We are entering a brave new chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its progress from movies, shorts and tie-in comics to its arrival on TV screens via Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. which aired in America last night. So I thought I would take a look at some of the references and easter eggs and share with you some of my own thoughts and opinions. Warning for those of you that haven’t caught the episode yet there will be some spoilers ahead.
Quick Review
Despite a slightly slow start, some questionable camera placement and the occasional dodgy CGI, the show really comes into its own by the second act with great characters and interesting setups for the future. The show in my opinion was a little heavy handed in its connections to The Avengers movie, though I guess this was its major selling point so it was to be expected.
Avengers connections
For the most part the subtle references and the use of clips from The Avengers and other phase one movies were fine but when it came to the plot-point of the episode: the amalgamation of all the superpower enablers of each franchise it came off like a bit too much, along with some of the more forced references to specific Avengers. However, it was nice to see the Chituari, Loki and Black Widow get a mention even if Hawkeye once again got missed over except for an action figure.
Cobie Smulders return as Maria Hill was also welcomed and the explanation (and then new mystery) of Agent Coulson’s death will keep me back for more.
The Mobile Command Unit, the teams flying base of operations were apparently popular in the 90’s before S.H.I.E.L.D. got its helicarrier. The brief mention of S.H.I.E.L.D. covering up the destruction of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. and New Mexico was good and unexpected, while the final scene of the episode revealed that Howard Stark worked out the problems of his flying car idea for a really cool nod to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s high-tech 60’s James Bondesq spy roots.
The previously mentioned superpower enabler, the Centipede, featured another remake of the super-soldier serum (seemingly with the same addictive quality Blonsky succumbed too in The Incredible Hulk), Gamma radiation and Extremis, all wrapped up in alien tech. Not sure the gamma radiation was need especially as it didn’t seem to turn people green like it has in previous uses with Hulk and Abomination and the use of the serum and extremis would be enough to account for the increased strength but thats just me nit-picking.
Future
Along with the “other interested parties” and Coulson’s “death” being series wide arcs it looks like Agent Wards “family history” seem like something that will pop up in a future episode.
Skye’s spider-man reference was probably the closes thing we will get to having Spidey in the MCU, while I would love to get some hi-def stills of the inside of Skye’s Rising Tide office/van; as I would like to read more about the
“Flying man found dead” and the Kid Hero. Also her own history seems shrouded in mystery too.
The term “Unregistered gifted” by Hill was intriguing, just to think that one day down the line the idea of registration could make its way to the MCU.
Apart from “Journey Into Mystery” I didn’t hear any other book titles mentioned but I was half expecting “Strange Tales” to pop up somewhere.
All in all this show is a great new addition to the MCU and I for one will be really interested to see how they develop the characters and mythology futher in the future episodes.
Did you guy notice anything else I missed? Let me know in the comments below