When Does the TV Show "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Season One (2013) Take Place?
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season one is a spy science fiction television series showran by Jed Whedon with Maurissa Tancharoen and Jeffrey Bell [adapting "" #? (YEAR) by ? as well as "Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D." #1 & #6 (1988) by Bob Harras] that released September 24th, 2013. So when is "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." season 1 set?
It takes place on the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline in the year:
We know this because in season 1 episode 1 "Pilot" the Extremis virus is mentioned as the cause of the fiery introduction of a character. The Extremis formula is not new to the peace-keeping force S.H.I.E.L.D. so they have already been made aware of it and this happened in or just after the film "Iron Man 3" (2013), which ends in January of 2013 AD. So it must be after January of 2013 AD.
2013 AD
We know this because in season 1 episode 1 "Pilot" the Extremis virus is mentioned as the cause of the fiery introduction of a character. The Extremis formula is not new to the peace-keeping force S.H.I.E.L.D. so they have already been made aware of it and this happened in or just after the film "Iron Man 3" (2013), which ends in January of 2013 AD. So it must be after January of 2013 AD.
More specifically, also in season 1 episode 1 "Pilot" Agent Grant Ward's security clearance is raised and his new identification card reads "2013SEP09" (representing September 9th, 2013 AD) under "ISSUE DATE". So the story starts in September of 2013 AD.
Later, scenes in season 1 episode 17 "Turn, Turn, Turn" (2014) take place simultaneously with late scenes in the film "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014), an early scene of which takes place in October of 2013 AD. So we're certainly in October of 2013 AD or after at this point.
Additionally, season 1 episode 5 "Girl in the Flower Dress" includes a flashback.
