Steaming video provider Hulu inadvertently released tonight’s episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., titled “Turn, Turn, Turn,” online earlier today, more than eight hours before the show aired in the U.S.They have since discovered their mistake and removed the video, but not before a number of fans had a chance to watch it, with a major plot point being spoiled in the comments thread beneath the now-absent video. Hulu apparently will use the same URL to repost the video when they have the license to do so, rather than deleting the whole page and pretending the error never happened.This isn’t a new problem; earlier this year, a number of episodes of AMC’s The Walking Dead were released early by digital services like Google Play or cable company’s On Demand channels. What’s different about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is that it ties into Captain America: The Winter Soldier, making this episode not only the most anticipated yet in the series, but the first time that the show has fulfilled its promise as integral to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.The general consensus from those who got to see it seems to be to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier before watching the episode. According to more than one commenter below the spot where the episode used to be, plot points from the movie are (necessarily) spoiled in the episode, whereas the movie doesn’t spoil anything from the show.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs (officially) tonight at 8 p.m. EST. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in theaters now.
