Agents of SHIELD - Season 2 Discussion Threads. (Spoilers Likely)

[Guy Gardener]

1,00,000 years ago, the Celestials were responsible for the trisection of the species into Eternal, Deviant and Homosapien-on-the-road-to-Homosuperior (Mutant). Any changerooing into super powered persons not as the result of a mutant gene activation, is unlikely to have been the result of Celestial involvement.

Meanwhile across the road, in 1988ish all the Aliens in the DCU got together and invaded Earth in hopes of walking away with their own armies of superhuman soldier-slaves with activated "metagenes".

This was a massive(ly successful) DCU wide crossover.

In a special one-shot, some of the more inquisitive aliens decided to test the flexibility/prevalence of the metagene by throwing 50 random human beings into a kill zone letterboxing dozens of exotic energy weapons.

The aliens were gobsmacked that 6 of these 50 test subjects became Superhuman instead of dying.

 

[DEWLine]

Invasion. That was the mini-series that really finished setting the post-1985 DCU's tone and direction for at least a decade, possibly two. Enjoyed the Hell out of it at the time, even allowing for Mantlo's scripting over Giffen's plotting.

Anyway, back on point. You've enumerated a bunch of possible Nightmare Scenarios for Coulson, Gonzalez, Morse et al. to have to cope with here. Brrr.

 

[Reverend]

1,00,000 years ago, the Celestials were responsible for the trisection of the species into Eternal, Deviant and Homosapien-on-the-road-to-Homosuperior (Mutant). Any changerooing into super powered persons not as the result of a mutant gene activation, is unlikely to have been the result of Celestial involvement.

Meanwhile across the road, in 1988ish all the Aliens in the DCU got together and invaded Earth in hopes of walking away with their own armies of superhuman soldier-slaves with activated "metagenes".

This was a massive(ly successful) DCU wide crossover.

In a special one-shot, some of the more inquisitive aliens decided to test the flexibility/prevalence of the metagene by throwing 50 random human beings into a kill zone letterboxing dozens of exotic energy weapons.

The aliens were gobsmacked that 6 of these 50 test subjects became Superhuman instead of dying.

Well for the purposes of the MCU things have would naturally be a bit more streamlined, not least of which because they can't actually use "mutants", at least not directly.

Celestial (or otherwise) tinkering would seem to be the best explanation as to why humans appear to be exceptional in this regard.

The fact that extremis is stated as being a "gap" in the genome, seemingly custom made for further expansion (flying in the face of the rule of evolution though natural selection) seems to indicate something has been deliberately engineered. The fact that its also present in house plants indicated that this tampering occurred *way* before humans even evolved. Possibly as far back as the cambrian explosion, if not right back at the very start of life on Earth. It'd certainly explain Bessie if nothing else.

 

[Guy Gardener]

So you don't believe in Earth-199999 Vampires?

What about the High Evolutionary?

He has ties to Hydra, Spider-Woman as well as the birth of Wanda and Pietro.

Was that ever fleshed out?

Magneto leaving his kids with this dude who has been tying to make superplus Mutants since the 1930s.

Any ties to the Nazi party?

(I'm getting a Sound of Music vibe in my head. Christopher Plumber being reticent, not utterly sure if taking a moral stand is worth losing his castle over.)

 

[Reverend]

So you don't believe in Earth-199999 Vampires?

I'm sure they'll show up at some point (especially if they have the rights to Blade back) I just think they could be another strain of Inhumans, or have their origins in something on the Dr. Strange mystical side of things...or both. The same could easily be applied to the Atlantians, given the inherent similarities in their origin story to that of the Inhumans.

I'm not all that well up on Marvel lore; but is the magic stuff *actual* magic or just more *VERY* advanced cross-dimensional science?

DC can't seem to make it's mind up which side to take, but I rather liked how the Bruce Timm/Paul Dini shows managed to tie the origins of magic into a sub-plot about extra dimensional Lovcraftian horrors and old gods. Bonus points for including Thanagar and Zob Zombie into the mix.

What about the High Evolutionary?

He has ties to Hydra, Spider-Woman as well as the birth of Wanda and Pietro.

Was that ever fleshed out?

Magneto leaving his kids with this dude who has been tying to make superplus Mutants since the 1930s.

Any ties to the Nazi party?

(I'm getting a Sound of Music vibe in my head. Christopher Plumber being reticent, not utterly sure if taking a moral stand is worth losing his castle over.)

I know wikipedia is hardly the best source of info, but it says the High Evolutionary was aided at some point by some exiled Inhuman, so there's a potential connection right there.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I feel that I am compelled to say that taking a moral stand against the NAZI party (in 1935. 1935 Nazis are not the same as 1943 Nazis.) might not be worth losing your castle over, but shacking up with a young Julie Andrews is worth losing 2 castles.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Danny Rand is rich. He didn't need for his clients to pay.

I can't remember - was Rand being rich actually part of the back-story at that point?

He reaquired his father's shares of the company in Claremont and Byrne's run with the character, before he teamed up with Luke Cage.

 

[Mr Light]

I was looking at the movie schedule and wondering what Season Three is going to be about.

This summer is Avengers 2 and Ant-Man. Next summer the only movie is Civil War.

I'm expecting a minor Ultron tie-in and nothing for Ant-Man. Since the Inhumans movie is still many years away, I'm thinking this Inhumans storyline is going to wrap up at the end of S2. I think S3 is going to be all about the Civil War; we're already dealing with two SHIELD factions fighting over how to treat powered people. But I'm thinking S3 is going to connect to the movies more than they ever have before.

 

[Sci]

Hmm. Coulson hasn't be quite honest with his team, apparently.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Yes...The Real SHIELD would have taken a vote before buying bunk beds....

 

[DEWLine]

What was Coulson's answer to Fitz' question about other secrets in "A Hen in the Wolf House"?

 

[Gryffindorian]

I wonder if Emma Swan and Skye were ever in the same foster home at the same time.

 

[Guy Gardener]

What was Coulson's answer to Fitz' question about other secrets in "A Hen in the Wolf House"?

This?

You know, I've spent all my life wondering who he was and why he left.
But after today, I-I just don't care anymore.
All I care about is that we stop him, and I just wanted to let you know that - whatever it takes to do that, I'm in.
- That's good to know.
If we're gonna do this, you have to be completely honest with me from now on no more secrets, no more compartmentalization, and definitely no more hidden cameras.
Whatever's going on, you bring me in no exceptions.
- Okay.
- Okay.
We should probably get started.
[beeps] [whirring] So, this is what you've been doing up here.
- Well, it's what I did yesterday.
- You're kidding.

Full transcript.

http://www.springfieldspringfield.c...?tv-show=agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d&episode=s02e05

 

[Gryffindorian]

I liked that this episode shed some light on what really happened in Bahrain that gave May her nickname, The Cavalry. They had talked about it in a previous episode, but the details were sketchy. There was a hostage situation, as I recall Coulson telling Skye. Now I know why May was told to "let the girl go" and this ties into the current Inhumans storyline.

Off-topic: I'm watching Jimmy Kimmel right now. The Avengers AoU cast is on. I loved the sexy fan art he showed.

 

[Reverend]

Wouldn't it be ironic if after all this it turns out Coulson is really building a new Fridge (or rebuilding the old one) to contain dangerous super-powered individuals and not an Avengers 2.0 boot camp as Other SHIELD suspects?

I mean their whole theory is predicated on the idea that Couson is building some kind of army because of the Kree blood...which really doesn't make a lot of sense.

Another theory: he's been quietly refitting Fury's hellicarrier from Avengers.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Or maybe he is also rebuilding Hells Kitchen?

For S.H.I.E.L.D. to be S.H.I.E.L.D. it needs a powered defence response, a warehouse for shit they don't understand, Hellicarriers, an army numbering into the hundreds of thousands, an administrative head quarters, and schools to train their operatives and specialists.

If the Real S.H.I.E.L.D. is not doing the same thing, then they are a pack of losers who are in no shape to defend the world against whatever the #### the next extinction level threat is.

Has anyone told the real S.H.I.E.L.D. that Fury is alive?

 

[Reverend]

Or maybe he is also rebuilding Hells Kitchen?

I think they're leaving that to responsible, well meaning citizens like the Triads, Yakuza, the Russian Mafia and crooked Wall Street accountants. Apparently the Italian Mob is being tight with it's public works, or maybe they already sprung for rebuilding Harlem?

For S.H.I.E.L.D. to be S.H.I.E.L.D. it needs a powered defence response, a warehouse for shit they don't understand, Hellicarriers, an army numbering into the hundreds of thousands, an administrative head quarters, and schools to train their operatives and specialists.

If the Real S.H.I.E.L.D. is not doing the same thing, then they are a pack of losers who are in no shape to defend the world against whatever the #### the next extinction level threat is.

It remains a bit of an elephant in the room that they've yet to account for exactly *why* they've all been hiding over by the touch-line, wringing their hands about toolboxes and the differently-abled while Hydra was running around, attacking the UN and poisoning wedding guests.

Has anyone told the real S.H.I.E.L.D. that Fury is alive?

What, and spoil SLJ's dramatic entrance? Perish the thought!


Small aside, but did anyone think it's a little too ironic that Raina ending up being real The Clairvoyant after all? Well a precog really, but close enough.

 

[gblews]

I didn't catch the name of the writer of "Melinda", but kudos. Not only did we get the story of why May is called "The Cavalry", but we also find out why other AoS agents think the nick is "awesome" and why she hates it. AND it is all tied rather neatly into the current Inhuman storyline. I just wonder if this was planned from season 1.

Well done.

I'm also liking the way the way the story is morphing into "everyone against Coulson". Even his most loyal teammates are starting to wonder what he is up to.

 

[Karzak]

I'm still two episodes behind, watching "Afterlife" right now. Jemma driving Fitz away? Totally something a HYDRA sleeper agent would do. I'm telling you guys, she was brainwashed (maybe Bobbi too) back when they were undercover. I get that she got him the actual box, but driing him away does put her in an awfully convenient position to be able to cause trouble on her own without him there to stop her.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I didn't catch the name of the writer of "Melinda", but kudos. Not only did we get the story of why May is called "The Cavalry", but we also find out why other AoS agents think the nick is "awesome" and why she hates it. AND it is all tied rather neatly into the current Inhuman storyline. I just wonder if this was planned from season 1.

Well done.

Yeah, I was impressed at how well the continuity held up with what we'd been told before while still giving us plenty of new information and twists. (Sloppy Heroes flashback continuity, I'm looking at you.)

Also, I like Relationship May...she's very cute. Alas, worlds collided...Professional May walked through the door and killed Relationship May....A May, divided against herself, cannot stand!