Friday, 21 August 2020

Agents of Shield SEASON ONE (8 - 16)


Marvels Agents of Shield was cultivated around Agent Phil Coulson, with the mystery of his return from the dead. The show also serves one primary directive; to carry on the mythology of the world of Marvel. Season one exists after the events of Iron man 3 to the concluding events of Captain America: Winter Soldier.  In between these two films Thor: Dark World debuted, and Episode 8 titled ‘The Well’, picks up on the aftermath of that story, with Shield arriving in London collecting and containing any and all alien or Asgardian artifacts in the prevention of them falling into the wrong hands.  Similar to Damage Control a Shield salvage team as seen in the opening sequence of Spiderman –Homecoming with star Tyne Daly.  ‘The Well’, would tell of an additional story of an Asgardian residing here on earth hiding amongst humans.


In comics, Shield began with its first introductory 12 page story on August 1965, in issue #135 of Strange Tales. Based on the ideas of Stan Lee and illustrations of Jack Kirby, The first pages introduces us to an LMD – Life Model Decoy, Former Army Sergeant Nick Fury was being cast for one in the opening. He and his howling commandos were entering the world of espionage to battle the fascist terrorists called Hydra.  The final pages of that first issue saw Fury and an agent fleeing a Hydra attack with Lola.  The same vehicle we are introduced to in the Pilot of Agents of Shield, as the personal property of Phil Colson, the car that also flies.

The comic book series was a reflection of the times, America was in the midst of the Cold War with Russia.  The same year of the comic making its Debut, Television network NBC began airing its new series the Man from U.N.C.L.E.; it is believed that this is where Stan Lee was inspired to give shield its acronym . Back then the name stood for Supreme Headquarters of International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division.  In November of 1965, Thunderball was released in theatres, it was the 5th James Bond Movie to hit theatres, so it’s not too difficult to imagine the world of spies and covert operations would be very much in the lexicon of an accepting general audience. The popularity of the comic gave Nick Fury and the agents of Shield its own self titled series on June 1968. Where familiar characters like Jasper Sitwell and Dum Dum Dugan can now be seen making cameo appearances in Season one Agents of Shield.   

In the Peggy Carter flashbacks including the return episode of season 2, we see Dum Dum Dugan, and in a couple of episodes between episodes 7 to 16 we are introduced to Jasper Sitwell; Sitwell made his first on screen appearance with the Marvel-One Shot item 47. The mission to accessing  and identifying threats  in this world among gods, aliens and enhance humans  continues in season one,  Phil Coulson and fans learn how he came back after being killed by Loki, and the truth and history of that discovery still has miles of unraveling to go.

Episodes 8 though 16 brings another Asgardian story with Lady Sif, and the miles of unraveling hits a Agatha Christie twist on a Train ride, just before the reveal of the source of Coulson return is given to us. His escape from death gives us even more questions as their plane flies back to the HUB; one of shields secret headquarters during the wake of Captain America: Winter Soldier.  The remarkable structure of the storytelling makes each individual episode compelling both in dialogue, bringing those moments of humor and levity in an otherwise serious toned situation. The conflicts and resolutions of episodic television exists, but the long game of it all heading towards something very big and very particular is felt and the clues and the characters we meet along the way all have a contribution to that end game.

No comments:

Post a Comment