10 Ways Phase 3 Could Ruin The Marvel Cinematic Universe

9. Whether Or Not The Netflix Shows "Count"

Infinity War is a story that's been slowly building in the background of Marvel's Phase 2, with its principal villain Thanos being introduced in a post-credits sting for The Avengers and appearing slightly more heavily in Guardians Of The Galaxy. The MCU is unique in that it tells stories that connect, and there's a real sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when you don't watch one of the movies - its plot or characters could be important later. Except, apparently, in the case of its TV shows. In its first season, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. was floundering to make its connection to the Cinematic Universe it supposedly shared with its big-screen counterparts, but for the most part that took the form of occasional cameos from Samuel L Jackson/Cobie Smulders/Jaimie Alexander. Agent Carter, too, is spun off from Captain America, but doesn't seem important in the grander scheme of things. The films are important to the shows, but not vice versa. That could have a damaging effect when Marvel beings launching its original Netflix series - beginning with Daredevil next month -because they've unwillingly seeded the idea that the TV shows aren't nearly as important as the movies, and so the audience is consuming them less rapidly. They could be their first big failure.