When I said I'd conclude my MCU coverage tomorrow, I actually meant ten days later. Ok, I didn't really mean that, but I can point the blame at some computer problems and an increased workload. The point is, I'm here to conclude my journey through the updated MCU properly. I've reviewed all nine films, from "Iron Man" to "The Winter Soldier", but there are some gaps to fill in. The great thing about the MCU is that its creators listen to its fans. They pay attention to continuity, and in the event something in their films goes unexplained or doesn't go over well, they use a One Shot to cover it.
I briefly touched on the first two One Shots, "The Consultant" and "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Thor's Hammer", during my Phase I retro reviews. Both starred Agent Phil Coulson, the breakout star of the MCU, in a day in the life of a SHIELD agent. "Hammer" was just a fun little side story that showed off how badass Coulson was. "The Consultant", however, filled in a crucial gap that sorted out the timeline of Phase I, and put the ending scene of "The Incredible Hulk" into context. It was then that I realized how important these One Shots could be. Little did I know, they'd have a bigger impact that I initially realized.
The following two One Shots, "Item 47" and "Agent Carter", were further explorations into SHIELD's inner workings. One showed SHIELD tracking down a Chitauri weapon in the fallout of the New York battle, the other showed SHIELD's origins with Agent Peggy Carter immediately following the first "Captain America." "Item 47" was cute but a little unnecessary, kind of like "Hammer." "Agent Carter", however, really showed off Haley Atwell's skills as Cap's favorite gal. The short cemented her status as a founding member of SHIELD, and once again took advantage of its period setting. It was a really entertaining short that added something of value to the MCU mythos.
That, however, was nothing compared to the latest short. "All Hail the King" is probably the most significant of the One Shots, actively setting up future stories while wrapping up threads from an entire trilogy. In "King", Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, who's interviewed in prison about the Mandarin scandal. As it turns out, Aldrich Killian and AIM never worked with the actual Ten Rings, only using their image and the name of their leader, the Mandarin, as part of their scheme.
As such, the Mandarin is a real person, and he's pissed at Killian and Slattery ruining his name. I was completely blown away by this, as it not only tied everything back into "Iron Man 1", but blew the Mandarin mystery wide open for a possible "Iron Man 4." Like I speculated in my rant about the Mandarin controversy, we could easily see someone else take up the mantle in a future film, and now it looks like we're actually getting that. Maybe we'll get to see the actual ten power rings in all their glory one day.
But until then, it was great just to see more of Kingsley's Slattery character, which made the entire short hilarious. An unexpected, but not unwelcome, cameo from "Iron Man 2's" Justin Hammer also resolved that plot thread, while adding even more hilarity. The short was fantastic all around, but more than anything, it made me see how intent Marvel is on filling in the gaps in their universe.
But it's one thing to resolve a dangling thread with a short film. What about having an entire TV show? The reception of the One Shots led Marvel to greenlight "Agents of SHIELD", resurrecting Phil Coulson to lead a small crack team of agents in missions across the globe. I've already briefly touched on the show. Specifically, how Coulson's breakout popularity led to his resurrection even though there wasn't a strong in-universe reason for it. I never got a chance to really analyze the show as a whole, so now's as good a time as any, especially with its first (and possibly only) season about to wrap up.
For starters, Coulson is as charming here as he was in the Marvel films. Clark Gregg brings Coulson's charisma from the big screen to the small screen effortlessly, and for the first few episodes really carries the show. Unfortunately, it's his performance that literally carries things for the first half. I thought the pilot was good enough, and could see the potential, but thought it lacked something that made it worthy of being a pivotal MCU addition. Namely, the other SHIELD agents.
The scientist duo of Fitz-Simmons was annoying, specialist Grant Ward was too bland, combat trainer Melinda May too mysterious, and hacker Skye way too comical. The fact is that none of these characters were very interesting, and it was only Coulson and the "origin story" for failed Extremis soldier Mike Peterson that kept me interested in the pilot. Further episodes didn't do much to calm my suspicions.
It was fun at first just to tune in to the MCU every week. But soon I was watching more to see if it improved than anything else. There were some interesting developments, sure, like a superhuman index and "0-8-4" classifications for strange objects. But the characters didn't change much for me to really care for them. Not to mention the episodes were too standalone in nature, with no clear direction as to where things were headed.
The ongoing mystery of Coulson's resurrection was wearing thin, and I began to wonder if this show would end up being worth it. The first true MCU crossover, a "Thor: The Dark World" tie-in, was superfluous at best, making me question the show's commitment to honoring the larger universe. Luckily, the show improved tremendously in the second half.
Mike Peterson returned, was blown up, and reanimated as Deathlok, an infamous Marvel antihero. Having a legitimate character from the comics was definitely a step in the right direction, and Peterson's sympathetic character made it that much more convincing. We got some actual answers on Coulson's resurrection, learning he was injected with a drug derived from an alien corpse. An interesting explanation to be sure, but I didn't care about the how so much as the why. Thank God the following episode, another "Thor" tie-in with Lady Sif, was a real turning point.
While the previous episodes showed me things were improving, this episode felt more like what I wanted the show to be initially. It made up for the first crossover, characterized Sif more than either "Thor" film, and expanded the world of both the show and the larger MCU. Coulson's return was now an engaging mystery, as was the identity of the Clairvoyant, our seemingly psychic main villain who bankrolled Deathlok and a new Extremis program. Then the show outdid itself, catapulting its story from mere tie-ins to full on integration with the MCU.
That would be the last two episodes, where the narrative caught up with "The Winter Soldier" and had our agents deal with SHIELD's internal collapse from HYDRA. The Clairvoyant was Coulson's good friend and Ward's mentor John Garrett, using his high level SHIELD clearance to fake his psychic abilities. He's really an agent of HYDRA, meaning Deathlok and the revived Extremis program (Centipede) were all under the tentacled terrorist group.
This reveal was expertly staged, forcing the agents to wonder who to trust as the agency they've sworn loyalty to crumbles around them. It's especially hard for Coulson, who's resurrection ordeal has already made him doubt his superiors. In the wake of the HYDRA reveal, our agents have become ghosts, going off grid to fight the remaining HYDRA cells. But the biggest surprise is that Ward is also a HYDRA agent, deep undercover to infiltrate Coulson's team. He and Garret raid a recovered SHIELD facility for its advanced weaponry, freeing all the strange objects the team encountered in the season's first half.
Now all those seemingly standalone episodes have a purpose, and everything we have seen so far has been building to something greater. All the doubts I had about the show have gone out the window. Not only do we have a strong story arc to carry the rest of the season, but all the characters are developed enough to actually be likable. They've been put in dangerous situations, had their loyalty tested, and are now struggling for purpose in the wake of SHIELD's collapse. A scene where Coulson breaks down on his team about how their actions still have meaning was heart wrenching, and really sold how emotionally gripping this show has become.
While at first "SHIELD" seemed to do little more than lay out the timeline of Phase II, it's recent actions have emphasized the more downplayed aspects of the movies. If HYDRA could acquire Extremis, they could have been partnered with AIM in "Iron Man 3," explaining why SHIELD didn't step in to help Tony save the President. SHIELD not initially reacting to the Dark Elf attack still doesn't make sense, but in light of the reveal, it could be HYDRA wanted to use the London invasion to further justify Project Insight.
The greatest aspect, however, is Coulson's return. I still don't know the exact reason he came back, but I can now guesstimate why. Fury wanted an inside man if SHIELD went down, so loyal company man Coulson was too valuable to lose. He used Coulson as a test subject for the drug, likely the blood of a fallen alien Kree (as Sif teased). Fury then had May spy on Coulson to ensure the drug worked, while checking for side effects. All the while, Coulson was to never find out, for fear he would be compromised if HYDRA got to him.
This explains HYDRA's interest in Coulson, since a miracle drug would be invaluable to any superhuman army. It's only a theory, but at least I have something to chew on about Coulson's return. If nothing else, I know the show is confident enough now to keep me invested. Its characters drive the show, even if more supervillains, Coulson's Cellist love, and Fury and Hill cameos are on the horizon."Agents of SHIELD" now feels like a worthy addition to the MCU. It not only fills in the gaps and adds to the universe, but it shows how normal people cope in a world of heroes and monsters.
The recent ratings may call into question the show's renewal, but there's always future One Shots if loose ends need wrapping up. Whatever the show's future, I can't wait to see what adventures are waiting for Coulson and his band of misfits. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is as confident as ever, and now that their first foray into TV is working, I can calmly look forward to every other upcoming MCU project, TV or otherwise.
No comments:
Post a Comment