Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did an excellent job of providing fans with another spectacular MCU film while also revealing plenty of Shang-Chi's history. While fans only saw about two and half hours of Shang-Chi and his story, they learned quite a bit about the important moments of his life.
After the death of his mother, the trajectory of his life changed significantly in many ways. While he learned the skills he needed to become a hero, he abandoned his family in the process. While Shang-Chi was growing, learning, and developing into the man he is today, many other Avengers were finding their ways as well.
10 Important Moment: ~1999 Shang-Chi Was Born
It's loosely suggested that Shang-Chi was born in 1999, though some suggest it could have been 1998. However, assuming he was 18 when he graduated high school (like most people) that would make him born sometime during 1999.
While he was just a baby, it was clear he had a big future ahead of him considering how powerful and mysterious both of his parents were before retiring from their respective lifestyles to raise a family together. A few years later, Shang-Chi's sister, Xialing, was born, completing their family, if only for a moment.
9 MCU Events: Many Avengers Were Being Molded Into The Heroes Fans Know Today
While most fans would be quick to assume nothing happened during 1999 in the MCU, there is one hugely significant event that was only recently seen in WandaVision. Wanda's family is watching her favorite episode of Dick Van Dyke just before a Stark Industries missile kills her parents. Fans learn that this was the first major instance of Wanda using her magic; she performed a probability hex to prevent a second bomb from exploding, keeping her and Pietro safe for days.
Additionally, 1995/96 was a big year in the MCU so many of those storylines were getting interesting in 1999. Natasha was a few years into her Red Room training, Gamora was a few years into her miserable life with Thanos, and Captain Marvel had recently led the Skrull refugees to safety.
8 Important Moment: Shang-Chi's Mother Dies When He Is Seven Years Old
At just seven years old, Shang-Chi watches helplessly as a gang of thugs comes to murder his mother as revenge for what Shang-Chi's father had done many years earlier. While Jiang Li puts up one hell of a fight, taking probably twenty or more men with her, she could not prevail in the end.
After seeing such a horrific sight upon returning home, Wenwu immediately began training Shang-Chi, turning him into a heartless killer. His father basically tortured him in various ways for seven long years, hardening Shang-Chi, but fortunately not quite breaking his spirit.
7 MCU Events: ~2006 The Nascent MCU Stirs With Potential
While there isn't any shocking event like someone's parents being exploded in 2006, a lot of the heroes from the early MCU were starting to spread their wings. Tony Stark was likely actively supplying the military and Bruce was on the run from Ross, potentially already living in Brazil in 2006.
Captain America was soon to be thawed out and Dr. Strange was likely graduating from medical school or very early in his medical career. Scott could have also been finishing his master's around this time and Thor would be a few short years away from his coronation as King of Asgard until Frost Giants, of course, ruin the party.
6 Important Moment: ~2013 Shang-Chi Abandons His Sister After His First Assassination Mission
After seven years of brutal training under his father, Wenwu, Shang-Chi is tasked with tracking down the man who delivered the fatal blow to his mother to get revenge. At just fourteen years old, he killed the man who killed his mother and became furious at his father for the world he had brought him into.
Shang-Chi never returned home, instead turning over a new leaf in San Francisco. However, while he was free, he left his sister behind, who developed resentment toward her brother over the years. While they appear to have cleared the air and gotten on good terms once more, they are sure to disagree down the road with Xialing secretly assuming control of the Ten Rings when tasked with tearing them down.
5 MCU Events: The Chitauri & Dark Elf Invasions Were Recently Handled
About a year before Shang-Chi abandoned Xialing, the Avengers took down Loki and the invading Chitauri army. This was one of the biggest moments of the MCU as it finally brought the team together for the first time. Tony struggled with PTSD afterward until S.H.I.E.L.D. fell and the Avengers had to hunt down Hydra's loose ends, finally finding the scepter in Age of Ultron.
In the same year of Shang-Chi's defection to the States, Malekith and his Dark Elves briefly invaded Greenwich, England with the Aether to try and return the universe to darkness. While the battle was short-lived, it was likely global news; Shang-Chi definitely would have learned about it at some point after making it to San Francisco.
4 Important Moment: 2017 Shang-Chi Graduates High School & Begins His Adult Life
At one point in the film, Shang-Chi is actually wearing a class t-shirt from his high school with the number "17" on it, suggesting he and Katy were part of the class of 2017. This graduation year works with respect to his current age and his arrival to the U.S. at the age of fourteen.
It's mentioned that he and Katy have been valeting for four years, so in the two-year gap between high school and becoming a valet, it's unknown what Shang-Chi was up to. However, fans were given a glimpse into Shang-Chi's nightlife with a couple of late-night karaoke sessions, so it's safe to say he was at least having a good time.
3 MCU Events: Dr. Strange Uses The Time Stone To Defeat Dormammu (& Also Ragnarok)
2017 is actually a fairly significant year within the MCU, specifically for Dr. Strange and Thor. While the beginning of Dr. Strange takes place in 2016, he spends roughly a year in Kamar-Taj studying the mystic arts. By 2017, he is experienced enough to try out the mystical Eye of Agamotto and even uses it to defeat the interdimensional tyrant known as Dormammu.
In the same year, Thor has to handle the death of his father and the return of his evil sister, Hela, before becoming a prisoner on Sakaar, forced to fight his work friends against his will. After Thor and Loki—along with Bruce and Valkyrie—eventually escape Sakaar, they end up on Asgard only to unleash Surtur on their homeworld to keep Hela from destroying the Nine Realms.
2 Important Moment: 2023-2024 Shang-Chi Accepts His Destiny
When Shang-Chi is confronted by Razor Fist and a few other assassins, he has to come clean with Katy about who he is and eventually confront his father after ten years of not speaking to him. Once in Ta Lo, Shang-Chi learns the history of his mother's people and is gifted a dragon scale suit for the final battle.
Shang-Chi finally confronts his father, getting closure with his old man; but more importantly, he acquires the Ten Rings as well. The Ten Rings are clearly going to be a major influence on the future of the MCU, and Shang-Chi will be the one calling the shots with the Ten Rings now that he is officially an Avenger.
1 MCU Events: Post-Blip Life In The MCU
It's unclear when exactly Shang-Chi takes place in the MCU timeline, at least for now. However, fans can surmise that the film takes place in late 2023, possibly in November, after the events of WandaVision. There is also a chance that it takes place in early 2024, before Far From Home; possibly concurrently with TFATWS.
Whether it's 2023 or 2024, the properties surrounding Shang-Chi have shown some insight into the post-blip recovery period including Iron Man's absence and the fight from the Flag-Smashers. Additionally, there are plenty of subtle references such as fliers advertising support groups for or documentaries about the Snap/Blip. Shang-Chi also includes some subtle post-blip paraphernalia, but the focus of the film was introducing the titular hero and his mystical world.
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