Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

[Fist and Faith]

I thought their partnership had been dissolved? *shrug* Maybe in this continuity they haven't met yet?

It could go either way, since they haven't been seen in movies yet. And then assuming this show goes along with the movies. But I can't separate them in my mind, even though Luke was around almost 50 issues before IF showed up, and IF had about 30 issues of Marvel Premier, MTU, and IF before that meeting. (That meeting being Danny punching Luke through a wall and across the street. Heh. Which really pissed Luke off.)

[dANdeLION]

Well, I liked it.

[Menolly]

Me too!

Of course, Joss Whedon directed this episode, as well as produced it, if I read the credits aright. The quality may change as others take over directing.

[sgt.null]

I hate my new work schedule. I missed it and didn't even remember to record it.

[Menolly]

I hate my new work schedule. I missed it and didn't even remember to record it.

Here you are, sarge.

pilot

[Orlion]

*Shrug* Seen both episodes, nothing knocking my socks off yet. I also think they are overdoing the "quirkiness" factor with Skye, Fitz, and Simmons. They have kinda drawn back on this in the second episode...at least.

So I'll give it at least a couple more episodes. By then they should be established.

[sgt.null]

I hate my new work schedule. I missed it and didn't even remember to record it.

Here you are, sarge.

pilot

thank you!

[I'm Murrin]

I watched the pilot after it broadcast on channel 4 over here in the UK last Friday. It was alright, nothing special so far. The characters don't feel very real to me. And the whole thing where Coulson instantly welcomes an enemy into their super-top-secret team didn't seem right.

I think the most interesting thing to me was the level of CGI special effects for a TV show.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

And the whole thing where Coulson instantly welcomes an enemy into their super-top-secret team didn't seem right.

Coulson wouldn't have done that if he weren't already a step or two ahead of her. They didn't accidentally find her; rather, they already knew who she was, where she could be found, and what she was doing.

I expect big-name cameos from time to time, especially as Age of Ultron draws closer.

[I'm Murrin]

I guess what I meant is that it felt too neat and easy, like much of the episode.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Oh, that. Yes, the plot still has to fit into 42 minutes (or however much time they have after subtracting commercials) so there isn't much time for exposition or realism, unless they want to drag things out.

[Orlion]

I guess what I meant is that it felt too neat and easy, like much of the episode.

That's a good way to put it. We're just suppose to accept that SHIELD not knowing anything about her is sufficient reason to bring her in... because Coulson says it is rare.

Spoiler

Never mind that her loyalties still belong to the Rising Tide.

Oh, that. Yes, the plot still has to fit into 42 minutes (or however much time they have after subtracting commercials) so there isn't much time for exposition or realism, unless they want to drag things out.

Or they could do a two parter and show both parts on the same night. Many other shows have done the same, and it makes for a far more interesting story (that, and you get your initial introductions and obligatory "I don't trust her/I work alone" scenarios out of the way the first week so you can focus on more interesting stuff the second week).

[I'm Murrin]

It just didn't feel like Whedon at his best. "Serenity" set a pretty high bar as far as pilot episodes go. This show's opening didn't go anywhere near that level. (New episode tonight, let's see how it goes.)

[I'm Murrin]

Watched the second episode, was alright. I enjoyed the cameo at the end.

I kinda want them to make it clear whether FitzSimmons are a couple.

[Menolly]

This whole "level seven" bringing-Caulson-back-from-the-dead is triggering my radar. His "It's a magical place" response to any mention of Tahiti is too much like a programmed response. His sentimentality for nostalgic objects feels like a need to stay connected to a human side.

Yeah, he bled when hit in the mouth. But...I dunno. Something's "off" there.

...or is this something known to the Marvel universe comic readers I am blissfully unaware of?

[I'm Murrin]

It's clearly something they're setting up for a future reveal. They were blatant about it in the pilot:
Doctor (after Coulson was talking about Tahiti, as he left): "He really has no idea?"
Smulders: "And we'll never tell him."

I think even the comments by him about it being "more like afterlife" are also in-jokes in the script pointing toward whatever they're planning to reveal later.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

At first I thought he was either a clone or an android but since we know he can bleed I suspect he's a Colson clone, programmed with Colson's memories. It is also possible that he wound up being taken to Asgard to be healed by magic, some other facility to be healed by advanced science, but in either case his memories were altered.

Despite the fact that he knows Skye is a risk he has taken a liking to her. I suspect she might be the daughter he didn't know he had.

You don't think Rising Tide is working against Shield, do you? No, they are probably working on the same side.

Eventually, someone from the Avengers is going to discover that Colson is still alive. They probably won't be happy about being lied to when they figure it out.

[I'm Murrin]

For some reason, despite Samuel L Jackson, I can't imagine any of the Avengers appearing in the TV show in a significant enough role for that (big name actors are expensive) - so I expect it'll happen in Avengers 2.

[Vraith]

It is also possible that he wound up being taken to Asgard to be healed by magic, some other facility to be healed by advanced science, but in either case his memories were altered.

I suspect something like that [I even entertain the notion that someone made an Orpheus-like journey to the Underworld and made a deal with Death or some variation/bargaining tale].

Whatever the "real story," I'm sure that he was dead, dead, dead, and not just for a few minutes like he "thinks"...and it's almost certainly [obviously?] going to be a significant plot-point.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

For some reason, despite Samuel L Jackson, I can't imagine any of the Avengers appearing in the TV show in a significant enough role for that (big name actors are expensive) - so I expect it'll happen in Avengers 2.

Age of Ultron is set to release in the Summer of 2015. If the show lasts that long--and it probably will--then I expect at least one or two big-name cameos to increase the hype and advertising tie-ins for the movie. The easiest people to put onto the small screen would be Ms. Johansson, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Renner since the other three characters would take too much post-production CGI. This would also make sense given that the Widow and Hawkeye are independent agents of SHIELD already.