Top 35 Shows of 2013: No 22 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has the unenviable task of attempting to please fans of the comics, fans of the MCU, Joss Whedon fans, sci-fi fans, the casual viewers, kids and critics and has more hype than any new show in recent years. I think there was no way it was ever going to succeed on that level but maybe because I choose early on not to see it as a Whedon series or a Marvel movie but something that stands on its own that I have found myself fully embracing the show.

Despite what critics say there is in fact an overall plot and an emerging mythology for the series and seeing that all come together is fun to watch – a bit like the early days of Fringe. The mystery of Coulson’s resurrection is just part of a more sinister plot involving baddies like Centipede, the mystery of Skye’s parents and the shady side of S.H.I.E.L.D..

The show is also developing its characters, I completely adore FitzSimmons who have come into their own in recent episodes, there then is May with her troubled past and relationship with Ward which completely threw me but I find interesting – 2 consenting adults forming a bond due to the stresses of their job and own demons? Yes please!  I even like where they are going with Skye, making her the member of the team that can connect with the ordinary people whose lives are thrown into disarray.

As for Coulson himself well its hard not to like Clark Gregg’s performance, there is something different about this Coulson than the one we have come to known in the movies, he is a man who has come back from the brink of death and wants to make a difference. We get to see a more emotional Coulson than before and I look forward to seeing ramifications when he finds out the truth and how it may effect his loyalty to the agency.

I hope that people eventually come back to the show without their preconceived notions and enjoy it for what it is – S.H.I.E.L.D. is a extremely entertaining show that is building its own world and own characters at its own pace. It is unashamedly appealing to a wide audience rather than going dark and edgy, it is after all meant to be a family show even if people have trouble accepting that.

Even if Joss Whedon isn’t completely involved in the running of the series I think the one theme that has always been part of his work is once again present in S.H.I.E.L.D and that is we make our own family. We had the Scooby Gang, the Angel Investigations team, the rag tag group of the good ship Serenity, the eventual freedom fighters of Dollhouse, the don’t play well with others superheroes of Avengers and now we have the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, a group of ordinary humans who just at the beginning of their journey, of becoming a family.

Favourite Episodes: F.Z.Z.T / The Well