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[Vespene]

This show would've been awesome back in the 90s. It's hard for it to make a scene in modern super-serialized television. Shows like Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad, Thrones, Sopranos, and even all the way back to Bab 5 changed television drastically. Shows can't simply rely on the monster of the week formula to stand out. Yes, it may still work for some types of genres, but definitely not this one.

The "Whedon" feel of the show may actually be doing it a disservice. It worked for Buffy and Firefly, but it did not work for Dollhouse and it has not been working for SHIELD.

I find the concept of a TV show offering a supporting story to an on-going cinematic universe compelling, so I hope it works out in the end.

 

[charsace]

The show has vastly improved over the last few eps.

I loled at Ward shooting that paralyzed man.

 

[Dennis]

This show would've been awesome back in the 90s. It's hard for it to make a scene in modern super-serialized television. Shows like Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad, Thrones, Sopranos, and even all the way back to Bab 5 changed television drastically. Shows can't simply rely on the monster of the week formula to stand out. Yes, it may still work for some types of genres, but definitely not this one.

The "Whedon" feel of the show may actually be doing it a disservice. It worked for Buffy and Firefly, but it did not work for Dollhouse and it has not been working for SHIELD.

I find the concept of a TV show offering a supporting story to an on-going cinematic universe compelling, so I hope it works out in the end.

Hannibal
Person of Interest
Agents of SHIELD

These are all on network TV. If AoS can keep churning out episodes like last nights, they are going to be alright. Look at the cinematography and production values that can be created on a minimal budget with Hannibal.

 

[jb1234]

Easily the best episode of the season.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Hannibal
Person of Interest
Agents of SHIELD

These are all on network TV. If AoS can keep churning out episodes like last nights, they are going to be alright. Look at the cinematography and production values that can be created on a minimal budget with Hannibal.

You need vision and skill to pull off what Hannibal does so effortlessly.

AoS has neither.

 

[neoanarch]

I'm not sure I would say something like vastly improved. The show is better than the lowest point which is still the godawful second episode. But the choreography is bad, the cinematography is bad, the writing is bad and worse I still don't like the characters. Every scene where they describe Skye as seeing the world differently or Ward being a emotionless super agent, in my head its like "are these the same characters that appear on screen?" Has Ward done anything besides fumble every mission, chase after May, and apparently fall completely in love with Skye. How does Skye see the world differently, I mean she is a "hacker" but what the fuck is Coulson talking about?



I liked the episode because it obviously ties into the much larger world and the events of TWS but otherwise I'm not convinced its getting any better.

 

[anaron]

Skye herself doesn't even annoy me much. It's the way the writers have everyone else refer to her that is unbearable. "You've more than earned it" "you see the world differently" "We have someone who is the best agent I have ever known!"

Who the fuck are they trying to convince?

 

[kurahador]

Dang...that last few minutes was intense.

As someone who already watch Cap:TWS, I can't wait to see how this Uprising arc unfolds.

 

[Zen]

Well all stuff around Mikes head will at least make him look like Deathlok proper if he get caught in a fire and it burns away his skin.

Their makeup for him has been improving dramatically. That episode certainly was not the best episode, worse than the pilot to be sure, but the show is still generally improving. They just need to add some actual nuance to the characters and get the directors to get the actors to act in a more professional manner. Sometimes these people ahrdly feel like the same Shield agents from the films. Fitz and Simmons are an understandable exception given that they are R&D mind you.

I mean, I'm not saying he looked downright amazing, I can see where they should improve and such to make him look more menacing and just better overall. However I still liked the design that was shown.

I said the same earlier.

It worked much much better than I expected after the horrible promotional photos.

Agreed, the suit looked much better in practice and like I said, his makeup was noticeably better this episode. I think he would have been a lot more menacing if they could have spared a small part of the budget to have him brutally beat down a few injured SHIELD agents on his way out through all the dust and debris after he shot the rockets and Wards team. Ward could have survived, which would have made Coulsons suspicion of him make even more sense.

I mean, I'm not saying he looked downright amazing, I can see where they should improve and such to make him look more menacing and just better overall. However I still liked the design that was shown.

That ending felt contrived to me. I don't see Coulson losing trust in May that fast. It's obvious she's reporting to Fury.

And she does not want to say who because of the Clairvoyant? I have not seen TWS yet.

 

[Dryk]

Think a few people called that lol

Yeah it took them way longer than me to even consider the possiblity. Dumbarses

 

[trinest]

I have to say always thought that women was bad news.

Didn't she try and break up the team or something before?

 

[magnificent83]

One thing about the episode that really bugged me, when the teams are tracking the clairvoyant, when each team reaches the location of the suspect, each location is suspiciously deserted or an ambush. Why would that even be the case?

 

[antonz]

One thing about the episode that really bugged me, when the teams are tracking the clairvoyant, when each team reaches the location of the suspect, each location is suspiciously deserted or an ambush. Why would that even be the case?

I would imagine one of the infiltrators had to have known where the 13 files led to so they tried to make things seem like multiple people could be the bad guy to get things even more confusing. Hence coulson and them blocked in etc.

Problem is they didn't plan for Deathlok getting a tracker placed on him. So they fed them the crippled guy to try again to throw them off again as this all leads right into The Winter Solider and I suspect next week will take place technically during the movie but you know totally on the side.

 

[ReplacementPelican]

Supposed to be nonstop for 6 more episodes I think?

Oh yeah, we're getting 22 episodes, aren't we? I thought it was much less for some reason.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

Yeah I still don't consider him "Deathlok." But it's cool that they are hinting towards more changes. Once the flesh on his face starts to peel off and he loses another arm I will be convinced.

Was a pretty good episode to set up the rest of the season. It's very clear now that they have been holding off until after Cap 2 is out...hopefully they knock it out of the park for the last 6.

 

[Cornballer]

- Onion A|V Club review
- NY Mag review

 

[Sec0nd]

Was last nights episode pre or after Captain America?

 

[Pai Pai Master]

Was last nights episode pre or after Captain America?

It was the last episode that takes place before Winter Soldier. Every episode from here on is set after the movie.

 

[Slayven]

Was last nights episode pre or after Captain America?

Pre

 

[Lashley]

Wow the latest episode was brilliant.

Don't know how people can still say this isn't good.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

Was last nights episode pre or after Captain America?

It seemed like it was before the events we see in Captain America 2, and I suspect the season will end by dealing with the aftermath of it all.

 

[NerdEyeBlind]

Easily the best episode of the season.

.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

I fear for Simmons' safety at that Shield joint.

 

[fallengorn]

Was a pretty good episode to set up the rest of the season. It's very clear now that they have been holding off until after Cap 2 is out...hopefully they knock it out of the park for the last 6.

That's just even more puzzling. If they knew Cap 2 will be some sort of endgame, they couldn't build a better front half with that in mind?

Lost was able to crank out great episodes without a preset endgame (at the time) in a cave with a box of scraps.

Anyhoo, I'm just glad we got a good episode.

- Onion A|V Club review
- NY Mag review

AVClub review made a good observation of how Peterson is being grafted with technology reminiscent of Stark and Extremis tech. I wouldn't be opposed if they just had a stripped down Iron Man chassis that they managed to steal from the end of IM3. It would've enforced this idea better and made it more connected with the existing universe.

 

[Joni]

It seemed like it was before the events we see in Captain America 2, and I suspect the season will end by dealing with the aftermath of it all.

I believe the next episode falls together with the movie events.

 

[Deleted member 20920]

I fear for Simmons' safety at that Shield joint.

She's with that agent who is interested in her so she'll probably be fine.

 

[Cornballer]

- TV Guide: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Bosses Dissect Big Clairvoyant Reveal, Tease What's Next (some spoilers, mostly just teasing the end of the season)

 

[Ithil]

I am going to guess that the next episode takes place at the same time as Cap 2, and we will see the major events of that film from a different perspective. I don't mean you'll see the same high budget stuff from the ground, I mean that the plot of the next episode will stem directly from something happening in the movie.

I'm interested to see where it's going to change from here on out, which can only be a good thing (that I'm interested). I agree with the notion that it seems like this arc is what they were REALLY wanting to show, and the previous 15 episodes were just an extended prologue/timer filler. The premise of the show is going to change significantly on some levels after Cap 2.

 

[Dai101]

Wow the latest episode was brilliant.

Don't know how people can still say this isn't good.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait, so Hand is the Clairvoyant?

I fear for Simmons' safety at that Shield joint.

She'll be protected by Triplett.

"protected"

God, she wants him bad.

 

[TheCowboyPoet]

Around the Christmas break I was so negative on this show, I don't know how they've done it but every episode since then has been an improvement. I hated May, Ward, and Skye. Well, I still hate Skye but she's gotten a lot less screen time recently and hasn't been nearly as annoying. The whole "monster of the week" situation really bothered me, but now we either get episodes like this, without a weekly monster, or episodes like the last one which was still awesome.
For awhile I didn't think we'd ever be in a situation like this where the last episode of SHIELD was better than the last episode of Arrow but here we are.

 

[LumpOfCole]

Hand is only a hand of the Clairvoyant

THE CLAIRVOYANT IS ULTRON

That is the only acceptable answer for me

 

[inky]

Wow guys, some not so subtle comments in this thread, LOL. I have seen Cap 2 but some of you are really pushing it with the cleverness, one in particular which I'm surprised hasn't been called out yet

Hannibal
Person of Interest
Agents of SHIELD

These are all on network TV. If AoS can keep churning out episodes like last nights, they are going to be alright. Look at the cinematography and production values that can be created on a minimal budget with Hannibal.

A few episodes of Hannibal have been directed by an Oscar winning cinematographer. It is obvious that they have more talented people involved as well and the budget goes other places too, so it is not a 1-1 comparison that can be made.

Still, yes, it is surprising things like Deathlock look so fucking cheap, but I think it is exacerbated by the fact that the actor playing him can't act his way out of a box of cereal. Bill Paxton is an example of the people they should be casting more often. Knows when to ham it up perfectly and sells his role well. I am actually looking forward to how things are going to go down next week. I always knew this show was mostly a promotional arm for the movies, but they didn't have to waste 13 episodes to get to this.

 

[Dennis]

Honestly, if people keep saying the show is shit after an episode like this then I kinda have to agree with the showrunners that people have unreasonable expectations.

If they can keep the quality we saw in this episode going story-wise then my expectations have been reasonably met.

Cinematography and fight choreography still needs work.

 

[Dennis]

Wow guys, some not so subtle comments in this thread, LOL. I have seen Cap 2 but some of you are really pushing it with the cleverness, one in particular which I'm surprised hasn't been called out yet

I hope Cornballer is on top of his game. I haven't seen Cap 2 yet.

 

[number11]

Hand is only a hand of the Clairvoyant

THE CLAIRVOYANT IS ULTRON

That is the only acceptable answer for me

Winter Soldier spoiler.. Surely the Clairvoyant is

Spoiler

Zola?

 

[Cornballer]

Wow guys, some not so subtle comments in this thread, LOL. I have seen Cap 2 but some of you are really pushing it with the cleverness, one in particular which I'm surprised hasn't been called out yet

I hope Cornballer is on top of his game. I haven't seen Cap 2 yet.

If you see something that's a problem, feel free to let me know via PM and I can deal with it appropriately - usually just deleting posts is sufficient.

 

[Zen]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait, so Hand is the Clairvoyant?



She'll be protected by Triplett.

"protected"

God, she wants him bad.

She has a thing for black guys, poor Fitz!

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Honestly, if people keep saying the show is shit after an episode like this then I kinda have to agree with the showrunners that people have unreasonable expectations.

If they can keep the quality we saw in this episode going story-wise then my expectations have been reasonably met.

Cinematography and fight choreography still needs work.

I agree with this. They're still very lacking in comparison with a ton of other shows in this regard. But if they can keep the pace up for the rest of the season like last night's episode, I will be very satisfied. It was a fantastic episode.

Coulson holds a gun in the weirdest way in that last scene. Anyone else think it felt off?

 

[Dai101]

Winter Soldier spoiler.. Surely the Clairvoyant is

Spoiler

Zola?

I think the same.

 

[inky]

I hope Cornballer is on top of his game. I haven't seen Cap 2 yet.

Cornballer is doing a great job. Calling attention to it might make it worse now that I think about it. If you haven't been spoiled by now just don't go back in the thread looking for stuff, or you might just get spoiled unintentionally.

And yes, this episode was perfectly fine, warts and all. This is the AoS I wanted to see. A shady organization dealing with all manners of things where deadly but maybe not greatly adjusted people have to work together. It took long enough for distrust to arise in a big way, and for threats to feel like such.

 

[Toa TAK]

Coulson holds a gun in the weirdest way in that last scene. Anyone else think it felt off?

Same. It was kinda funny, in a "ha-ha" way for me.

 

[richiek]

Just found this:

 

[fallengorn]

Coulson holds a gun in the weirdest way in that last scene. Anyone else think it felt off?

I thought him holding the M4 was weird.

Also, it's odd to always see him wear his jacket. I know hist suit is is "costume" but seeing him wear body armor and his jacket was weird to me. Not as bad as when he was on the beach in one of the early episodes.

 

[Zen]

I agree with this. They're still very lacking in comparison with a ton of other shows in this regard. But if they can keep the pace up for the rest of the season like last night's episode, I will be very satisfied. It was a fantastic episode.

Coulson holds a gun in the weirdest way in that last scene. Anyone else think it felt off?

I think Ward knows how to hold guns, you would think they would give the cast some basic firearm training. Sheesh.

I mean watch how he goes down the stairs at this part speciffically in the far shot when he goes down the stairs.
http://youtu.be/O4yi5l0mCJs?t=1m23s

 

[Toa TAK]

Just found this:

^On that happy note, Happy Birthday to Clark Gregg!

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Just found this:

Ha!

I thought him holding the M4 was weird.

Also, it's odd to always see him wear his jacket. I know hist suit is is "costume" but seeing him wear body armor and his jacket was weird to me. Not as bad as when he was on the beach in one of the early episodes.

I think Ward knows how to hold guns, you would think they would give the cast some basic firearm training. Sheesh.

I mean watch how he goes down the stairs at this part speciffically in the far shot when he goes down the stairs.
http://youtu.be/O4yi5l0mCJs?t=1m23s

The jacket looks badass, but someone please train Coulson to hold weapons in a proper manner. The right way is the badass away.

 

[Lone_Prodigy]

I think it was the shoulder strap that made it awkward.

 

[Red Arremer]

Great episode. Show keeps getting better, and I am slowly getting over my disappointment in the first few eps.

 

[Deleted member 20920]

Winter Soldier spoiler.. Surely the Clairvoyant is

Spoiler

Zola?

Probably is