For all this talk of supporting proper integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and owning the fact that the show already has an enviable library of characters and stories to utilise as it pleases, there's a significant danger present in Agents leaning too much on that connection. Just as it needs to develop its own identity instead of aping other procedural (and Joss Whedon) series, Marvel risks alienating its more casual audience if every episode is a crossover with Guardians of the Galaxy or an introduction to a character from one of its Netflix shows. Let's be clear: all of that sounds tremendously awesome, but constantly relying on synergy between shared IP to keep a series popular could spell disaster if it means that the leads and season arc are regularly sidelined in favour of promoting the next Marvel movie or just showcasing a kick-ass cameo from Doctor Strange. It's a difficult balance to strike; how can Agents build and retain its own identity while also maintaining its collection to a larger world of movies that all have more or less the same tone? Hopefully the expansion of Marvel's TV empire will take some of the pressure off AoS in spreading the world-building across six shows and we won't get too many moments that namedrop Thor: The Dark World just to remind us that Coulson used to hang out with the Asgardian.
