Marvel's Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D: Progress Report

With two more episodes of Marvel’s AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. has passed Patrick takes a look at where we stand.

Warning: Mild Spoilers

The last two episodes of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have shown that while the standard is still decent, it has lost it’s way a bit. This article will explain why I believe this.

While the episodes have been good we have yet to see any of the characters really being established. The each character has yet to be rounded out. It all seems a bit one note at the moment. Skye is still the reckless one, Ward is still the by-the-book agent, Fitz and Simmons still running around like the mad scientists, Melinda May is still scowling and disapproving of the team and Coulson seems to be sidelined to a certain extent. So what is the problem? My main issue is that the character have yet to be broken free from their constraints, they have yet to be cut loose and let breath. Any situation which could lead to some character insight or development is quickly brushed under the carpet. It’s disappointing as Joss Whedon’s other television ventures have been based on strong characters. In the last episode set in Sweden we get small insights to Skye, Coulson and Ward. We know that Skye had a rough childhood, Coulson pushed people too hard back in the day and Ward wouldn’t take betrayal too well. All of these moments were only passing and there was little in the way of seeing any impact these have or might have on the characters.

Skye: we need to know more.

Skye is clearly the shows in character. She is the character we are suppose to bond with and take this wild adventure with. The problem is that the writers are trying to make her seem like a mystery that we know nothing of the character and nothing is really revealed about her either. It also seems that the writers are trying to divide the main story plots between Ward and Skye. This is some of the trouble with the show at the moment. It isn’t sure if it wants to be character driven or situation driven. At the moment it is a more situation driven. This is done really well but it doesn’t leave enough room to help learn about the characters. This can be fixed and it is something I think should be fixed.

Whedon: knows how to create characters

I have to say the spectacle of the episodes have been really good. The action and the feel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has translated well to the small screen. The action has been quite grounded as well, with any strange or weird goings on being explained in a reasonably realistic way for the universe. The mysteries surrounding Coulson’s comeback and Skye’s motivations are intriguing for the most part. They are the common links between the episodes at the moment. They are also what are keeping my interest from episode to episode.  What we seem to have as well is a villain that is in the background that could be pulling the strings but it’s not clear. I always feel that it’s better when we have an end game in sight. At the moment we don’t have something definite that we are moving towards. We seem like this is the case but we aren’t really certain of this yet. Both episodes showed how well the team work together but we don’t get any real sense of characters outside this team context. It’s all work and no play for the team and it’s in the quieter moments that we learn about the characters.

Is AoS a bit too CSI?

It’s a small thing at the moment but I feel the direction of the some seems to be moving towards the sort of procedural shows like CSI, which I have nothing against, but they aren’t really character driven. In the end all good shows are character driven, shows where we bond with the characters. We haven’t been let in totally the characters. It’s disappointing but not enough for me to stop watching. Hopefully this can be tweaked so that we get a show that enhances the Marvel Universe and doesn’t fall away for not giving Fandom what we would like to see, characters we can relate to and really like. I’ve read pieces where people argue for how the characters have been developed but I haven’t connected with the characters in the same way. I will agree that the themes of the episodes have been solid and we have seen that the show is well produced but I feel it needs to take a step back and look at what people are getting out of it. Good action, great spectacle but characters are slightly weak. We have great humour at times despite this but in the next two episodes I hope I can tell you that we know our characters better, for good or for bad.

Have we got the most from our Characters yet?

I think that most people will like what the show is doing but there are things that can be improved upon and that is always a good thing. Hopefully we can see that a slight change. Even if it doesn’t it’s still enjoyable to watch, I’d just like to see the show get the maximum out its characters, something I think we all want to see.