredevil Season 2 - March 18, 2016
4. Luke Cage Season 1 - September 30, 2016
5. Iron Fist Season 1 - March 17, 2017
6. The Defenders - August 18, 2017
7. The Punisher Season 1 - November 17, 2017
8. Jessica Jones Season 2 - March 8, 2018
9. Luke Cage Season 2 - June 22, 2018
10. Iron Fist Season 2 - September 7, 2018
11. Daredevil Season 3 - October 19, 2018
12. The Punisher Season 2 - January 18, 2019
13. Jessica Jones Season 3 - June 14, 2019

The Defenders Shows in Chronological Order

'Daredevil' Season 1 (April 10, 2015)

This season is the foundation for the rest of the shows and shows the process of Matt Murdock slowly becoming Daredevil as he takes on his nemesis, Wilson Fisk.

Daredevil is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+

'Jessica Jones' Season 1 (November 20, 2015)

Superstrong Jessica is a troubled private investigator who drinks a bit too much, but after you meet her nightmarish villain, you may be more willing to forgive. Kilgrave can brainwash those around him and a case once again reunites Jessica with her former tormentor.

Jessica Jones is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+

'Daredevil' Season 2 (March 18, 2016)

After putting Fisk in prison, you would expect there to be less violence in Hell’s Kitchen, but the appearance of the Punisher turns Matt’s world upside down. Dealing with the moral questions of Frank’s methods, Matt is even further disturbed by the appearance of his ex, Elektra.

'Luke Cage' Season 1 (September 30, 2016)

The first season of Luke Cage introduces us to Harlem's dark underside. When Luke Cage’s mentor gets caught in the crossfire, Cage has to fight some ghosts of the present and past to make it right.

Luke Cage is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+

'Iron Fist' Season 1 (March 17, 2017)

If you went looking for a rich billionaire martial artist but missed Gotham, you may find Danny Rand. After his parents were killed (sound familiar?) Danny sets out to win back his family business, but unlike Bats, he has a superpower, the ability to use ancient mystical kung fu.

Iron Fist is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+

'The Defenders' (August 18, 2017)

New York (like always) is in danger once again, and this time it seems that more than one hero is needed to win the day. Too bad that Cap and Iron Man are AWOL, so we get to see the ragtag group of New York's oddest vigilantes team up, with only Punisher being left out of this short team-up series.

'The Punisher' Season 1 (November 17, 2017)

After he escaped from prison in Daredevil Season 2, Frank has been busy. While trying to tackle more of the usual criminal underground, Frank discovers a conspiracy that has roots back in the incident that killed his family and cuts a brutal path to the truth.

The Punisher is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

Watch on Disney+

'Jessica Jones' Season 2 (March 8, 2018)

This season is oddly without a main villain and focuses on how Jessica got her powers. In some ways, it can seem more like an origin season than the first season, and while it has some excellent character building, it could have used a more concrete end.

'Luke Cage Season 2' (June 22, 2018)

Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard) returns in Season 2 as the primary villain, and with the introduction of Bushmaster, this season feels very close to the comics. This season is one of the best superhero TV shows produced to date and will keep you enthralled from beginning to end.

'Iron Fist' Season 2 (September 7, 2018)

Danny and Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick) thought they could lie low after the events of the Defenders series but with a myriad of rival gangs upending the peace, they get drawn back into the fight. The season culminates with Davos, a former contender for the Iron Fist, angered by Danny’s lack of commitment to defend K'un-Lun, attempting to take the Iron Fist from Danny.

'Daredevil' Season 3 (October 19, 2018)

Following the events of The Defenders, Matt is left critically injured. Upon hearing that Wilson Fisk struck a deal with the government to be released, Matt starts upon a dark path. The season focuses on Matt attempting to not break his internal code as the system he believes in breaks down.

'The Punisher' Season 2 (January 18, 2019)

For this season, Frank continues his trend of vigilante justice outside of New York. He meets a young woman in deep trouble named Rachel and attempts to help uncover who is hunting her.

'Jessica Jones' Season 3 (June 14, 2019)

After the death of Jessica's mother and her best friend Trish gaining superpowers, everything is changed for Jessica. Originally, Trish and Jessica attempt to work it out together and hunt down a psychopathic serial killer, but a revelation pits these two friends against each other.

What Does the Future Hold for The Defenders?

Since then, Charlie Cox's Man Without Fear has shown up in a few MCU projects, including No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and most recently Echo. Certain plot details in Echo lead fans to believe it contains the iteration of Kingpin in the Netflix series, and Marvel's addition of the shows to the ordered timeline certainly adds fuel to that fire. Moreover, Jessica Jones actress Krysten Ritter has stated that she would be willing to work for Disney and return as Jessica in the future. Hopefully, we will see some more of our favorites soon, but for now, fans can look forward to the MCU's version of Daredevil in Daredevil: Born Again.