Agents of SHIELD. Season 1 Discussion Thread

[LaxScrutiny]

Well, that was an interesting development on the TAHITI front.

And they now officially have me seriously suspicious of Simmons.

I was suspicious when she was so determined to get Skye's blood off the plane and into the SHIELD lab. Every episode has continued to push those buttons. I don't think she's Hydra, but I think her only loyalty is to research and she would work for Hydra if it looked like a good lab.

 

[Guy Gardener]

She was just worried that Skye might turn into a Hulk, while simultaneously gagging to be the next Jonas Salk and cure everything.

 

[Mr Light]

I'm sure Coulson wasn't working at the TAHITI base for every step of the way. He was probably just brought in to evaluate the work that going on periodically.

 

[Eduardo]

I'm just confused about when he had time to head up an ultra top secret project (at an ultra top secret underground location, including what had to have taken weeks if not months or even years of time to experiment with, and then resigned from it) to bring back the Avengers when the Avengers didn't even exist but for a few hours before he died.

The Avengers Initiative was in the works way before the actual group was formed, and the proposal was rejected by the World Council if I remember correctly.

Fury was just making preparations for the time the group was assembled.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Another really cool episode. Loved Fitz freaking out and I liked the way Skye played Ward. I also liked how she said "I'm going to throw up," when he tried to justify himself to her. I just kinda wish the writers hadn't then put her in the position where she had to save his life, because it diluted her revulsion.

Loved seeing Lola in action.

The TAHITI reveal was cool, but now they're going to have to find a way to explain what it is about Coulson that makes him able to remain in a stable condition.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

ABC.com and HULU make you wait a week before letting you watch new episodes unless you pay $8 a month for the "premium" service-- "Hulu Plus".

I did the week "free trial." My only debate is whether to keep it for next week in case I can't catch that one live either.

I liked it. Good job from the whole cast. I like how the "harm someone else" ploy wasn't playing on sympathy but just on not being tormented by killing another person. Did a good job with the whole "nothing personal" thing too.

Maria Hill did a good job really cementing the show's connections to The Winter Soldier. One thing that bothered me is the movie said SHIELD was dead, while the show seemed to say it's not quite dead. Hill was here to say, "no, it's dead." I thought that worked well. She was a good addition tonight. Although I seem to recall a promo pic that had Hill and Coulson hugging, but don't recall that happening in the episode (which is a shame, Coulson could use a hug). I liked the ending by the pool. It helped center the episode and give everyone a moment to recharge their batteries before going back out again. Finally, good ending. I have to say that my reaction would be "huh" as well.

I'm just confused about when he had time to head up an ultra top secret project (at an ultra top secret underground location, including what had to have taken weeks if not months or even years of time to experiment with, and then resigned from it) to bring back the Avengers when the Avengers didn't even exist but for a few hours before he died.

The Avengers didn't, but the Avengers Initiative did. The plan to bring those superheroes together started when Fury asked Stark to join him. I think it's plausible that he worked on this project between Thor and Avengers.

I'm sure Coulson wasn't working at the TAHITI base for every step of the way. He was probably just brought in to evaluate the work that going on periodically.

I think he was in charge of the program, but I don't think he was there the whole time. He just checked in periodically to see what's up. It would help explain why the guard didn't remember him, but also helps emphasize that the guard was somewhat of an idiot.

 

[Christopher]

Also, nice to see the show mention that today's Hydra are not Nazi's.

Well, it had Ward claim that modern HYDRA has nothing to do with the Nazis, but it came off as pretty feeble and unconvincing, like he was making excuses for belonging to a group with more malevolent roots than he's willing to admit. I'm glad, in fact, that Skye did stress the organization's links to the Nazis, because it's something that needs to be said. (In particular, it's something that should be pointed out to Raina and Mike -- it might help them re-evaluate their loyalties.)

I just kinda wish the writers hadn't then put her in the position where she had to save his life, because it diluted her revulsion.

Not at all. As Mike/Deathlok said, it wasn't about Ward, it was about Skye. It doesn't dilute her revulsion toward Ward, it just reinforces her revulsion toward killing. After all, not wanting to kill is just basic human decency. In the comics, a great many superheroes are defined by their refusal to kill even their most heinous enemies -- a moral stance that the MCU has sadly not bothered to replicate in any of its protagonists, so I found it refreshing to see in Skye.

The TAHITI reveal was cool, but now they're going to have to find a way to explain what it is about Coulson that makes him able to remain in a stable condition.

The recording did suggest that neural rewiring and memory erasure might solve the problem.

I just had a thought -- if Project TAHITI was conceived to revive Avengers fallen in battle, then doesn't that make Coulson an honorary Avenger now?

 

[Corran Horn]

Also, nice to see the show mention that today's Hydra are not Nazi's.

Well, it had Ward claim that modern HYDRA has nothing to do with the Nazis, but it came off as pretty feeble and unconvincing, like he was making excuses for belonging to a group with more malevolent roots than he's willing to admit. I'm glad, in fact, that Skye did stress the organization's links to the Nazis, because it's something that needs to be said.

Absolutely agreed. And his response was basically 'nuh uh!'.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

(In particular, it's something that should be pointed out to Raina and Mike -- it might help them re-evaluate their loyalties.)

Well Raina was already fine with an organization that performs inhumane experiments on people have been known to kill them and has no problem killing its members when ever they stop being of use, fail them too many times, or are just a loose end that needs to be tied up.

So I'm not seeing how HYDRA'a nazis connection is going to be a big deal to her.

And as for Mike Peterson having a bomb in his head and HYRDA willing to kill his son the moment he turns on them kind of is good insurance that he doesn't betray them.

So really I don't think it really changes things.

 

[Forbin]

I just had a thought -- if Project TAHITI was conceived to revive Avengers fallen in battle, then doesn't that make Coulson an honorary Avenger now?

If the internet was originally designed for military communications, does that make you an Army general now?

 

[bbjeg]

Fine episode. Ward is totally irredeemable at this point. He shot at Coulson (and Lola). I did like seeing Skye use her hacking abilities to get away from Ward instead of going against Ward with a gun (like when she went against Quin).

Deathlok is growing on me more and more, Maria Hill was great and I hope we see Talbot again. He'd make a great antagonist.

So they lost the base and the bus in one episode? I have no idea how they are going to bounce back at this point.

I'm sure Coulson wasn't working at the TAHITI base for every step of the way. He was probably just brought in to evaluate the work that going on periodically.

I agree. Similar to how he was sent to Stark and Thor's hammer.

 

[FPAlpha]

Very good episode and some amazing things happened... I actually liked Skye in this one very much . Ressourceful, intelligent, collected and having a plan (actress did a good job there too).

And when i saw the scene of the team at the motel by the pool they felt like that.. a team. Beaten, battered but not broken. They stuck together and came to get back one of their own and it felt good.

The reveal was cool but not that world shattering.. it was in character for Coulson to draw a moral line and rather quit than to condone Project Tahiti. Kind of an unpoetic justice that he be the one to be the first successful subject.

Now i'm wondering if Ward (and maybe Garret) is gonna buy it in the season finale or if they want to keep him as an enemy of the team, could work or could get stale. I don't know.

One thing i wondered though is why Coulson still chose to remain "dead" to everybody else. Shield is gone, Tahiti was an abomination so what's the point in hiding his status?

Maybe it is prudent to keep his almost girlfriend out of the loop for her own protection but Stark is one of the few who can really protect himself (and the team could sure use his ressources which i'm confident he would offer in an instant).

 

[sojourner]

Hope Talbot doesn't turn into the Jack McGee of the show. Always turning up just in time to chase our main characters out of town.

 

[bbjeg]

Coulson's death ultimately united the Avengers. Coupled with Hydra working alongside SHIELD, he may fear the Avengers might disband should his secret of being alive comes out. Though, it would be great if he revealed himself in Avengers:AoU.

 

[cylkoth]

One thing i wondered though is why Coulson still chose to remain "dead" to everybody else. Shield is gone, Tahiti was an abomination so what's the point in hiding his status?

Maybe it is prudent to keep his almost girlfriend out of the loop for her own protection but Stark is one of the few who can really protect himself (and the team could sure use his ressources which i'm confident he would offer in an instant).

Agreed. The pitfall of being in a shared universe, where the movies taken precedence. It makes no sense for the show to maintain Coulson's dead status to the The Avengers. Allies connected to several are aware-and have known for some time, that Phil's alive. Sif knows, so why keep Thor in the dark...Maria Hill now works for Stark, so why can't Tony be told? Too many SHIELD agents know...It's the second worst kept secret ever. But he 'died' in the movie, so it can't be overridden by the series.

I'm half expecting in Avengers 2, that he'll walk thru the door, and the team doesn't blink...because they figured it out already, and he'll go "awww nutz!"

 

[kitik]

So regarding Tahiti, Coulson was in charge. But then resigned. And then died. And then was brought back by Tahiti. On someone's orders other than Fury's.

Do I have that right? So the question is, who gave the order to revive Coulson?

Spoiler: who's giving the orders

One possibility may be Coulson himself. After presiding over the Tahiti tests, he may have decided that it was unfair to test on any more subjects, and chose the last subject to be himself, as a sort of retribution/last attempt at getting it right.

But I don't think that's the case.

Spoiler: possible huge spoiler for who's really in charge

I think there's only one person who Fury would have listened to (other than WSC/Pierce of course) during the Avengers movie: Stark. He's the one who felt guilty. He's the one who could not accept death. And we got a big hint in last night's episode that he could be the guy at the top of the food chain now that Shield is gone, since the "privatization of global security" seems to be a Stark thing.

If that is indeed the case, that seems like a sort of reveal that would happen about a year from now, during Avengers Age Of Ultron. Or heck, maybe it wasn't even Stark, but maybe it was Ultron acting behind the scenes, if he's capable of such actions at this point.

 

[kitik]

I'm half expecting in Avengers 2, that he'll walk thru the door, and the team doesn't blink...because they figured it out already, and he'll go "awww nutz!"

lol

Stark/Banner: "we are pretty smart, you know..."

 

[Ethros]

I liked J. August Richards enough in Angel but I can't help but think that Deathlok could be better served with a different actor. He just doesn't has a strong enough look or presence for the part IMO.

Yeah same, loved hin on Angel. But I can't help thinking Deathlok just looks very... well "TV." I can't see him ever being used in a movie for example. Almost feel like he needs to be more "big bulked up bastard" kinda thing.



Great episode though, and indeed all the recent ones.

Here's a question- will people here be buying the eventual Season 1 DVD/Blu-ray boxset to watch them all again? Does the higher quality of recent episodes outweigh the lower quality of the first 10 episodes or so (as I can't say I'd be that bothered about watching some of them again)



also ps. Do Marvel/Disney now have the rights to Man-Thing or is it still Lionsgate?

 

[Christopher]

(In particular, it's something that should be pointed out to Raina and Mike -- it might help them re-evaluate their loyalties.)

Well Raina was already fine with an organization that performs inhumane experiments on people have been known to kill them and has no problem killing its members when ever they stop being of use, fail them too many times, or are just a loose end that needs to be tied up.

So I'm not seeing how HYDRA'a nazis connection is going to be a big deal to her.

Actually Raina's already been showing doubts. She thought she was working for a clairvoyant, someone who could give her the answer to some deeply personal question. Thus she was willing to do a lot of unethical things to get the answers. But now she's found out she's working for someone very different than she'd believed. She could well be redeemable.

And as for Mike Peterson having a bomb in his head and HYRDA willing to kill his son the moment he turns on them kind of is good insurance that he doesn't betray them.

A lot of people were willing to sacrifice their lives to fight the Nazis. Sure, Mike would need some assurance that his son was safe, but it might be possible to persuade him if enough arguments are brought to bear, and the Nazi ties are one argument that could help.

So they lost the base and the bus in one episode? I have no idea how they are going to bounce back at this point.

They still have Lola! And a pool!

Hope Talbot doesn't turn into the Jack McGee of the show. Always turning up just in time to chase our main characters out of town.

That would be an appropriate role for Talbot, though, since in the comics he's a guy relentlessly pursuing the Hulk and constantly failing to catch him.

 

[FPAlpha]

That would be an appropriate role for Talbot, though, since in the comics he's a guy relentlessly pursuing the Hulk and constantly failing to catch him.

Reminds me of the A Team