Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 2 "0-8-4" Discussion

[roach]

I kinda agree with this. I said from the top. Not only is this a network TV show, its on ABC. That means its going to come with certain parameters that you'll have to deal with, because they have to appeal to ABC's chief audience, i.e. women and families. Wanting a gritty, dense drama isn't happening. Its going to fun action-adventure stuff for the most part with hopefully compelling characters as the show grows.

You are assuming a lot. Not everyone complaining about the show wants a gritty dense drama...why would we expect that of a show when none of the movies were like that?
My issues with the show are the characters and the story lines.
These characters are not compelling. In fact they are very cliched. The only character that catches my attention is Coulson.

 

[Tymminator]

Great episode.

 

[Son of Coul]

Fitz-Simmons >>>>>>>>>>> Skye



And this episode actually looked way better than the pilot.

Yeah, the lighting in particular I thought was far superior. Was it a different DP or just the change in director?

Also, as odd as it is, I hope the action pieces take a backseat to the characterization next time. Without the little buildups it's harder to get into the payoffs of the fight scenes, though there were some cool moments this week--like Ward smashing the glass over that one guy's hand. Plus if they reign it in, they could put more money into the set pieces since they'll be more sporadic and make them count just a little more.

I know it may sound like I'm hating on the show, but I'm really not. I just want it to realize it's potential instead of settle for mediocrity, merely because it's a network show and we "shouldn't expect more" from it. It's ambitious for sure, but at the end of the day even if the action moments feel "cheap" or "cheesy," it could at least be forgiven if we get stronger characters.

I know it's a TV show and there'll be more time for fleshing out, but we've had nearly two hours with these six people and I'm only mildly interested in watching two or three at this point. Even half-hour pilots can get us engaged in the characters based off their motivations, wants, needs, passions, and layered personalities. But I suppose losing some of that comes with the territory when you shroud half of them in an air of mystery.

I guess it still sounds like I'm hating, but like I said I'd just like to see it at least become more than the sum of its parts. It doesn't have to be Breaking Bad or anything, but something to get legitimately excited about every week, as opposed to "Oh, that's something I can leave on when I'm getting work done Tuesday night." In the meantime, I'll keep watching and supporting, waving my little Marvel penant in hopes of further improvement.

 

[roach]

Yeah, the lighting in particular I thought was far superior. Was it a different DP or just the change in director?

Also, as odd as it is, I hope the action pieces take a backseat to the characterization next time. Without the little buildups it's harder to get into the payoffs of the fight scenes, though there were some cool moments this week--like Ward smashing the glass over that one guy's hand. Plus if they reign it in, they could put more money into the set pieces since they'll be more sporadic and make them count just a little more.

I know it may sound like I'm hating on the show, but I'm really not. I just want it to realize it's potential instead of settle for mediocrity, merely because it's a network show and we "shouldn't expect more" from it. It's ambitious for sure, but at the end of the day even if the action moments feel "cheap" or "cheesy," it could at least be forgiven if we get stronger characters.

I know it's a TV show and there'll be more time for fleshing out, but we've had nearly two hours with these six people and I'm only mildly interested in watching two or three at this point. Even half-hour pilots can get us engaged in the characters based off their motivations, wants, needs, passions, and layered personalities. But I suppose losing some of that comes with the territory when you shroud half of them in an air of mystery.

I guess it still sounds like I'm hating, but like I said I'd just like to see it at least become more than the sum of its parts. It doesn't have to be Breaking Bad or anything, but something to get legitimately excited about every week, as opposed to "Oh, that's something I can leave on when I'm getting work done Tuesday night." In the meantime, I'll keep watching and supporting, waving my little Marvel penant in hopes of further improvement.

I agree with everything you posted. They mirror my own.

 

[Mysteryman]

At this point, I would settle for a 21st Century Mission Impossible .
That was a team show .
A lot of my favorite episodes involve The team trying to rescue one of their members .

 

[Frodo]

I kinda agree with this. I said from the top. Not only is this a network TV show, its on ABC. That means its going to come with certain parameters that you'll have to deal with, because they have to appeal to ABC's chief audience, i.e. women and families. Wanting a gritty, dense drama isn't happening. Its going to fun action-adventure stuff for the most part with hopefully compelling characters as the show grows.

Yeah, i'd agree . However, the first episode imo, was kinda weak even and a bit slow. But such is life with many pilots. If anything I was surprised so many fans were treating it like it was amazing. It was by no means awful but I really didn't see it as something great either, even by its own standards. The second episode was better which often happens. As long as the show remains fun , it'll be alright.

 

[Loki882]

People arguing that the show is failing and talking about jumping off amuses me. Newsflash, IT'S ONLY THE SECOND EPISODE!! It's not uncommon for shows to take 5 or even 10 episode to find their footing, it happens a lot. If some people are really that impatient or unreasonable, then that's their problem, not the shows. The Fury cameo was awesome and I believe that this mysterious terrorist group is actually HYDRA in disguise.

 

[Herolee10]

Yeah, the lighting in particular I thought was far superior. Was it a different DP or just the change in director?

That's not so reassuring to hear considering that Whedon directed the first episode i believe and now he's directing the upcoming Avengers sequel.lol

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

The Fury cameo was awesome and I believe that this mysterious terrorist group is actually HYDRA in disguise.

they're not terrorists, though

 

[Son of Coul]

That's not so reassuring to hear considering that Whedon directed the first episode i believe and now he's directing the upcoming Avengers sequel.lol

Yeah it's weird, haha. Not that Avengers 1 had consistently perfect lighting or anything, but I was surprised by the quality of the pilot's-- the midnight blue interrogation scene comes to mind. Whedon's sense of composition and framing is always tops, though.

 

[Xeno]

Church to the above post. That's really all you can realistically ask for. I don't know what some people were expecting.

I kinda agree with this. I said from the top. Not only is this a network TV show, its on ABC. That means its going to come with certain parameters that you'll have to deal with, because they have to appeal to ABC's chief audience, i.e. women and families. Wanting a gritty, dense drama isn't happening. Its going to fun action-adventure stuff for the most part with hopefully compelling characters as the show grows.

I don't get some of the objections to the series myself. It shouldn't be a procedural, or it shouldn't be a serial, are two common complaints. Why?


AOS is exactly the type of show that I expected and wanted it to be. The pilot had problems from my point of view, but I felt as if the second episode was more balanced and delivered more action and character development. As the show goes on, I fully expect the writers to build upon the groundwork already laid. That is how it goes.

 

[TX85]

Cool episode,Skye was much better(I found her extremely annoying and a bi... in the pilot

 

[Xeno]

Yeah it's weird, haha. Not that Avengers 1 had consistently perfect lighting or anything, but I was surprised by the quality of the pilot's-- the midnight blue interrogation scene comes to mind. Whedon's sense of composition and framing is always tops, though.

Next you'll be telling us that the pilot looked like a TV show.

 

[Sawyer]

I think they kind of toned down Skye's Joss-ness in the second episode. I mean, I love Joss, but the Joss speak gets tired after awhile. The older I get, the less I find I'm amused by it, and it seemed like she was getting the brunt of it in the pilot.

 

[DrDoom]

You shut your damn mouth Sawyer!

 

[Hush]

Much better second episode, Fury cameo was awesome.

 

[Heretic]

Skye at this point just serves to be a spy in the ranks. She made one remark about the device like "I searched every avenue and found nothing on this device" which she said like 10 seconds after first seeing or hearing about it, and she was in the structure the entire time...so that remark kind of came off as just a way to mention that she has some role on the team. Plus, I'm still not sold on the actress. I would be a bit more sold on her soon to be love affair with Ward if Fitz/Simmons relationship wasn't basically the same quips and development. Again, too many actors playing the same role.

I know that I sound like I'm trashing the show...but I will watch it for as long as it runs. I do like that it is so clearly a part of the movie universe (while DC seems to be launching a host of tv shows that will not exist in the same reality as the movies, which is just idiotic...they value logos over characters, and that is partially why they are a constant number 2). I do enjoy watching the show and getting the little bits from the movies. I do want them to be bringing in more stuff from the comics though. Not every comic character deserves a movie, so I'd be fine with them having comic characters on AOS.

 

[Raiden]

I have say that I do enjoy the pilot episode alot, while recognizing its shortcomings. However, this episode does feel like it is better than the pilot, whether it's action, character development, or even pacing. I think this show has began to find its footing, and where all the characters' roles are in the show. Skye's mysterious text with her Rising Tide comrade adds another layer of intrigue in the storyline, and I hope we'll be getting more because it would only make the show interesting and not so straight-forward.

Oh, and Fury's appearance is nothing short of awesome. I hope SLJ will be opened to do more cameos in the future.

 

[Hush]

(while DC seems to be launching a host of tv shows that will not exist in the same reality as the movies, which is just idiotic...they value logos over characters, and that is partially why they are a constant number 2)

How do you know this is the case? How do you know Gotham won't be in the same universe as Arrow? Plus we all know The Flash spinoff will be in the Arrow universe. Sorry your rather broad statement bothered me.

 

[DrCosmic]

Fury cameo was uber awesome. Goodnight it was awesome. Terrifyingly so. I felt a little bad for Coulson, and you could tell the scene was mostly ad libbed, but still awesome.

I like Skye now and I think her romance with Ward is a bit ham fisted, but I like her. Ward grew on me a lot as well, for that matter.

I honestly don't like Coulson in this role as a sort of mild mannered Mal Reynolds. He has some great lines, like the one about his death, but then I'm supposed to see him as some former lothario? That's a lot to ask of me, honestly.

Cold open helped the show a lot.

 

[Sawyer]

How do you know this is the case? How do you know Gotham won't be in the same universe as Arrow? Plus we all know The Flash spinoff will be in the Arrow universe. Sorry your rather broad statement bothered me.

They don't, that's how.

 

[Xeno]

Cool episode,Skye was much better(I found her extremely annoying and a bi... in the pilot

They reined Skye in and the actress didn't have the opportunity to display any irritating behavior this time around.


I loved it when Ward turned to Skye and said [paraphrasing], "What's your job?" Her being a fifth wheel on the team may be become a bigger issue as time goes on. Coulson has Skye there to use her to get at Rising Tide, I'm sure, so her lack of a real place or useful skills is down to the fact that she's nothing but a pawn.

 

[Hush]

They don't, that's how.

The mass assumptions regarding DC's television media going around are driving me nuts.

 

[TX85]

They reined Skye in and the actress didn't have the opportunity to display any irritating behavior this time around.


I loved it when Ward turned to Skye and said [paraphrasing], "What's your job?" Her being a fifth wheel on the team may be become a bigger issue as time goes on. Coulson has Skye there to use her to get at Rising Tide, I'm sure, so her lack of a real place or useful skills is down to the fact that she's nothing but a pawn.

In the season finale she'll probably leave or they kick her off the team but then I if there's a season 2 she'll return as an official trusted member or something like thst

 

[DrCosmic]

Hmmm... it seems to be a dramatically safe assumption to presume that Arrow and Man of Steel don't occur in the same universe. They could be put together at some point, but it's clear that the intention was not to link them in any way. Remember that Big Alien Invasion that everyone would naturally be talking about for years to come? Yeah, neither does Ollie.