Life is full of little disappointments... (but no spoilers) Part 2

[lil_shepherd]

So... Agents of SHIELD.

I was really looking forward to this, but I don't wear any fannish goggles when watching the pilot of a TV show, so I have to say it was by no means totally bad or offensive, just very ordinary and with a lot of faults.

Comments

[louisedennis]

Agreed, I was a bit `meh' about it. None of the characters really grabbed me (even Coulson) and the plot was a bit of a mundane runaround with technobabble saving things at the end of the day.

[lil_shepherd]

Over on Facebook, Helen McCarthy has just reminded me, inadvertently, of the very earliest days of SHIELD and its creator, Jim Steranko, one of the great names in American comic book, both as an illustrator (oh, wow, as an illustrator) and as a writer. Apparently, he doesn't like Agents of SHIELD and I can't say I blame him. He invented or adopted some of the most iconic of SHIELD characters: the Contessa, Jasper Sitwell (some of whose characterisation was repeated in Coulson), Dum Dum Dugan and Clay Quartermain, all of whom were immediately distinguishable from each other in their looks, how their dialogue was written, and how they acted.

MCU SHIELD is the SHIELD of a much later tradition - mainly the alternate/nastier Ultimates line - and the work of Brian Bendis, who invented Maria Hill who was close to being a villain at various points.

[louisedennis]

It's odd, because I'd have said one of Whedon's strengths was his ability to quickly create distinctive characters, even if initially they are done with fairly simple broad brush strokes. But I got nothing from any of the ones here save Petersen.

[dickgloucester]

I don't know the comics at all, so missed all that.

For all its weaknesses, I think this pilot lays a reasonably solid foundation stone for the series and have hopes that things will get better despite the cliches.

I adored the flying car, which made me laugh out loud in delighted surprise.

[lil_shepherd]

I liked the realisation of SHIELD's flying cars, but was expecting it.

I hope it will get better, I really do. I'm a great admirer of Joss Whedon, particularly of Buffy and Firefly (though I have difficulties with both in some respects, particularly some the world building in the latter.)

[heleninwales]

I haven't actually watched the pilot yet, but we hav it recorded and I was hoping it would be OK.

Like you, I don't know the comics so your comment encourages me that perhaps not knowing will allow me to enjoy the series due to having no preconceptions.

[starcat_jewel]

I just got caught up with it via Hulu. That weird fight in the tower penthouse -- all I could think was, "Geez, all these white guys look alike!" I couldn't figure out who was who for the life of me. Not to mention, why didn't the blond chick freak out? That entire sequence was just surreal and senseless.