The first season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D left a lot of people feeling disappointed, and indeed many abandoned the show halfway through its debut run. While it certainly did struggle in the first half, with a variety of problems that left it feeling a bit all over the place, it massively picked up in the second as it began to tie-in with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Connecting it to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe in ways beyond Phil Coulson and the odd mention of The Avengers was definitely a wise one, and it really paid off as the show moved towards the season 1 endgame and the battle with Hydra. It continued as it began its second year, flying out of the gate in order to keep the momentum going. It introduced new characters, new threats, and new ways of intertwining with the MCU. There were times when the season started to flag, or certain decisions didnt quite work out, but generally this was a show with a clearer sense of purpose, one that knows what it is and where it is going. There were some great standout moments (Agent May vs Agent 33 certainly deserves a mention) and excellent developments for some of the characters. It's still nowhere near a perfect show, it has been slightly upstaged by stablemates Daredevil and Agent Carter, and for all the smart decisions made, there were some baffling ones as well. Heres a look at what made us marvel, and what made us S.H.I.E.L.D our eyes.
NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far.
A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.
