Agents of SHIELD First Time Viewing

[JirinPanthosa]

When SHIELD started I kinda watched the first two episodes, wasn't impressed and stopped. But I decided to give it another chance a couple weeks ago and I'm hooked. Seeing as how the current SHIELD thread is a final season thread I can't go there, so I thought I'd make a spoiler free review thread for it.

I'm toward the end of the first season, just watched episode 20, ending with Coulson and Skye escaping Deathloc and Ward and Coulson finding out he developed HAITI and recommended it be shut down, then had his memories erased because HE recommended it.

My biggest question so far is, was Grant Ward's betrayal planned from the beginning? Nothing quite contradicts it, but there's also nothing you look back on and say "Oh, that makes sense now." He seemed like a proper main character. It feels a lot like they wrote him out midway and came up with the betrayal on the fly.

The clairvoyant plotline has been really interesting, the whole Wizard of Oz thing where he uses he clearance to gain intel then waves his magic want and pretends to be telepathic was done really well. And the relationship between Coulson and Skye.

That flying car escape was awesome.

 

[JD]

I'm toward the end of the first season, just watched episode 20, ending with Coulson and Skye escaping Deathloc and Ward and Coulson finding out he developed HAITI and recommended it be shut down, then had his memories erased because HE recommended it.

My biggest question so far is, was Grant Ward's betrayal planned from the beginning? Nothing quite contradicts it, but there's also nothing you look back on and say "Oh, that makes sense now." He seemed like a proper main character.

It feels a lot like they wrote him out midway and came up with the betrayal on the fly.​

I believe his betrayal was planned from the beginning, I think I read that they went into the series knowing about Hydra, and basically just had to kill time in the first part of the season until Winter Soldier came out and they were able to get to the real story of the series.
I love AOS, it started a little rough, but once we got the Hydra reveal, it just kept getting better and better.
And I hope it's not a spoiler to say that Ward is not going anywhere for several seasons.

And the relationship between Coulson and Skye.

Yeah, their relationship is a highlight of the whole series.​

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The biggest thing that doesn’t track if he was a traitor is that his Asgardian staff flashback had nothing to do with it.

Ep 21

Kind of funny how they didn’t age down Garrett at all, and for Ward hires a younger actor for just the 15 years ago part then didn’t age him down for the 10 years ago part.

I have no knowledge of the movie timeline as I’m watching this, so won’t catch that kind of thing.

I’m guessing two main characters don’t die here so wondering how they find the scientists before they suffocate.

It was probably super obvious to viewers Nick Fury wasn’t dead but he was there at Stark’s funeral so he is definitely not. Wondering how and when this is revealed.

Is Trip the Ward replacement? He has no development yet.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Love the Wheadony way they confirmed Garrett is actually dead. He was not interesting. When Samuel L Jackson is around there is an acting gradient that’s hard to ignore. “I won’t be around for a while” seems contracty.

Also like those plot bombs, Skye’s dad is alive and a monster who destroyed their village.

So Trip IS the ‘suspiciously similar’ Ward replacement and is now a main character?

Has that actor ever had a major role besides Charles Gunn and Mike Peterson?

 

[Reverend]

My biggest question so far is, was Grant Ward's betrayal planned from the beginning? Nothing quite contradicts it, but there's also nothing you look back on and say "Oh, that makes sense now." He seemed like a proper main character. It feels a lot like they wrote him out midway and came up with the betrayal on the fly.

It was indeed planned from the get-go since they started planning the season arc, they knew Winter Soldier was already in the pipeline (movies have a much longer lead time than TV shows.)
There are clues if one pays attention on second viewing; script and story only though; AFAIK the actor wasn't told about it until that script arrived.

IIRC the first two seasons were plotted out in advance before they even shot the pilot, so all three of the major mystery arcs introduced this season do have definite answers and they're not just making it up on the fly.

The biggest thing that doesn’t track if he was a traitor is that his Asgardian staff flashback had nothing to do with it.

The staff brings out one's greatest source of rage. There's no reason that his being Hydra would be that source. The incident at the well on the other hand, was very formative, and there'll be further explanation of that later.

It was probably super obvious to viewers Nick Fury wasn’t dead but he was there at Stark’s funeral so he is definitely not. Wondering how and when this is revealed.

It depends on whether or not they'd seen Winter Soldier yet, since that movie premiered the same week as 'Turn, Turn, Turn'. In the US at least. For the rest of the world it wasn't so well coordinated.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Are there any Marvel movies the show assumes I've watched in the story? I've seen a bunch of them but not all of them, like I only saw Winter Soldier in the background at a party.

How is Patton Oswalt alive, didn't Ward murder him?

 

[Ovation]

Are there any Marvel movies the show assumes I've watched in the story? I've seen a bunch of them but not all of them, like I only saw Winter Soldier in the background at a party.

How is Patton Oswalt alive, didn't Ward murder him?

You should watch Winter Soldier (my favourite MCU movie by a country mile).

Oswalt’s presence will make sense as the series progresses.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

(Season 2 ep 2)
I like this villain who can turn his body into anything he touches. This thing about Fitz hallucinating Simmons I don't like. It doesn't make sense (At least yet) that Simmons left in the first place, but add to that Shield allows a known unstable person to operate freely, it just doesn't make sense. Why not rehabilitate him until he's clearly stable before relying on him for something important?

 

[Turtletrekker]

Just a few quick notes and I'll be back later with more detailed thoughts. As I said at the top of the final season thread, the show has been my favorite show pretty much since the beginning.

The crossover with Avengers Age of Ultron is pretty obvious and you'll know it when you see it, although it is not necessary for you to watch the movie. The only connection on the movie side is when Nick Fury makes an indirect mention of "some old friends". Connections to the movies after this are more thematic than direct.

Yes, the Ward / Hydra twist was planned out from the very beginning. In fact, 'The Traitor" was the first character they developed after getting the green light for the pilot, and there are hints as to it throughout the season that are subtle enough that you only notice them upon a re-watch.

Both Daisy's dad and Carl Creel are from the comics. Cal is Mr. Hyde and Creel is The Absorbing Man.

Patton Oswalt is likely to become one of your favorite recurring actors. The mystery of the multiple Koenigs will become clear.

 

[Reverend]

Are there any Marvel movies the show assumes I've watched in the story? I've seen a bunch of them but not all of them, like I only saw Winter Soldier in the background at a party.

It assumes you've seen at least 'Avengers' from the outset because: Coulson.
Events of 'Thor 2' and of course 'Winter Soldier' happen during the course of season 1, though technically you don't need to see them to grasp what's going on (though Winter Soldier certainly helps.) References to further movies happen as and when they were released in relation to the show's airing, though going forward that happens less and less as the show becomes it's own animal. I think the last real point of intersection is with 'Age of Ultron' towards the end of season 2 (don't worry, it'll be blatantly obvious where that movie is supposed to slot in.)

How is Patton Oswalt alive, didn't Ward murder him?

You're thinking of Eric. This is Billy; he's the tall one.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Definitely watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier sooner rather than later. It's the film that most directly ties in with and lastingly impacts the series, as the "HYDRA infiltration of SHIELD" element comes from the film. The big reveal to that effect in AoS immediately followed the release of the film.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I've seen all the Avengers movies and only a handful of the other ones.

Season 2 Ep 3:

This is a really good episode. Simmons being undercover as a Hydra agent who has gained their trust but possibly has a compliance trigger. Skye having her heart rate in check for the action but not for a conversation with Ward.

The whole thing about "Freedom and individuality is a weakness we must eradicate to reach our true potential" is cliche as hell but done really well in this case.

 

[Turtletrekker]

It assumes you've seen at least 'Avengers' from the outset because: Coulson.
Events of 'Thor 2' and of course 'Winter Soldier' happen during the course of season 1, though technically you don't need to see them to grasp what's going on (though Winter Soldier certainly helps.) References to further movies happen as and when they were released in relation to the show's airing, though going forward that happens less and less as the show becomes it's own animal. I think the last real point of intersection is with 'Age of Ultron' towards the end of season 2

Actually, I would say the last intersection point is Captain America Civil War. Several events of the movie are directly mentioned and the movie introduces the Sokovia Accords, which also has an effect on the show.

 

[tomalak301]

I'm not going to spoil anything so @JirinPanthosa can enjoy this series, but I too am watching AOS for the first time and I'm 9 episodes into season 5. I really wish I had watched this series sooner because it is a great series, with each season offering something new and fresh. I'm actually trying to make it to Season 7 episode 6 by the 21st because I've been recording Season 7, but I lose Youtube TV on the 21st of July, which means losing the recordings. I am recording the series to the end though on my new service.

@JirinPanthosa

Hope you are greatly enjoying the series so far. I think if there is one thing that stands out it's I really love this cast, especially Fitz and Simmons.

 

[Turtletrekker]

*very minor spoilers follow concerning the placement of the movies in the show's timeline.*

Beyond Civil War, there are a few acknowledgments of the movies, but they're mostly just offhand references. There's a reference to the incident at Pym Technologies from Ant-Man in early season 3 in relation to Fitz' quest. In season 5, there's a reference to Asgardians in New York, which is a reference to Thor Ragnarok, as well as references to Infinity War.

Season 4 was very heavily influenced by Doctor Strange, but there are no direct connections except for certain characters recreating and/or utilizing teleportation spells similar to the sling ring teleportation technology/spell seen in Doctor Strange.

Season 3 has two recurring movie characters. Powers Boothe reprising his Avengers role as World Security Council member Gideon Malick, and William Sadler in his Iron Man 3 role of President Matthew Ellis.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I agree about the strength of the cast.

When you're watching the show it's easy to forget that way stronger powers exist in this universe than the ones we've seen either side use so far.

It reminds me of Buffy a little bit in that it's doing cliche stuff really well with likable characters and a self awareness of genre. And the biggest badasses are women.

 

[Reverend]

Actually, I would say the last intersection point is Captain America Civil War. Several events of the movie are directly mentioned and the movie introduces the Sokovia Accords, which also has an effect on the show.

I guess it depends on how one defines "intersection". My thinking was that it's where the ongoing plots organically cross. The Sokovia Accords and mentions of the movie's events were just kinda dropped in after the fact as a "oh BTW, this is a thing that happened", whereas the WS & AoU tie-ins actually had direct lead-ins *before* the movies' events.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Season 2 Ep 5

This raises the level of intrigue with Coulson's power play on Rena. I wonder if that picture of young Kyle McLaughlin took something from Twin Peaks and photoshopped a baby in. And Skye is probably at least part alien.

Unfortunately my knowledge of the Orville cast is kind of a spoiler for the duration of Bobby's stay on the show. I knew I recognized her from somewhere but with the hair color change couldn't quite place it.

Kind of funny she also has a complicated past relationship with another character.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Unfortunately my knowledge of the Orville cast is kind of a spoiler for the duration of Bobby's stay on the show. I knew I recognized her from somewhere but with the hair color change couldn't quite place it.

Kind of funny she also has a complicated past relationship with another character.

Spoiler: Minor spoilers regarding Hunter and Bobbi. I have your DNA

The original plan was to write Bobbi and Hunter out in order to give them their own spin-off, Marvel's Most Wanted, but ABC didn't pick up the pilot.

Yes, that's right. ABC picked up Inhumans, but not Marvel's Most Wanted. What a world.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Oh! Hopefully I'll remember to remind you later down the line, but there is a web series that takes place in between seasons 3 and 4, but you shouldn't watch it until around episode 4.08.