WARNING: Yes, this review will contain spoilers. Also, this is indeed my first written review for not only this show, but for any television show of any kind. Sooo… let’s see how it goes.
It’s no secret Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had a rather weak start in the first half of season one. Those aren’t my thoughts, that’s just the general consensus. Each of the earlier episodes were very episodic, containing plots that were conveniently concluded by each episode’s end. There were only traces of story arcs that would carry over to future episodes. In a time where a lot more TV viewers prefer serialized shows, this formula was disappointing to a lot of people, but what was more disappointing was the show just didn’t have that Marvel feel. It didn’t have that much expected superhero vibe to it, and the characters were simply standard agents; most of them rookies, doing their jobs in a world with extraordinary events happening around them. Again, I never had much of an issue with the show, but obviously, Marvel fans and average viewers did. This caused many people to simply walk away and never look back. Thankfully, a lot has changed from the show’s first mid-season finale to this third season premiere, and for the better. The second season was a true testament to the show’s evolution. With elements from the comics, such as the Inhumans being added in the mix, the addition of richer characters, vast improvements on existing characters, and a season two finale that felt like an eventful second half of a theatrical film that was split into two, I had very high hopes for the third season premiere.
It was a long summer waiting for S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s return, lemme tell ya. Thankfully, the third season premiered with a solid and promising start. From here on out, I’m simply going to go over my thoughts on the episode. So for those reading, the following is intended for those who actually watched the episode or don’t care about spoilers.
The first sequence was really intense as we see Mack and Daisy Johnson (formerly known as Skye), who now has a handle on her Inhuman powers, rescuing a newly discovered Inhunman named Joey. Joey’s powers are out of control, and he is being chased by the authorities. Joey’s ability to melt metal should prove useful in the future, I would hope. For now, it seems like an unfortunate ability to have. It was rather convenient that the pod they lifted him in and the room he was dropped off in were both fully customized to be resistant towards his powers. But hey, it’s S.H.I.E.L.D., they know what they’re doing. I just wonder how after all the wild events and the near collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D. at the end of season two, do they manage to get funding for all the new toys and technologies they are using. They never really mention how all of this is possible. I mean, Agent Coulson has a new high-tech left hand after having it chopped off to avoid infection from the Terrigen crystals at the end of season two.
We have a new character who will hopefully be interesting to watch because she’s played by the very lovely Constance Zimmer (Entourage). Her character has multiple identities but refers to herself as Rosalind. She seems to be the head of ATCU (Advanced Threat Containment Until), and her organization believes Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are the enemy. Coulson believes she and her crew are the enemy, but it seems a third party may be behind the search and killings of the Inhumans in hiding. It will be interesting, exciting and hopefully extremely satisfying to see how this plays out.
The hospital scene had some great comic book-ish action. Daisy tries to convince Lincoln, who wants nothing to do with his former fellow Inhumans, to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. and help train Joey. They soon face a new foe, a monstrous threat named Lash. While it was noble to see Mack do what he could to fight the superior Lash, it kicked ass seeing Daisy (her codename is Quake, but was not called that in this episode) and Lincoln (Sparkplug) combine powers to subdue the monster.
One character who has taken a drastic but welcomed turn is Fitz, who is determined to find a way to save Simmons, after she was sucked up by the Krea Monolith. Fitz has taken a lot of emotional turns in the series, but seeing him with this “nothing to lose” attitude is more interesting than seeing him talk to an imaginary Simmons like he did in the beginning of season two. That was just weird. Also, props to actor Ian De Caestacker, who let out this powerful yell of frustration towards the Monolith for taking away the woman he loves.
Speaking of the Krea Monolith, for the show’s final scene, we got a glimpse of Jemma Simmons as she runs for dear life on the alien planet where she is trapped. Although during the promotion of the third season, they kept teasing that she was dead, and I never once believed it, it was nice to actually see her alive, even if she was scratched up, bleeding and her clothes were ripped. The scene reminded me so much of The Phantom Zone from Smallville when Clark Kent was trapped in there. I’d be surprised if more people didn’t notice that.
This season premiere episode was great because although there was plenty of action and excitement, storytelling came first. They got us caught up with some of the characters and how they are adjusting after their battle from the last season. They set up some new conflicts that the team will face in this season without rushing into anything. They also spread the team out, allowing key agents to collaborate with other members they hadn’t fought alongside yet, such as Mack and Daisy. Seeing Coulson and Hunter continuing going on missions together was great because I like Hunter, and I would enjoy seeing him gain a deeper trust with Coulson. Meanwhile, Hunter continues to work at his complicated relationship with fellow agent Bobbi, who saw no action in this episode, and was doing lab work. That’s fine with me because their relationship is one I can actually root for.
Two key characters were missing from the premiere, but that’s another reason why I think this episode worked because they didn’t try to cram in everybody. It was mentioned that the lethal and sexy Agent May took a much needed vacation but never reported back for duty. Also, the treacherous Grant Ward is still out there hell bent on rebuilding Hydra and eliminating S.H.I.E.L.D. However, their absence, while noticeable, actually adds to the anticipation of seeing them again.
So that’s about it, the third season premiere started out just right. It wasn’t overwhelming nor light on thrills and intriguing storytelling. It took a more subtle approach, and I dug it. The character continue to be likeable and competent. I am just so happy to see this show back on the air. Yes, I get my thrills with all the other comic book based shows on TV, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. always feels more refined with its pacing, action sequences, acting, and direction. I truly hope this show continues to elevate itself. We’re already off to a good start, so lets the momentum going, Marvel.
My Rating: 4 outta 5 (or A-)
