Will AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D Live Up To The Hype?

Will AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D Live Up To The Hype?

The hotly anticipated Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., a spin off of Marvel’s The Avengers, premieres on September 24, 2013. Speculation flies as to who is Agent Coulson’s ‘unknown enemy’ is, and why he’s even alive. But will the show deliver?

By erintruesdale81 - Sep 10, 2013 07:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Other

Amid hype and growing excitement for the forthcoming television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a larger question remains: Will the show deliver? And even bigger than that, will it crossover to the regular, everyday TV viewer who may not be a fan of the superhero flicks from whence it was plucked?



TV chief at Marvel, Jeph Loeb, says that the hype alone, although huge and gaining momentum, may not be enough to make it a hit on television. The show must appeal to a larger audience, not just those of us who follow every Marvel movie that comes out with passionate interest, but also the remaining majority who don’t even know what S.H.I.E.L.D is.

Casting has a lot to do with Marvel’s hope that the show will crossover to a larger audience. The main characters that have been cast are in their upper 40s and early 50s in order to make them more relatable to the average prime time audience, which is 53.4 years of age. Two of the main characters, played by Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and Ming-Na (Agent Melinda May) are easily recognizable by this age group, as well; Gregg was on The New Adventures of Old Christine and Ming-Na was on ER.



The show is also going to stay focused on characters and relationships, which many primetime viewers of ABC’s shows have come to expect. Both romantic and platonic relationships will fill the show, giving it a personal complexity, on top of the classic action/adventure fans of Marvel love.

From the teasers, commercials, and other leaks, it appears to be a theatrical quality series made for television. But a big budget doesn’t necessarily equal success. We’ll see if the steps taken by the producers and the network spell out a crossover success story.

-Erin M. Truesdale

References

Burlingame, R. (2013). Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Has to Prove Crossover Appeal, Admits Loeb. Retrieved from: http://comicbook.com/blog/2013/09/08/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-has-to-prove-crossover-appeal-admits-loeb/

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)
Related:

THE 4:30 MOVIE Interview: Filmmaker Kevin Smith On How His Passion For The Theater Shaped New Film (Exclusive)

THE FRANCHISE: Trailer For Max Series Starring Daniel Brühl Reveals Chaos Inside World Of Superhero Filmmaking
Recommended For You:

THE FRANCHISE: Trailer For Max Series Starring Daniel Brühl Reveals Chaos Inside World Of Superhero Filmmaking

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
Shara184
Shara184 - 9/9/2013, 9:25 PM
Most if not all my close friends aren't comic fans. They either watch the movies for the action or the actor and when I explain this show to them, they are not interested. They want Loki or Thor.. I'll take a look at the first episode but I've never even looked at a trailer for this because it seems so unappealing to me right now...
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 9/9/2013, 9:34 PM
Probably
erintruesdale81
erintruesdale81 - 9/9/2013, 9:44 PM
LMAO you have a very good point there, Jollem!
WhiteSAMURAI
WhiteSAMURAI - 9/9/2013, 10:04 PM
Joss Whedon's name alone is enough for me to expect it to be somewhat good.
AsgardianHobo
AsgardianHobo - 9/9/2013, 10:09 PM
@Jollum

For real. Fox likes to shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to that.



@BaneSmash

missed u bro. keep hangin out in those marvel articles


AsgardianHobo
AsgardianHobo - 9/9/2013, 10:15 PM
This show is gonna be badass. Curious to what characters they might introduce and what cameos they might have. Gonna be awesome!
krylonshadow
krylonshadow - 9/9/2013, 10:17 PM
Honestly, I don't even know if they'll have the comic book fans on their side. It looks...boring to be honest. If I watch this show it's for Coulson and the hot chick. I do hope that they are just purposely withholding all the exciting action-packed superhero-ness from the trailers and promos, because if it's another episodic "powers" show where every episode feels like a filler, I'm not gonna hold interest for too long.

There's too many shows like that and they get boring fast. Even with a solid cast, these are all made up characters that no one cares about, and unless you can make us care for them without boring the hell out of us, you're gonna lose viewership fast. For example, Smallville went to shit partly because every season was filled with these episodic "powers" episodes and it got boring. Heroes did not maintain its strong story and character development so it became wildly uninteresting. Alphas, while I didn't watch all of it, it gave off that same feeling.

Arrow on the other hand did the opposite, it took characters that people know, mixed in some newcomers, put a modern spin on everything, but most importantly it had heavy character development and plot progression in every episode. I know Marvel doesn't want to bring any mainstream heroes into the mix with Agents of SHIELD but that might be their downfall. The show might be doomed to fail from the start if it truly is an episode-by-episode "powers" show with made-up characters.
sansClaymore
sansClaymore - 9/9/2013, 11:14 PM
i dont think anyone is really thinking about this in the right way.
the way i see it. the trailer for the pilot is all we have seen. they have now filmed an entire season and possibly even tweaked the pilot to make changes fit.
so who knows what we are going to get. so no need to rip it apart as lame, or convince yourself it going to be the best thing since buttered toast,just yet.
they can use the show to, introduce new heroes, cameo existing ones, create entirely new non canon ones just for the show, use the show to explain origins of heroes we will see in sequels, the possibilities are endless.
remember they didn't choose the same guy to write the sequel to his own movie and create this show just to muck it all up.
i am excited to see just how ballsy this show will be.
DarthMauve
DarthMauve - 9/10/2013, 12:36 AM
Nice article, but not news :)
Visualiza
Visualiza - 9/10/2013, 1:23 AM
Do you really think that from the trailers it looks theatrical quality? I'd say it's a far cry from it; it decidedly looks like The X-Files Files: Comic Book Edition.

Game of Thrones comes the closest to cinema quality, but even then...

Disney and MS have done a solid job with their movie properties so far, but this show doesn't look very impressive, and I've got a bad feeling about it.

I hope they prove me wrong, but I doubt it.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 9/10/2013, 6:29 AM
Pfffffffft! No! lol
Lizardking310
Lizardking310 - 9/10/2013, 9:19 AM
I'm actually one of the few on this site that isn't interested in this show! Sooo to answer your question. NO!
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 9/10/2013, 9:31 AM
Actually the show may be great, but ABC is know for pulling the plug on great shows if the ratings are not there.
HAILHYDRA
HAILHYDRA - 9/10/2013, 9:34 AM
I didn't realize there was all that much hype behind it.
devil
devil - 9/10/2013, 9:34 AM
i think the tv show will last for 3 to 5 years if the fans like it
AsgardianHobo
AsgardianHobo - 9/10/2013, 9:53 AM
lol, all the haters go watch the CW for some horrible SFX
Tymminator
Tymminator - 9/10/2013, 9:56 AM
Ditto what Jollem said.
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 9/10/2013, 10:20 AM
This show unlike Digiorno, will deliver. ;P

I mean, you have Joss Whedon involved, Agent Coulson is back, and it will be connected to the MCU. Nuff said.
GoILL
GoILL - 9/10/2013, 10:39 AM
I'm gonna give it a chance but so far nothing about this show has me interested.
jaysin420
jaysin420 - 9/10/2013, 10:40 AM
I really hope this is good but just looking at that cast puts me to sleep. (Are those guys brothers? If not, they look way too alike).

And I think making the entire 1st season about the mystery of Coulsen is very cheap, especially if he's not gonna be in any more movies.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 9/10/2013, 10:41 AM
I don't see any "hype". No one I know is even aware the show exists. But judging from what I've seen so far, it looks like it will underwhelm the average viewer as well as comic fans- REAL comic fans. Not the MARVEL cock-jockey's that infest this site.
Ocelot
Ocelot - 9/10/2013, 10:45 AM
Just not interested i'm afraid it just looks downright terrible and unappealing. Never cared aout Coulson in the films and I still dont now. Wont bother checking it out unless it's recomemended to me by people in my circles.
KingSilence
KingSilence - 9/10/2013, 10:46 AM
I don't think it will be good enough to be considered a "good show". Even though I love Marvel comics. But, those who don't strive to compete with intellectual dramas like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire, and Game of Thrones are really waiting our time and their own. I don't know anyone who wants another quick quip cop show. Those are a dime a dozen and they don't really have a strong fan base. Long term drama is the only think to strive for these days. If you don't have the budget, idea, and script... then you should sit your ass down and enjoy what good shows have already been created.
Indy
Indy - 9/10/2013, 10:50 AM
I say no but heck I couldn't even watch hero's I found that show boring I tried but couldn't.
unknownfacts
unknownfacts - 9/10/2013, 10:56 AM
Should be good for a season or two,it's going to be a challenge to balance the shows plots with the major movie plots as the two co-exist.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 9/10/2013, 10:57 AM
I don't give a shit about the show.

As Whedon doesn't equal hit. Hell every show he does gets canceled. The GA doesn't know Joss.

Frankly I think this show will suck. I just don't care whatsoever for it.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 9/10/2013, 10:58 AM
People care about superheroes, not Government agencies.

No one cares about SHIELD or anyone in it besides Sam Jackson's Nick Fury.
1 2
View Recorder