EDITORIAL: Why AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Misunderstood

EDITORIAL: Why AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Misunderstood

Marvel's first ever live action tv series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., has received mixed reviews since its premiere. Hit the jump to find out why the some of the critics might be missing the point.

Editorial Opinion
By CaptainComicBook - Nov 14, 2013 01:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.




Why Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Misunderstood


Let me preface this column by saying this is not an attempt to claim that one comic book company is superior to another. That said, I will admit to being more of a fan of Marvel than DC, but to prove the fact that I am able to be bipartisan, I will say that I think Arrow is the best comic book show on TV right now. However the margin between Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not as substantial as some threads would suggest and neither show is perfect.
Admittedly, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has it's issues. One could reasonably argue that the actors have little chemistry and that the script is full of cringe-worthy comedy. The criticism that does not stand up, however, is that the show does not contain enough superheroes. From the very first promo until now, the theme of Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been about non-empowered humans trying to adapt to a world filling with superheroes. Even the show's tagline, “Not All Heroes Are Super,” reflects this idea.



I'm not arguing that a show focusing on non-empowered S.H.I.E.L.D. agents would be more entertaining that a show filled with superheroes. However, arguing that a show that has always been about S.H.I.E.L.D. agents does not contain enough superheroes is invalid. Despite the invalidity of the argument, I can sympathize. After seeing how Arrow successfully portrayed several comic book favorites on screen, many Marvel fans (myself included) wanted Marvel to do the same with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nonetheless, Marvel made the decision to focus their network show on non-empowered humans. Meanwhile, they were negotiating with Netflix to give four costumed heroes, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, their own series. This goes to show that just because our favorite heroes aren't showing up on ABC, that doesn't mean that Marvel does not have plans for them. Who knows? If the Netflix series are successful, we could see characters like The Punisher or Black Panther or maybe even a proper reboot of Elektra through the same medium. But if the writers of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. chose to pencil in these characters, the effort and due diligence that these complex characters deserve would not be present if Frank Castle or T'Challa made a one-episode cameo.



Furthermore, let's slow down on the accusations that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not using characters from the comics. It is reasonable to believe that if Marvel reserved certain heroes for a Defenders team up that they could also be doing the same for certain villains such as Taskmaster, Radioactive Man, Bullseye, or the Serpent Society perhaps for a Thunderbolts series. Also, I've also seen complaints that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not using any of the agents from the comics, specifically Clay Quartermain and Mockingbird. Personally, I'm not sure where these complaints are coming from. We are only seven episodes in and we have already seen Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Jasper Sitwell, and Victoria Hand. We've also been treated to a intriguing origin story for Graviton. (As a side note, don't sleep on Agent 13 showing up at some point. Emily VanCamp, who is playing the character in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, is the main protagonist of an ABC show already. An appearance in another show on the same network is hardly a stretch.)

Well this is already more lengthy than I intended, so I'll wrap it up. All of this to say one thing: be patient with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It is Marvel's attempt to reenter the live action TV market and they chose to take the conservative route by using agents in suits rather than heroes in colorful costumes. Lastly, I'll say this: tune in. Watch this show and Arrow. Watch the Flash show when it comes out. Subscribe to Netflix and watch Marvel's new shows when they are released. For that matter, go see every CBM that is released. We are in a golden age of live action comic book portrayal and we are responsible for maintaining it. Good ratings and gaudy box office numbers is how we show the entertainment industry that comic books films and TV shows are lucrative and worth investment.

As always, I welcome feedback. I want to know other fan's opinions. Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed the article please thumbs up.

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jeddtobee023
jeddtobee023 - 11/14/2013, 1:53 AM
It gets better and better every week...
mook
mook - 11/14/2013, 2:53 AM
Agent Blake from 'Item 47' has also appeared
sikwon
sikwon - 11/14/2013, 3:13 AM
I like AoS.
dirtydanwojo
dirtydanwojo - 11/14/2013, 6:04 AM
I like the direction they've been going with sort of "drifting away" from SHIELD. Coulson realizing that SHIELD may have lied about his 'resurrection', disagreements with superiors about handling missions (like with Blake and Hand). It's a nice way to lead up to Captain America next year. They could show what it's like for ordinary agents while Cap's battling the corrupted SHIELD leadership.
GinjaNinja
GinjaNinja - 11/14/2013, 6:39 AM
It's starting to tie in more.

We have seen 3 CBM villains.

4 shield agents in the comics (Fury, Coulson, Hill, and that chick from last night)

and agent blake angent sitwell (however you spell it) from some of the one shots.
QuestionDAnswer
QuestionDAnswer - 11/14/2013, 7:46 AM
Agents of S.H.!.T. sucks @ss
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 11/14/2013, 8:02 AM
Agents of SHIELD might have been entertaining if it was made as a sitcom in the 60s and 70s.
CaptainComicBook
CaptainComicBook - 11/14/2013, 8:24 AM
@Soto. I appreciate that you actually read the editorial before criticizing. Go you.
HAILHYDRA
HAILHYDRA - 11/14/2013, 10:19 AM
@blackandyellow. Well put.
marantaz
marantaz - 11/14/2013, 10:24 AM
B&Y, funny! Like watching Benny Hill, that was a confusing riot!

CCB, well said! The morons ("it sucks!") will always troll the net, but those of us that want good live action shows appreciate the efforts on both AoS and Arrow. And I agree with your comments on what AoS is...though we'd all like to see a little more of our super heroes, for now, watching it be set up as the background to the MU is fine with me...a little slow, but not worth bitching about.
jesse4u27
jesse4u27 - 11/14/2013, 10:28 AM
did u notice when Coulson said Tahiti, there was a slight studder like conflicting program or something ;)
ParisSun
ParisSun - 11/14/2013, 10:29 AM
Ratings continue to drop. It's down to a 2.2 now. This show needs to level out now or there is no way we are going to see a season 2.

During the break they need to consider killing off everyone except Coulson and Skye. Replace with Quartermain, Mockingbird, Cloak & Dagger (if they are available).
nikgrid
nikgrid - 11/14/2013, 10:30 AM
AOS is ok but the characters are not very interesting, and some are just cliches (Badarse handsome Ward, Asian agent who can do martial arts and has a mysterious past n' shit, the dorky tech science twins) and it is [frick]ing corny, (May ACTUALLY yelled "Heey Yaa!" when she did a kick in the last episode, what's next? Some Captain Kirk double fisted blows) it feels like an 8's TV show.

And for a secret government agency, they aren't very secret.

If it had been like Jim Steranko's shield THAT would have been awesome.
WADEZILLA13
WADEZILLA13 - 11/14/2013, 10:33 AM
@yossarian:

There's no point? It's not going anywhere? Seven episodes in, and you want the endgame already? Maybe you haven't watched a Whedon show before, or a genre show... or any scripted drama whatsoever, but the first season is generally about laying groundwork and planting seeds for the future of the show and its overarching plot (look to shows like LOST, or DS9 if you're unclear on this)... That being said, I would definitely say AoS is going somewhere; but maybe the whys and wherefores of Coulson's existence, Skye's mysterious background which may or may not lead to her being an established Marvel character, or the growing dissension with SHIELD's hierarchy that could directly tie to the next Captain America film, just aren't enough for you, in which case, you're just another impatient, self-important whiner who's sure that you could do "such a better job" of writing and producing a network show based in the Marvel universe.

Is Agents of SHIELD perfect? NO. Am I enjoying it and anxious to see what it grows into? You betcha, sport.
KnobGoblin
KnobGoblin - 11/14/2013, 10:33 AM
I don't think adding superheroes into AOS will actually help the show any, as the problem is with the show itself, and not the lack of costumes. It should be able to stand on it's own as a series, but it doesn't. In a lot of ways the show is very similar to CBS's Criminal Minds, in that they're both about a team of agents flying around in a jet solving cases week to week. Where Criminal Minds succeeds and AOS fails, is that the characters are strong, the cast feels like a family, and that show actually has real tension and drama to it.
UlisesMX
UlisesMX - 11/14/2013, 10:52 AM
I like the show, maybe people had some very high expectations because Marvel and its movie universe...
CapitanAmerika2
CapitanAmerika2 - 11/14/2013, 11:02 AM
I would totally watch this show but I dont have a TV
MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 11/14/2013, 11:06 AM
I love AoS, i think it's extremely entertaining.

Everyone that's whining for superheroes, can you PLEASE tell me when AoS ever promised such a thing? I've been following the show since it was announced, and I never expected Superheroes. What I expected was a team show, about a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, investigating strange events, and seeing super-powered people pop up. I never expected S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from the comics, as 95% of them are completely interchangeable.

We've gotten a couple of good cameos from Sammy J. and Cobie Smulders. (expect more from her once HIMYM wraps it's filming) We've now seen Agent Hand, who will be every bit the bitch she is from the comics. Gravitron origin was awesome, can't wait to see him escape and cause some serious havoc.

Also, cannot wait to see the revelation of Coulson's "magical" Tahiti trip, and see what happened to Skye's parents and who she really is.

AoS honestly has me on the edge of my seat every episode, as I want to see where it all goes.
MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 11/14/2013, 11:10 AM
And any so-called "comics fan" should know that Lola flying was not a nod to 'Grease', but a nod to the flying S.H.I.E.L.D. cars from the 60's. For [frick]'s Sake, if you're gonna whine about something not being "Marvel" in any way, learn about the books first, that way you can understand the references.
Masterpace
Masterpace - 11/14/2013, 11:12 AM
@UlisesMX

Please their movie universe isn't that good either. People can have big expectations because of all the hype for this show from Marvel, Whedon and all. It's suck because it - like all of their movies lately- doesn't take anything seriously...jokes all the time...that just sucks.

You want to watch good comicbook tv series....watch Arrow...nuff said.
Masterpace
Masterpace - 11/14/2013, 11:13 AM
I meant their movies aren't that good...their plan for connected universe is very good.
SCURVYDOG619
SCURVYDOG619 - 11/14/2013, 11:14 AM
It is almost like "Tahiti" is some kind of memory implant,doesn't it?
superotherside
superotherside - 11/14/2013, 11:17 AM
I really want it to like this show, and it's ok just not something I'm going to be telling everyone about. Why? Because besides some fan nods it's pretty much boring.

Most of the things in the show have no consequences or feel like it's changing anything. It's just there. The characters are barely interesting. They're good background characters but that's it. They need let these characters drift to the background and let some new comic characters take the lead of the show.
superotherside
superotherside - 11/14/2013, 11:19 AM
Oh plus I'm not a hater of the show, I get all the fan nods. I've actually read comics (unlike some on here...). But it still needs some new characters to change the pace.
GinjaNinja
GinjaNinja - 11/14/2013, 11:25 AM
lol@masterpace Their movies aren't good.....
KnobGoblin
KnobGoblin - 11/14/2013, 11:31 AM
AOS needs to be more X-Files, and less MiB.
Chewtoy
Chewtoy - 11/14/2013, 11:40 AM
It's steadily improving as they dig a little deeper into their ongoing subplots... Who is behind the Centipede program (probably the opportunity for the biggest villain introduction), what's the deal with Agent Coulson's recovery, and who was Skye's mother/why did a Shield agent recover her as a child?

My guess is that they'll introduce Baron Strucker to answer at least 2 of those...
Philvis
Philvis - 11/14/2013, 11:40 AM
AOS is not misunderstood. It's just mediocre at best. It had lots of potential, especially considering it's budget, but has squandered every aspect. Even the action choreography in it is bad. I gave it a chance over and over, but unless there is a complete revamp, don't expect to see a Season 2. It fell to a 2.2 this week. The number of viewers who keep dropping sends a clear message.
minusman
minusman - 11/14/2013, 11:58 AM
I never expected there to be superheroes, outside of the occasional cameo, that is.
If this show tried to take itself more seriously, had better writing and character interaction, it could easily increase its viewers instead of losing them. I think that the only reason its still being aired is because everyone keeps watching hoping it will get better.

Going the X-Files route would not be a bad idea- or even take a lesson from NCIS or Criminal Minds- both ensemble shows that are character driven.
The reason most shows fail is because of poor writing and this one will be no exception.
MrFloZeke
MrFloZeke - 11/14/2013, 12:01 PM
I agree with everything you wrote. Well done.
GinjaNinja
GinjaNinja - 11/14/2013, 12:01 PM
everyone saying "It had lots of potential" uh hello? its not even half way through the season.
Knightrider
Knightrider - 11/14/2013, 12:05 PM
We can argue all we like, some fans will watch it no matter what as they are fans...personally I don't mind that.

However, the ratings don't lie! This show opened challenging The Voice, which being a reality TV show and all people watch these days, was impressive. Now it keeps dropping, week after week, so this show needs a reboot or a kick up the backside as it won't get a season two.

For me, and I know everybody is different, I wanted actual experienced and trained agents...you know the ones we've seen in the movies. Not whining hipsters. Can you imagine Iron Man or Avengers 2 them sending in Fitz and Simmons? It just doesn't fit.

Let's be honest if this didn't have the Marvel logo on it or the network been a bit over eager in ordering a full season, this probably would already be in danger of cancellation.

I will say I am gutted it isn't very good. When they announced the show I was like: Awesome, those agents from the movies + Fringe events based around superheros, where a ongoing plot could build up to reveal a new ongoing villain.

It almost like someone else should have created grown up characters rather than let Whedon revert to his 'Buffy' way of character creation.
Philvis
Philvis - 11/14/2013, 12:10 PM
@dougie - it's a third of the way through and nothing has changed or improved. I guess to your point though, perhaps a revamp is in process. I guess we won't see til the new year, as the first half is already in the can so to speak.
CrimsonFlash
CrimsonFlash - 11/14/2013, 12:14 PM
Its been getting better every week. Eps two and three were down right bad though. The writing just hasn't been there nor has the direction. The sound of the music is also way too loud. Doesn't allow people to connect to the characters.

Overall I think we were sold a Joss show and that wasn't exactly true and it shows in the writing. Its a decent show and is getting better which is good.
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