When Does the TV Show "Krypton" Season One (2018) Take Place?

"Krypton" season one is a science fiction television series showran by Damian Kindler [adapting mostly "The World of Krypton" #3 v2 (1987) by John Byrne] that premiered March 21st, 2018. So when is "Krypton" season 1 set? 


It takes place on an alternate timeline of the fictional DC Films Universe in the year: 

1794 AD 


We know this because the prologue to season one episode one "Pilot" ends with a time-jump to the main action of the series and a Kryptonese time setting title card translated into English and reading: "14 YEARS LATER". 

1780 + 14 = 1794. 

Additionally, the epilogue to season one episode ten "The Phantom Zone" opens with another Kryptonese time setting title card translated into English: "ONE MONTH LATER". This is most likely still within the same calendar year. 

That same episode (season one episode ten) includes a flashback nearly identical to (but with a few new shots tweaked from) the prologue to season one episode one. Season one episode nine "Hope" contains a very quick flashback to the same key prologue. Speaking of which… 

Most importantly, the prologue to season one episode one "Pilot" is narrated by Seg-El speaking to his yet-to-be-born grandson Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, in which he says, "200 years before your birth". 

Now, the show exists in a separate bespoke universe in which the date of Superman's birth is not established but that year has been established in other live-action media, not to mention the material the show is adapting: 

-In the DC Films universe timeline (which comments from a producer led many to believe was directly connected to this show because it was the main DC live-action timeline at the point the show was made), Kal-El is born in scenes of the film "Man of Steel" (2013), which take place in 1980 AD. 

1,980 - 200 = 1,780. 

This would put the prologue in 1780 AD and the main action of the show in 1794 AD. 

-In the Superman films universe timeline, sometimes called the Donnerverse after director Richard Donner (less likely to be parallel, but still related), Kal-El is born in scenes just prior to the prologue of the film "Superman: The Movie" (1978), which takes place in 1948 AD. 

1,948 - 200 = 1,748
and 
1,748 + 14 = 1,762. 

This would put the prologue in 1748 AD and the main action of the show in 1762 AD

-In the "Smallville" universe (less likely to be parallel, but still related), Kal-El arrives on Earth during "Smallville" season one episode one "Pilot” (2001) in 1989 AD. 

1,989 - 200 = 1,789
and 
1,789 + 14 = 1,803. 

This would put the prologue in 1789 AD and the main action of the show in 1803 AD

-In the 1980s-2011 'Post-Crisis' iteration of the DC Comics Universe (which this show is adapted from), Kal-El arrives on Earth during "Man of Steel" #1 v1 (1986) and flashbacks in “The World of Smallville” #2 (1988) establish the year as 1954 AD. 

1,954 - 200 = 1,754 
and 
1,754 + 14 = 1,768. 

This would put the prologue in 1754 AD and the main action of the show in 1768 AD

Season one episode eight "Savage Night" opens with yet another Kryptonese time setting title card translated into English: "TWO WEEKS AGO" followed by a flashback to the middle of season one episode one "Pilot" (with one new scene and another later). So we are led to believe the season’s main action takes place in less than 1 month, containing it within a single calendar year. Whichever year it is… 

It is (by any calculations) the earliest chronological TV series in the DC Films multiverse timeline (as well as the earliest chronological DC Comics adaptation of any kind period) and can be watched at its timeline point.