I finished season three of Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (AOS) yesterday on Netflix and I was left with a multitude of thoughts and reactions. First off, yes I am aware of the fact that this is very late. I did not have the chance to watch the show live because I was still in college and my “watch list” on Netflix is pretty long, so it took me some time to get to AOS. Second off, I am a huge Marvel fan. I love to read comic books, watch the shows and movies, and play the games; overall, I just love being part of the Marvel universe and I have found myself dreaming and day-dreaming that I have been able to join that universe, with and without superpowers. And yes, this article will hold spoilers; maybe not in large detail, but at least in vague ways.
AOS is not a terrible TV show. I will admit, the first season was a little slow to get going, but once it did, I was pretty hooked through season two. I enjoy the tie-ins with the movie, the inclusion of the Inhumans, and the references and cameos to other super heroes that happen on occasion (Sif shows up occasionally in the show, references to the Avengers happen and I think there was even a Daredevil reference once, if I am not mistaken). The season two story arc and the progression from it in season three was pretty enjoyable because I have always thought that the Inhumans were an under-rated aspect of the Marvel universe and one that was poorly known. I would, however, like Marvel to skip over the Inhumans who are slightly… well unimportant (as seen from the fact that most of them have died) and get to the Inhuman Royal Family with Black Bolt, Medusa, Mad Max, etc…
Hive was a lot of fun, but I hated the obsession with the need to have Grant Ward be present in this show. I get that his appearance shook the S.H.I.E.L.D. team and that his character was familiar to the fans and the good guys, but I feel like Hive’s real appearance, the more alien one, would have done the show more good because a) Grant Ward was way over played in this show and b) this season was about humanity facing an alien threat that is different than the Chitauri from The Avengers. The alien look should not have been something that was brought out right away, and it was not, but once Gideon Malick was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. they could have done away with the farce, especially since Hive’s true agenda was to make more Inhumans around the world that were just like him. So he would not have wanted to hide his true form. Hive died still looking like Grant Ward and that… well that was just dumb and unnecessary. And if Grant Ward is some how back for season four, I will scream. And probably stop watching the show, depending on how it is he is brought back.
Another issue I had with season three was Daisy. Yes, I understand that she, among all the characters, is the main protagonist right now, but her in-season development is the same each season. She is part of S.H.I.E.L.D. in some form or another, something big happens to her, she has doubts about S.H.I.E.L.D., changes sides, changes back right near the end, and helps to save the day. I also get her importance to the show and to S.H.I.E.L.D., but a lot of resources and lives are used all for Daisy’s sake. I hope that Daisy, also known as Quake, gets a lot more character development in the fourth season because, honestly, I am starting to very much not like her and no longer caring if she lives or dies.
Finally, AOS had a lot of romance in this season; romance that almost seemed forced. Of course Coulson falls in love with the ATCU director, Rosalind Price who dies shortly after. Of course Daisy and Lincoln have a romance that ends in the death of Lincoln. The playing of the romance, or failure of, between May and her on-again-off-again ex-husband Andrew. Of course Fitz and Simmons become a full-blown couple and start to think about taking long trips alone and possibly leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. just like Bobbi* and Hunter did after they fall in love with each other again. And there were also seeds of romance planted for Mack and Yo-Yo. That is every person of the main S.H.I.E.L.D. team and every main character, sans Ward who had his romances in the first two seasons (even though his get played up a little bit when he is Hive so…). Some romance is good for a show, but over-doing and sometimes even forcing it gets annoying.
*Side-Bar: Bobbi is also known as Mockingbird, a name I do not recall being used in the show at all. She has currently left S.H.I.E.L.D. but with her connection to Hawkeye in the comics, respect for both Coulson and Nick Fury in the show and the comics, and her later inclusion to the Avengers, give me hope that she will return in some fashion. And maybe actually be called Mockingbird.
Do not let my three problems with season three of AOS fool you, I still enjoyed the show and I am excited for season four. It is to include Ghost Rider and have a strong connection with the fall-out that happens in Captain America: Civil War and the upcoming Dr. Strange film. It gives me hope that my issues with season three will be resolved and what the show does with Holden Radcliffe. I am also curious to know if this season really did completely kill of Hydra or if there is still some part of it alive. The Red Skull could still be a thing and he did have a daughter, Sin, who could also come in to things at any moment. It could lead to the return of DeathLok, a way to bring in the other Inhumans above, or, least likely but I enjoy finding loose connections, a way to introduce the Runaways by bringing Death Locket and her strong connection to them.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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