Anghus Houvouras reviews the sixth episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D….
I’ve heard the criticism levied against Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which at this point has reached near deafening levels. It’s dry, bereft of energy, lacks charisma, and needs a powerful infusion of Marvel’s more super powered (i.e. where are the super powered heroes and villains?) side to help bring this flaccid, limping corpse to life.
And while I respect the opinions of my peers, I can’t help but think they’re reviewing Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. not as the show it is, but the show they want it to be. The Marvel movies feature the exploits of the the super powered corners of the universe. Whereas S.H.I.E.L.D. is focused on the humanity of those living in their enormous shadows. The show’s greatest strengths (and for some, weaknesses) are heavily exploited in the sixth episode, ‘FZZT’.
A group of First Responders turn up dead, killed by heavy amounts of electrostatic energy. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team investigates and instead of a nefarious villain find the culprit to be a piece of memorabilia cribbed from the Chitauri invasion featured in The Avengers movie. Innocent people start turning up dead because of virus connected to the alien DNA. When one of the members of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team becomes infected, it turns into a race against time to see if they can be cured before a catastrophic outburst of energy kills everyone on board their mobile command plane.
First off, even I will admit I’m getting a little tired of the number of episodes that take place on the plane. I get it. Mobile command center. Base of operations, etc etc. But my one nagging complaint with S.H.I.E.L.D. is the limited scope. Yes, it’s television, but surely every episode doesn’t have to revert to interior of the ship for the final half an hour. The show is fast becoming a claustrophobic affair. I don’t require Thor to show up every episode, but can we get these guys out of the giant flying airship for a story arc or two?
That one needling complaint aside, I liked the sixth episode for playing to the show’s strengths. I mentioned scope earlier. I like the smallness of S.H.I.E.L.D.; I like that these characters are the specks in an ever expanding epic landscape. The mortals among immortals. The expendable among the invincible. The theme of this episode was helplessness. Agent Ward admits he is frustrated with threats he can’t tackle. That he can’t protect the team against these bizarre challenges they face. Coulson admits that he feels different since being speared by Loki and risen from the dead. The episode contains the best scene of the series thus far, when Coulson sits down for a conversation with an infected firefighter mere moments before a gruesome demise. Watching these two men have a conversation about mortality is gripping and intense. While the heroes of the Marvel Universe get to lay the smackdown on alien invaders, the little people are stepped on in the aftermath. This is what makes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. such a compelling show.
It’s not perfect. The show is still sorely in need of a second dimension. By that I mean, depth, not an alternate universe. Although that could be fun. “Evil Coulson” complete with pencil thin moustache. And the show still telegraphs every emotional punch. A few weeks back I declared #CoulsonsaRobot after some very heavy handed dialogue. This week they doubled down on the puns:
“Too much iron in the blood” says Coulson after a physical exam. Gee, I wonder where that is leading….
Still, I will defend Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. against those who constantly writing its eulogy. It may not be the Marvel show fans have been clamoring for, but its been consistently entertaining as it finds a rhythm. Far from perfect, but hardly broken.
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the novel My Career Suicide Note, is available from Amazon.
Originally published November 6, 2013. Updated April 15, 2018.
