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

[Mr. Adventure]

Was it just me or did the Skye fight seem a bit undercranked like a Steven Seagal fight scene?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

As for Theta Protocol, I'm confused. Coulson mentioned it to May when they were in Puerto Rico, but now she acts like she knows nothing about it. Continuity error?

Coulson told Sam Koenig (In Ep. 2x10 - What They Become), but not May.

"I want you and Billy to immediately return to H.Q. If things go radically south here, I'll need you to implement the Theta Protocol."

"Sir."

"That's an order, Agent Koenig."

 

[gblews]

By the way, Joss Whedon has always been a fan of long, uncut master takes, though they're usually dialogue scenes, like the opening scene of Angel's season 5 premiere and the main-titles sequence of Serenity (which has one disguised cut for technical reasons but is otherwise continuous). But there were also a couple of Summer Glau fight scenes in Serenity that were done with unbroken takes. And of course there was that lengthy "single-shot" sequence during the climax of The Avengers where the camera and the action moved smoothly from one hero to the next to the next, though that wasn't really the same thing at all, since it was mostly CGI and stitched together from numerous unrelated bits of live action.

So it's kind of ironic to see Marvel's most impressive uncut fight scenes coming in shows that Joss Whedon isn't directing.

Clark Gregg tweeted that she did the entire fight sequence in one take. That statement implies, but doesn't confirm, that no stunt double was used. Regardless, both Chloe and her character have come a long way.

 

[Reverend]

By the way, Joss Whedon has always been a fan of long, uncut master takes, though they're usually dialogue scenes, like the opening scene of Angel's season 5 premiere and the main-titles sequence of Serenity (which has one disguised cut for technical reasons but is otherwise continuous). But there were also a couple of Summer Glau fight scenes in Serenity that were done with unbroken takes. And of course there was that lengthy "single-shot" sequence during the climax of The Avengers where the camera and the action moved smoothly from one hero to the next to the next, though that wasn't really the same thing at all, since it was mostly CGI and stitched together from numerous unrelated bits of live action.

So it's kind of ironic to see Marvel's most impressive uncut fight scenes coming in shows that Joss Whedon isn't directing.

Clark Gregg tweeted that she did the entire fight sequence in one take. That statement implies, but doesn't confirm, that no stunt double was used. Regardless, both Chloe and her character have come a long way.

It was definitely not a stunt double. All one shot and you clearly saw her face several times. Probably why it seemed a little on the slow side; Bennet did very well, but she's by no means an experienced stunt performer so they probably had to be a little more careful with the choreography.
I suppose they could have artificially sped it up, dropped some frames for the strikes but that is very tricky to do without making it look artificial. Understandable if they wanted to preserve what they captured in-camera.

Not to detract from her part in it, but it's worth remembering that it's the person getting hit that really has to sell the punch, so the other stunt performers also did a very good job keeping all of that coordinated.

 

[Immolatus]

Wow Skye is now Mrs John Wick

 

[bbjeg]

So, why didn't we see one of the Koenigs during Coulson's exile? Is it possible that Coulson hid them because he wasn't sure how Gonzales would act around Fury's cloned personal agents?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Patton has been on Veep a lot lately. 3 or 4 episodes? But he's heading towards a dismissal because of sexual harassment. He Keeps cupping other dudes balls. So maybe he'll be free soon?

 

[bbjeg]

Um, what?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Um, what?

(Just kidding, Guy was actually perfectly understandable this time, you just have to have the context of knowing about the show he's referring to).

Patton Oswalt (the Koenigs) has been guest starring on the HBO show Veep recently. His character has a tendency to sexually harass male underlings by getting a little touchy feely with the ballsack, so the character is liable to be fired from his fictional job soon, in which case Oswalt might be free to return to Agents of SHIELD.

That being said, his role is very small and I'm not even sure of Veep and SHIELD film at the same time, so that may have nothing to do with why he's not on the show recently.

 

[Guy Gardener]

(Ninjaed by Locutus.)

Patton Oswalt is the actor who plays the Koenigs.

Veep is a hilarious sitcom were Julia Louis-Drefuss is the Vice President.

Patton Oswalt has been on the last couple episodes of Veep.

Patton's character is about to be fired from the White House maybe.

Patton was not free to be on Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. because he was on Veep, but now is free to be on Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. as soon as he is not on Veep any more. Although maybe his character is not going to be shit canned and maybe these episodes of Veep were filmed 8 months ago.

(Not safe for work)

This is Veep.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gB_X2qgo5c[/yt]

 

[Turtletrekker]

Koenig is prepping "Theta Protocol".

 

[Llama]

The Koenigs are prepping "Theta Protocol".

 

[RJDiogenes]

Man, nesting quotes is still a challenge around here.

As for Theta Protocol, I'm confused. Coulson mentioned it to May when they were in Puerto Rico, but now she acts like she knows nothing about it. Continuity error? And at the end when Coulson was talking to Maria Hill, it almost sounded like the Avengers are Theta Protocol.

My money is still on the helicarrier (100 bunk beds, remember?), but we'll see next week one way or the other. As for May, she didn't have to know what Theta Protocol was, just go to the toolbox and say "initial Theta Protocol". Which she would have done without question because she trusted Coulson.

Ah, you think they are replacing the Bus with a helicarrier? I could go for that.

It seems that May was most upset about him seeing her ex, and she has no justification for that. I knew Coulson would have a good reason for seeing him, but I was surprised that he was seeing him professionally. It was a nice touch.

I understand not telling her initially, but in hindsight Coulson should probably have mentioned it after bringing him back in to talk to Skye.

When they finally have their little talk, it would be hilarious if Coulson says to her, "Haven't you ever heard of HIPAA regulations?"

As for Theta Protocol, I'm confused. Coulson mentioned it to May when they were in Puerto Rico, but now she acts like she knows nothing about it. Continuity error?

Coulson told Sam Koenig (In Ep. 2x10 - What They Become), but not May.

Maybe I'm misremembering, or maybe I just read it somewhere, but I thought he said it to May just before descending into the catacombs in Puerto Rico.

 

[Karzak]

Man, nesting quotes is still a challenge around here.

As for Theta Protocol, I'm confused. Coulson mentioned it to May when they were in Puerto Rico, but now she acts like she knows nothing about it. Continuity error? And at the end when Coulson was talking to Maria Hill, it almost sounded like the Avengers are Theta Protocol.

My money is still on the helicarrier (100 bunk beds, remember?), but we'll see next week one way or the other. As for May, she didn't have to know what Theta Protocol was, just go to the toolbox and say "initial Theta Protocol". Which she would have done without question because she trusted Coulson.

Ah, you think they are replacing the Bus with a helicarrier? I could go for that.

Spoiler: Avengers - Age of Ultron

Having seen Age of Ultron tonight, I could see that being a distinct possibility.

 

[Mr Light]

Gasp! Every Koenig is an Ultron drone! Is Patton Oswalt in the movie?

 

[Forbin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hReYNlIoIWE
Whew!

 

[Christopher]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hReYNlIoIWE
Whew!

I think that pipe in the ceiling started blowing steam a fraction of a second before she shot at it. Otherwise, a pretty flawlessly executed sequence.

 

[Reverend]

I'm assuming all of those muzzle flashes were VFX put in in post. At that range even blanks can be quite lethal.

 

[Forbin]

I agree.

And btw, don't forget praise for the cameraman - he also had to hit every mark on time and keep aiming in the right direction. And not drop the camera.

 

[Reverend]

^ I'm guessing that was done with a steadicam rig, so no danger of dropping something that's harnessed to your torso via a steel armature.
But yes, that was some skilful camera work by the whole team, for sure.