Agents of SHIELD finally premiered season two last night and it kicked off hard with a variety of characters being introduced and the state of the fallen intelligence organization revealed. The MCU connected series is moving heavily into the superpowered group of beings with the next set of objects and characters prominently showcasing the direction they are taking, especially with Brian Patrick Wade playing Crusher Creel, making a big splash, stealing center stage for the premiere.
Let's take a look at the episode and breakdown the characters we witnessed and try and place them within the MCU, the comics source and get an understanding of their revisions and where they fit.
Phil Coulson: Coulson is now the new director of SHIELD and is slowly pulling strings from the shadows. Taking over for Nick Fury in both placement and mindset. He's far more stoic then he was in his previous portrayals of the character and i'm curious to see where they take his storyline.
He is unique as a character and any number of things can happen this season. I for one want more information about T.A.H.I.T.I. and want a better understanding of what he has planned for Skye.
Melinda May: Coulsons strong right hand. She is seemingly the new 'Maria Hill' of this new SHIELD agency. She is also still maintaining a watchful eye over Coulson. She hasn't skipped a beat and still extremely formidable as is shown in the premiere.
I'd like to see more background on the character to help her move forward in the series. She can't be a mindless soldier all the time. She is also an excellent example of a powerful, not strong...powerful, female character! I don't want her to lose this aspect of her role.
Brigadier General Glenn Talbot: I like this character but at this point he feels a lot like Gen. Ross chasing the Hulk, in this case Coulson and his new SHIELD agents.
His vim and vigor toward Coulson feels a lot more like Salt and Vinegar. He's pissing into the wind and has virtually no individual thought of his own toward helping the world alongside Coulson.
I'm not sure if this is intentional to create tension or if he is really a HYDRA plant. But the character is annoying. Adrian Pasdar is awesome at playing these characters. He makes it easy to dislike the General.
Dr. Reinhardt "Daniel" Whitehall: likely AKA, The Kraken. Not Commander Kraken (different character)...This character is extremely multi-faceted and likely a mainstay throughout the rest of the MCU. He is one of 11 other high level espionage leaders that were all once part of a group known as the
Wheel of the Zodiac, characters from the MCU that were a part of this group are Nick Fury, John Garrett, Dum Dum Dugan and Wolfgang Von Strucker (who we saw at the end of The Winter Soldier).
In the comics the character wears a special helmet that gives him abilities but there is also a variation of how he gains some of those mystical abilities--From a mask that looks like a tentacled skull (The HYDRA logo). Likely something that will be showcased as the source of his youthful appearance.
This character should hopefully open more doors than lock them this season and hopefully will directly aid us in tying together with Strucker and Loki's scepter that was in his possession at the end of CA:TWS.
Grant Ward: We find Grant locked up in a high tech holding cell when Skye ends up interrogating him. He seemingly has lost some of his mind and his behavior and speech pattern follows suit. He also seems to be easily feeding Skye information without argument, solely on the premise that Skye won't talk to him.
He also throws out a tease about Skye's father but only we're knowledgeable as the audience. His character may see some action down the road. For now he is Marvel's proverbial Hannibal Lecter and Skye his Clarisse (insert lip sucking noise where appropriate while drinking Chianti and eating fava beans).
Skye: She feels more focused, if not angry and hurt. The characters development into this more sullen and broken soldier-esque female feels rushed and I'd prefer her to be more quirky and approachable. I hope they lead her character toward a more positive role. The reactionary stance she has in the episode is obviously a plot device and doesn't feel as natural.
We get it, she's pissed at Ward. I can also understand her being a bit broken because of it. Then again the alien DNA in her system could also be altering her behavior. We'll have to see where it goes.
Peggy Carter: I love this character. She is an extremely strong female and often has extremely important expository information and connects the MCU in some way with various things she states.
In this reprisal of her role she mentions importantly that Howard Stark will be tinkering with the Obelisk prominently displayed as the object of interest in this episode.
Chances are this object will become far more important in the MCU and will involve our current generations "Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist" to likely explain what it is. If I were a betting man I'd venture a guess that the Obelisk will be a possible access tool for Ms. Marvel. While the bulk of the alien items this show has shown us, especially in Season 1, were Chitauri in origin. I'm willing to argue (until proven otherwise, with my tail between my legs) that it may be Kree in Origin. Especially if you consider the twist in it's design. Something very similar to the Dark Astor in terms of it's conceptual shape.
It also mimicked the same glyph-like images that Skye had behind her on the table before Trip had a conversation with her
Dum Dum Dugan: I love this character. He just screams cool in an old-school manner. From his derby to his manly-stache. While he is generally here as muscle to go with Peggy Carter, I think we may see more appearances as the season unfolds. Especially if AoS ventures into more historical material.
Jim Morita: Another great character from the pages of old school Captain America comics. other than a moment of comedy and support with Dugan and Carter. He wasn't here for much. I hope we get a little more in the future out of the character.
Carl "Crusher" Creel: The Absorbing Man was no joke in his first outing on the series. Brian Wade looks like a beast in this role which ultimately (again) resounds my argument from
GOTG (see item number 2 in that article) about fight scenes and how characters are portrayed. This guy was extremely formidable. AoS showcased Creel's powers exceedingly. They also gave us a glimpse that his character isn't an oafish brute like he usually is in the comics.
I'm excited to see more of this character as the series opens up this season.
Isabel "Izzy" Hartley: A spectacularly showcased character that was equally killed unceremoniously. She had another agent, Idaho, who was also killed while attempting to escape during her rescue.
Lance Hunter remained alive and played possum while Creel took off with the Obelisk.
Lance Hunter: In the Comics he is the Director of S.T.R.I.K.E. and is the only survivor of the attack that killed Hartley and Idaho. It's interesting to see him play the role of Mercenary. Even if it was a bit forceful in his characters attempt to appear to only care about payment.
With Coulson discovering a couple of assets in the UK and Hunter's comic book connection to Captain Britain and his subsequent Corp. I wonder if we're going to get a Captain Britain appearance somewhere during this season.
Al Mackenzie: Al is an interesting character, he plays a very strange role in the comics. He ends up becoming a sort of whistleblower who writes a book about the inner workings of SHIELD. However, he has a long standing relationship with Fury and Jessica Jones. Making this character that much more important as we know
AKA Jessica Jones will be making its way into Netflix soon. I look forward to seeing how his source material will be revised for AoS and possibly if he'll make appearances in AKA:JJ.
Roger Browning: Came to a quick and unfortunate end in the only scene he was in during the premiere. Surprisingly dying as Creel made short work of him.
Antoine Triplett: Is a great character with presence on screen and unfortunately still seems like the generic replacement for Grant. His grandfather was a member of the Howling Commandos and we've yet to really see the character shine. Although he is light on his feet and has a positive airy feel every time he is on screen without forcing a joke or comment. Even if one or two of his lines are slightly cheesy. "...Watch this," (as he walks away).
Sunil Bakshi: Was Creel's contact with HYDRA and I'm not completely familiar with him (I must admit) and I couldn't find a lot of information on him. I'm (at this point) not sure if he is an original character for the series. I'm guessing he is because of the lack of information. But I'll keep watching him and doing some more research to see if he correlates with other characters of note.
For now I know him as the "drug" pusher for Creels 'material' addiction.
Random Hydra Agent is Random: I'm not so sure. But then again I have my Easter egg goggles on and I'm suspect of any characters with speaking roles. Although I can't find this one in the credits. So for now I'm presuming he was just a random minion for Whitehall to speak to.
Fitz & Simmons: She is still gone and he's slowly breaking down. If you hadn't guessed it by now (I'm hoping you've all watched because of the massive spoilers I've stated so far) She was never actually present this entire episode. He was talking to himself.
Whether he is going to be completely set aside or turned into another super-powered character is yet to be revealed.
Billy Koenig: I'm extremely curious why there are plot-point breadcrumbs foreshadowed about Koenig, as if more copies of himself are laying around somewhere? I'm wondering if they are trying to foreshadow that he is some form of Multiple Man, like James Madrox, or if they are trying to imply he's some sort of clone?
Either way I'm certain Patton Oswalt is having a blast on this series and his character is interesting enough (similarly to how Coulson was introduced in the MCU). He grows on you.
Agents has showcased their no-fear attitude in their production to take massive leaps and risks with their story telling. From following closely with the MCU, adding a treasure trove of SHIELD characters and slowly introducing a variety of other characters and villains with deep connections through the marvel universe. It is interesting, if not amazing, to see how it is all weaving together for a much larger picture.
While I'm still hesitant about where it is all going and how much is needed to fully connect it all to the Marvel Cosmic Universe. I'm quite satisfied with this premiere and seeing how they are inching, if not tip-toeing toward that end. Especially with this new object, The Obelisk, which is also directly connected to the dead blue alien we observed in the first season (again here in a glimpse within the first three minutes of the episode), previously revealed to be the genetic source material for what saved Coulson from death and subsequently Skye.
While all forms of wild concepts brew in my mind of how it all connects, the most obvious foam of thought that rises to the surface of my theoretical coffee is if Ms. Marvel is being revised to be Skye in some form or if she'll be revealed on this series...I know, crazy.
We know Marvel is amazing at bait and switch. For a long time they led us to the fountain to drink from the waters of Coulson possibly becoming The Vision...I think while there is a lot to correlate material to a possible Ms. Marvel reveal, it is very unlikely that Skye is connected. But I'll hold on to that crumb of fanciful Hollywood confoundary to myself, for now (even though I just put it out there).
Agent's will be heavily talked about in the coming months as new episodes release each week. Keep it here for more of #TheBreakdown! I'll be analyzing every episode of Agents along with all currently available CBTV Series.
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by @EmanuelFCamacho
Up next on The Breakdown, Gotham EP2 - Selina Kyle, Airing 09/29/2014