Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D hit a mark last week with its surprise cameo, and this week sees the origin story of one of Marvel Comics long-standing Avengers villains. The show seems to be moving forward at a good pace, and only the legendary impatience of the fanboy audience (of which I am a part of) can complain that the show is too slow.
This third episode is the true beginning of where this show hopes to go, and the returns will be great, as a stable of Marvel Comics villains is good for any movie, spin-off, Marvel Short DVD extra, etc.
1. What is it?
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1, episode 3, titled ‘The Asset.’
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 Ian Hart (Professor Quirrell from the Harry Potter movies) as Dr. Franklin Hall, a scientist working for S.H.I.E.L.D.; and David Conrad as Ian Quinn, a wealthy businessman who used to be a research partner to Dr. Hall and now profits from their work.
3. Who made it?
‘The Asset’ was written by Maurissa Tarcharoen and Jed Whedon; the episode was directed by Milan Cheylov.
4. What is it about?
‘The Asset’ opens with the highjacking of a S.H.I.E.L.D. convoy and the “freeing” of Dr. Hall, who is an asset (see what they did there) to S.H.I.E.L.D., not only for his genius mind, but also as an instructor to the science division. He mentored Fitz (De Caestecker) and Simmons (Henstridge), we learn later in the episode.
Dr. Hall is taken by his old partner, Ian Quinn, a successful businessman who built his company on his and Hall’s research. Quinn wants Dr. Hall to finally realize his dream, by using the culmination of the research to create the ultimate weapon. S.H.I.E.L.D., of course, can’t let that happen, and Skye (Bennet) is sent in to infiltrate a stockholders gathering at the Quinn estate in Malta and disable the security, so the asset can be re-acquired by Coulson and Ward.
5. Any revelations, tie-ins, easter eggs, etc.?
More references to the Avengers, including Coulson saying that he saw “action” with them. Gravatonium, the substance that Ian Quinn has “perfected,” is taken directly from the comics. Dr. Franklin Hall is an established Marvel Comics character, and his role is only just beginning, as ‘The Asset’ is essentially the origin story for a villain!
6. Will we watch next week?
Yes. After last week’s cameo of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and this week’s addition of a tried and true Marvel Comics supervillain, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is surely moving forward in it’s storytelling, and helping to further flesh out the cinematic Marvel Studios Universe, which is the reason this show even exists. I hope there are more cameos (established or otherwise), and more heroes/villains created, because there is so much to work with in the history of Marvel Comics.
