Week 8: Pilot, 0-8-4

I remember trying to watch this back when it first started. I don’t think I finished the first episode. I’m 2 episodes in now, and I still don’t know how I feel about it.

It’s an interesting concept, and I like Coulson as a character, but so far it just feels like Marvel without the Marvel, which I can’t wrap my head around.

Ok, we've reached the point in the schedule where I can catch up on my movie viewing!

I'm watching a few episodes ahead just in case after Feb 28, we can't find them anywhere.

Yikes. Until Erik's comment, I didn't even realize that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was included in the February 28 Marvel exodus from Netflix. Wonderful timing. As of now, it can be bought for $15/season on Amazon or $20/season on YouTube, but I don't know if those options will exist after February either. If all else fails, I guess I'll be ordering DVDs, or getting them from the library like Denise suggested.

Pilot: This is the only episode that I've seen, and I liked it better this time, I think because I was actually paying attention. All of the "hero" talk is too meta and clunky for my taste, but the introductions of the various team members are fun, and the show doesn't take itself too seriously. What I liked most was that Coulson kept acting differently than I expected; I've watched my share of espionage thrillers and it's rare to see the team leader improvise this much and trust in strangers this much. That's refreshing. The scene where he snaps at Fitz & Simmons; that's what I expected. I have had plenty of future plot twists spoiled for me, so I look forward to the delights that I don't anticipate coming, like Coulson's softer touch. (5/10)

0-8-4: This one is a little less successful, hampered by an unclear screenplay. The device is too dangerous to touch, but let's trigger it to go off mid-flight. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a top-secret agency, but let's give these soldiers free access to our plane. Skye's goal in life is to expose secrets to the public, but let's put her in charge of cover-ups. The show needs time to figure out its tone and find itself, which I'm sure it will. I did enjoy the Nick Fury cameo (does Samuel L. Jackson ever not seem like he's having a blast?), but yuck to the terrible dialogue in the scene where Skye brings Ward a beer to reset their relationship and makes her life philosophy sound as well-developed as a middle-schooler's. (3/10)

How did the people on the plane stay conscious after the cabin lost pressure?

I know that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has some great music throughout (both score and soundtrack), and "0-8-4" has the first of that in the rocket launch scene.