They keep referring to Tahiti, or Fiji, or wherever dude went for recovery, as a "magical" place. They seem to emphasize magical. Makes me wonder if they are eluding to something down the line.
If you watched the pilot, you'd know it was outright stated that something was off about Tahiti
Of course they're alluding to something, the mystery surrounding Coulson's general not being dead-ness is the main through-plot for the season. Clearly there's more to his sudden and impossible recovery than even Coulson knows, revealing that is what this season is about.
It's possible, but I don't think very likely. Shield has always been associated with the Life Model Decoys in the comics, so I do expect them to show up at some point in the series, but I think it's unlikely they'd put what is essentially a robot in charge of their fancy new special ops team and give him the authority to run the show.
The "Vision" thing is just silly.
Don't read too much into Coulson's abiltiies, he was amazing before the TV show:
I honestly don't think he has anything to do with being an LMD. I think there is a magical secret that he doesn't know (maybe a backdoor intro to Doctor Strange, or at least Brother Voodoo?). Everyone who would know what really happened seems to act like Coulson is really Coulson, so I doubt it's something like that.
I honestly don't think he has anything to do with being an LMD. I think there is a magical secret that he doesn't know (maybe a backdoor intro to Doctor Strange, or at least Brother Voodoo?). Everyone who would know what really happened seems to act like Coulson is really Coulson, so I doubt it's something like that.
Whatever he is, he doesn't have his old muscle memory.
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Okay, I watched it and I have to say this was the best episode yet.
They're focusing too much on Skye for my tastes, but the plot of today's actual episode was exactly what I wanted to see. This show should feel like Warehouse 13 meets Fringe but without the 'Artifact' baggage.
I have a feeling we're just in a training montage arc with Skye and Ward. Will Skye shape up and prove herself capable of becoming a Shield field agent? Will Ward ever become a team player? No other characters have any significant or apparent issues. Agent May seems like a good character to explore(as you can see she's my favorite!) but that probably won't happen this season. Coulson is the obvious mystery and I expect a mid-season cliffhanger concerning him before the break and a short arc with him afterwards. The two scientists need to be developed into something beyond just comedy foils and handy ploy propellers. The fact I don't know their names is kinda sad but hey Rome wasn't built in a day and this ensemble action-drama just needs time to mature. I hope the ratings stay strong and the show has a chance to go places.
Okay, I watched it and I have to say this was the best episode yet.
They're focusing too much on Skye for my tastes, but the plot of today's actual episode was exactly what I wanted to see. This show should feel like Warehouse 13 meets Fringe but without the 'Artifact' baggage.
I agree, I wish they would focus more on May and Coulson myself, but I understand that Skye is the audience perspective character for the moment so we can be introduced to all the Shield stuff.
After the whole muscle memory line, I think I may have now done a 180 on the Coulson/LMD theory.
The show has had a resoundingly 'meh' feel so far to me. It is just incredibly shallow and linear, with virtually no character depth/underlying plot, except maybe
what really happened while Coulston thought he was in Tahiti or whereever
. I also find that the 'Government can do no wrong' message of the show really falls on deaf ears right now when our real government looks more like Big Brother every passing day.
The show has had a resoundingly 'meh' feel so far to me. It is just incredibly shallow and linear, with virtually no character depth/underlying plot, except maybe
what really happened while Coulston thought he was in Tahiti or whereever
. I also find that the 'Government can do no wrong' message of the show really falls on deaf ears right now when our real government looks more like Big Brother every passing day.
This, all day this. The last episode was pretty much the last straw with the plot about the greedy hacktivist selling SHIELD secrets and endangering lives. Gag.
I also find that the 'Government can do no wrong' message of the show really falls on deaf ears right now when our real government looks more like Big Brother every passing day.
I got that impression as well. All the Shield personnel, except maybe May, are all blinders-wearing optimists where the government is concerned. They really believe that the government is doing the right thing, no matter the price or action necessary. That being said, a disillusionment arc could slap the rose colored glasses off everyone's faces. Skye is naturally dubious, even as she starts to believe in what they are doing, and from what Coulson revealed in the last episode I think she will not like what she finds out.
I've had a hard time selling this show to other people. Not because they are against a Marvel tv show or anything like that but because I have a hard time describing the show. Law & Order meets MIB is the closest I can come to a brief description. Everyone I've talked to has asked the same question: are there mutants on the show? When I thought about it I realized that while there were mutants on the show they were never referred to as mutants*. Not even once! Anyway, it seems like people(in general and not specifically on MTGS) want AoS to be a mutant/monster/alien of the week show and are disappointed it isn't. Having lived through that with Buffy, X-Files, and Stargate SG-1, I am more than happy to pass on that whenever possible.
*
It seems that 20th Century Fox owns the word "mutant" because it has the rights to X-Men and all associated characters. So as long as they do no movies or any other projects in the "Marvel Cinematic Universe" can use the word. Oddly enough, this won't prevent Marvel Studios from using Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, who is supposedly appearing in Days of Future Past, in Avengers 2.
I also find that the 'Government can do no wrong' message of the show really falls on deaf ears right now when our real government looks more like Big Brother every passing day.
Oh, the other shoe is going to drop. I'd bet big money on it. Neither the comics nor the films have ever shied away from portraying S.H.I.E.L.D. as a morally ambiguous organization, and it's a freaking Joss Whedon show.
With that in mind, I think it's great that they're fleshing out both the pro- and anti-government characters as real human beings with personal motivations, not cardboard-cutout good guys and bad guys. (Contrast the Marvel Civil War event.)
So can we stop complaining about real-world politics and just enjoy this?
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I didn't mind it so much except for the absolutely <snip> way it went about starting things up. Part of how comics worked was you just didn't ever hear about accidental casualties very often because they didn't have them. There was an entire storyarc for hulk once where it was like "yeah, he makes sure not to land on people" and then all of a sudden they play the ultraviolence straight instead of averting the real world style reactions that would otherwise happen.
I have to agree with Blinking Spirit about the tone of the show. One small group of good guys doesn't make 'government can do no wrong', and that certainly isn't a message of the show. Just because this group is pretty unambiguously the good guys, the message is that the government is made up of people, it isn't by itself one thing or another, and Rising Tide's mistake is to believe that it's all one big conspiracy for conspiracy's sake.
Civil War was a good story, but not so good for certain characters. Certain face-heel turns (like Iron Man's) seemed silly, and Spider-Man's arc through the whole thing just felt forced (although, I should note, this was around the time they started pushing Parker's science know-how and put him at the level of the other Marvel Egg-heads).
It seems that 20th Century Fox owns the word "mutant" because it has the rights to X-Men and all associated characters. So as long as they do no movies or any other projects in the "Marvel Cinematic Universe" can use the word. Oddly enough, this won't prevent Marvel Studios from using Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, who is supposedly appearing in Days of Future Past, in Avengers 2.
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch have as much history in classic Avengers stories as they do in the X-Men, which is why they got a pass, I believe, as long as all the mutant stuff ignored.
This episode almost made me care about Fitz and Simmons. It would be awesome if they became the Lone Gunmen/Q of the series and only appear when they need to. There are just too many non-peripheral characters and the show suffers for it. If it was just about Coulson, May, Ward, and Skye I think the show would be much tighter. In a way, Fitz and Simmons are like if Q went on missions with James Bond rather than just tell him how all his gadgets work. Some smart guy/girl characters in the main cast can work(e.g. Samantha Carter, Willow, etc) but they have to really justify their presence.
Fitz and Simmons are keeping Skye and Ward, who are 10000% more interesting, from any significant character growth. I've seen a lot of people online advocating a character death or two but I'd prefer to avoid that. Unlike Firefly and Dollhouse, AoS has a slim chance of not being renewed and needs to make the best of its initial 22 episodes.
There are just too many non-peripheral characters and the show suffers for it.
There are six. That's smaller than the crew in Firefly or the "Scooby Gang" most seasons of Buffy. Smaller than the bridge crew of the Enterprise. And WAAAY smaller than the casts of The Wire or Game of Thrones.
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There are six. That's smaller than the crew in Firefly or the "Scooby Gang" most seasons of Buffy. Smaller than the bridge crew of the Enterprise. And WAAAY smaller than the casts of The Wire or Game of Thrones.
There were 4 main characters in Buffy! Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles. Certainly others got development time(Cordy, Angel, and Spike most obviously) but from start to finish it was never in doubt that those were the main characters. As for Firefly, I think it would have been better without Jayne and the priest fellow. An ensemble show should start small and grow later on.
Ancillary characters are fine but they need stay in the background where they belong until there's a real reason for them to step forward. Fitz and Simmons just aren't strong enough as characters to be main characters. Again they'd be fine in a more off-camera support role and come in when something really big happens. Just because you are presented with frequently appearing characters doesn't mean that they are truly meaningful to the overall plot of a show.
Now, if only May wasn't some vapid "i destroy things and fly a plane in silence" lady we might have a decent show. I'm guessing we get some development for her in the next two episodes based on the rate of characterization that's happened. And that's when the show will start to get better.
May is the weakest link right now, and I honestly don't know how she'll figure into this at the end. Right now she's Lady Deus Ex, but I think it's been hinted at that she's going to be integral to Coulson's plot-line. I'm willing to suffer her vacuum a little longer before I start disliking the show over it;
In the surrogate-family dynamic that these sorts of shows usually have, she's the matriarch counterpart to Coulson's patriarch*: his confidante, and a second voice of experience and reason to the "kids". Plus, they've all but spelled out in bright neon letters that She Has An Interesting Backstory Which Will Be Revealed In Time.
If you watched the pilot, you'd know it was outright stated that something was off about Tahiti
Speaking of which, I read a theory that this Coulson is really a Life Model Decoy[/i] and could be changed into [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_(Marvel_Comics)]Vision down the road. It seems plausible enough and explains how Coulson was able to avoid the big chunk of metal thrown at him in E1.
[card=Jace Beleren]Jace[/card] = Jace
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The "Vision" thing is just silly.
I honestly don't think he has anything to do with being an LMD. I think there is a magical secret that he doesn't know (maybe a backdoor intro to Doctor Strange, or at least Brother Voodoo?). Everyone who would know what really happened seems to act like Coulson is really Coulson, so I doubt it's something like that.
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Whatever he is, he doesn't have his old muscle memory.
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I will comment after I watch last night's show. I don't have cable, so I have to watch it on Hulu tonight.
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They're focusing too much on Skye for my tastes, but the plot of today's actual episode was exactly what I wanted to see. This show should feel like Warehouse 13 meets Fringe but without the 'Artifact' baggage.
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I agree, I wish they would focus more on May and Coulson myself, but I understand that Skye is the audience perspective character for the moment so we can be introduced to all the Shield stuff.
After the whole muscle memory line, I think I may have now done a 180 on the Coulson/LMD theory.
That's what I mean. Prior to that episode I didn't think it was likely. Now I'm thinking it might be.
This, all day this. The last episode was pretty much the last straw with the plot about the greedy hacktivist selling SHIELD secrets and endangering lives. Gag.
I got that impression as well. All the Shield personnel, except maybe May, are all blinders-wearing optimists where the government is concerned. They really believe that the government is doing the right thing, no matter the price or action necessary. That being said, a disillusionment arc could slap the rose colored glasses off everyone's faces. Skye is naturally dubious, even as she starts to believe in what they are doing, and from what Coulson revealed in the last episode I think she will not like what she finds out.
I've had a hard time selling this show to other people. Not because they are against a Marvel tv show or anything like that but because I have a hard time describing the show. Law & Order meets MIB is the closest I can come to a brief description. Everyone I've talked to has asked the same question: are there mutants on the show? When I thought about it I realized that while there were mutants on the show they were never referred to as mutants*. Not even once! Anyway, it seems like people(in general and not specifically on MTGS) want AoS to be a mutant/monster/alien of the week show and are disappointed it isn't. Having lived through that with Buffy, X-Files, and Stargate SG-1, I am more than happy to pass on that whenever possible.
*
Oh, the other shoe is going to drop. I'd bet big money on it. Neither the comics nor the films have ever shied away from portraying S.H.I.E.L.D. as a morally ambiguous organization, and it's a freaking Joss Whedon show.
With that in mind, I think it's great that they're fleshing out both the pro- and anti-government characters as real human beings with personal motivations, not cardboard-cutout good guys and bad guys. (Contrast the Marvel Civil War event.)
So can we stop complaining about real-world politics and just enjoy this?
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
I didn't mind it so much except for the absolutely <snip> way it went about starting things up. Part of how comics worked was you just didn't ever hear about accidental casualties very often because they didn't have them. There was an entire storyarc for hulk once where it was like "yeah, he makes sure not to land on people" and then all of a sudden they play the ultraviolence straight instead of averting the real world style reactions that would otherwise happen.
Vomit, vomit, vomit
Inappropriate language infraction
Kahedron
Civil War was a good story, but not so good for certain characters. Certain face-heel turns (like Iron Man's) seemed silly, and Spider-Man's arc through the whole thing just felt forced (although, I should note, this was around the time they started pushing Parker's science know-how and put him at the level of the other Marvel Egg-heads).
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch have as much history in classic Avengers stories as they do in the X-Men, which is why they got a pass, I believe, as long as all the mutant stuff ignored.
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Also, fzzt was really good
Then back off, she's mine.
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Fitz and Simmons are keeping Skye and Ward, who are 10000% more interesting, from any significant character growth. I've seen a lot of people online advocating a character death or two but I'd prefer to avoid that. Unlike Firefly and Dollhouse, AoS has a slim chance of not being renewed and needs to make the best of its initial 22 episodes.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
There were 4 main characters in Buffy! Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles. Certainly others got development time(Cordy, Angel, and Spike most obviously) but from start to finish it was never in doubt that those were the main characters. As for Firefly, I think it would have been better without Jayne and the priest fellow. An ensemble show should start small and grow later on.
Ancillary characters are fine but they need stay in the background where they belong until there's a real reason for them to step forward. Fitz and Simmons just aren't strong enough as characters to be main characters. Again they'd be fine in a more off-camera support role and come in when something really big happens. Just because you are presented with frequently appearing characters doesn't mean that they are truly meaningful to the overall plot of a show.
In the surrogate-family dynamic that these sorts of shows usually have, she's the matriarch counterpart to Coulson's patriarch*: his confidante, and a second voice of experience and reason to the "kids". Plus, they've all but spelled out in bright neon letters that She Has An Interesting Backstory Which Will Be Revealed In Time.
*Though that's something else I've been wondering about: isn't Coulson actually married?
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.