a secret-boss
Banned
for every Shield agent he kills. Deathlok get's an upgrade
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |OT| Tahiti is a Magical Place (to...Hey guys, I found it!)
- Thread starter TheOddOne
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Cornballer
Member
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I don't usually agree with AVClub's reviews, but this is spot on:
Did somebody else notice that the action scenes were much better? Sure, they may be a far cry from God-tier shows like Banshee, but still.
Did somebody else notice that the action scenes were much better? Sure, they may be a far cry from God-tier shows like Banshee, but still.
BlackNMild2k1
Member
Good episode.
I thought Skye's super power was about to manifest to save her life, something like a healing factor of some sort or something, but I'm glad they raised the stakes and showed that they aren't untouchable. Bet she won't be so naive in the future with her "I'm too cute to shoot" demeanor.
Also love how May got to show that she is the hardest member of the team, too bad they didn't show more of it, I'm sure she is capable of a better shot fully choreographed fight scene minus the quick cuts.
I was also surprised to see Skye step up on the train and attempt to take down an agent, and then Fitz stepped up and took a punch for Skye. I expected him to kinda cower and look for a gadget, and then later kick himself for not being more heroic. And Simmons.... oh man, shielding the grenade. She should get a purple heart & a medal of valor for that bit of sacrifice.
But what happened to the super strength that May and Ward had? It wore off already?
I thought Skye's super power was about to manifest to save her life, something like a healing factor of some sort or something, but I'm glad they raised the stakes and showed that they aren't untouchable. Bet she won't be so naive in the future with her "I'm too cute to shoot" demeanor.
Also love how May got to show that she is the hardest member of the team, too bad they didn't show more of it, I'm sure she is capable of a better shot fully choreographed fight scene minus the quick cuts.
I was also surprised to see Skye step up on the train and attempt to take down an agent, and then Fitz stepped up and took a punch for Skye. I expected him to kinda cower and look for a gadget, and then later kick himself for not being more heroic. And Simmons.... oh man, shielding the grenade. She should get a purple heart & a medal of valor for that bit of sacrifice.
But what happened to the super strength that May and Ward had? It wore off already?
its waaaaaaaaaaaay far away from Banshee's fight scenes. like 4 or 5 letter grades difference
That extra knee to the face from Ward made me happy.
Jorok Goldblade
Member
The Night-Night gun is a better fit for law enforcement. It has the same stopping power as a bullet, but without the permanence. If it existed in real life, you'd never see a police officer with standard ammunition again.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Sure, but SHIELD is all about dropping fools on the regular, specially when said fools are actually willing to blast the snot out of you.
That was such a great scene. And Simmons taking that grenade took me by surprise. Fitz better recognize what she did for him.
It will resurface when the writers deem it convenient. It's probably better not to think too much about it...
Lone_Prodigy
Member
Coulson uses a real gun.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
The show's pretty much shown its true colours and the direction it's headed in at this point so if anyone's feeling this way it's probably smart to just drop it at this point.
dead souls
Member
Slightly better, but people calling it great (or even good), are clearly off their rocker.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I enjoyed it a great deal, but maybe I've learned to adjust my expectations.
I'll just wait for the Skye gifs.
BlackNMild2k1
Member
The show hasn't hit greatness, but we are grading on a curve now. The last 2 episodes have been the best so far, the first 10 should have been more like these last two, which were good.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I'd laugh pretty hard if the Clairvoyant turned out to be Claire Voyant.
It's improving a lot now, it's clear they did hear the criticisms. Better dialogue, a more integrated and faster central story, much better plotting and stakes, etc. The fights and action also moved from atrocious to perfectly competent (other shows like Arrow still crush it). I feel like the show is performing to my early on prediction that it will become regularly good pulp TV by the second season somewhere, just as many, many other sci-fi or action shows tend to (like Buffy, X-Files, Stargate, Supernatural, etc).
I always thought people were being over the top with the doom and gloom, as though all shows start out great. Maybe something like a HBO show starts out great, but for these kind of network sci-fi shows, it's very rare to start out well. The first half of the first season is usually full of weak and wimpy episodes.
I always thought people were being over the top with the doom and gloom, as though all shows start out great. Maybe something like a HBO show starts out great, but for these kind of network sci-fi shows, it's very rare to start out well. The first half of the first season is usually full of weak and wimpy episodes.
GuitarAtomik
Member
Agreed. I was reminded of Ward's first action scene in the pilot which was actually pretty decent. Even the cinematography/lighting was a step up from the usual which has been one of my main complaints of the show.
Lone_Prodigy
Member
My favourite part was the shift in tone. It was light hearted and pretty upbeat at first but when the grenade goes off the suspense and stakes go way up.
Who does Ward blame? Coulson, or Quinn?
Who does Ward blame? Coulson, or Quinn?
TacticalFox88
Banned
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I checked the wiki and the director is an actual cinematographer with a solid record, so there is that. It wasn't anything stellar, but it made a big difference. AoS needs more directors that understand they are filming an action show.
Check the preview.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
One of the things that has bothered me about most of the season 1 episodes so far is the way most shots seem framed like something out of a bad 90's Canadian TV cop show.
Lots of xtreme angles that seem intended to make things look more dramatic and hide tiny locations. I am no cinematographer but it feels as if the show is being framed for pan and scan, rather than being shot in widescreen.
Jorok Goldblade
Member
Coulson likes old things.
Ah, that's why he's so irritated at Ward over the May thing.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I said damn.
Also, everybody say hello to SHIELD's MVP.
The Tumblrs had a genuine heart attack with Skye, BTW.
Rafa=FedKilla
Banned
Goddam. The tumblrs have been starved for material with Simmons. That gif can't last them until March 4th. Shit's gonna be like Roanoke...I said damn.
Also, everybody say hello to SHIELD's MVP.
The Tumblrs had a genuine heart attack with Skye, BTW.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Lies and slander. They are not great at drama, but their comic timing is pretty good.
Now that I think about. She's probably the best actress in the series. She shown the most range so far and she's good at it. Fitz and Simmons got less annoying lately. They are actually tolerable now and their characters are being fleshed out. I don't know how I feel about a less charming, less wise cracking, Fitz, though. It's for the better though.
Had Simmons' actress had Skye's role I bet the character would have worked. This feels a lot like how Dollhouse learned how to work around Dushku's limitations as a lead.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
I think Skye simply needs more action and less sulking. It's not that the actress is bad (she's not very versatile, that's for sure), but more of a problem with being some kind of action-ish character that gets very little contact.
I think everyone knows that Skye is probably a superhero, Elizabeth Henstridge's (Simmons) appearance doesn't really seem to fit the bill of that, unlike Chloe Bennet.
This close death encounter is probably going to change her character, maybe dramatically, definitely.
Jest Chillin
Member
Coulson. Remember that Ward has a thing about shielding (har har) others from harm that goes back to his childhood. He also noted earlier in the episode that Coulson had said something to Skye that pushed her resolve even further. If he doesn't blame himself for not being able to protect her then he's going to blame Coulson for inspiring her to push harder than Ward believes she was capable of.
Father_Brain
Banned
The last two episodes have definitely shown substantial improvement.
However, I'm not quite ready to say that the show has turned a corner, because I could have said the same about episodes 6 and 7, and 8-11 were mediocre at best. So I'll give it one or two more before I call it.
However, I'm not quite ready to say that the show has turned a corner, because I could have said the same about episodes 6 and 7, and 8-11 were mediocre at best. So I'll give it one or two more before I call it.
The direction and cinematography has been the most disappointing aspect of the show for myself. Being both a Marvel and *technically* Whedon show, this thing should look so much better than it does.
It's astonishing how many network genre-ey shows -- both old and new -- visually destroy AoS.
It's astonishing how many network genre-ey shows -- both old and new -- visually destroy AoS.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Yes and no.
Lone_Prodigy
Member
That makes sense. He may also be a tad jealous at Coulson's connection with May.
One thing I did like was how Skye's fake Scottish accent was probably how every foreigner would fake a Scottish accent.
Weapxn
Mikkelsexual
If you stopped watching that long ago and want to get back in, I'd say start back up with episode 10. That's where the quality improves IMO, and they get gradually better from there.
Two ex-Chuck writers, who together penned 14 episodes of that show, wrote this, This is the second episode of S.H.I.E.L.D for them. They do good stuff. Hope they get more eps of this!
They also wrote a episode of Chuck that took place on a train. They love trains!
The Chuck writers were absolutely amazing. It's too bad their writing team changed between the seasons and went downhill...
Rafa=FedKilla
Banned
It's a Marvel show. It's supposed to be sterile and lifeless. Cap's costume in Marvel's The Avengers looked straight outta Buffy.
Sketch_Turntable
Member
When Ward says he doesn't blame himself, I was confused as to what he was meaning...
Good episode. Probably the first that I actually liked without major reservations. The only thing detracting from the experience was the music during the fight scenes. I don't know why it's so bad and/or inappropriate, but it's a shame. Still, not a huge deal in this episode at least.
Also, Simmons in those "undercover" glasses. *approving nod*
Also, Simmons in those "undercover" glasses. *approving nod*
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
Personally I think the idea here isn't to trick viewers into thinking Skye is going to die. Rather Skye just got horribly brutalized and it may work into a sea change for her character they've been building up to.
I suspect a lot of viewers are watching the show waiting for the "Whedon Whack" when a character is straight up murdered out of the blue. Maybe the scene where Quinn pulls the trigger then delivers the double-tap hug comes across as a fake-out for that. But I think we're still a bit too early in to see someone bite it for real.
Maybe the season finale.
I suspect a lot of viewers are watching the show waiting for the "Whedon Whack" when a character is straight up murdered out of the blue. Maybe the scene where Quinn pulls the trigger then delivers the double-tap hug comes across as a fake-out for that. But I think we're still a bit too early in to see someone bite it for real.
Maybe the season finale.
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