Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s second season was so much stronger than the first, I would almost encourage first time viewers to start with the second season, and just read recaps of the first to understand the background. A stronger season does not mean a perfect one, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably benefit from thirteen episodes per season instead of twenty-two episodes per season.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s story arc of the first ten episodes had an amazing momentum and denouement that briefly made me believe that the show had learned from the previous season’s mistakes and finally hit its stride. Imagine my disappointment when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returned in March and trotted out the old chestnut, “Can we trust Coulson” storyline that led to a pointless, silly and boring arc about who really WAS an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. If I was younger, I would trace exactly when Season 1 explored it because I’m pretty sure that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. did it at the exact same time in Season 2. If it does it again in Season 3, I’m going to scream. Please stop doing that! It is redundant, and it makes the already security-challenged Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seem dumber than they already are. Let the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. cook as a unified team. I know that it is fun to break things, but it isn’t believable or interesting if they have barely been surviving up to now. Certainly there must be a protocol or a procedural hearing to address the same concerns in such a bureaucracy. After episode 10, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. should be flying and really beginning to come together with a new point in their favor. Instead everyone goes to their individual corners and throws suspicious side-eyes at each other. I thought being in the trenches brought people closer together? Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. suffers from the trope of not killing a bad guy despite constantly threatening to do so.
I think that the most dissonant part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the writers’ uncertainty about what to do with Coulson. I’m glad that he is no longer the sole focus of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and that Skye has finally emerged as a strong central character and his protege. Other characters talk about Coulson as if he IS S.H.I.E.L.D. or an awesome foe, which is fine coming from the mouth of a Hydra agent, but when we actually see the character, he seems to be a bit harried, flustered and lost, which is fine. He is making bricks without straw and dancing as fast as he can. I think that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to stop talking about Coulson as if he is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s only hope, which is a bit much and inaccurate, and continue showing Coulson as a person who is ultimately more uneasy about being the boss than making huge sacrifices as an agent. His life is his work, and throughout season 2, unlike Fury, as director, he has actively put himself in the line of fire more than his subordinates. He is a true believer in the organization, but not in himself per se. Perhaps Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to confront whether his undeniably self-sacrificial actions are not also subconsciously suicidal tendencies because he believes that someone better should be at the helm. Every character has reevaluated his or her relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson’s character still needs to explore if he is anyone without S.H.I.E.L.D., but not by others doubting him or taking him out of S.H.I.E.L.D. His confrontations and pleas with Skye’s father implicitly alluded to such an exploration, but ultimately did not emerge.
Fortunately Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fight scenes with May or Skye were phenomenal and rewind worthy. I’m glad that May’s sense of humor was explored in the first ten episodes of Season 2, but was neither shocked nor surprised by how she got called the Cavalry once they introduced her husband. May’s relationship with Coulson in the second half did not seem plausible considering their history. I’m actually a little disappointed, but am willing to let it go after the travesty of Black Widow’s storyline in Avengers: Age of Ultron. (Please note that the apocalypse has occurred because I actually prefer Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s second season to Avengers: Age of Ultron.)
Agent Triplett’s story arc was perfect in the best possible Whedon way, especially in a Captain America historical context. Mack is getting more interesting as the show progresses (there can only be one). I’m still angry that instead of more Lucy Lawless, I got Lance Hunter. Sorry/not sorry, no one cares about your love life, and to be fair, Hunter had more chemistry with Coulson. I can now distinguish Fitz and Simmons, especially since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. flirted with making Simmons slightly evil in a genocidal, secret assassin way, but unfortunately was gun shy. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has no idea what to do with J. August Richards, but we all need a paycheck. I’m glad that Adrianne Palicki is part of the cast, especially when she is kicking butt or hanging out with her coworkers-particularly Mack and Simmons in either a sinister or non-sinister context, but again, I could do without the romance angle. Agent Weaver needed more to do. We’re told that she faced down Hydra super-powered villains, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D only shows her talking-a super disappointment and missed opportunity. Edward James Olmos was also not given an overall compelling storyline, but I understand what they were going for….still, do better, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. really benefitted from the the casting of characters outside the organization. Kyle MacLachlan is a master at simultaneously being completely bonkers and sympathetic. Dichen Lachman should rule the world already, but she is content with playing strong supporting, but pivotal characters in the sci fi world. Reed Diamond is extremely effective as the sinister face of Hydra, which unfortunately is otherwise plagued with unmemorable and boring cookie cutter Euro evil. Ruth Negga is still killing it as the manipulative Raina/Flowers. I’m glad that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. raided the cast of The Tomorrow People. Jamie Harris does an amazing acting job considering that he is robbed of the very tools that most actors need to be expressive and engage an audience. No offense to Brett Dalton, who does his best with what he is given, but why are you still here?
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s second season was a marked improvement, and I’m glad that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. delivered on its promise to make Skye more interesting, but until it stops pulling punches and repeating storylines, it will still be marathon one session viewing instead of a show that I feel compelled to tune into week after week.