Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Chloe Bennet IS Skye

[wobbly]

Got 'Adblock plus' on my browser here. Spares me those annoyances.

 

[Vartha]

It's like Baywatch. Where's teh Hoff?!?

I'd laugh if they brought Hasslehoff back in as the original Nick and the new one says how's it going Dad? lol

 

[Vartha]

Isn't that in something already? What is it? Something like Austin Powers... maybe a fembot?

It's been done a couple times. in film and comics. lol

 

[Vartha]

I'm not getting any pop up ads, fortunately.

I have a pop up blocker too, but what he was refering too happened to me to, didn't SEE the ad but heard it

 

[JB-the-Hunter]

instead of a high school dropout street urchin with useless "skills" and a bad attitude.

How long are you going to keep this up?

 

[Xeno]

How long are you going to keep this up?

How long are you going to keep getting bent out of shape because someone has a different opinion from you?

 

[JB-the-Hunter]

How long are you going to keep getting bent out of shape because someone has a different opinion from you?

It's not that you have a different opinion than me, it's that my opinion sides with that of the creators of the series and I feel like you're undermining them.

 

[Xeno]

It's not that you have a different opinion than me, it's that my opinion sides with that of the creators of the series and I feel like you're undermining them.

How the hell can I undermine the writers by posting on a message forum? Well, since I happen to think that writers have taken the wrong tack with one particular character, perhaps I should welcome the far-fetched notion that I can undermine them by expressing my opinions.


There isn't anything objectionable about having a hacker character as such, it's just the execution that has been lacking here. We've rehashed Skye's introduction enough, but let's look at events of this week's episode. The super-hacker's offers of help were brushed aside as unneeded several times, as Ward traced the excavator used in the kidnapping and the logs of SHIELD's internal communications were already in May's possession. Skye did manage to get an e-vite to the event on Quinn's compound by using her Rising Tide connections (not by hacking), but once inside she was so obvious about her "spying" that it was almost cartoonish.


What Skye accomplished was minor compared to what Fitz was able to do with his technical expertise. Fitz came up with the device to allow his computers access to Quinn's security system through WiFi. When it came time to hack Quinn's system and reboot/deactivate the security grid, it was Fitz who managed that, with mere seconds to figure out the setup. Skye, who claims to be "weirdly good" with computers, wasn't involved in the heavy-duty hacking at all.


Given those events, it seems to me that the writers are undermining their own setup. They are the ones who have chosen to have other members of the team show Skye up repeatedly when it comes to computer expertise. (Her "hacking" help was also dismissed by Coulson in the second episode.) The writers also put the "high school dropout" line in Skye's mouth, after seeming to flirt with the implication that she has some advanced technical knowledge. It's fine for the character to be uneducated, but she should demonstrate her abilities as an idiot-hacker-savant more than once in order for that to be believable.


Contrast Skye's portrayal to that of Fitz & Simmons. The two scientists are consistently shown as being brilliant and in command of their fields of expertise, now matter how geeky and goofy they might act at any given moment. Simmons was bopping around with Fitz's gear and discovered the gravitonium sphere on site, even though she's a biochemist and not a physicist. Were the writers doing the same with Skye, having her actually demonstrate her abilities on an ongoing basis instead of constantly repeating the tale of her hacking SHIELD's computers once, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The old writer's motto applies here: Show, don't tell.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

They can't show everything at once or there'd be no program. It's obvious they're building up to something regarding Skye's usefulness and having the rest of the team question her ability to contribute is clearly a part of that.

Unless you think they wrote all this stuff about Coulson recruiting her for reasons known only to him on accident?

When it came time to hack Quinn's system and reboot/deactivate the security grid, it was Fitz who managed that,

Because she went in alone to set up the little makeup case thingy so it *could* be hacked. It wasn't like she started drooling in the plane and Fitz had to take over.

If you don't like the character, fine, but methinks your animosity is clouding your judgment somewhat.

 

[Xeno]

They can't show everything at once or there'd be no program. It's obvious they're building up to something regarding Skye's usefulness and having the rest of the team question her ability to contribute is clearly a part of that.

Unless you think they wrote all this stuff about Coulson recruiting her for reasons known only to him on accident?

As I noted in my previous post, the problem is not the character or the "mystery" the writers are trying to create around her, but the execution of it. It's pretty standard stuff but it hasn't been particularly well-written.

Because she went in alone to set up the little makeup case thingy so it *could* be hacked. It wasn't like she started drooling in the plane and Fitz had to take over.

If you don't like the character, fine, but methinks your animosity is clouding your judgment somewhat.

You do realize that Skye's little spying mission was one that Fitz said could have been handled by a trained monkey? And the monkey probably would have done it quicker, with its adorable l'il paws and all.

But seriously, Skye clumsily spying when the justification for including her was her alleged superior hacking skills, while Fitz hacked his cute little heart out, just pointed up the inconsistencies in the writing.

 

[cherokeesam]

A trained monkey wouldn't have looked nearly as good running around in a wet pink dress.

Like WT said, I think you're letting your animosity cloud your judgment. You *want* Skye to fail, so you look for any reason to nitpick.

You also conveniently overlooked her resourcefulness in this episode by taking strategy into her own hands by simply telling Quinn the truth --- that she was there to spy on him for SHIELD. On the surface, it looks like "omg you Rising Tide traitor!," but there was method to her madness. It worked far better than continuing the ruse and cover story, which is exactly what any of the SHIELD agents would've continued to do (including Coulson).

And you continue to evade the theory that all of this might turn out to be *exactly* part of the writers' plan, instead of "inconsistencies in writing," if Skye is, in fact, a latent super. *If* that turns out to be the case, I wonder if you'd still find reasons to hate the character, or if you'd finally admit that the "inconsistencies in writing" were deliberate attempts to make Skye look like a useless fifth wheel, while covering up a "superheroine surprise" that's being saved for later in the season.

 

[Wine-N-Cheese]

If she looks like a useless fifth wheel, then she is a useless fifth wheel. Latent powers or no, she still has the same skill as Fitz...no, scratch that - she actually has less skill, because she's not an engineer. Obviously, the character is important to some overarching plot, but in individual episodes, she's superfluous.

 

[JB-the-Hunter]

How the hell can I undermine the writers by posting on a message forum? Well, since I happen to think that writers have taken the wrong tack with one particular character, perhaps I should welcome the far-fetched notion that I can undermine them by expressing my opinions.


There isn't anything objectionable about having a hacker character as such, it's just the execution that has been lacking here. We've rehashed Skye's introduction enough, but let's look at events of this week's episode. The super-hacker's offers of help were brushed aside as unneeded several times, as Ward traced the excavator used in the kidnapping and the logs of SHIELD's internal communications were already in May's possession. Skye did manage to get an e-vite to the event on Quinn's compound by using her Rising Tide connections (not by hacking), but once inside she was so obvious about her "spying" that it was almost cartoonish.


What Skye accomplished was minor compared to what Fitz was able to do with his technical expertise. Fitz came up with the device to allow his computers access to Quinn's security system through WiFi. When it came time to hack Quinn's system and reboot/deactivate the security grid, it was Fitz who managed that, with mere seconds to figure out the setup. Skye, who claims to be "weirdly good" with computers, wasn't involved in the heavy-duty hacking at all.


Given those events, it seems to me that the writers are undermining their own setup. They are the ones who have chosen to have other members of the team show Skye up repeatedly when it comes to computer expertise. (Her "hacking" help was also dismissed by Coulson in the second episode.) The writers also put the "high school dropout" line in Skye's mouth, after seeming to flirt with the implication that she has some advanced technical knowledge. It's fine for the character to be uneducated, but she should demonstrate her abilities as an idiot-hacker-savant more than once in order for that to be believable.


Contrast Skye's portrayal to that of Fitz & Simmons. The two scientists are consistently shown as being brilliant and in command of their fields of expertise, now matter how geeky and goofy they might act at any given moment. Simmons was bopping around with Fitz's gear and discovered the gravitonium sphere on site, even though she's a biochemist and not a physicist. Were the writers doing the same with Skye, having her actually demonstrate her abilities on an ongoing basis instead of constantly repeating the tale of her hacking SHIELD's computers once, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The old writer's motto applies here: Show, don't tell.

This is the epitome of tl;dr

All I'm going to say is that if you still don't understand Skye after episode 3, then there's nothing we can do to save you.

she still has the same skill as Fitz

Are you serious? Fitz doesn't do anything with computers that Ward/May/Simmons/Coulson/any other agent can't do. He's a freaking engineer.

As an IT major, maybe I just understand computers more than you guys do. Maybe that's why I actually have the capacity to appreciate Skye's skills.

 

[Wine-N-Cheese]

Are you serious? Fitz doesn't do anything with computers that Ward/May/Simmons/Coulson/any other agent can't do. He's a freaking engineer.

He knows enough about programing to make those gadgets.

There's too much overlap, is all I'm saying. Having every a situation every episode where, specifically, a hacker is needed, just to give Skye something to do, gets tired after a while.

 

[Xeno]

This is the epitome of tl;dr

All I'm going to say is that if you still don't understand Skye after episode 3, then there's nothing we can do to save you.

This is the epitome of "You've said something that I don't want to hear." And I don't need you or anyone else to "save" me, thank you very much.

Are you serious? Fitz doesn't do anything with computers that Ward/May/Simmons/Coulson/any other agent can't do. He's a freaking engineer.

As an IT major, maybe I just understand computers more than you guys do. Maybe that's why I actually have the capacity to appreciate Skye's skills.

Fitz actually designs all of the technical gear that the team uses (or redesigns it, in the case of their comm devices). He also has to do all the programming to create the systems that run those devices, as well as any hacking that needs to be done, apparently. So he most definitely does do things with computers that the others can't.

 

[Autolychus2]

Skye did manage to get an e-vite to the event on Quinn's compound by using her Rising Tide connections (not by hacking),

As I posted before, she hacked into an encrypted website in under a minute to get the e-vite ... from her cell phone.

So, even when they SHOW not TELL you what she can do, you still can't seem to understand it.

 

[JB-the-Hunter]

He knows enough about programing to make those gadgets.

It's just not the same thing... I'm sorry

There's too much overlap, is all I'm saying. Having every a situation every episode where, specifically, a hacker is needed, just to give Skye something to do, gets tired after a while.

Coming form an IT major, there's barely any overlap between technological architect and a computer scientist. Also, I don't think Skye was brought in solely because of her ability to hack. She obviously has very good people skills. More so than everyone else on the team.

 

[Autolychus2]

Another thing to consider regarding Skye is that Coulson is still assessing her. He basically comes out and says that she's still being evaluated in this bit of dialogue from "0-8-4"

Skye: And an 0-8-4 is?
​

Coulson: An item of unknown origin. Kind of like you. Team goes in, determines if it's useful or if it poses a threat.

​

That added to the bookend discussions with Ward & May at the beginning and Nick Fury at the end of the episode lead me to believe that Coulson KNOWS that she's still in contact with Rising Tide and might even be trying to play him -- proof that she don't know the Son of Coul very well.

It makes me wonder how much rope he is actually giving Skye and at what point in the season we'll find out exactly how much he knew all along.

 

[Autolychus2]

She obviously has very good people skills. More so than everyone else on the team.

Whether she ultimately uses them for good or for ill might be another matter.

As George Burns replied when asked what the most important thing in Hollywood was, "Sincerity -- if you can fake that, you've got it made."

 

[cherokeesam]

It's just not the same thing... I'm sorry


Coming form an IT major, there's barely any overlap between technological architect and a computer scientist. Also, I don't think Skye was brought in solely because of her ability to hack. She obviously has very good people skills. More so than everyone else on the team.

"I'm a people person!" t:

Sorry, that's not enough to warrant l33t status within an agency like SHIELD, either.

Again, I see two things that would explain Coulson's interest in her: 1) latent powers; 2) her ability to "sniff out" super powers and artifacts. She showed that especially in the pilot, when she was able to "just happen" to meet a genuine super-in-the-making in a seemingly random street encounter, then within a very short timeframe track him down, get his identity, and talk him into becoming a full-fledged superhero.

I don't think SHIELD are in the business of hiring superheroes just yet, although a full-fledged 50 States Initiative might come into play at some point; but they *are* in the business of finding, monitoring, and regulating potential supers. And that's why I think Skye would be especially valuable to the team if "detect superpowers" turns out to be one of her latent powers/quirks/talents.

 

[Darkness Falls]

THANKS Nathan
Skye slow mo

t:

 

[Xeno]

"I'm a people person!" t:

Sorry, that's not enough to warrant l33t status within an agency like SHIELD, either.

Again, I see two things that would explain Coulson's interest in her: 1) latent powers; 2) her ability to "sniff out" super powers and artifacts. She showed that especially in the pilot, when she was able to "just happen" to meet a genuine super-in-the-making in a seemingly random street encounter, then within a very short timeframe track him down, get his identity, and talk him into becoming a full-fledged superhero.

I don't think SHIELD are in the business of hiring superheroes just yet, although a full-fledged 50 States Initiative might come into play at some point; but they *are* in the business of finding, monitoring, and regulating potential supers. And that's why I think Skye would be especially valuable to the team if "detect superpowers" turns out to be one of her latent powers/quirks/talents.

SHIELD has Captain America on its payroll now, or at least until CA:TWS shakes out. And Fury's Avengers Initiative was all about finding and recruiting superheroes "to fight the battles we never could." The WSC and internal turmoil might have slowed things down a bit, but Coulson and his team showed in the third episode that they're working outside of official channels to a certain degree. Recruiting "unregistered gifted" people like Mike Peterson falls well within the scope of what Fury (and Coulson) had been doing before the events of The Avengers. This show is all about finding such people, or it was supposed to be. If that has changed then the writers ought to give clear reasons in-story as to why.

 

[Loki882]

If she looks like a useless fifth wheel, then she is a useless fifth wheel. Latent powers or no, she still has the same skill as Fitz...no, scratch that - she actually has less skill, because she's not an engineer. Obviously, the character is important to some overarching plot, but in individual episodes, she's superfluous.

No, that's not how it works at all. If this is all building up to something, then it serves a purpose. That's how a narrative works. If it turns out she's faking and actually has a deeper purpose, then these episodes will be seen in a very different light because we not know the truth and can see the progression.

 

[Mysteryman]

If Skye had not done her job we wouldnt have Graviton right now.
A different way to look at it , but true nonetheless .

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Yeah, but wouldn't Malta have been totally destroyed?