10 Most Irritating Subplots In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

5. Agent Coulson's Revival - Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Agent Coulson's demise mid-way through The Avengers was a classic Joss Whedon dick move: he builds up a likeable character and then, in one fell swoop, rips them out of our arms forever more...or so we thought. Despite the emotional gravitas of Coulson's death, it was announced that he would be returning for the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., with most of the show's hype revolving around the mystery over Coulson's revival. Would he become Vision? Would he be a Life Model Decoy? How could they bring him back without undermining Whedon's efforts in The Avengers? The answer, it seems, is they can't. We find out early on that Coulson died and was revived by S.H.I.E.L.D., where he was sent to Tahiti to recover. It later transpires that Coulson was in fact dead for several days before being revived, with altered memories being implanted to make him think he was in Tahiti rather than lying on a hospital slab. As for why Coulson was revived so drastically, that answer has yet to be revealed. So far, however, the answer seems to be simply to ensure that ABC's disappointing show has a recognisable name and face to sell itself on, even if it completely cheapens a brilliant dramatic beat in The Avengers...