Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S2E1 "Shadows"

[The Shrike]

...Have they got a special Shield hairdresser?...

This guy handles all their hairdressing needs, when he's not saving the galaxy.

 

[gildedmuse]

I thought, generally speaking, the writing was at the same level as last season (although the end of season one had some stronger episodes) and it feels like the positive reaction is disproportional. Then again, while it's not the most solidly written show ever I never thought it was a terrible as some suggested and have watched every episode.

I'm just gonna comment randomly.

-Did anyone notice the meta? There were at least three times when I am pretty sure the writers were just making direct comments to the audience starting with the obvious order from Coulson for this season to "Go dark". Then later... God, I can't remember the precise wording but it boiled down to Coulson saying, sure, some people thinks SHIELD totally deserved to be cance-- err, shut down, but we're still around and we're going to prove them wrong.

- I'm pretty sure my mom would marry May given the chance.

- Lance Hunter, I love you. I don't even care that the writer's introduced you by just having you and your friend directly telling Coulson/Skye-The-Audience-Stand-In,"Hey, this is who I am and this is my personality and by the way did you want to know about my life philosophy because I've totally prepared a statement." Or that, let's admit, SHIELD's respond to "you have been infiltrated by a bunch of self-interested agents who don't truly believe in the more noble goals of SHIELD but have corrupted the system for their own gain" by hiring a bunch of mercenaries doesn't inspire the most faith in Coulson's leadership. Or that you are basically a money loving mercenary who tracks down Hydra while going by the name Lance Hunter. I don't care about any of that because you and your sassy "I'm only here for the money, babe" attitude are beautiful. I love your devotion to Xena because we all feel that way about our favorite old shows - we will not let them go. No but seriously, do you know what I would do if my friend/boss was turning to stone right in front of me while a bunch of (supposedly) well trained military personal and insane magic boxers try and kill us? Do you know what my reaction would be if I was struggling to process all of that while being ordered to keep walking into the bullets? I would be like "Nope, Hunter Out." I would grab my friend, tell them to shut up and stop being stupid we're not doing this. And when some insane super villain flips our car and starts walking towards my barely conscious self? I fake death like a coward and hold my breath until that maniac has passed because I don't want to die. Lance Hunter is the kind of character who does not want to die, and I can relate to that.

- Can't get over Ward being stuck in an actual box of exposition. Like, hey, we need to tell the audience about Hydra send Skye down to the 'xplaining room. She even has a remote to tune it out when it goes too long. I don't think that was set as meta in the show, it's just a hilarious observation. Oh, and he went ahead and grew a beard for the second season like a good trope.

- Peggy's hair looked terrible. God I feel shallow. I hope they show more of the 'old fashion'ness of the team's new liar. I'd really like it to feel like they just dusted this place out.

- On a lot of shows you would be like "Why is Fitz still in the workplace? Also is that really how brain damage works." To the latter part, it's cool because the water was contaminated with gamma rays from when a rainbow bridge teleported in some Norse Gods so it makes sense that it would effect him like that. But more importantly, because SHIELD has been taken out and now Coulson is the one in charge, because it's not so much a REAL government job site anymore so much as a band that Phil started in his parents garage, it makes sense that he would keep Fitz. That is the kind of person Coulson is. And as this season seems to want us to see the director "go dark" - hell, let's lock up former teammates in our basement so that we can send in the most emotionally susceptible among us down there and then sit back and watch to see how far into Hannibal territory we've pushed him, that seems like a solid plan, director - and I'm sure he'll be making a lot of hard choices. But keeping Fitz around didn't even appear to be a "choice", it's just what Coulson did because Fitz is part of his team. It's nice to see that part of Coulson will still be around.

 

[Human Torch]

Not surprising that this has gotten relatively positive reviews.It's basically the opposite of last season that everyone was ****** & moaning about.

Everything is all dour and mission oriented.There's no playful banter among Agents.(I never thought I'd say this but Thank God for Tripp.His "Watch this." was probably the only time I cracked a smile)

I'm not prone to knee jerk reactions,so I'm not saying "OMG!This show is the wurst now!Teh ratings are gonna tank!" but they are going to have to give me something more than what I saw this episode to get my enthusiasm back.

Where's the damn poll?!?

 

[Suzanne78]

Really? I actually thought the whole first half of the show was lovely banter-y goodness. It gave me strong Angel season 2 vibes, with the way Coulson and Hartley's teams interacted. And it came off very natural, unforced. Oswalt and Tripp were pretty well utilized for comedic relief in spots as well. Which is why I'm beyond willing to keep Hunter. I loved him right off the bat, and Blood infused a ton of personality into that character.

 

[The Shrike]

Is it possible the obelisk is a Terrigen Crystal?

 

[Lilbaz]

Is it possible the obelisk is a Terrigen Crystal?

How would they explain that though? Unless we are going to meet Inhumans (I thought they'd leave that for a film, Inhumans or poss GotG 2).

 

[TeeKay]

Great start! Really enjoyed the episode, the effects on absorbing man were very well done and I hope they don't turn Ward into a good guy. The Hannible-esque angle they're taking with him is very interesting. Also dat Quin Jet.

But didn't CATWS itself show that Cap didn't defeat all of Hydra? Baron Von Strucker said that Hyrda's many bases will keep Cap and his colorful friends busy while they work on their real project.

All Cap did was expose SHIELD/Hydra(2 sides to the same coin). Cut off one head, and 2 more shall take its place.

Sorry couldn't resist after that quote!t:

 

[The Shrike]

How would they explain that though? Unless we are going to meet Inhumans (I thought they'd leave that for a film, Inhumans or poss GotG 2).

They don't have to explain it right away, just another, significant, piece of the overall puzzle. It would certainly explain the mutation of Xena's hand.

 

[Lilbaz]

They don't have to explain it right away, just another, significant, piece of the overall puzzle. It would certainly explain the mutation of Xena's hand.

Tbh I don't know enough about them, so will bow to your superior knowledge. Would that trigger Skye if she is an Inhuman?

 

[David_99]

They don't have to explain it right away, just another, significant, piece of the overall puzzle. It would certainly explain the mutation of Xena's hand.

So if regular people touch it, they turn to stone. But if Skye/Coulson/Raina touch it, it may bring out their Inhuman powers? Cool.

 

[Lilbaz]

So if regular people touch it, they turn to stone. But if Skye/Coulson/Raina touch it, it may bring out their Inhuman powers? Cool.

Hadn't thought about Coulson. Cool (if it is).

 

[Silvermoon]

Final ratings adjusted up by .2:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/20...fire-person-of-interest-adjusted-down/306586/

Agents of SHIELD
18-49 Rating: 2.1
Viewers Live+SD: 5.98

 

[Heretic]

My thought it is that it's a basic MacGuffin. Maybe it granted Kraken a longer lifespan so, he didnt age as a normal human would) and maybe that played into his/Strucker's idea that people have a destiny beyond normal humanity. Maybe his case will be what inspired Strucker (though it needn't be mention in the films) and maybe the twins are experiments (maybe Absorbing Man is as well) and Kraken is searching for people who can be evolved using this technology (like Skye). That would make it a very important MacGuffin, but not something that necessarily needs to exist after this season of the tv show.

 

[Quasimod0]

Great episode! Absorbing Man was handled very well.

 

[Human Torch]

Really? I actually thought the whole first half of the show was lovely banter-y goodness. It gave me strong Angel season 2 vibes, with the way Coulson and Hartley's teams interacted. And it came off very natural, unforced. Oswalt and Tripp were pretty well utilized for comedic relief in spots as well. Which is why I'm beyond willing to keep Hunter. I loved him right off the bat, and Blood infused a ton of personality into that character.

Yeah,I liked Hunter as well.I think he'll be a good addition to the show.

I'm probably most soured on what they did with Talbot and to a much lessor extent Creel.Feels like they're pilfering Hulk characters for the show with no intention for using them in a Hulk movie where they belong.

Still,I'm a little disappointed with the team.Skye didn't really show any of her fun traits,Fitz is talking to himself,Simmons flew the coop.....it just isn't the same.And for me that's not a good thing.

 

[Shikamaru]

Saw it last night. Didn't get a chance to comment.

Great episode, great start to the season. Truly the polar opposite of the start of last season. If they keep this up, we're in for a marvelous year on television (pun intended).

 

[The Shrike]

So if regular people touch it, they turn to stone. But if Skye/Coulson/Raina touch it, it may bring out their Inhuman powers? Cool.

It is a mutagen, so it has different effects on different people. On plain humans, it's considered a toxic substance, on depowered mutants, it brings back their powers, but often temporarily, and without the same degree of control.

Most often used on inhumans, it alters their biology, causing random mutations, but the more genetically pure the inhuman is, the more likely they gain superhuman abilities, as opposed to instances where exposure to it causes them to literally devolve.

 

[Human Torch]

They don't have to explain it right away, just another, significant, piece of the overall puzzle. It would certainly explain the mutation of Xena's hand.

I thought that thing would be (whatever it was-been a long time since I read the comic) what created the Grey Gargoyle.

 

[The Shrike]

I thought that thing would be (whatever it was-been a long time since I read the comic) what created the Grey Gargoyle.

The Grey Gargoyle has powers that are similar to Creel, absorbing what he touches, and retaining those properties for a period of time.

 

[kosh33]

Loved the episode.. the Obelisk was said to be the secret to overcoming death.. does it function as a mutagenic agent or something that sucks out the lifeforce (like Strucker's Satan Claw)

 

[cph9fa]

So if regular people touch it, they turn to stone. But if Skye/Coulson/Raina touch it, it may bring out their Inhuman powers? Cool.

I didn't see Izzy's hand so much turning into stone (nor mutating). It looked to me like the tissue was literally dying or decomposing.

 

[Dark Raven]

Loved the nod to classic Absorbing Man with the ball and chain.

This episode is great so far!

That better not be his only nod to it. I want it to be a standard part of his appearance.

 

[JC00]

I'm probably most soured on what they did with Talbot and to a much lessor extent Creel.Feels like they're pilfering Hulk characters for the show with no intention for using them in a Hulk movie where they belong.

So you're mad because they are using characters on the show that probably have zero chance of being in a Hulk movie. A Hulk movie that probably isn't going to happen.


Also Absorbing Man is more of a Thor character than he is a Hulk character.

 

[just one thing]

The premiere was a really good episode. I have no complaints; I liked the opening, the intro to the Absorbing Man ( esp since he's popped up in the Thor Masterworks volume I am reading,) the acquisition of a Quinjet, and a whole lot more. I do not have any complaints, but hope they do not try to turn Ward into a good guy. I like the whole Hannibal Lecter setup they have with him, right now.

maybe the point of ward is that he is pathetic rather than a hero he kept looking for empathy when talking to skye, thats doing the right thing with a motive, not the same as doing the right thing. he is sort of a contrast to fitz in season 1 one was overtly brave but inside a coward, the other overtly weak but inside a hero. both are broken and have a challange and could go up or down.

or its all a con and he wants to get with in killing distance of couslon for the killing garrett thing. why should death stop fanatical loyalty.

 

[Heretic]

So let me get this straight...

1. People are upset that they aren't using more characters from the comics.
2. People are upset that they ARE using characters from the comics because those characters deserve to be in movies, not tv.

Meanwhile, characters like Sitwell, Agent Carter, Coulson, Fury and Sif have gone back and forth between tv and movies.