Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fourth season proves that the third season was not a fluke, and that this TV show found the formula to lay the groundwork for future developments while still on track to resolve ongoing storylines. I was concerned that the fourth season would be similar to the first season with one member of the team in self-imposed exile, but I could not be more wrong.
Instead the fourth season interweaved three strong story lines that appeared in other incarnations in movies without losing quality or seeming redundant: Ghost Rider (spin-off, please), Judgment Day or the rise of the machines/Stepford Wives scenario and the Matrix. There was even a dash of The Dark Tower, “There are other worlds than these.” Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. flexed its sci-fi muscle while being political germane and critical of American politics and the emergence of fascism. No punches were pulled when it came to CGI, trenchant dialogue or character development. If you started out hating a character, by the end, you were at least sympathetic in spirit, particularly Mace, not including Talbot, who is like a broken record and never learns. Robbie Reyes and Mallory Jansen did a stellar job as recurring characters. Parminder Nagra always does good work, but her appearances are characteristically too brief. I love Zach McGowan in The 100, but was not into his character. Every villain has a moment of breath-taking glory, which made me wonder if the show could have expanded on that moment before things took a turn for the worse.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also managed to avoid the pitfalls that hurt other TV shows like Grimm or Once Upon A Time. It never confused rape by deception or impersonation with romance though it did dance awfully close to the line with its LMD storyline. It also managed to bring back old characters without inducing eye rolling or feeling gimmicky. I surrender: Brett Dalton in everything. It also took beloved characters in new situations that gave the actors a chance to explore aspects that were hinted at in earlier seasons, but not detailed without losing the character’s essence.
The best episodes in the fourth season were Uprising, Self-Control and What If. Ever since the third season, Simmons has been a fave and has enough credibility as a bad ass, brainy woman that can handle herself and be emotional, which is not an easy thing for women characters to do without fear of being designated as hysterical or weak. After Ming-Na Wen’s vocal demand for diversity in Hollywood, I was constantly afraid for May, who was basically punked all season though still a bad ass damsel in distress. Coulson has finally found his footing as a character without solely being defined by his relationship to others: a wise-ass company man who toes the party line, wants the power without the hassle and enjoys secretly subverting the rules though still deeply insecure in his personal relationships.
If I had to criticize the fourth season, I would complain about the long spring hiatus that made me lose momentum instead of watching the entire season as a whole. It did feel like distinct thirds. I also have a slight problem that whenever someone achieved their evil goals, they were not long for this dimension and speedily dispatched. Most problems from this season arose because someone on the team did something stupid, but emotionally plausible.
There were rumors that ABC was thinking about canceling Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now!?! I could understand dong that after the shakier than Bambi’s legs first season, but every subsequent season has raised the bar in terms of story, character development, special effects and fight choreography. It is the strongest live action comic book show on broadcast network TV, i.e. not cable. I may watch CW DC shows, but none of them can touch the hem of this show’s garment. I’m excited for a fifth season, but the late start and Friday night time slot has me concerned that it is still standing too close to the chopping block when it should be safe.
Side note: RIP to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s alum Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe.