Right off the bat, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made a lot of people angry, most of whom were looking for a TV version of The Avengers. Despite the fact those involved had long promised that Tony Stark wouldn't be showing up in every episode, people still had insane expectations for Marvel Studios' first foray into live-action television storytelling and, as such, viewership dropped off within a matter of episodes when they weren't met. Immediately, people were decrying the show and it was impossible to find an Internet article about it where half of the comments didn't involve cursing Joss Whedon, ripping the show apart before it had even really begun finding its way and vehemently calling for its cancellation. But still, the show chugged on, found its footing and its narrative tie-in with The Winter Soldier paved the way for a fantastic home stretch run that closed out the season with a world of much bigger opportunity set before it for its second season. From the very first episode, the show's out-of-the-gate faults were forced to become its identity in the eyes of many who seemingly went into the show with the desire to hate it on principle alone. In spite of the fact it had many vocal enemies who, week in and week out, apparently subjected themselves to a show they hate simply so they could have an excuse to complain about it on the Internet, the series found its fans and rewarded them in spades. With a second season coming this fall, the return of its naysayers is inevitable. Watching the show is entirely an optional endeavor, one that many people enjoy, but it begs the question of what its "haters" continue to get out of calling for its head. For now, the show and its fans aren't going anywhere, which means that those who spend their time bemoaning its existence -- who aren't being forced to watch it in the first place -- should probably move on.
Writer, film enthusiast, part-time gamer and watcher of (mostly) good television located on the fringe of Los Angeles, who now has his own website at www.highdefgeoff.com!
