Why it’s Time to Give Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a Second Chance

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Remember when Marvel, fresh from dominating the big screen with the first Avengers movie, were going to take over our TV sets with a glossy action show on prime time American television? It’s probably been a long time since you’ve checked in on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but now it’s time to give it another chance.

Yes, the show should have been a home run but wasn’t. We know. If even a fraction of us who went to see The Avengers had tuned in, it ought to have been an early hit. We all liked that secret agent guy who totally nerded out over Captain America and then got ruthlessly killed by Loki, didn’t we? Before its first season was over though, Agents had already become something of an afterthought.

The first episode of Agent Phil Coulson and his team of elite S.H.I.E.L.D agents was viewed in America by more than twelve million people. It also wasn’t very good. Sure, Coulson was there still nailing the same schtick that had made him a fan favourite in the movies, and newcomer Chloe Bennett bought some likeability to the character of Skye who could easily have bombed – and very nearly did. But there were problems almost from the start.

In an era of great TV, the show’s writing was uneven and the tone could often change jarringly from episode to episode, or even scene to scene. Quite a lot of what was supposed to be funny simply came across as goofy or cringey (Did the shaving foam prank actually make anyone laugh?). Meanwhile the sluggish episodic structure of its first half season gave us just as much filler as it did fun moments. And really, up until the tie in with Captain America: The Winter Soldier it felt like the characters were in TV purgatory, certain that there were tantalising plot developments to come but never able to reach it.

The reason for this became clear upon Winter Soldier‘s release. Revelations that ought really to have been revealed at the show’s mid-season finale were kept until much later – by which time most of us had tuned out.

And then Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D became awesome. The last seven episodes of the first series turned things around in a big way. Here is why you should revisit the show.

If you’ve seen Winter Soldier you can probably already guess how Agents changed. If not, suffice to say an earth-shattering reveal took S.H.I.E.L.D down a good few pegs and for the first time it felt like our band of super spies were in real danger. With their backs against the wall, Coulson and friends escaped their case-of-the-week rut and since the start of the second season the show feels more confident in its pacing and its characters feel less one note.

Case in point – Fitz and Simmons, the two ‘adorkable’ British scientists who used to finish each other’s sentences, are now facing real consequences for their dangerous life of spy-craft. Fitz struggles to regain his genius after an incident in which he was deprived of oxygen for far too long while Simmons becomes a sleeper agent inside…ahem, spoilers. But the point is simple: if the end of season one showed there were consequences to being a secret agent, season two begins with characters dealing with those consequences.

This time round, the writers clearly know who the characters are and their friendships and rivalries feel more real. Melinda May was a character who in season one often felt underdeveloped. We were supposed to think she was cool because she was nicknamed ‘the cavalry’ and she was the strong but silent type. Now, though, her relationships make her seem stronger and more interesting. As Skye’s supervising officer she’s a strict but fair mother hen, while as Coulson’s confidante she displays a level of loyalty and trust that makes both of them more compelling.

A lot of people who dropped the show early will likely have been frustrated with the character of Skye, with Coulson often repeating how important she was without really exploring why. It is odd that a member of a super hacking group would be so quickly trusted by a veteran spy. But season two delivers some pay-off in this regard, with the arrival of Skye’s father in the form of Twin Peaks’ Kyle MacLachlan. Without getting too spoilery, the crux of the recent mid-season finale hung on revelations about Skye’s origins and it more than delivered.

Skye’s commitment to S.H.I.E.L.D also makes more sense this time round. She has been hardened by betrayal, but her bond with Coulson also feels much more earned than it did in season one. And as for Coulson himself, his story arc for season two reveals just what the show has learned since last time. In season one ‘Why is Coulson not dead?’ was dragged out for so long that when we found out it was almost not interesting. But for his second run Coulson’s arc has seen some far better twists and turns.

This is representative of the show as a whole; no longer are we waiting weeks and weeks to be fed the next scrap of plot development. The wheels of the show never stop. What exactly has happened to Simmons? You’ll know by episode three. Why does Coulson keep going into a trance and drawing weird stuff on the wall? You’ll have a partial answer by episode seven. And while you’re waiting for this there’s plenty of stuff involving the now reduced S.H.I.E.L.D and their new frenemy General Talbot, and whether they can trust each other.

If you’re on the fence about this show, definitely go back and give it a try, if for no other reason than it has become good, dumb fun. The best jumping on points are probably episode sixteen of season one or the first episode of season two. There are regular nods to the Marvel movies, but not so many that it becomes overbearing, and while season one is sometimes too reliant on the street cred of the films, season two has broken out of this shell well and become its own thing.

Did you stick with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D through its ups and downs? Or did you drop the show back in season one? Tell us why in the comments…

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