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Post by mr. excellent on Oct 2, 2013 23:58:55 GMT -5
So I caught Episode 2...
Joss Whedon's shows tend to be slow burning affairs. I stole this quote from Screenrant, but I hold the same opinion. I'm hoping that this is the case for Agents of SHIELD, because as of now, the show could stand for major improvement. It's hammy in a way that doesn't yet feel earned, a little immature, and its cinematography is unextraordinary. So while this may turn out to be a slow burn, it is at this point in time, oddly paced. There are moments that happen in each episode that happen too fast. Characters hate each other with a passion, then out of necessity for the plot, the characters make up and start quoting each other in the heat of battle. My wife and I cringed as agent Grant Ward recited Skye's reasoning that "If everyone has 1% of the solution, together they'll figure it out". It's such an overdone plot line in kids shows, why did it have to be so poorly done here?
I'm not asking that the show re-invent the wheel, just that it does whatever it does, in a way that feels inspired. This feels as though it's made for a child's maturity level, but on a budget. I will say that I still enjoy having the show, and that I hope to see it continue to develop. Awesome cameo, btw. I said it before, and I'll say it again, this could use the tone of Firefly. Coulson's brand of humor would not be out of place in that type of environment. Speaking of Coulson, Whedon and Co. might not have built a strong enough supporting cast around him. This might not be the fault of the actors, but instead, the fault of the thin writing for the characters.
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Post by Spidey 1923 on Oct 4, 2013 0:36:15 GMT -5
To be honest, I've only watched bits of the pilot but it seemed way too cheesy... I can understand if Marvel are trying to compensate for the lack of super heroes by making the show more appealing to younger audiences but they risk losing older viewers at the same time by having such immature characters.
Not making any doomsday predictions about the show but I'm a bit surprised by the extent of the negative fan reception.
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Post by Caveboy0 on Oct 5, 2013 14:03:56 GMT -5
I missed part of the second episode, but I agree that sounds quite dumbed down. I'm enjoying it for what is, but I've already lowered my standards because if I was anymore critical I don't think I could watch.
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Post by mr. excellent on Oct 5, 2013 18:40:58 GMT -5
Makes sense. abc.com airs the episodes the day after they premiere, so I've been catching the show online. Anyway,
It's not as though I haven't enjoyed this type of humor before. Buffy started out just like this in terms of tone. The difference is that the characters were teenagers, and it made sense that they would learn the lessons they did over the course of that show. These characters are already adults, they shouldn't all be acting this juvenile. Character development is good, but these are supposed to be highly professional bad asses. Come on.
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Post by mr. excellent on Oct 10, 2013 0:59:11 GMT -5
Caution, there be spoilers ahead.
Caught the newest episode. It was okay, a slight improvement, I have to say. Graviton was insane in Avengers EMH, so I'm really curious to see what he does in this. I don't like the idea that Coulson created him. I know that Coulson is only human (maybe), but still, he should retain his mystique as the near perfect figure. Whatever though, the special effects were pretty damn good for a tv show, and the humor actually helped to curb the show's cheese factor. Still cheesy, but it's as though they hit a stride in this episode.
I don't know that this show is going to last, but still, not bad.
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Post by BackinBlack on Oct 10, 2013 20:36:38 GMT -5
Well ABC just gave it a full season commitment, so it's gonna be on for awhile.
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Post by mr. excellent on Nov 25, 2013 0:26:27 GMT -5
I've been keeping up fairly well. Not watching the day of, but going online. The show is getting better. Definitely not up there with the best of them, but decent. Worth being on television at least. I think the show finally found itself.
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Post by mr. excellent on Dec 1, 2013 12:52:48 GMT -5
This last episode was one I'd call good, by any standard. The characters worked, the story was interesting, and the show finally dove into the mystery of Ming Na Wen's character. If the rest of the series can play out this strong, I think it'll last beyond 2 seasons. The question is whether or not it can gain enough of its fans back to stay on the air. The ratings have been climbing back up slowly now for the past 2 episodes (possibly 3?)
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Post by Spidey 1923 on Jan 31, 2014 17:42:07 GMT -5
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Post by mr. excellent on Jan 31, 2014 21:42:06 GMT -5
I don't feel offended. I just like the guy. I mean, I'm still watching the show, so it helps that I don't feel targeted. However, Joe Quesada said something nearly as abrasive with regard to Ultimate Spider-man, and I took that in stride too. From what I hear about ABC, it's not as though the show is the obvious weak link in their chain of programming.
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Post by Spidey 1923 on Feb 9, 2014 17:17:11 GMT -5
TEST DEMANDS OBEDIENCE!
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Post by Webber3000 on Feb 9, 2014 17:24:34 GMT -5
What are you doing!? Spamming all over! Supreme Ruler Test's sworn protection can only last you for so long!
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Post by mr. excellent on Jun 17, 2014 23:43:03 GMT -5
So I just finished Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Like many others, I'd describe it as a show whose pace is painful to endure, which often times throughout the season lead to unfulfilling payoffs. However, everything after the "Turn, Turn, Turn" episode (which had the most significant ties to the MCU to date, at that point in time) was good television. I'd wager to say that had the show been able to start out with and maintain that level of quality from the beginning, it would have been a big hit. As big as Arrow? No, but very satisfactory, and fun. It's in these final episodes that characters whom you gave up on and thought could not be redeemed are actually made interesting. Case in point: Grant Ward. He was one of the more standard card board cut out type of characters. The show runners tried to make the guy more interesting early on, but weren't too successful doing it. I don't want to spoil too much, but in the final episodes he definitely helped to ramp up the tension in each scene he was in, and his back story actually became interesting. Marvel really didn't pull any punches in terms of the cameos and the stakes at play either. Beside the excellent addition of Patton Oswalt's character, Maria Hill and Nick Fury come back for what amounts to more than just your basic glorified cameos. If you haven't been keeping up on the show, I wouldn't recommend putting yourself through the first 16 episodes. I would however, recommend reading the plot summaries of the earlier episodes and then watching the last 5 episodes for yourself. The Whedon's have definitely earned a second season given the way this one concluded. Here's hoping that they can keep the ball rolling, as this show's potential has just begun to be realized.
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Post by mr. excellent on Sept 28, 2014 22:27:14 GMT -5
Just finished watching season 2's first episode. While I'd say the last season averages about 6.5/10 on my utterly baseless grading scale, this one finds itself in 7 territory, with a few 8/10 moments. There's one emotional surprise in particular that I was not expecting, and it managed to get the biggest emotional reaction out of me the series has been able to muster thus far. Even if you're not into the show (hell, I'm not, not really), if you know a thing or two about the character the moment has some mmmph to it. As you probably know, this episode had a lot to offer. There's a really well done Howling Commando's cameo with Haley Atwell returning as Agent Carter. Lucy Lawless makes her debut as one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s remaining operatives. Then there's Absorbing Man, who was really well done. The special effects on the character approach movie quality, and the guy they had play him did a great job at being a silent, menacing brute. I definitely recommend you guys give this episode a try, even if the rest of the show has turned you off to it. Here's hoping it can go from passable to "must see".
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Post by Caveboy0 on Sept 30, 2014 6:52:30 GMT -5
I had a lot of fun with the premiere. I didn't really fallow the Winter Soldier fallout episodes but it seems like the various reveals and betrayals cleared up most of the series problems.
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