Agents of SHIELD Season 2 Premiere Review

Note: This review contains mild spoilers for last nights episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The more that last nights hour long venture into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is thought about in my noggin, the more I realize that I really enjoyed it. It's got some shortcomings, but this particular story is such a change from many of last seasons episodes in its confidence, fun and dark story turns. The agents in Agents of SHIELD may have untold problems to face, but dealing with a lackluster episode certainly isn't one of them.

It's been several months since the last episode, and during that time SHIELD had been rebuilt a bit by Director Phil Coulson, still played by Clark Gregg. There's only a few agents, and to be honest the new ones aren't exactly given a huge amount of depth. Some of them are humorous enough, but I do wish some of them, namely one played by Lucy Lawless, had a bit more depth to them. Still, their presence as one of the few people now working for SHIELD emphasizes the lowly stature of the organization.

That underdog position is actually one of the shows best aspects, as it really gives all the characters and scenarios immediate stakes that the plot utilizes wonderfully. Whenever the team goes up against The Absorbing Man, it actually feels like what Coulson calls it: a make-or-break moment. It also helps that the visuals and action are vastly improved over last season. The various textures that Absorbing Man shifts into (he has the nifty ability to change his body into any surface) are nicely realized and a final confrontation between that antagonist and a van towards the end of the episode is really well done.

Now, it's in that ending where things go to the next level for me in terms of quality. Not only does a Quinjet (oh how I adore those things) make an appearance, but no victories come for our heroes. It doesn't end with a wisecrack and a captured baddie, it ends with most of the team on the run, other members potentially dead and a tragic reveal for poor Fitz that is handled exquisitely. Of all things, it reminded me of The Empire Strikes Back, another piece of major entertainment where the heroes just surviving the whole affair felt like some kind of victory.

If they can keep up this kind of pace for the rest of the season, I think they might truly have something here. Some lack of depth on the supporting cast and some horrible lighting in scenes set at SHIELD's new hideout aside, this is a solid and entertaining episode that seems to say this show has gotten into it's own kind of terrific groove.

 Oh, and by the way, Budapest got mentioned again. Very, very interesting....