Writers: Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen,
Director: David Soloman
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Ian Hart, David Conrad,
Synopsis: After an important scientist is kidnapped, S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the case to discover his whereabouts, how exactly he was kidnapped, and whether or not there is a mole in their organisation.
Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D arrives with its third episode and it is gradually finding its feet. Perhaps it’s my lowered expectations after two fairly disappointing episodes, but as the writers feel less inclined to shove the (still fairly annoying) characters down our throats, there’s a bit more plot and character development to make up for the shortcomings.
It all opens with a fantastic action sequence that lives up to, without copying, the scenes we’ve seen from the cinematic offerings in this universe. A lorry and two cars are inexplicably drawn into the air by an unseen force, before being dropped to the ground and having their important cargo removed by armed men. It sets the scene for an episode that gives us a bit of mystery, as well as the required action we yearn for.
As the agents get on the case it becomes clear that ‘The Asset’ is aiming for an espionage, spy thriller feel more than that of a superhero spin-off. It’s a huge benefit to the show, and something we were promised from the IRON MAN sequels which they both failed to deliver. We see a number of gadgets in action, as well as some training that allows Ward (Dalton) to become more of a mentor to Skye (Bennet). It makes up for his lack of charisma in previous episodes, and also prevents him from being pigeonholed as the dashing leading man. Skye is also a character who benefits greatly from this episode. As she goes undercover in an attempt to infiltrate the villains lair, there are genuine moments when we question where her allegiances lie. As an outsider to of S.H.I.E.L.D. we wouldn’t blame her at all for turning the tables on her allies, resulting in tension I felt was absent from the previous two episodes.
Supporting our regulars this week is the phenomenal Ian Hart, who may very well be underused, but he is also very memorable. Like Skye, we’re unsure as to whether or not this is a character that actually needs rescuing. Is he a kidnapped victim, or is he the obsessed scientist type? The episode keeps the answers for the final moments and presents a difficult choice for Coulson.
It’s a great leap forward for the show, finding its voice and settling its characters into the world in which they inhabit. Some of the characters still feel unnecessary; two geeky/quirky scientists? And the dialogue is still familiar and needlessly filled with sarcastic wit…from everyone. If it can continue at this pace, with slight improvements each week and self-contained stories that ooze fun, then Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.is welcome to stick around.
Best Bit: A stinger to rival, and even exceed, some of the big screen Marvel efforts. Hopefully the cliffhanger will pay off in the future of the series, but no there’s no need to rush at this point.
Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. hits Channel 4 every Friday at 8pm.
bfg666
Oct 13, 2013 at 2:12 am
You have to keep in mind that this is a Whedon show and as such, its dialogue is bound to be “familiar and (…) filled with sarcastic wit…from everyone.” Yes, I left the “needlessly” part out because for those who like him, his dialogue style is precisely a big part of why we like him. Even paternal figures such as Giles in Buffy have their own witty dialogue, so it’s not surprising to find his trademark style in this new show, just like we found it in Avengers.
I get that you might think it misplaced in a serious global peacekeeping agency like SHIELD but you have to factor in that a majority of the cast is young recruits who just barely got out of teenagehood, so they’re not used to speaking official lingo yet and their demeanor reflects on their elders, who find here an opportunity to let go and be more lively than the usual grim stuck-up politically correct figures we normally find in this kind of agencies. What you deem needless, I deem refreshing. To each his own.