Marvel's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Trailer Breakdown

Marvel's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Trailer Breakdown

An analysis of the first trailer for Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; maybe we won't learn too many answers but we'll certainly discover the right questions that we should be asking. Put on your speculation hats and hit the jump.

Feature Opinion
By MarkJulian - May 19, 2013 02:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.


LOCATION: New York, NY
TIMESTAMP: 0:01
Opening shot, we see a glimpse of Stark Tower in the upper right corner but it's now Avengers Tower as was hinted by the closing scene of The Avengers. I suspect we'll be spending a lot of time in New York but as you'll see in more shots to come, the show will travel all over the globe.


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 0:15
The kid looking at the figures of Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow (guess S.H.I.E.L.D. has stepped out of the shadows) will show up again in another shot in the trailer. Standing behind that kid is J. August Richards. Is that his son, little brother, peer (it's possible if he's Rage).


LOCATION: Unknown S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ
TIMESTAMP: 0:31
The person circling Agent Grant (Brett Dalton), who we never get to see, that's the voice of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders). It was clear by the end of The Avengers that she definitely knew Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) was up to something as evidenced by her comments regarding Agent Coulson's (Clark Gregg) trading cards. I guess Fury filled her in on Coulson's actual status.


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 0:48
Here's our first real introduction to mystery superhero played by J. August Richards. He definitely has super strength as he just leaped out of a 5-story building with no ill effects.


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 0:50
Who happens to be on-hand to record mystery hero's exploits? Skye (Chloe Bennet), described as a computer hacker and operative of The Rising Tide, which secretly appears to just be a blog dedicated to exposing S.H.I.E.L.D. There has to be more to her goal however as toy merchandise for Black Widow and Hawkeye would seem to indicate that the larger world is aware of the organization's existence. And why no last name for Skye? Would her last name give away some famous parentage?


LOCATION: Unknown S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ
TIMESTAMP: 0:54
Here, we see Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) and Agent Coulson entering a S.H.I.E.L.D. monitoring room. The globes on the screen are a clue that the show won't be confined to a singular locale. Coulson and his team will be investigating cases around the world.


LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 0:55
Here we see Agent Coulson explaining to Agent Grant about what it is they will be doing, off the radar from normal S.H.I.E.L.D. operations. Just off to the right is Agent Fitz (Iain De Caestecker)who specializes in weapon technology operating a holographic imaging machine that looks to be recreating something of interest. More on that next.


LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 0:57
There's been some speculation that this gold, shiny guy is a magic user because well, he's shiny and golden. But we're simply looking at Agent Fitz holographic image. However, we do see the mystery guy pick up a chair with one hand in the rewind and it looks as if he bludgeoned someone with it. Does he have super strength? More on that later.


LOCATION: Northwest USA (possibly Oregon or Washington)
TIMESTAMP: 1:12
It appears that Skye has caught up with mystery hero and he's been on the run as he's made it all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast (pay attention to the signs on the wall of the diner). But he doesn't have any clue who S.H.I.E.L.D. is and why he should be concerned about them. If he's not running from them then who is he running from?


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 1:37
It's Agent Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) the other half of Fitz-Simmons, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. operative who specializes in life sciences. She's examining a cadaver that's been thoroughly burned. Did mystery hero save a woman but leave someone behind in that blast? In an earlier shot, we see Melinda May examining the crater he left when jumping out of the building and now she's joined Fitz-Simmons on the top floor of the building to examining the aftermath. If mystery hero did leave someone behind, why? Plus, how did the fire start? More on that later.


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 1:39
And what does Agent Simmons find on the cadaver? An alien artifact she proclaims. Is it Asgardian, something left over from the Chitauri or something else entirely. Remember the shape of this device as we get another glimpse of it later on.


LOCATION: Unknown
TIMESTAMP: 1:43
Here we get a glimpse of a monitor that Coulson and the Fitz-Simmons duo are currently watching. It looks to be some type of laboratory and it looks like a scientist is getting a stern talking to from someone (maybe a test subject). Does that guy look familiar? He should, that's the guy in Agent Fitz hologram from earlier. My guess is that they found some security cam footage in the wreckage of the burned out laboratory that mystery hero jumped from and are now presenting it to Coulson.


LOCATION: Undisclosed S.H.I.E.L.D. Hangar
TIMESTAMP: 1:50
After seeing Skye get captured by Agent Grant and Coulson she's taken aboard their mobile base of operations. They've also commandeered her tricked out tech van, which appears to be the base of operations for The Rising Tide. Will we be seeing more of this van in future episodes?


LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 1:58
What's the device in the briefcase that Agent Coulson is showing Agent Grant? Is it related to the case their working on or is it more personal to Agent Coulson?


LOCATION: Unknown
TIMESTAMP: 2:07
Agent Coulson is speaking with J. August Richards, meaning that S.H.I.E.L.D. eventually catches him at some point. Coulson is telling him to stop running and take action as a real hero.


LOCATION: Unknown
TIMESTAMP: 2:14
Remember that mystery device that Agent Simmons recovered from the wreckage of the burned out lab, the one that's of alien origin? It looks like J. August Richard's mystery hero has a similar device implanted in his forearm. Is that the source of his powers? Is it unstable technology, is that what caused the explosion?


LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 2:15
We're back at the scene where Agent Fitz is showing his holographic image to Agent Coulson and Agent Grant. Coulson has walked through the hologram and has apparently spotted a clue. The explosion definitely supports the theory that we're looking at a holographic projection of the lab that mystery hero jumped out of, moments before it exploded. Were the scientist and test subject shown in the security cam footage also there? Did his alien power source malfunction and explode when he "Raged" out?


LOCATION: New York (probable)
TIMESTAMP: 2:18
We're shown an earlier scene again, where mystery hero has decided to run away after jumping out the window. He does so very, very fast. Add super speed to the list of powers he possesses.


LOCATION: Paris, France
TIMESTAMP: 2:25
Here we see Agent Grant in Paris, France and if the next few shots are in sequence, it appears Grant ran into some opposition on his investigation and one of his assailants escapes by helicopter.


LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 2:35
Some fun speculation here, we see Agent Coulson exiting Lola and an air traffic controller guy approaches the car. Why is an airplane technician approaching Coulson's car? Is it one of the fabled flying cars from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s comic book history? Did Agent Coulson board the cargo plane while it was already in the air? We'll have to wait for more footage to be sure but that would certainly be cool.

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Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films, as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Together they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. Coulson's team consists of Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), highly trained in combat and espionage; Agent Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), expert pilot and martial artist; Agent Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), brilliant engineer; and Agent Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), genius bio-chemist. Joining them on their journey into mystery is new recruit and computer hacker, Skye (Chloe Bennet).

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s first television series, is from executive producers Joss Whedon (Marvel's The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, who co-wrote the pilot (Dollhouse, Dr.Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). Jeffrey Bell (Angel, Alias) and Jeph Loeb (Smallville, Lost, Heroes) also serve as executive producers. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.
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camlabar
camlabar - 5/19/2013, 3:12 PM
First!
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 5/19/2013, 3:12 PM
I think someone is trying to weaponize super powers based on some alien tech they found and Coulson and co. will be trying to figure out who it is. We probably won't figure out the identity of the mystery organization until much later in the season.
camlabar
camlabar - 5/19/2013, 3:13 PM
dang nevermind :(
WorstUserNameEver
WorstUserNameEver - 5/19/2013, 3:15 PM
Nice
CoughCough
CoughCough - 5/19/2013, 3:23 PM
Kingpin must have been selling those techs.
superherofan21
superherofan21 - 5/19/2013, 3:24 PM
Maybe J. August Richards is a version of an Inhuman? That would explain the alien tech on his arm. Maybe his character was experimented on by the Chitauri during the invasion in Avengers. It's certainly possible.
Varanus
Varanus - 5/19/2013, 3:27 PM
I wonder if A.I.M will be showing up in this show since they introduced them in IM3.
rocky
rocky - 5/19/2013, 3:39 PM
I think Lola is a flying car but we won't see it in action til it becomes a matter of life or death

Could this guy be a new adaptation of Gauntlet from Avengers Initiative?
rocky
rocky - 5/19/2013, 3:40 PM
^^talking about our mystery hero of course
kemuael
kemuael - 5/19/2013, 4:02 PM
More on that later.....

thats all am hearing
KeithM
KeithM - 5/19/2013, 4:12 PM
@superherofan21: The Inhumans get their powers from the Terrigen Mist. Chitauri is most likely, because it's already been introduced... but of course, once the floodgates have opened it could be anyone.

@MarkJulian: Maybe it's Mandarin and the Ten Rings?

Too soon? :D
KeithM
KeithM - 5/19/2013, 4:13 PM
The orange on the 'alien device' makes it look different to the blue on the chitauri devices. That points elsewhere imo.
KeithM
KeithM - 5/19/2013, 4:14 PM
Great breakdown and analysis btw Mark. Proper nerdish. That's a compliment. ;)
jessepostal
jessepostal - 5/19/2013, 4:34 PM
What makes the sign in the restaurant show that hes on the west coast??
TheShroud
TheShroud - 5/19/2013, 4:57 PM
I read on another site that when J August runs speedily away there is a street sign in the BG that indicates the location is LA. so he in already on the West Coast...
inkslinger616
inkslinger616 - 5/19/2013, 5:30 PM
@rocky...the gauntlet theory seems pretty solid after seeing the alien tech on his arm....good idea
MCMLXXXII
MCMLXXXII - 5/19/2013, 5:38 PM
@KeithM the orange on the "alien device" seems similar to the orange from the Asgardian Destroyer and the big gun coulson used on Loki in The Avengers..
MCMLXXXII
MCMLXXXII - 5/19/2013, 5:38 PM
oh and great breakdown Mark Julian..
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 5/19/2013, 5:40 PM
Gonna be the best comic book show in a while. Smallville sucked, Arrow got boring. There's no superhero cartoons worth watching anymore. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D will be amazing. Hopefully Marvel gets working on Hulk, Punisher, Mockingbird and should restart all their cartoons to Marvel Anime. Marvel Anime is amazing and would totally work.
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 5/19/2013, 5:46 PM
Thanks guys.

As far as the West Coast signs go, there are more than just that one sign that indicate they're on the West Coast.
RaMan
RaMan - 5/19/2013, 5:53 PM
Seeing Stark Tower is sweet!

Now I also hope they can sneak in this tower:

TerminalVoyd
TerminalVoyd - 5/19/2013, 6:03 PM
"There has to be more to her goal however as toy merchandise for Black Widow and Hawkeye would seem to indicate that the larger world is aware of the organization's existence. And why no last name for Skye? Would her last name give away some famous parentage?"

Or that Hawkeye and Black Widow are assigned to The Avengers, operating as proper superheroes when they are called upon to do so and those actions are unrelated to what they actual do as operatives of SHIELD?

It could be that SHIELD is slowly coming to light, but they're putting a public face out that belies what they're really about and the fact that they've always been in the background and Skye is out to expose them for what they really are.

As for her name, it could be that Skye isn't her given name and just her hacker alias. Peeling away the layers behind her might be one of the subplots on the show.
superotherside
superotherside - 5/19/2013, 7:45 PM
Fantastic article Mark.
GeekyCheekyChic
GeekyCheekyChic - 5/19/2013, 7:59 PM
great stuff here...can't wait for the show.
Optimus83
Optimus83 - 5/19/2013, 8:29 PM


Cool Photos. ...I love Elizabeth Henstridge(Agent Simmons), please MARRIED ME, she is the perfect April O'Neil in TMNT Reboot
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 5/19/2013, 8:40 PM
Great article! Well, I think it's safe to say J. August Richards isn't Patriot.

I can't wait for this show! It has so much potential!!!

@Optimus I agree! I would much rather have her playing April O'Neil than Megan Fox.
SCURVYDOG619
SCURVYDOG619 - 5/19/2013, 9:12 PM
Now WHO would weaponize superheroes?

Let's see...

HYDRA

Department H

AIM

Professor Power

Skrulls

Kree

That's off the top of my head.....

You know what? Henry Peter Gyrich would have been a GREAT character for this series,in the role of government pain-in-the-ass,which WOULD be comic-book accurate....
BobbyDrake85
BobbyDrake85 - 5/19/2013, 9:47 PM
what if J. August Richards is actually Machine Man just throwing that out there,that would be a kool way into introducing androids LMDS and other robots in the MCU
DemonBowler
DemonBowler - 5/19/2013, 11:49 PM
What if j. August Richards is Wendell Vaughn/ quasar. The alien tech on his arm is one of his quantum bands. Quasar has super speed in the comics and so does J August Richards. Wendell is also a well known shield agent.
Riddlemethis82
Riddlemethis82 - 5/20/2013, 1:40 AM
@jimoakley666

there is also a paris in texas
Riddlemethis82
Riddlemethis82 - 5/20/2013, 1:44 AM
And its not americans that say it . it film and tv . it happens in all media g
Riddlemethis82
Riddlemethis82 - 5/20/2013, 1:46 AM
And it would and has come up in films as london , england . not britain
Paulley
Paulley - 5/20/2013, 3:00 AM
Skye isnt revealing the presents of S.H.I.E.L.D. she is exposing what they are covering up

SHIELD has giant logos on all their vehicles and everything they are involved in so they are not exactly a hidden group. They do seem to have a heavy focus on covering up superpeople/heroes.. they have been covering up Hulk incidents for years, they took away Fosters research to cover up Thor and they attempted to cover up Iron Man but he wouldnt let them.

In the long run it does make alot of sense, especially if Marvel does more period superhero pieces (60s Ant-Man, 70's Luke Cage/Iron Fist etc), as the reason these supers dont become public knowledge is because of SHIELD.
TheShroud
TheShroud - 5/20/2013, 5:28 AM
@DemonBowler, that is an interesting and appealing idea... and would connect to ALL KINDS of things in the Marvel Universe. I like it.
LeoAtrox
LeoAtrox - 5/20/2013, 7:08 AM
LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. Cargo Plane Mobile HQ
TIMESTAMP: 2:35

That's not an "air traffic controller guy." That's the loadmaster. His job is to secure the payload so that it doesn't move around during flight.
flames809
flames809 - 5/20/2013, 8:07 AM
nice article but show still looks bad well to me and looks its being targeted at kids.
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