Agents of Shield - Season 4

[The Nth Doctor]

My biggest problems with season one wasn't the episodic nature, but rather the bad writing overall. While I might find the characterizations better in retrospect, a lot of the dialogue was either bland or clunky (a problem that is still an occasional problem). I never liked Ward, and while making him evil at least made him slightly interesting, I never found Brett Dalton engaging (except slightly as Hive). For the longest time, I had a lot of issues with Skye/Daisy and I couldn't tell if it was the writing or Chloe Bennet's acting, although in retrospect, I think it was both and they both have gradually gotten better. She certainly became more interesting once she became an Inhuman instead of a whiny hacker.

The writing was so bad in the first season that I actually stopped watching, regretfully. I only came back because I heard it finally became good once the Hydra storyline was able to move forward with The Winder Soldier's release.

I do wonder where all of the enhanced individuals they encountered in the first season have disappeared to. One would think they would be rather important in this day and age of the Sokovia Accords.

And I'm all for bringing back Deathlok!

 

[Christopher]

I never liked Ward, and while making him evil at least made him slightly interesting, I never found Brett Dalton engaging (except slightly as Hive).

That's what was so subversive about the concept of Ward. He was boring because he was the guy that most shows would make the hero -- the young, good-looking white guy who's inoffensively bland. The character who isn't too old or too weird or too female or too ethnic to be a suitable whitebread hero for Middle America. And they made us think he was just another cookie-cutter action-hero lead, with the older character-actor guy and the ethnic women and the British-accented folks in supporting roles to his all-American action-heroness... and then they turned around and revealed that he'd been the villain all along. It was one big "gotcha" to our expectations, and maybe to the network's requirements as well.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

The trouble with that is, they didn't make the concept of Ward something that would make me interested in the show, they made it something that bored me and turned me off the show. I still watch it occasionally, the current Ghost Rider arc isn't bad, but they lost me as a regular viewer pretty much specifically because of getting bored of Ward.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

That's what was so subversive about the concept of Ward. He was boring because he was the guy that most shows would make the hero -- the young, good-looking white guy who's inoffensively bland. The character who isn't too old or too weird or too female or too ethnic to be a suitable whitebread hero for Middle America. And they made us think he was just another cookie-cutter action-hero lead, with the older character-actor guy and the ethnic women and the British-accented folks in supporting roles to his all-American action-heroness... and then they turned around and revealed that he'd been the villain all along. It was one big "gotcha" to our expectations, and maybe to the network's requirements as well.

I'm all for subverting archetypes, but at least make the character engaging. When one of your lead characters is so boring and bland that it drives viewers away, then there's a problem.

 

[bbjeg]

Season one wasn't so bad. It rocked post Hydra's reveal for sure. If I were to rewatch it, I'd watch Winter Soldier before Turn Turn Turn (or during what was suppose to be a long plane ride to the Hub). Plus, season one had the most continuity with the movies. I rather see as many tie in the later seasons as much as season one. I wish they tied in the Netflix shows a bit more too. They name dropped Micro before Punisher was a thing but nothing much after Daredevil. IIRC, I think Netflix (Daredevil) showed Cybertek's name in the background. You'd think Shield would note Ninja's in New York or something by now.

 

[Reverend]

Season one wasn't so bad. It rocked post Hydra's reveal for sure. If I were to rewatch it, I'd watch Winter Soldier before Turn Turn Turn (or during what was suppose to be a long plane ride to the Hub). Plus, season one had the most continuity with the movies. I rather see as many tie in the later seasons as much as season one. I wish they tied in the Netflix shows a bit more too. They name dropped Micro before Punisher was a thing but nothing much after Daredevil. IIRC, I think Netflix (Daredevil) showed Cybertek's name in the background. You'd think Shield would note Ninja's in New York or something by now.

They may have noticed, but they would not necessarily get involved. Nutters with swords causing trouble on rooftops in Hell's Kitchen is more of an NYPD problem than a SHIELD problem. I mean sure, *we* know they're undead ninjas dealing what may or may not be super-powered children as weapons...but does SHIELD know that? How could they?

Remember that for the last two years or so, SHIELD's main mission has been dealing with the rise of Inhumans world-wide. To the outside observer, Daredevil, The Punisher and the nutters they're scrapping with are mundane vigilantes and criminals.

...That said, you'd think someone is bound to show up at Jessica's place with a copy of the Sokovia Accords for her to sign. I don't think even Hogath could protect her from that. Probably Luke Cage too, but he was taken into custody anyway mere days after being outed, so it's somewhat moot.

 

[Christopher]

I'm all for subverting archetypes, but at least make the character engaging. When one of your lead characters is so boring and bland that it drives viewers away, then there's a problem.

Well, there's the dilemma. If Hollywood's fondness for bland leading males is the very thing you're subverting, it's hard to avoid the character appearing bland when that's the whole point. But of course, he was never the sole member of the ensemble. I guess they were counting on the other characters being engaging enough to compensate. Although they were hampered by the fact that they had to wait until after The Winter Soldier came out to reveal their big twist. The first season would've been better off if its premiere had been held back a few more months, so that TWS and the Hydra reveal could've come earlier in the arc.

 

[Gaith]

And isn't there some unregistered gifted swinging around New York's skyscrapers for over a year now? Isn't that something a re-established SHIELD should check in with, because Sokovia Accords and everything?

(I mean, Marvel owns Tom Holland, right? If the show can't get him to do a guest spot... )

 

[bbjeg]

Well, there is always the "we've been watching out for them all this time but couldn't find them yet" route.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Tony Stark had no problem finding Peter Parker. Perhaps Maria Hill is running interference?

 

[Reverend]

Given his involvement with Stark, it's a fair bet Peter is already on the books. Perhaps those on the register who are underage have their identities protected as a matter of course, so only those at the very top have access?

 

[Turtletrekker]

I do wonder where all of the enhanced individuals they encountered in the first season have disappeared to. One would think they would be rather important in this day and age of the Sokovia Accords.

They didn't really encounter a lot of powered individuals in season 1, and all are accounted for, unless I'm forgetting someone...

Deathlok-- Working for SHIELD (presumably).
Scorch-- Dead.
Resident Asgardian, Professor Elliot Randolph-- Trying to stay under the radar until this whole "Sokovia" thing blows over.
Blizzard-- Recruited by HYDRA, presumed dead.
Lorelei-- Extradited to Asgard.
Blackout-- Blown up real good, presumed dead.
Centipede Soldiers-- Restored to normal.

There may have been some unidentified Enhanced released from The Fridge by Garrett, or maybe someday Franklin Hall will get his origin day as Graviton, but that's all I can think of.

 

[Captain Craig]

And I'm all for bringing back Deathlok!

I'm in this camp also.
Just need J.August Richards schedule to free up at the same time they could work him in I suppose. Last year he had a semi-recurring character role on another show, Girlfriends. This year he's on Notorious, also an ABC show, so maybe they could work make something work with his filming schedule.

 

[Gaith]

As I recall, Mike Peterson was one of the lamest aspects of S1 - no fault of Richards', I'm sure; he was just a dull character who meant nothing to us non-comics folks. I'm far more interested in seeing more of the Koenig brothers than him.

 

[JD]

I'm putting in another vote for the return of Deathlok.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I could see him being part of a "lower decks" episode with a number of powered guest characters forming a super team to rescue the main characters from a crisis.
Together with Slingshot maybe and I am sure there are a few others who could join.
Maybe Peter McNicols Asgardian?

What would be a totally lame but awesome name for them?

 

[Christopher]

I could see him being part of a "lower decks" episode with a number of powered guest characters forming a super team to rescue the main characters from a crisis.
Together with Slingshot maybe and I am sure there are a few others who could join.
Maybe Peter McNicols Asgardian?

What would be a totally lame but awesome name for them?

The Substitute Warriors?

 

[bbjeg]

I just wish they brought back Deathlok so we can know what he's been up to. I don't think he'd sign the Sokovia Accords simply because of what happened to him before with his son being kidnapped by Hydra after signing up with Shield the first time. I suspect Coulson has him off the books and hidden until he's needed.

 

[Reverend]

Maybe since SHIELD went legit again they were able to send Deathlok to Dr Cho and she replaced all his scary Hydra made parts with nicer synthetic flesh ones? It'd be nice if he can finally go back to his family after all these years.

Also recall the last time we saw him he was half dismantled already so...yeah.

 

[bbjeg]

He did want to make amends for the bad things he did. As Deathlok, he could achieve it.