A new show by Joss Whedon that fills in the gaps of the Marvel cinematic universe.
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Phil Coulson is a man that few people knew existed before the Marvel movies started coming out. We saw him in Iron Man 2 and 3 as well as in Thor. However, not much was known about him until The Avengers came out in 2012. He had a big part to play in this movie. By the end, his future looks pretty grim. He returns in this show, and even Coulson himself is not sure how or why. But one thing is certain, the world needs saving from evil and S.H.I.E.LD. has a job to protect and save the innocent. With his team by his side, nothing seems impossible. The show is in its second season, and I am interested to see what happens next.
The show does start off slow, with little to no idea who the enemy is or what they are up to. A familiar weapon appears, and things progress from there. Coulson and his team have to find out who is supplying it and why. Newcomer Skye joins the team and thanks to her wonderful hacking skills, the team may have a bit of an edge. Their enemies are getting stronger, new monsters are coming out of the darkness and an evil organization returns that was once thought to be dead. How can his team end up on top? Meanwhile, old secrets resurface and not everyone seems to be who they say they are. There is a mole in the team’s midst, but who is it and what is their goal?
Clark Gregg does a fantastic job as Agent Coulson. He may seem like a simple man, but there are many degrees of complexity to him. He wants to protect people, but this is not always an easy task. He usually keeps people at arms length, and he certainly has his demons. Through it all, he does have a small circle of people he trusts. When things get tough, he is always able to rely on them to help him get through it. He is a great leader and a person with characteristics all men want to emulate.
Ming Na-Wen is the perfect fit for Agent May. She is a woman who is strong, perceptive and appears tough as nails. But as her character has developed, it becomes apparent she has a soft side. She does care greatly for her old friend Coulson, and builds a bond with Skye. She is well trained in many fighting styles and always ready to spring into action. She does make some mistakes along the way, and these can make viewers want to hate her. There is mystery about her, and we have yet to know everything about her past and who she really is. But she is a good role model for women because she breaks the “damsel in distress” stereotype and needs no man to save her. She seems like a lone wolf, but truthfully, she is an important part of the team. No one would be able to play this character and bring all the layers as well as she does.
Brett Dalton is splendid as Grant Ward. He is a person who is also very strong-willed and brave, but he there is more to him than you could ever imagine. It is not always easy to see where his loyalties truly lie, and there are times you will despise him. This is a man who seems to switch sides, and many times he will surprise audiences with the things he does. The man has a very dark past that he wants to hide, but it has become a part of him. Keep an eye on him people, he will surely keep you watching to see what happens next.
I really enjoy this show because it has some great messages in it, and loves to bring up references to some of the biggest Marvel movies. There is an episode where Lady Sif returns when an enemy comes from her realm to earth to wreck havoc. There are also some interesting character arcs, like with Graham and Skye. Both of these people have a strong connection of love, but there is more to each of them than you may think. But the best thing is its message, that family is not simply blood. True family is stronger than that, and no matter what happens good or bad they never turn their back on you. You see this on the show with Coulson and Skye like how his is like the father she never had and she is the almost daughter figure who will follow him and knows he only wants what is best for her.
This is a show I was originally hesitant to watch, but once I gave it a fair shot I started to like it. Once it really got going, I found myself eager to see what happens to this team each week. What has happened so far are things I never saw coming, and I am dying to see what is going to happen next. Coulson and his team work like a well oiled machine, with each person having an important part to play. If something happens to any of them, the whole team feels its effects. When things change or go south, there is no way for it to run as well as it did before. Watch this show, and you will see what I mean.
If you enjoyed all of the marvel movies, you need to check this show out. If you enjoy a program with mystery and suspense, this is the show for you. Watch it with your friends, or better yet your loved ones. You will be glad that you did, for it is a show that has always exceeded my expectations. Watch this show each week Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.