Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD is in dire need of an identity. When it abandons the comic book world and tries to be an action-based spy drama, it’s a good show. When it embraces the comic book world, and does the hero/villain of the week, it’s a good show. When it tries to do both, it falters, and the flaws begin to stand out more and more.
The viewing audience is dwindling, and instead of addressing the issues in the public forum, Marvel rolls out an episode that puts one of the Wonder Twins (by the way, this isn’t a compliment) in jeopardy. Was I the only one rooting for her death? I completely understand that these episodes are already filmed, and things cannot be changed at this point, but Joss Whedon definitely needs to come out and promise to make things better, or it will lose me as a fan. And if I’m not a fan, I have to still review this show as a person with zero interest so every flaw will be highlighted and trounced upon.
The promise of Agents of SHIELD is ridiculous. There is so much that they can do here and no reason a show like this should be insipid and uninspired. I’ll climb off my soapbox for this week and get on with the 6 Qs of episode six.
1. What is it?
Agents of SHIELD Season 1, Episode 6, titled ‘F.Z.Z.T.’
2. Who’s in it?
The series regulars, Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Iain De Caestecker. Guest starring this week is Vincent Laresca as Tony Diaz; Rick Gifford as Adam Cross and Titus Welliver as Agent Blake.
3. Who made it?
‘F.Z.Z.T’ was written by Paul Zbyszewski; the episode was directed by Vincent Misiano.
4. What is it about? (**Spoilers Ahead**)
After a Scout leader (Gifford) dies in a mysterious way during a camping trip, the Level 7 team investigates. His body is found floating in midair after an electrical event and Simmons (Henstridge) is able to get the body down by giving the stored energy an outlet to release, even if that meant that she inadvertently took it into herself.
The energy comes from a Chitauri helmet that a Pennsylvania fire station lifted after they were called in to clean up after the Battle of New York. The helmet, it seems, had some kind of space virus on it and it infected the fire fighters, including the scout leader, who had recently cleaned the helmet. The virus causes severe electrical outbursts leading up to a massive EMP explosion upon the death of the infected.
Once the helmet is back in SHIELD’s hands, Simmons is quarantined on the bus in mid-air. With no hope for survival from the space virus and with her impending EMP explosion, she is a risk to all aboard the plane. Fitz (de Caestecker) risks his life to help his partner, as he obviously has feelings for her, but she has feelings for Agent Ward (Dalton), which is setting up a love triangle. Yay…
In the side stories this week, Skye (Bennet) is still allowed to roam free and help the team, even though she completely betrayed them, and Ward doesn’t trust her, for which he says three times this episode. Coulson (Gregg) is having issues about his health and he’s questioning why he’s still alive after dying in The Avengers (that makes…well, all of us). And Agent Blake (Welliver), after relaying an order from high up for Coulson to dispose of Simmons before she destroyed The Bus–which Coulson ignored–tells Coulson that there could be consequences for ignoring a direct order.
5. Any revelations, tie-ins, easter eggs, etc.?
Another Captain America reference; another “Coulson got stabbed in the heart” reference from The Avengers, this time with a scar; another mention of “The Index,” the SHIELD list that keeps track of people with powers/gifts; and a Chitauri helmet.
6. Will we watch next week?
Yes, but it’s getting harder and harder to do so. The series–which has the entire non-mutant Marvel Universe to draw from–keeps dipping into the Avengers well, as if we, the viewers, will get giddy and proclaim it nerd worthy for the constant name dropping. The novelty has completely worn off, and running an episode centered around characters that some fans already hate isn’t the way to go. I want to see something more. Expand on this universe and do it quick or you will lose your lifeblood–the fans. The Whedons (Joss and Jed) need to tune into The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm local and see how a comic book-related TV show should be done.
