It's kind of shocking that a bunch of lifelong comic book fans aren't more forgiving of the first serious attempt to do a real Marvel Universe TV series.
To be fair- it is coming from the same studio that gave us the Marvel movies, in combination with the network (and in-house production company) that gave us Lost, and it is run by the guy who did Buffy. So, while I agree that audiences should be in a forgiving mood for the first few episodes of ANY TV show while it finds its feet, I also get why people have their hopes up. It may be the first serious attempt at a Marvel TV show, but there are a lot of proven quantities involved, who are not new to what they are doing, you know what I mean?
Marvel is a name with a lot of cache right now. I want them (especially when it comes to things like casting and getting great people who might want to work for them in the movies) to throw that weight around a bit. And, at least to judge by the pilot, it still just felt like other TV.
Good points.
But I don't think it's any worse than the average filler episode of, say, Doctor Who.
And I'm loving Doctor Who.
I think there was a tendency to build up an idea of the show as possibly being The Best Thing Ever.
And it's not.
But it's pretty good.
And It has the potential to be really damn good.
Yes, the cast is young, pretty, and unexperienced.
Young and pretty is what networks want.
Unexperienced will take care of itself with... experience.
And they're gonna get that. Fast.
The actress playing Skye will get better, look at SMG over the course of Buffy.
So will the others.
The show has a full-season commitment from the network.
It's kind of shocking that a bunch of lifelong comic book fans aren't more forgiving of the first serious attempt to do a real Marvel Universe TV series.
What are you talking about? They did The Incredible Hulk! Hell, Thor even showed up in that one!
*runs ducking thrown objects* :)
Seriously, you expect lifelong comic book fans to be MORE forgiving? :) If anything, we're going to hold this thing under a microscope and pore over every last detail until we can no longer appreciate the tree OR the forest!
After two, less-than-perfect episodes, this show is, for me, fifty times better than The Incredible Hulk ever was.
They're trying to do it right.
Yay!
Oh. And I freaking love Whedonesque dialogue. And Fitz/Simmons' delivery.
Whedon knows this, though. At least I hope he does...he's pretty good at stringing people along JUST enough to stop us from losing interest.
BTW: Remember, Joss Whedon isn't show-running AoS, his brother and sister-in-law are. Joss is helping as much as he can, but he's pretty busy with Age of Ultron.
It's kind of shocking that a bunch of lifelong comic book fans aren't more forgiving of the first serious attempt to do a real Marvel Universe TV series.
Just because I'm a comic fan doesn't mean I don't also have a certain expectation that a TV show will be made with a certain degree of quality. It's not like I ignored how shlocky Wonder Woman or The Incredible Hulk were in the 70s just because I was supposed to be loyal to comic properties.
I will probably watch SHIELD for the duration. I mean, I stuck with the lousy Under the Dome just because I had invested myself in reading the 1,000 page book, and wanted to at least see what they would do on screen. But I also live in era of Mad Men/Breaking Bad/LOST/Wire/Sopranos/Dexter -- even Law and Order -- so I can't exactly give every show a free pass on writing and characterization just because the creator is one my people. The TV bar has been raised for everyone, including sci-fi and comic shows.
It's kind of shocking that a bunch of lifelong comic book fans aren't more forgiving of the first serious attempt to do a real Marvel Universe TV series.
Just because I'm a comic fan doesn't mean I don't also have a certain expectation that a TV show will be made with a certain degree of quality. It's not like I ignored how shlocky Wonder Woman or The Incredible Hulk were in the 70s just because I was supposed to be loyal to comic properties.
I will probably watch SHIELD for the duration. I mean, I stuck with the lousy Under the Dome just because I had invested myself in reading the 1,000 page book, and wanted to at least see what they would do on screen. But I also live in era of Mad Men/Breaking Bad/LOST/Wire/Sopranos/Dexter -- even Law and Order -- so I can't exactly give every show a free pass on writing and characterization just because the creator is one my people. The TV bar has been raised for everyone, including sci-fi and comic shows.
All the shows you held up as exemplars take themselves Very Seriously.
The tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is lighter.
And I like it that way.
Thank TDOYC the show isn't all overwrought and ashamed of its comic book origins as Smallville or The Incredible Hulk.
In the interest of full disclosure i actually had the answer wrong in my head when i asked the question. I was thinking of Richard E. Grant as Darwin Mayflower ranting in Hudson Hawk. When Mr_Cosmic posted the right answer I remembered it was in fact from the Comic Relief special Curse of the Fatal Death. I guess, I could not post this and no one would be the wiser but i have this stupid honest streak.
Two episodes in and you need a cameo to draw in interest? Not a good sign. And make no mistake, every promo I saw for episode 2 said...nay, commanded...that I stay for the end.
Traditional comic book gimmick. Get a big name character to guest star in an early issue to overcome post launch sales drop.
The tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is lighter.
That isn't the point. Whether the show is light (like Chuck) or dark (like LOST) or somewhere in the middle (like Alias), it needs to be done well. The criticism of the show, from a goodly percentage of the folks who have chimed in, is that it could be done better.
Are you guys really struggling with Fitz and Simmon's accents THAT much?! :))
The accent? Not so much. Lord knows I've watched enough BBC to be accoostoomed to the fookin aksint! :)
Speed of delivery of the line, however, is a whole other beast. The male talks very fast. Enough that yes...I have a difficulty in following what he's saying. If that's supposed to be the point, then I suppose I'm not getting the joke. Blur on Transformers was funny...the first couple times...
Don't get me wrong, I'm in lust with his female counterpart, but she needs to have a different facial expression than smiling all the time.
Are you guys really struggling with Fitz and Simmon's accents THAT much?! :))
The accent? Not so much. Lord knows I've watched enough BBC to be accoostoomed to the fookin aksint! :)
Speed of delivery of the line, however, is a whole other beast. The male talks very fast. Enough that yes...I have a difficulty in following what he's saying. If that's supposed to be the point, then I suppose I'm not getting the joke. Blur on Transformers was funny...the first couple times...
Don't get me wrong, I'm in lust with his female counterpart, but she needs to have a different facial expression than smiling all the time.
The tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is lighter.
That isn't the point. Whether the show is light (like Chuck) or dark (like LOST) or somewhere in the middle (like Alias), it needs to be done well. The criticism of the show, from a goodly percentage of the folks who have chimed in, is that it could be done better.
We seem to be measuring against different standards.
I think it is better than any other prime-time attempt at adapting a super-hero universe.
And, while not perfectly crafted, I think it's better than 90+% of what I've seen on network television lately.
And I think it will continue to get better as the season unfolds.
And, most importantly, I think its fun. I enjoy it.
Turns out I prefer flawed fun to cold perfection.
I'm also happy to discover that, cynical and hypercritical as I have become, I'm still not too cynical and hypercritical to enjoy a genre show with its heart in the right place despite its many flaws.
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are welcome on my lawn, even Skye and Agent Stiffy.
The tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is lighter.
That isn't the point. Whether the show is light (like Chuck) or dark (like LOST) or somewhere in the middle (like Alias), it needs to be done well. The criticism of the show, from a goodly percentage of the folks who have chimed in, is that it could be done better.
We seem to be measuring against different standards.
I think it is better than any other prime-time attempt at adapting a super-hero universe.
And, while not perfectly crafted, I think it's better than 90+% of what I've seen on network television lately.
And I think it will continue to get better as the season unfolds.
And, most importantly, I think its fun. I enjoy it.
Turns out I prefer flawed fun to cold perfection.
I'm also happy to discover that, cynical and hypercritical as I have become, I'm still not too cynical and hypercritical to enjoy a genre show with its heart in the right place despite its many flaws.
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are welcome on my lawn, even Skye and Agent Stiffy.
You've saved that for Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, right? :)
You've saved that for Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, right? :)
Right.
Cold Perfection at its coldest.
No room on my lawn for all that grimness.
I have been curious, if Nolan's vision was cold perfection (I'd argue it wasn't cold & did have some flaws) do you prefer the Schumacher or the Burton movies?
You've saved that for Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, right? :)
Right.
Cold Perfection at its coldest.
No room on my lawn for all that grimness.
I have been curious, if Nolan's vision was cold perfection (I'd argue it wasn't cold & did have some flaws) do you prefer the Schumacher or the Burton movies?
M
Not particularly.
They're all post-Frank Miller and tainted by his vision of the character.
I thought the Batman parts of Burton's were pretty good, I liked the humor Keaton managed to find in his portrayal, though I dislike the emphasis on the villains in all of them. (A problem the Spider-Man movies tend to have as well) He tended to be a supporting character in movies about the villains.
You've saved that for Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, right? :)
Right.
Cold Perfection at its coldest.
No room on my lawn for all that grimness.
I have been curious, if Nolan's vision was cold perfection (I'd argue it wasn't cold & did have some flaws) do you prefer the Schumacher or the Burton movies?
M
Not particularly.
They're all post-Frank Miller and tainted by his vision of the character.
I thought the Batman parts of Burton's were pretty good, I liked the humor Keaton managed to find in his portrayal, though I dislike the emphasis on the villains in all of them. (A problem the Spider-Man movies tend to have as well) He tended to be a supporting character in movies about the villains.
So the 1966 Batman nailed it because it isn't "tainted"?
Marvel's Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D nailed it in my opinion, I've got my second viewing of episode 2 planned for tonight. Now that the DVR schedule has been figured out I won't have to watch it on my phone anymore.
Also this would be a good time to have the off-topic button again.
Everything isn't about Nolan's Batman or about how you don't like the 66 Batman.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D nailed it in my opinion, I've got my second viewing of episode 2 planned for tonight. Now that the DVR schedule has been figured out I won't have to watch it on my phone anymore.
Also this would be a good time to have the off-topic button again.
Everything isn't about Nolan's Batman or about how you don't like the 66 Batman.
No, but we still have the LOL option. The initial sentence with "...are welcome on my lawn" is a running bit that enticed me to joke back. It's not an attempt to derail the whole thread or go into reruns.
Comments
But I don't think it's any worse than the average filler episode of, say, Doctor Who.
And I'm loving Doctor Who.
I think there was a tendency to build up an idea of the show as possibly being The Best Thing Ever.
And it's not.
But it's pretty good.
And It has the potential to be really damn good.
Yes, the cast is young, pretty, and unexperienced.
Young and pretty is what networks want.
Unexperienced will take care of itself with... experience.
And they're gonna get that. Fast.
The actress playing Skye will get better, look at SMG over the course of Buffy.
So will the others.
The show has a full-season commitment from the network.
And from me.
They're trying to do it right.
Yay!
Oh. And I freaking love Whedonesque dialogue. And Fitz/Simmons' delivery.
And almost as pretty. B-)
(bonus points for the movie, actor & character delivering the line)
Richard E. Grant
"The Doctor"
@ 3:17
:(
I will probably watch SHIELD for the duration. I mean, I stuck with the lousy Under the Dome just because I had invested myself in reading the 1,000 page book, and wanted to at least see what they would do on screen. But I also live in era of Mad Men/Breaking Bad/LOST/Wire/Sopranos/Dexter -- even Law and Order -- so I can't exactly give every show a free pass on writing and characterization just because the creator is one my people. The TV bar has been raised for everyone, including sci-fi and comic shows.
The tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is lighter.
And I like it that way.
Thank TDOYC the show isn't all overwrought and ashamed of its comic book origins as Smallville or The Incredible Hulk.
"That's good...that means someone has something to hide & I'm getting to them!"
M
Speed of delivery of the line, however, is a whole other beast. The male talks very fast. Enough that yes...I have a difficulty in following what he's saying. If that's supposed to be the point, then I suppose I'm not getting the joke. Blur on Transformers was funny...the first couple times...
Don't get me wrong, I'm in lust with his female counterpart, but she needs to have a different facial expression than smiling all the time.
I think it is better than any other prime-time attempt at adapting a super-hero universe.
And, while not perfectly crafted, I think it's better than 90+% of what I've seen on network television lately.
And I think it will continue to get better as the season unfolds.
And, most importantly, I think its fun. I enjoy it.
Turns out I prefer flawed fun to cold perfection.
I'm also happy to discover that, cynical and hypercritical as I have become, I'm still not too cynical and hypercritical to enjoy a genre show with its heart in the right place despite its many flaws.
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are welcome on my lawn, even Skye and Agent Stiffy.
M
Cold Perfection at its coldest.
No room on my lawn for all that grimness.
M
They're all post-Frank Miller and tainted by his vision of the character.
I thought the Batman parts of Burton's were pretty good, I liked the humor Keaton managed to find in his portrayal, though I dislike the emphasis on the villains in all of them. (A problem the Spider-Man movies tend to have as well) He tended to be a supporting character in movies about the villains.
Best Joker, too.
Here's a reenactment of what I did at the thought of that idea:
M
Also this would be a good time to have the off-topic button again.
Everything isn't about Nolan's Batman or about how you don't like the 66 Batman.
M
M
Maybe we should add a "relax" button?!