Gamersledge Reviews – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Ep. 103 “The Asset”

Agree or disagree

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 3 “The Asset” seems to be somewhat divisive. On the one hand I have one group of friends that seem to think it was a great episode, or at least the best so far. Then there is another group who thought the episode was at least “meh” and at worst a “Thumbs Down”. And these are not significantly different groups, they generally speaking fall into similar interest groups. Admittedly the group that didn’t like it tend to be a bit more the “film snob” type. And that isn’t a dig, that just gets the idea I am trying to convey out fairly straight forward. I haven’t really been able to get a clear idea of why this schism exists. This is not a show for everyone, that much I expected. I expect some will drop it because the Avengers aren’t there, and others because it’s comic book roots will be too much to swallow. But these folks aren’t that crowd. So if you will indulge me for a bit, we are going to talk about this a bit more.

A secret agent in pink

I have heard that the worst thing about the show id Agent Ward and Skye. I’ll admit they haven’t really come fully into their own yet. The characters are definitely still developing, as are the actors. That is where I thought Episode 3 shined. Ward, Skye and May finally were allowed to start making the characters their own and provide more fullness to their characters. This is the first episode I didn’t feel like Chloe was just mimicking Eliza Duska directly. Brett Dalton bled a little humanity into Ward. Hell Ming-Na even finally allowed to give some depth to the crepe thin Melinda May.

Agent Coulson makes the hard calls

When the show started, I was a little worried about making Coulson the core of the team. In the movies, he has a great presence and line delivery, for the two or three lines he had. He was incredibly flat and one dimensional. But I trusted the Whedon team to figure it out, and I think they have started to. The team isn’t a team yet, and I think that disjointed feeling is intentional. Team building doesn’t happen immediately. The relationship between Ward and Skye is developing. Are they clicking together like the crew of the Serenity, no. Do I think they should be, not at all. Fitz and Simmons click, but they have been side by side for heaven knows how long. Coulson can click with any of them, but that is him. Other than that, like Coulson said, they need time.

My wife brought up a point that there was a chemistry missing between Skye and Ward that she felt a lot of people were expecting. I think making an immediate chemistry between these characters would be a horrible mistake. They have to earn it, bleed for it, make it real. If not, then the events of the future would be hollow. Episode 3 sets this up. It also sets up the kind of things this team will handle. They are taking on things that will grow the universe, things that may all end up connected in the end. We do need to start seeing some overall arc tie ins, I agree. But overall not everything that happens in your life is connected by anything other than you, so why should they here?

The last point that seems to be out there is that it isn’t an AMC or HBO show, so it must suck. While I can appreciate that to a degree, I don’t know that those venues would be a good fit, even if Disney would have farmed it out. Besides, hose channels aren’t exactly known for putting out family based shows which this had to be. So that may just be a point where there is no good answer. To be fair, the majority of both groups will be staying on board for at least a while longer, but TV viewers are a fickle bunch these days. AoS has been confirmed for a full first season….now we just need to see if it can earn a season 2.

Ian Quinn – a larger villain perhaps?

So I suppose we should talk about this episode a bit. Overall this episode was really about character development. Seeing what Skye would do if tempted, giving Ward a chance to try and bond at a human level, and figure out if May actually has a personality. On the surface, it is a rescue covert ops mission with some comic book style tech, an obvious villain and a less obvious one. Fairly standard super spy stuff. The story wasn’t anything stupendous, but it did establish further the kind of things this team is looking to tackle and the autonomy of the team. After the incidents of episode 2, the could have easily been put on a short leash, but they are still out there making their own decisions.

Visually the show continues to impress. From the framing of the shots to the special effects I would be very surprised if there were any significant issues anyone had with the visuals of this show. The sound of the show hasn’t been a real issue and the music has typically blended perfectly. This episode has two exceptions though. There is a scene toward the end (second to last scene) where the music is uncharacteristically obvious. It is a little too loud, or too obvious in its point. Or maybe it just climaxed too soon. I am not sure. There was a MAJOR sound FX gaffe in a scene involving a shotgun. While it was off screen, there is an obvious sound of a slide/pump action being cycled, however it is a breech action shotgun. Most of you reading this probably don’t even know what that means, but it doesn’t make that sound. Not to mention, the only thing cycling the action would do at that point is waste a shell, but that is one of the pet peeves of mine.

Doctor Franklin Hall – The Asset

Pacing and acting this time around was good I thought. Overall I felt like all the actors were taking ownership of their lines better, though there were two points where Fitz’s lines were really odd. The pacing of his delivery was just off. There was one scene where he said something “inappropriate” and it was drug out too much. The other time he is explaining a device and he just hangs at one point that doesn’t make sense. Also he has times where he seems like there is this undertone of “impress the pretty girl”, but there is nothing cohesive to it. I have a feeling this is an editing thing, possibly a subplot they are eliminating is post production, or just something they are building up to. Ward is still stiff, but I just feel like it is intentional. May finally loosened up a bit and dared to start having a personality and lines that were worth saying.
Overall, while my excitement is dampened by trying to figure out what it is I am missing or forgiving that others aren’t, I still feel this is the best offering so far. Is it perfect? No, but maybe that is what I don’t care as much about. I think it fits the universe, and it is developing the team.

**************WARNING LEVEL 7 ACCESS ONLY—–SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!**********************
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Graviton Born

So the stinger. A villain is created? Presumably this will be this universe’s version of Gravitron, a gravity manipulation villain, whose name is also Franklin Hall.

Is Ian Quinn working with Hydra or AIM or whoever the mysterious anti-SHIELD is? We have gone a couple episodes without any real reference to that.

Coulson not being able to clear a weapon, it’s not that he is rusty…that isn’t his body, hence the lack of muscle memory.

Not too much else to really talk about. A super villain was created, the team is beginning to gel and more clues to Coulson’s “issue” are shared. I think Chloe nailed Skye’s delivery against Ian Quinn. The first time she has been strong and natural and not feeling like a Faith ripoff.
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