Appreciating Marvel's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D's Groundbreaking 1st Season

Appreciating Marvel's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D's Groundbreaking 1st Season

Comic Book inspired TV shows are clearly at an all time high, and this past television season Marvel brought the world a groundbreaking series that cohesively tied into one of the biggest film franchises of all time. Hit the jump for a look at just why AOS was the kind of risk the genre needed.

By merrillmind - May 15, 2014 02:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
I'm writing this article to take some time to acknowledge what an accomplishment AGENTS OF S.H.E.I.L.D has been in just one season on television. Once again several spoilers are discussed, so if for whatever reason you aren't caught up with the entire Marvel Studios Universe thus far don't read any further. First I'd like to start off by saying I'm not here to debate wether AOS is a better or worse show than the impressive DC television series ARROW, just detailing the impressive job Marvel has done by connecting all of PHASE 2 up till this point. 

With the recent worldwide release of Captain America: TWS we are well past the half way point of Phase Two, and TWS completely shook up the world marvel built by drastically turning the worlds greatest defense organization into a longstanding cloaked HYDRA hellbent on the earths suffering. Some of you may have only seen the pilot episode of AOS or barely watched the first few episodes after only to give up on the series entirely, and although that's understandable I assure you the 22 episodes for this season has proven to be the right amount of time to prove this groundbreaking concept. Marvel has put in the time to take the risk that this show was, and now following TWS and how it directly effected the AOS world I feel it's safe to call this "risk" a success. Wether linking the extremis serum from IRON MAN 3 with project centipede,


the events of THOR: TDW and rogue Asgardians, all the way to Captain America: TWS this series will forever be a true companion to the whole of Phase Two.

Now lets look at life out in the cosmos, from the Chitauri of THE AVENGERS all the way to the likely Kree kept on earth for project T.A.H.I.T.I linking this summers forthcoming GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. 

We even got to see Nick Fury return for the big season finale in two and his second in command, agent Maria Hill a few weeks earlier. For the second time this season. 

With Marvel Studios now responsible for as profitable a film franchise ever, to expand that universe even further with a high profile television series in a landmark in media. Knowing looking back in retrospect at HYDRA's infiltration of S.H.E.I.L.D and how it shaped the series makes re watching older episodes more meaningful because Marvel was playing the long game, all the while fully aware how dramatic and exciting AOS would end up becoming. 

I'm an overall fan of comic books in general and happy that AOS will return for another season but hope that DC will be able to expand more on there cinematic universe by utilizing either ARROW or THE FLASH in the future. What Marvel has done shouldn't be a rarity, because as a fan being able to not only have multiple films each year but also a great connected TV show, makes nearly a full year of comic book bliss. On a closing note I want to state that as an American I think that 22 episodes is not as effective as say 6,8 or even 10 because when your limited in how many hours you have the plot tends to be more focused and impactful (see the first 2 seasons if the UK series MISFITS for a perfect example). If you took the second half of AOS and that was all anyone saw you'd certainly have more fans of this show. I feel overall though with the 22 episodes every episode built a stronger Marvel Studios Universe while (hopefully) paving the way for all comic book live action universes in the future. 
 
What do you guys think of how ambitious the current Marvel Studios Universe is? Sound off in the comments below. 
Marvel Television Exec Plays Coy When Asked Whether AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Should Be Considered MCU Canon
Related:

Marvel Television Exec Plays Coy When Asked Whether AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Should Be Considered MCU Canon

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Star Ming-Na Wen Talks Marvel Studios/Television Division And Possible Return
Recommended For You:

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Star Ming-Na Wen Talks Marvel Studios/Television "Division" And Possible Return

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 3 4 5
thewonderer
thewonderer - 5/15/2014, 2:21 PM
This show is not groundbreaking.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 5/15/2014, 2:22 PM
Not sure if groundbreaking is the word I'd use...
grif
grif - 5/15/2014, 2:22 PM
groundbreaking season? lmfao
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 5/15/2014, 2:22 PM
It got better towards the end of the season, but this show is still horse shit.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 5/15/2014, 2:23 PM
Honestly, this show is pathetic.
McNyagano
McNyagano - 5/15/2014, 2:25 PM
It has a slow burn and the pay off was great imo! Great article man.

MrLoki
MrLoki - 5/15/2014, 2:25 PM
The show was amazing! There were some meh episodes around 4-7, but most of the weeks it was actually incredible!
Can't wait for season 2 and Agent Carter!
merrillmind
merrillmind - 5/15/2014, 2:26 PM
Love or hate the show, that doesn't change that this series was groundbreaking by connecting the entire Marvel
Cinematic Universe to a TV show that further expanded upon that already existing universe.
McNyagano
McNyagano - 5/15/2014, 2:26 PM
@SuperiorMrGod

Then why were you still watching it?lol
ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2014, 2:30 PM
Omega is correct on why it's "groundbreaking".

I have stated my feelings on other articles but I watched the first half or so just enjoying it as a kinda dumb, simple, predictable show with plenty of cheese. After TWS I felt the show took itself too seriously and tried to pretend it wasn't predictable. I also thought Paxton was a ridiculous villain. So my feelings seem to be the exact opposite of the vocal viewers.

The finale made up for it some but we'll see.
merrillmind
merrillmind - 5/15/2014, 2:30 PM
Thanks@McNyagano
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 5/15/2014, 2:31 PM
Somebody should do episode recaps of all the different comic book shows next season. I'm interested in what happened to Coulson since he was in the MCU but I'm not going to watch the show.
merrillmind
merrillmind - 5/15/2014, 2:35 PM
@0megaDaGod my point exactly, personal opinion concerning your feelings towards the series characters, plot etc. doesn't take away that plain and simple what this series did was groundbreaking. If DC had done this first then I would've made the same article about how ARROW took place in the same world as Snyder's MOS but fact remains Marvel/Disney took this risk not DC or any other comic book company/film studio.
ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2014, 2:35 PM
Blackandyellow, you mean like the AOS wiki?
yossarian
yossarian - 5/15/2014, 2:36 PM
Let's also appreciate B&Y for being "Ground Shaking."
Ignition
Ignition - 5/15/2014, 2:36 PM
The finale was poor.
ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2014, 2:41 PM
One thing I wonder is...Phase 1 had the connective thing with the movies, Phase 2 included a TV show which was a big deal for a franchise as well. Phase 3 will include another show but are the Netflix series to be the next big new thing the studio is breaking ground on?
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 5/15/2014, 2:41 PM
I've been working on my fitness. I think I have a chance with one of the Browns cheerleaders now.

blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 5/15/2014, 2:42 PM
There's an Agents of SHIELD wiki? That sounds like a lot of internet work to find. I'd rather just have someone post recaps here.
Hulksta
Hulksta - 5/15/2014, 2:43 PM
It was not groundbreaking.

Compare Arrow to Agents of SHIELD all you guys want. It's like comparing my shit from last night with my shit from this morning, it's still all shit.

Why don't we compare Agents of SHIELD to Breaking Bad, or Game of Thrones, or The Wire? Shows that were actually groundbreaking.

Just because Samuel L Jackson shows up for half an episode, or Sif show up, or having Deathlok doesn't make this show groundbreaking. It just makes it mildly entertaining.
yossarian
yossarian - 5/15/2014, 2:44 PM
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
That was a bit uncalled for.
FirstAvenger
FirstAvenger - 5/15/2014, 2:45 PM
@Hulksta that avatar is cracking me up.
sameoldthing
sameoldthing - 5/15/2014, 2:48 PM
The show gained speed & became much better due to the CA:TWS tie in.
The series started decent..dragged a bit..but finished strong.
Needs more Marvel characters & better designs for the ones they do use,DEATHLOK looked bad,not the actors fault.
Desrow
Desrow - 5/15/2014, 2:50 PM
Groundbreaking??

RextheKing
RextheKing - 5/15/2014, 2:50 PM
@sofo exactly!
yossarian
yossarian - 5/15/2014, 2:52 PM
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 5/15/2014, 3:04 PM
At least you have still Josh Gordon ... oh wait ... nevermind

ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2014, 3:10 PM
Splitting a season isn't new.
TheAstoundingMan
TheAstoundingMan - 5/15/2014, 3:16 PM
I love how most of the people commenting here are the usual suspects nitpicking the use of a particular word, just so they can remind everyone that they didn't like a television show.

What makes it even better is that you all seem to be confusing 'Groundbreaking' with 'Good'.

1 2 3 4 5
View Recorder