10 Outrageous Ways Famous TV Characters Came Back From The Dead
8. Agent Coulson Was Saved By Alien Surgery – Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D
Agent Coulson put a human face on the S.H.I.E.L.D organisation and became a favourite thanks to his appearances throughout Phase One of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.
Enter Joss Whedon.
He Was Dead...: Whedon is no stranger to killing characters to increase the emotional stakes, but his options were limited in The Avengers. He couldn’t kill any of the heroes, and poor Coulson was the only other character the audience had a connection with.
So in a confrontation with Loki he met the sharp end of a pointy staff, and his death gave The Avengers the push they needed to work together.
...But He Got Better: Which made the announcement that Coulson would be the lead in spin-off show Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D a little confusing.
The show reveals that Coulson was dead for a few days before being brought back through mysterious alien surgery, which was so horrible his memory of it was erased. In a universe with thunder gods and giant green monsters, it’s as good an explanation as any.
Joss Whedon feels Coulson’s return was a bit of a cheat on the audience, and has stated that in the world of Marvel movies Coulson is still considered dead.