Agents of SHIELD. Season 1 Discussion Thread

[Corran Horn]

If that's the real Ward and he headshot those two guys (yeah, Hand too) I don't think there's a way back from that.

It's like Huntress on Arrow. One episode she killed like 6 cops.

Hard to be chummy Birds-Of-Prey style after that, even after time goes by.

 

[Christopher]

It is the real Ward. The producers have made it quite clear in several interviews that they've been seeding clues to his true allegiances all along.

There is, of course, the possibility that he's been brainwashed or mind-controlled, but I think that would be too simplistic a direction to go. And pointless too -- if he's been under mind control since the day we met him, then we've never met the "true" Ward so it wouldn't be getting back the guy we knew. It's preferable, I think, if he really was a sleeper agent all along, a loyal HYDRA man, but has developed attachments to the team that will give him doubts about his true loyalties and his future actions. Mind control is a storytelling cheat; it's more interesting and meaningful if characters make choices for their own authentic reasons.

 

[Reverend]

It is the real Ward. The producers have made it quite clear in several interviews that they've been seeding clues to his true allegiances all along.

There is, of course, the possibility that he's been brainwashed or mind-controlled, but I think that would be too simplistic a direction to go. And pointless too -- if he's been under mind control since the day we met him, then we've never met the "true" Ward so it wouldn't be getting back the guy we knew. It's preferable, I think, if he really was a sleeper agent all along, a loyal HYDRA man, but has developed attachments to the team that will give him doubts about his true loyalties and his future actions. Mind control is a storytelling cheat; it's more interesting and meaningful if characters make choices for their own authentic reasons.

Agreed. It's way more interesting for his betrayal to be genuine.

Have to say though I'm confused as to why people are having such a hard time accepting that a person we've known all along was a trained killer, adept at infiltration, subterfuge and working solo undercover...is a lying two-faced murderer who fooled everyone around him. Logic error?

 

[auntiehill]

Finally, Ward becomes interesting. He was by far the least likable or interesting but now he's the secret baddie (well, not so secret now that he's shot those agents).

I was not so thrilled with this show---it was hubby's idea to watch. But, after these last couple of episodes, I'm kinda digging it.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Minor thing: Did anybody else notice they evidently changed the color of May's non-lethal ICEr rounds that impacted on the glass that Fitz was hiding behind from clear to blue, so that it looks more like snow-cone splatters and less like glass shards? I'm still somewhat confused by the delivery of that, though, because from what Fitz said, getting shot in the head might have been harmful.

 

[Reverend]

Minor thing: Did anybody else notice they evidently changed the color of May's non-lethal ICEr rounds that impacted on the glass that Fitz was hiding behind from clear to blue, so that it looks more like snow-cone splatters and less like glass shards? I'm still somewhat confused by the delivery of that, though, because from what Fitz said, getting shot in the head might have been harmful.

As she said in the episode, she thought Fitz was the mole because (from her POV) why else would he be snooping around the comm system, tampering with her well hidden, totally secret encrypted line to the Director?

I actually brought up after the last episode that whatever was going on with May, she clearly intended to take Fitz out and wasn't interested in being subtle or gentle. I was told I was "over thinking it."

To be fair though, the idea that she thought he was the threat didn't occur to me at the time.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Minor thing: Did anybody else notice they evidently changed the color of May's non-lethal ICEr rounds that impacted on the glass that Fitz was hiding behind from clear to blue, so that it looks more like snow-cone splatters and less like glass shards? I'm still somewhat confused by the delivery of that, though, because from what Fitz said, getting shot in the head might have been harmful.

As she said in the episode, she thought Fitz was the mole because (from her POV) why else would he be snooping around the comm system, tampering with her well hidden, totally secret encrypted line to the Director?

I actually brought up after the last episode that whatever was going on with May, she clearly intended to take Fitz out and wasn't interested in being subtle or gentle. I was told I was "over thinking it."

To be fair though, the idea that she thought he was the threat didn't occur to me at the time.

Yeah, my point is that, even with the apparent change in color of the splatter/glass fragments between episode shoots, Fitz's dialog still keeps the question of whether those were ICEr rounds or not up in the air (even though I think they probably were, probably getting shot in the head isn't great for you anyway, and I think that they changed the color to make it clearer that they were rounds splattering on the glass instead of breaking it*).

* - Also, another possibility, maybe in-universe the idea is that the ICEr rounds change color via a chemical reaction when they are exposed to air.

 

[Kirby]

Minor thing: Did anybody else notice they evidently changed the color of May's non-lethal ICEr rounds that impacted on the glass that Fitz was hiding behind from clear to blue, so that it looks more like snow-cone splatters and less like glass shards? I'm still somewhat confused by the delivery of that, though, because from what Fitz said, getting shot in the head might have been harmful.

I wonder if they noticed the original clear splatters looked like real bullets had actually impacted the glass, and then they changed it to blue so they would look like ICEr rounds. Or maybe that was to make us think she was firing actual bullets at him until Coulson showed up. Or hell, maybe ICEr rounds turn blue as they sit out in the air for a while.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

^ Right. Full disclosure: I'm not watching the show on a big-screen TV, so sometimes the detail is hard to make out.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Does it matter if the splatter was chartreuse or magenta?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Does it matter if the splatter was chartreuse or magenta?

Two points. One, they appeared to change the color between episodes. Two, the color it was the first time made it hard to tell, by color, exactly what we were looking at. Making it a different color from the glass makes the distinction easier.

 

[Reverend]

^Honestly, I didn't notice a change. I'm pretty sure it was blue the first time.

 

[Turtletrekker]

The latest "Art of Level 7" print, this one from Paolo Rivera...

http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/04/10/shield-art-exclusive-week-two/

I really like this one.

 

[Enterprise1701]

Y'know if the producers have planned Ward's true evil allegiance from the beginning, does that mean that he's going to be killed off by the protagonists in the season finale or is he going to be the regular antagonist in Season 2? Cause while Ward isn't my favorite TV character, I don't think he merits getting only 1 planned season.

 

[Christopher]

Well, characters in Whedon shows aren't exactly guaranteed to live long and prosper, so it's certainly possible that Ward (or someone else) could be not long for this world. But they may have long-term plans for him. We'll find out as the rest of the season unfolds. Fortunately there are no more reruns between now and the finale.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

No character merits getting more screentime than the story demands. However, I will point out that there are five episodes left so anything's possible.

I'm kind of hoping for the other characters to never actually find out what he did and think he infiltrated HYDRA. Then we can have that tension next season where they think he's good and only the audience knows differently.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I'd think that they're planning to use Ward as our window into Garrett's faction, now that their true nature has been revealed.

 

[bbjeg]

As she said in the episode, she thought Fitz was the mole because (from her POV) why else would he be snooping around the comm system, tampering with her well hidden, totally secret encrypted line to the Director?

I actually brought up after the last episode that whatever was going on with May, she clearly intended to take Fitz out and wasn't interested in being subtle or gentle. I was told I was "over thinking it."

To be fair though, the idea that she thought he was the threat didn't occur to me at the time.

Hey, I said that awhile ago and in response to your statement.

...
Still, the logical problem on just what May thought was going to happen next had the glass not been in the way stands, but I suppose that's academic now.

Maybe May thinks Fitz is the bad guy. Her and Coulson are generally on the same wave length. While he was putting it all together, she may have been doing the same. She tries to report to Fury (considering she's on the good side) and Fitz cuts her connection? Her endgame would probably be interrogation. From her point of view, Fitz had no reason to fiddle with those wires in the first place.

^

 

[Marc]

Well, characters in Whedon shows aren't exactly guaranteed to live long and prosper, so it's certainly possible that Ward (or someone else) could be not long for this world. But they may have long-term plans for him. We'll find out as the rest of the season unfolds. Fortunately there are no more reruns between now and the finale.

There was speculation upthread about Agent Triplett joining Coulson's team. Was that based on anything from the producers etc or just thoughts being aired in here?

Because if Ward is truly a Hyrda operative, then they could slip Triplett in as his replacement (and unless he's also Hydra would probably have a desire for revenge on Garrett)

 

[bbjeg]

Well, characters in Whedon shows aren't exactly guaranteed to live long and prosper, so it's certainly possible that Ward (or someone else) could be not long for this world. But they may have long-term plans for him. We'll find out as the rest of the season unfolds. Fortunately there are no more reruns between now and the finale.

There was speculation upthread about Agent Triplett joining Coulson's team. Was that based on anything from the producers etc or just thoughts being aired in here?

Because if Ward is truly a Hyrda operative, then they could slip Triplett in as his replacement (and unless he's also Hydra would probably have a desire for revenge on Garrett)

It borders speculation. The website says something, followed by a picture that makes you draw a conclusion about that statement, but it has spoilers for AoS and CA:TWS.

Spoiler: AoS and CA:TWS.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/04/06/captain-america-agents-of-shield-tv-series/7313369/?linkId=7899022

Spoiler: picture in question.

While searching this threads for the link, which was in the CA:TWS thread (though mentioned in this thread) I came across this:

Personally, I want Hand to be the bad guy (well, gal), what could the team do against her?

Ward could just shoot her...

Though kitik was joking, he was darn close.