Marvel's Television Venture Picks Up Where the 'Avengers' Left Off in a Powered Down Version
(Spoilers Ahead)
Agent Phil Coulson is indeed alive and kicking but how isn't exactly clear. It's explained that he faked his death to bring the Avengers together but there's more to it than even Coulson isn't aware of. There is work to be done however beginning with a hacker group known as 'The Rising Tide' and the emergence of powered humans namely the 'Hooded Hero', Michael Peterson. Footage of him saving a doctor from a lab emerges from the head of the hacker group, Skye, and she tracks down Peterson who wants nothing to do with her and her plans to help his image. SHIELD is also looking to help so Coulson begins to assemble a team (no that one) to track him and Tide.
Thanks to the Disney/Marvel/ABC budget the action and CGI is exceptional for television. Agent Grant Ward is the dark, brooding spy kicking butt on-location in Paris during an operation and is recruited by Coulson despite Ward's reluctance. Next, veteran agent Melinda May has resigned herself to cubicle hell and also joins the team despite her protests but Coulson has reassured her no field action and to just "drive the bus." The "bus" being what looks like a stealth Airbus as their base of operations. Already on board are FizSimmons, Fitz is the engineer and Simmons is the bio-chem, two people in fact that in Disney terms are the Chip and Dale of the ensemble. Always talking over each other in their British/Scottish accents and quite amused by their own banter. Sometimes too saccharin verging on annoying, FitzSimmons are uncommonly smart and resourceful with CGI-aided tech.
Skye is subsequently captured by SHIELD, interrogated by Ward and Coulson to truly funny affect and she begins to aid them find Peterson. Peterson, single dad, is down on his luck but it turns out the lab that exploded was the one he visited to gain his super hybrid serum, Extremis, which led to his super strength. Unfortunately, the explosion was caused by a previous serum client making Peterson a threat to have the same fate. While retrieving some information from her mobile hacker van, Skye is kidnapped by Peterson so she can erase him from the grid so he can start life over. SHIELD locates them at Union Station and fighting ensues. Some stereotypical homeboys are conveniently used to be thrown around by an angry Peterson, the mysterious lab doctor suddenly appears on site and sends in a police-uniformed-henchman to terminate Peterson and keep him quiet while May does her best ass-kicking to prevent that from happening. Ultimately, Peterson is neutralized after he and Coulson exchange a sincere chat about the inequality of the working man and how he deserved better.
PROS: Clark Gregg is the anchor of the show as he reprises his role from 'Avengers' as Agent Phil Coulson. Along with Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill they are the links to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and add some bonafide SHIELD-cred with the often-mentioned "Battle of New York." Chloe Bennet is adorable even with the occasional self-effacing asides that tend to be a little too cute at times. She's smart and confident and somehow her hacker skills are vitally important to SHIELD. Ming-Na Wen is fantastic as the battle-proven Agent Melinda May and her deadly combat skills. It's fun to see her as an action hero for a change. The rest of the cast is fine and I hope they'll evolve more as the episodes go on. The action and special effects are superior than most sci-fi/fantasy shows on television as it should be.
CONS: Considering this show is aimed at fans of Marvel and 'Avengers' there is a Rated PG approach that keeps it family friendly. Which is understandable but I'm hoping the cutesy dialogue is toned down. FitzSimmons in particular can be annoying in their contrived adversarial argumentative banter. Also, I hope they tread lightly when depicting apparent "thugs" on the screen like they did with the supposed gangbangers dressed as cholos in the train station. Why exactly they were in the train station in the first place and targeted by Skye to fight Peterson could scream of something more malicious than the writers intended.
OVERALL: 'Agents of SHIELD' is an enjoyable fantasy grounded more by special agents than superheroes but has huge potential to explore the vast Marvel universe however it sees fit. The show has limitless potential to grow with hopefully some familiar faces on tap to appear. It's certainly not the 'Avengers' on TV but a nice compliment to the workings behind-the-scenes of the agency that brought them together. There are a lot questions that need to be answered and the pilot has set them up nicely. GRADE: B+
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