Agents of SHIELD, Episode 10 - Not Quite Live Commentary

    No Live Commentary this week, as I was kept late by work responsibilities.  So here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I watched the show on DVR.

0:01: Wow.  An action sequence right at the start.  That's novel.

0:05: Sorry, @AgentsofSHIELD.  Centipede doesn't sound as threatening as HYDRA.  

0:12: Ah, the old "He's standing behind me, isn't he?" gag. 

0:15: Oh, Fitz you jealous little boy, you...

0:16: And finally, after ten episodes, we finally get to hear about the cellist! 

0:17: This is a good scene but that's some of the worst green-screen I've ever seen. 

0:18:What the - are they actually building on a previous episode's plot point?

0:19: And an actual answer to a mystery?  This is almost like a Joss Whedon show...

0:28: Peterson is just what this series needs - a likeable character without a mysterious backstory.

0:39: She really seems to want to meet The Clairvoyant?  Is he Benedict Cumberbatch?

0:50: Kidnapped loved ones. Power and Responsibility.  Now THIS feels like a Marvel Comic!   

0:56: Wow.  Didn't see that coming.  For real.

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 9 - Live Commentary

    Here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I made on Twitter as the show played.

0:01: Labratory Accident Kills 4 - how often is THAT a headline in the Marvel Universe? 

0:01: Not @FeliciaDay, but an incredible simulation!

0:04:  Particle accelerator?  Am I watching #Arrow by accident?

0:04:  Magnets, yo!  How do they work?  

0:06: You get more with a tranq gun and a kind word than just a kind word.  

0:10:  I'm sure they rushed this episode with the particle accelerator so they could say #Arrow ripped them off.

0:16: Is it just me, or do the walls of the cell look like old-school TARDIS panelling? 

0:18: Sadly, there will be some explanation for this that does not require a phone call to #DrStrange. 

0:24: You know what the fans really want to see? Simmons using the same hologram interface Tony Stark did!  

0:27: I wonder how frequently The Bus crashing is going to be a thing? 

0:34: #AgentsofSHIELD! It's like #XFiles with... uh... er... it's like X-Files!  

0:36: Oh - put the believer in the light and the Atheist in the dark.  THAT'S subtle!   

0:40: @Sea_Bunker  If that room is so dang secure & protective how come their voices carry through it so easily?

0:41: The walls are made of Vibranium and allow sound to pass through them. #NoPrize #BS  

0:57: Yeah...  really not digging this episode.

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 8 - Live Commentary

Here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I made on Twitter as the show played.


0:04: Nice music. This would be really tense if I had any idea what was going on.

0:05: So… origin of Valkyrie?

0:13: Yay Internet, she said sarcastically.

0:15: Hey! It's that guy from Ghostbusters 2!

0:20: So... the sum total of this being tied in to #ThorTheDarkWorld is them cleaning up the mess Thor made.

0:36: I just love how gleefully and obliviously Simmons talks about dissecting a living sentient being.

0:43: You can tell how engrossed I am by the fact that I'm checking my feed and RTing things while I watch this.

0:49: And… there’s Ward’s secret.  I guess. 

0:53: Cross behind Coulson as he talks about dying and coming back. That's REAL subtle.

0:56:Oh... hell. Did they just....? Ok. That was actually unexpected.

0:59: And yeah... something ain't right with Coulson's mind.

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 7 - Live Commentary

Here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I made on Twitter as the show played.

0:01: Tilted cam.  Very Joel Schumacher.  Not a good start.

0:02: Looks like they slashed the lighting budget....

0:08: Whenever I see the name Saffron Burrows, I have to remind myself she isn't the daughter on AbFab.

0:12: Oh, Fitz you are so cute trying to be badass.

0:15: Pumping Coulson for information.  This will not end well...

0:18:"He's acting like a robot version of himself."  How would SHE know that?!?!

0:20: Fixing a TV to gain the native's trust.  I swear that was a plot point on Michael Palin's Ripping Yarns.

0:21: No wait.  That was them losing the natives' trust by blowing up a radio. Mea culpa.

0:22: It definitely involved natives, trust and a sporting event!  I remember that!

0:26: Coulson just got an "Out of Cheese Error.  Please Reboot Universe." Message.

0:38: "Is that what SHIELD's all about?"  Uh.. yeah.  Thought that's why you were fighting them before you got caught?

0:47: This @SUBWAY commercial with the @TheHungerGames tie-in is the most tasteless thing I've seen in a while.

0:51: This fight scene reminds me of the final battle from Yor: The Hunter From The Future.

0:54: Totally calling this now - Skye's mom is Mary Parker.

0:59: And... not surprisingly, they are hiding Coulson's injury report from him.  Seems legit.

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 6 - Live Commentary

Here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I made on Twitter as the show played.

0:01: #AgentsofSHIELD will not be airing tonight in favor of a classic episode of #AreYouAfraidOfTheDark?

0:03: Rusty? Heh! Heh! NOT A ROBOT!

0:09: At this point, I'm pretty much watching this just to find out what's the deal with Coulson. 

0:12: I got the Big Lebowski joke!

0:17: I'm calling it now - Skrull cattle.

0:18: Okay.  Fine. Chitairo cattle.  Geez...

0:22:Waiting for the dancing alien to jump out of his head and start singing "Ragtime Gal".

0:26: I really hope Coulson is describing Valhalla and not Heaven.  Thor knows he earned a seat there. 

0:34: Simmons, the Wednesday Adams look doesn't work on you. Sorry.

0:37: "I wish it was some super-powered socoiopath."  You and me both, man.

0:42: THRILL as they move petri dishes around!

0:45:Would it be tasteless for me to start singing Freefalling by Tom Petty at this point?

0:51: Hey, physics geeks!  Do a shot for every law that's being violated by this sequence! 

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 5 - (Almost) Live Commentary

Due to delays in my getting out of work, this commentary wasn't quite "live".  Thank Ganesha for DVR though, eh?  So here's the archive of all the sarcasm and commentary I made on Twitter as the show played... almost live.


0:01: Woman flirting with a street magician.  That should be setting all his alarms off.

0:02: Oh, for Doctor Strange to show up right now...

0:03: Mutant, cosmic rays or magician?  Taking all bets!

0:04: Those can't be SHIELD agents.  No logos on their suits.

0:06: "Go a few rounds..." Hey, they stole that from a JLU episode! 

0:14: Give this guy credit for being smart enough to realize nobody kidnaps you for a GOOD reason.   

0:15: Scorch?  Seriously?  Whoever is writing this has a mad-on for old New Warriors comics..

0:19: And... confirmation that Skye is playing both sides against the middle, at least.  Mayhe.  Probably.

0:24: Amd... yeah.  Busted! 

0:29: And... just like that he's swayed into using his powers for eeeeeeeeevil. 

0:30: He's a Minecraft player!  Evil Bastard! 

0:33: More Extremis.  Geez, couldn't it be something else, for once?  

0:38: Oh man - this is SO not what I had in mind when I asked to be strapped down with two women..

0:39: Trying to avoid the word "mutant" like crazy, aren't they? 

0:42: I cast Burning Hands! 

0:48: Oh, Scorch. NEVER say "Nothing Can Stop Me!" That's a sure death sentence.

0:51: Oh!  They're talking about Skye!  THAT was subtle.

0:53: Hey! Nick Fiury's bar is back!    

0:55: I'm going to call it now - Skye is Peter Parker's long lost sister.

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 4 - Live Commentary

Sarcasm and commentary, as the show plays. Here is the archive of what I said on Twitter.

0:01:  Hey! It's the Red Man Group! 

0:02: Boy, the Red Skull's men are cheaping out on their uniforms

0:04: How soon until Agent Coulson starts asking "Are we there yet?

0:08: I wonder how many spies actually DO thank the techies for Facebook making their jobs easier?

0:12: Geez, with all the agents SHIELD has go rogue, it's a wonder they have anyone on the payroll still

0:16: Short Bus.  BWAHAHAHA! 

0:28: I keep getting distracted by everyone on my Twitter feed talking about the #SuperheroesPBS special

0:29: I think the honeymoon is officially over. And here I thought the show just wasn't clicking for me. 

0:30: But everyone is talking about #SuperheroesPBS and not #AgentsOfSHIEL

0:35: Nice to see Coulson getting some development.  Wish they'd do this for the rest of the cast. 

0:38: She just described James Bond

0:43: I'm recording the #SuperheroPBS for later. Have no fear. I just can't watch it now because I am recording a podcast at 8 PM

0:45: Looking back over all this, I haven't really said much about the show.  Says it all, doesn't it? 

0:50: They even put SHIELD logos on the labcoats!  I call shenanigans on this secret spy organization! 

0:51: There is something very Clark Kent about Agent Ward in glasses.  

0:53: And the obligatory hint that Coulson is not Coulson. 

0:55: Okay.  I DO like Skye calling Coulson AC because it sounds cool.  Ha!  AC!  Cool!   

0:58: "When evil villains have superpowers...." Not subtle on pushing #OnceUponATime on the @AgentsofSHIELD fans, are they?

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 3 - Live Commentary

Sarcasm and commentary, as the show plays. Here is the archive of what I said on Twitter.


0:01:  It's US-1, the Trucker Hero!

0:02:  Uh oh. Trucker. Plot involves people becoming invisible. Is this a remake of Riding With Death?

0:05:  The Bus is NOT The Serenity.  Not at all.  Don't even think that.

0:12:  Look out, Coulson!  He's riding Bad Horse!

0:15:  Drinking the wine the kidnapper just gave you.  Not a very smart scientist, is he?

0:16:  It's Wonderflonium!  Do Not Bounce!

0:18:  A Stargate?

0:25: Oh geez... an abusive childhood.  Did this become a DC Comic villain's origin all of a sudden? 

0:29:  And nobody notices the woman talking to herself in the middle of this well-lit party?

0:31:  This speech about government interference in big business sounds better when it isn't given by Rick Perry.

0:32:  Why does Skye's diction sound less natural when she ISN"T parroting a script over her headset?

0:40:  "Saying his name repeatedly does not increase productivity!"  Line of the episode.

0:43:  More excitement in this Hobbit trailer than this whole episode before now.

0:49: GET TO DA CHOPPA!  NOW!   

0:52:  All snarking aside, the gravity effects are pretty cool.  Kinda reminds me of The Prisoner. 

0:53:  Nice job, Coulson!  You just made the world's biggest executive desk toy!

0:59:  I predict this will only lead to good things in the future!

Agents of SHIELD, Episode 2 - Live (But Not Really) Commentary

Due to my responsibilities at work keeping me late, I was not - as I'd planned - able to live tweet the latest episode of Agents of SHIELD as I'd planned. But since most of you would have read the summary of it once I was done anyway, I figured there's nothing to stop me from watching it a few hours later and THEN doing a "live blog".

DVR for the win!



1:48  -  Did Skye steal those boots from River Tam?

5:06 -  Yeah.  Coulson has become Captain Jack Harkness.  Which is not a bad thing to be. 

5:44 -  I know this is hardly an original comment but damn - for a secret organization, SHIELD slaps their logo on every thing. 

9:00 -  More hints about May's past and proof she is indeed a bad ass. 

14:20 -  What about the cellist, Phil?! 

18:23 -  You know what this scene needs?  John Williams music. 

19:53  - Professor!  Lava!  Hot!  Why does nobody ever listen to the scientist who says that touching the McGuffin is a bad idea? 

24:53 -  That may be the line of the episode - "Do you need anything else before I go check on the device fueled by evil that's sitting in our cargo hold?" 

27:01 -  I'm just going to call Fitz and Simmons Quirk 1 and Quirk 2.

33:29 -  Okay.  I take it back.  Coulson is NOT Captain Jack.  Jack would have slept with the enemy agent THEN revealed this his underlings had stopped her underlings.

38:23 -  The Calvary, eh?  Hope that explain that to the rest of us eventually...

43:00 -  Hmmm... 616 code.  Nice shout out to the comics there. 

50:35 -  This would be a much better action sequence if it weren't shot so close to everyone's faces.

54:59 - Drinking in the cargo bay.  Anyone else think they're pushing the Serenity angle a bit much?

55:51 - Annnnd... there's our twist for the next episode.

59:00 - Spoil the cameo after the credits.  I dare you!  I double dare you!



FINAL ANALYSIS: Still developing the core cast past a bunch of Whedonesque stereotypes but still an entertaining hour of TV.

Agents of SHIELD - First Episode Review

Perhaps the most highly-anticipated new television series of the year, Agents of SHIELD has a lot going for it apart from a massive Internet hype machine and thousands upon thousands of Marvel Comics lovers and Joss Whedon fans just itching for more after The Avengers.  With a writing team that includes Whedon's co-creators on Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog and a cast headed by Clark Gregg as a not-yet-dead Agent Phil Coulson, hopes are high for the new series.  However, that optimism is tempered by the fact that sci-fi shows rarely do well on the major networks and that apart from Gregg, most of the cast is largely untested in this sort of program.

Thankfully, this pilot episode largely justifies the fans' optimism.  Unsurprisingly, the writing is smart.  The groundwork is already being laid for a complex mythology utilizing previously established pieces of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (there's a direct reference to the plot of Iron Man 3) as well as the original comics.  Several mysteries have also been set up, including how Agent Coulson is still vertical and just why his doctor (played by Ron Glass in a brilliant cameo role) and Agent Maria Hill seem to know some secret about his lucky escape that must be kept hidden from him.   

The rest of the core cast are made up of a collection of  the same quick-witted geniuses with an every-ready quip on their lips that populate every world created by Joss Whedon.  Therein lays the biggest problem with the show so far- familiarity.  There's nothing to truly distinguish any of the cast apart from Coulson from the same character types most of us have come to know and love in Joss Whedon's other work.  Hopefully that will improve as the show progresses but so far we know little about our core cast besides some broad archetypes.

That being said, while the general concept of the show is reminiscent of several other TV series based around secret groups working to protect the populace from general weirdness, the writing so far is unique enough to keep this from being Joss Whedon's Warehouse 13 or Marvel Comics Presents Fringe or even Stan Lee's Torchwood.  It will be worth watching if only to see how they develop it from here.  I don't think this show is quite the revolution fans hoped it would be.  It is, however, a good start to what could be a great series. 

THE SON OF COUL LIVES! Also. A Three-Minute Trailer For Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

My thoughts? Joss Whedon made it, so it will undoubtedly be brilliant. The only question is will ABC be more willing to give a quirky show like this a chance than FOX was?