#CoulsonLives!
May 13, 2013 11:23 AM   Subscribe

Coming this September: Joss Whedon has a new TV show set in the Avengers verse starring Agent Phil Coulson: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. [slyt]
posted by Jacqueline (235 comments total) 33 users marked this as a favorite
 
This makes me all kinds of happy.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:27 AM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


This is fantastic news.

I've only recently come to Whedon, and I've come into his stuff totally backward: Never saw Buffy or Angel or Firefly, but then saw "Cabin in the Woods," and then "The Avengers." Recently, some friends pushed the Firefly DVD box into my hands and said "WATCH THIS." First 15 minutes of the pilot were dull, and I thought, okay, maybe I just don't get his TV style. Then the whole western thing kicks in ... and I've been binging on the show ever since. I suppose it's inevitable that I go back and watch Buffy from the beginning.
posted by jbickers at 11:28 AM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


So. Excited. I don't even care if ***AVENGERS SPOILERS*** Coulson is still dead and this is a LMD or Skrull or whatever ***END SPOILERS***, I just like hearing the dulcet tones of Clark Gregg. Here's to hoping we get to see more gossiping with Pepper and/or Cap worship.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:29 AM on May 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


"The uploader has not made this video available in your country." But io9's version works perfectly in the UK, if anyone needs it.
posted by Coobeastie at 11:30 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


There was a moment when I said to myself "if this is a parody post Jacqueline is playing straight, I shall be very annoyed". I'm not annoyed.
posted by boo_radley at 11:30 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


> I suppose it's inevitable that I go back and watch Buffy from the beginning.

jbickers: Once you finish season 3 of Buffy, make sure that you then watch Buffy and Angel together, alternating episodes like when it first aired. I made the mistake of watching all of Buffy followed by all of Angel and it really lessened the impact of certain crossover storylines (like Faith's entire character arc). :(
posted by Jacqueline at 11:31 AM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


I don't even care if ***AVENGERS SPOILERS*** Coulson is still dead and this is a LMD or Skrull or whatever ***END SPOILERS***

I obviously don't know for sure, but I imagine that the TV show character will be the "real" Coulson, and they'll retcon the Avengers Coulson as a LMD or similar.
posted by mokin at 11:33 AM on May 13, 2013




ABC and Whedon are staying mum on how this fits with the movies, but Cobie Smulders says her work on How I Met Your Mother won't stop Maria Hill from making appearances on the show. Also, some eagle-eyed comics nerds believe they've spotted J. August Richards, who's a confirmed member of the cast with no character name attached, playing a super-strong bald man.

This is especially exciting because Marvel owns the rights to Iron Fist again.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:34 AM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]




(I knew Phil would have to be back cause Mr. Clegg signed like a six movie deal but I thought it might be flashback trickery.)
posted by The Whelk at 11:35 AM on May 13, 2013


And, possibly to tie in with the marketing push, Joss Whedon has finally joined twitter : @JossActual
posted by Fence at 11:35 AM on May 13, 2013


Cobie Smulders says her work on How I Met Your Mother won't stop Maria Hill from making appearances on the show.

I think Cobie is probably looking for a new gig at this point in HIMYM.
posted by smackfu at 11:36 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


> "ABC and Whedon are staying mum on how this fits with the movies..."

Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. Will Take Place After The Avengers
posted by Jacqueline at 11:36 AM on May 13, 2013


I had always just assumed this show would take place 'some time' before the Avengers. That way, Coulson lives and you don't have to constantly work around why the Avengers themselves aren't taking care of the more complicated messes.
posted by Tevin at 11:36 AM on May 13, 2013




So if Whedon can bring Coulson back, there's hope for Wash.
posted by octothorpe at 11:38 AM on May 13, 2013 [55 favorites]


Yay! I adore Clark Gregg. I've been retro-bingeing on "West Wing," and he lights up the screen every time he makes an appearance. This is great news.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 11:39 AM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Looking at how much Whedon loves having someone look like one person but be another (Fred -> Illyria in Angel, all of Dollhouse), I think LMD would be something he'd be all kinds of excited about rather than the real deal.
posted by ictow at 11:39 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Joss Whedon Tells SXSW Crowd How He'll Bring Coulson Back From The Dead

I followed that link and another link from that page and I couldn't find any information on the how, just that he's doing it.

Not that I'm complaining though. That is a great character played by the perfect actor for the role.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:40 AM on May 13, 2013


So for those more into the pop culture stream than me, is this a Joss Whedon show or a "Joss Whedon" show? Is he showrunning or just an executive producer? Because he seems kind of... busy right now.
posted by selfnoise at 11:40 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Producing, but I think Tim Minear is heavily involved and everything he does is wonderful so I am excite.
posted by The Whelk at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


> Is This The Dumb Way They’re Bringing Back Coulson In AGENTS OF SHIELD?

That's a popular fan theory that's been around since opening night of The Avengers. Nick Fury is totally not above manipulating people like that.

Agent Coulson: "It's okay, boss. This was never gonna work if they didn't have something to..."

Implied completion of that sentence: "...avenge."
posted by Jacqueline at 11:42 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Only 56,000 followers 12 hours later? What's with the slacking, fans?
posted by bleep at 11:44 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


This is where I hate to be that guy but I walked out of The Avengers saying Agent Coulson isn't dead. Seriously, it never played right for me. Fury calls for a medic, then they tell him a medic is on the way, then he says they're already here and it's too late. There was something weird going on there the whole time.

What's the most repeated line in the movie? "Nick Fury lies." Who's the only person to say Coulson is dead? Nick Fury.

I've never understood everybody who wants to know "how are they going to bring Coulson back?" because it was obvious he's still alive.
posted by gauche at 11:45 AM on May 13, 2013 [16 favorites]


Only 56,000 followers 12 hours later? What's with the slacking, fans?

Because they're afraid of him killing 140 characters at a time (credit to @drhorrible for that one).
posted by zombieflanders at 11:47 AM on May 13, 2013 [23 favorites]


Fury keeps blood-drenched copies of Relevant Personal Objects in his locker at all times.
posted by The Whelk at 11:47 AM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


So for those more into the pop culture stream than me, is this a Joss Whedon show or a "Joss Whedon" show? Is he showrunning or just an executive producer?

According to Wikipedia, the showrunners will be Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeffrey Bell.
posted by mokin at 11:48 AM on May 13, 2013


I hope you're warming up your fanfic-writing fingers, Whelk. :D
posted by Jacqueline at 11:49 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


You had me at "Joss Whedon has a new TV show."
posted by NedKoppel at 11:52 AM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


I just went to IMDB to see if Clark Gregg was the guy who played the district attorney on "Homicide: Life in the Streets". He's not. But I did find that he's providing/has provided the voice of an "Agent Phil Coulson/Principal Coulson" on the "Ultimate Spider-Man" cartoon show.

So, this guy will now have played the same character in a bunch of movies, a forthcoming TV series, and an animated show as well. For some reason I find that very amusing.
posted by Ipsifendus at 11:56 AM on May 13, 2013


Seriously, watch the Coulson death scene again. I'm pretty confident that there's a missing shot in there and that we'll see the complete sequence in an upcoming Marvel project real soon now.
posted by gauche at 11:56 AM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


SO EXCITED OH MY GOD.

The best part of this* is that all of the awesome characters/teams/plotlines/injokes that are too weird/obscure/comedic/pathetic/complicated/injokey for a 2-hour blockbuster can work perfectly as long-term subplots on a weekly series. Luke Cage! Jessica Jones (cue Alias spinoff)! Squirrel Girl! Mockingbird! Patsy Walker! All the female characters! West Coast Avengers! Damage Control! The Pulse / Daily Bugle shenanigans! Bob, Agent of HYDRA! Nextwave, Agents of HATE! Bodyswitching! Evil clones! Nice clones! Cuddly koala bears of death!

Also I have all my fingers crossed that Jeremy Renner (of ABC's late "The Unusuals") takes a break from moviemaking to guest-star as Hawkeye. Because I want him to stay Hawkeye, and while Renner complained of lack of Avengers movie screentime, on the TV series he would basically be Agent Lord God King Of SHIELD* just for showing up.


* that is not Coulson, long may he live so that long may I heart him
posted by nicebookrack at 11:58 AM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Maybe now I can forgive Whedon for Coulson's "death" in The Avengers.

Bastard.
posted by Kitteh at 11:59 AM on May 13, 2013


I want Damage Control to have it's own series, of course.
posted by The Whelk at 11:59 AM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Clearly Agent Casper is the pre-S.H.I.E.L.D identity of Agent Coulson, and the West Wing and Marvel Phase 2 take place in the same universe. I, for one, look forward to hearing Margaret's origin story.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:00 PM on May 13, 2013 [9 favorites]


I predict that there will probably not be many more comments in this thread. It just strikes me as something 'people on the internet' don't have all that much interest in.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:02 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


I, for one, look forward to hearing Margaret's origin story.

*faints from the brilliance of this*
posted by flyingsquirrel at 12:03 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


> "Maybe now I can forgive Whedon for Coulson's "death" in The Avengers. Bastard."

Of course, a TV series just provides him with lots of new opportunities to make us fall in love with characters shortly before he kills them.

Joss Whedon is like an abusive boyfriend we keep going back to again and again... :(
posted by Jacqueline at 12:03 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Also I have all my fingers crossed that Jeremy Renner (of ABC's late "The Unusuals") takes a break from moviemaking to guest-star as Hawkeye.

I think Matt Fraction's Hawkeye comic would translate really well to an 80-style adventure show like the A-Team or Knight Rider. But I don't think Renner has the sense of humor to pull off Fraction's Clint. Somebody like Ryan Hansen would be better.
posted by mokin at 12:04 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I rewatched The Avengers this weekend thinking maybe I'd been caught up in the big screen summer spectacle of it all and was prepared to be a little disappointed upon a second viewing and NOPE THAT MOVIE FUCKING RULES IT IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN A COMIC BOOK MOVIE AND THE SCREENPLAY IS INCREDIBLE AND AMAZING AND I LOVE IT.

Then I watched it again with the commentary on and loved it even more. If there's a better genre writer working right now in the industry I am unaware of them.
posted by nathancaswell at 12:05 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Of course, a TV series just provides him with lots of new opportunities to make us fall in love with characters shortly before he kills them.

BASTARD.
posted by Kitteh at 12:05 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


> "So if Whedon can bring Coulson back, there's hope for Wash."

Clearly, Wash warged into River just before he died!

/tinfoil hat
posted by Jacqueline at 12:05 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]



Of course, a TV series just provides him with lots of new opportunities to make us fall in love with characters shortly before he kills them.


Phil dies at the end of every episode and they bring him back with backup clones ala Hank And Dean venture.
posted by The Whelk at 12:07 PM on May 13, 2013 [21 favorites]


sexyrobot: "I predict that there will probably not be many more comments in this thread. It just strikes me as something 'people on the internet' don't have all that much interest in."

"It's like, Joss who??? And then I thought, ok, that's not bad and now I have josswho.tumblr.com where I post all of my hawkeye/ buffy/ doctor who friend-fics."
posted by boo_radley at 12:07 PM on May 13, 2013


I ♥ Buffy and Firefly, but, God, I hope this is better than Dollhouse.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:07 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Josswho.tumblr.com is still available.
posted by The Whelk at 12:08 PM on May 13, 2013


I think Matt Fraction's Hawkeye comic would translate really well to an 80-style adventure show like the A-Team or Knight Rider. But I don't think Renner has the sense of humor to pull off Fraction's Clint. Somebody like Ryan Hansen would be better.

Hawkguy is really really really good but it is also really really really comics. A large part of why it's so great is the artists' great pencil work and use of page layouts and space and style. Even if they let Fraction write I don't think it could survive the transition.

That said, if we're wishing, Heroes For Hire spinoff, right fucking now.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:09 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Clearly Agent Casper is the pre-S.H.I.E.L.D identity of Agent Coulson

Fanfic's got ya covered.

Seriously, I love the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) fandom SO MUCH for its colorful fic variety. "What if everyone were kittens?" Yes! "What if Character were transgender?" Yes! "What if blah blah potty politics stuff? What if [crossover with everything]? What if they treated PTSD realistically? What if it were a coffeeshop/high school/Ladyhawke AU? What if Natasha and JARVIS were buds?" Yes! "What if there was porn?" YES.
posted by nicebookrack at 12:10 PM on May 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


I'd still love to see Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. expanded into a TV series of some sort, but I can't think of any particular Disney-owned media niches where the concept (fourth-string Marvel characters cutting a morbidly hilarious swath through the established company continuity) would fly. It could work amazingly well as an Adult Swim series (animation or live action, you pick), but unfortunately Disney Don't Own Dat.

(Yet.)
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:11 PM on May 13, 2013 [8 favorites]


nathancaswell: "I rewatched The Avengers this weekend thinking maybe I'd been caught up in the big screen summer spectacle of it all and was prepared to be a little disappointed upon a second viewing and NOPE THAT MOVIE FUCKING RULES IT IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN A COMIC BOOK MOVIE AND THE SCREENPLAY IS INCREDIBLE AND AMAZING AND I LOVE IT."

I have to say (and feel weird admitting it here) that I finally saw The Avengers last week (as part of our ongoing Movies That We Ordinarily Would Have Seen Opening Night That We Didn't See in Theaters Due to Illness Film Festival we're having at home) and I gotta say I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment. Even the bits that I wouldn't think would work work well.

nicebookrack: "Clearly Agent Casper is the pre-S.H.I.E.L.D identity of Agent Coulson

Fanfic's got ya covered.


From the link:

"Josh Lyman prepares to attend Phil Coulson's funeral. Donna comforts him."

Those 11 words strung together and what they mean about the world we live in right now makes me happier than anything should.

(Hand to God, I am not mocking this fic... or any fic... at all.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:17 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Fanfic's got ya covered.

"Hey, big boss man," says a tall brunette with round cheeks, a sarcastic leer, and a slight limp. "How're you feeling today?"
posted by dirtdirt at 12:18 PM on May 13, 2013


Goddang it, I am so F'ing stupid about movies! I *knew* there was something fishy about Colson's death scene--it bugged the hell out of me. Just to abrupt or something...not even any hint of an effort to use their awesome tech to even try to save the guy...but, despite the me in the back of my head nagging the me in the front of my head that it didn't add up, I glided right over it...
posted by Fists O'Fury at 12:21 PM on May 13, 2013


Speaking of Avengers fanfic, I highly recommend "The Information Operation Division" by The Whelk.

We (MetaFilter) are even in it!
posted by Jacqueline at 12:22 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


My wife never, for a second, believed that Coulson was dead. She rewrote the last scene of the movie, in fact, and that version has taken up residence in my head to the point that I sometimes forget it isn't what happened on-screen.

She thought that idea that Nick Fury would leave the future of mankind to anything as wishy-washy as "Oh, we'll need them" was preposterous. My wife's version of the ending:

Nick Fury: They'll come back.

Maria Hill: You really sure about that?

Nick Fury: I am.

Maria Hill: Why?

Phil Coulson (arm in sling): Because we'll do whatever we need to do to get them.
posted by thudthwacker at 12:24 PM on May 13, 2013 [10 favorites]


I think Matt Fraction's Hawkeye comic would translate really well to an 80-style adventure show like the A-Team or Knight Rider.

Isn't that what stupid Arrow is supposed to be?
posted by Artw at 12:24 PM on May 13, 2013


Coulson comes back, but is supposedly a bit weirded out by bringing brought back to life and has to deal with that emotionally.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:26 PM on May 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


Mental image of Coulson "dealing emotionally" by holing up in a SHIELD safehouse, huddling in his snuggie, and bingeing on reality TV and Nutella
posted by nicebookrack at 12:31 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


I want to see how Coulson rips Fury a new one for messing up his mint-condition Captain Americards.
posted by ooga_booga at 12:34 PM on May 13, 2013 [16 favorites]


I like the idea in theory but when I saw the promo materials I realized that everyone who is a featured character is white, which, like. Really? Why is even the slightest nod towards diversity too much to ask?
posted by elizardbits at 12:35 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


> "I want to see how Coulson rips Fury a new one for messing up his mint-condition Captain Americards."

Don't worry, they weren't the real cards, they were just Life Model Decoys. :D
posted by Jacqueline at 12:36 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Mental image of Coulson "dealing emotionally" by holing up in a SHIELD safehouse, huddling in his snuggie, and bingeing on reality TV SHIELD Security footage of Steve Rogers and Nutella. FTFY
posted by Coobeastie at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


I'd still love to see Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. expanded into a TV series of some sort, but I can't think of any particular Disney-owned media niches..."

Nope. UK TV needs to do Nextwave. It's possible that the Cartoon Network or FX could avoid making a mess of it, but it needs a touch that almost never happens on US TV.
posted by middleclasstool at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Hmm, I am pretty sure I saw a gentleman of color in at least a couple of frames.
posted by Kitteh at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Ming Na and J. August Richards are super not white

(Definitely on board for more diversity please though)
posted by nicebookrack at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


I like the idea in theory but when I saw the promo materials I realized that everyone who is a featured character is white, which, like. Really? Why is even the slightest nod towards diversity too much to ask?

What's wrong with Vanilla?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2013


Jacqueline: " That's a popular fan theory that's been around since opening night of The Avengers. Nick Fury is totally not above manipulating people like that."

Yeah, which I was aware of. It would just be kind of disappointing if that's all there is to it. If "Coulson was forced to hold his breath as part of the ruse" as opposed to something neat and creative and science fictiony.
posted by brundlefly at 12:38 PM on May 13, 2013


(But whatever. I'm just happy to have him back.)
posted by brundlefly at 12:39 PM on May 13, 2013


Ming Na and J. August Richards are super not white

OKAY YAYS

(i did only see a poster image or two so idk)
posted by elizardbits at 12:39 PM on May 13, 2013


I like the idea in theory but when I saw the promo materials I realized that everyone who is a featured character is white, which, like. Really? Why is even the slightest nod towards diversity too much to ask?

Ming-Na Wen and J. August Richards!

Plus this show is literally run by the woman who sang "Nobody's Asian In Movies." I'm giving them a bit of benefit of the doubt.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:39 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Yeah, which I was aware of. It would just be kind of disappointing if that's all there is to it. If "Coulson was forced to hold his breath as part of the ruse" as opposed to something neat and creative and science fictiony

Exactly, that's why I'm betting it's the latter, as Joss realizes it would cheapen Avengers if Coulson's death was just a ruse by Fury.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:40 PM on May 13, 2013


Josswho.tumblr.com is still available.
posted by The Whelk at 2:08 PM on May 13


I just grabbed it. Look for content later today.
posted by joannemerriam at 12:42 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Srsly? Vampires? On TV?? Didn't they go out of style with Bram Stoker?

Outer space? Meh. Too vasty!

Comic books? Really? Aren't those for kids?

(omg I could do this all day, but shld prob stop trolling this nerdfest ;P...Whelk, I think 'Who's Joss' prob makes a better Twitter than Tumblr...hmmmmm)

(also, I might be the only person alive who enjoyed Dollhouse...It was like Charlie's Angels...but campy. ;) (really wish they'd gotten another season to make that ending even more harrowing...over the phone? Yikes!)
posted by sexyrobot at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2013


Cobie Smulders says her work on How I Met Your Mother won't stop Maria Hill from making appearances on the show

It wouldn't bother me if she's not on the show at all. The way she pronounces heR Rs so haRd really bugs me.

It's a thing.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2013


Also Chloe Bennet is half Chinese, I believe.
posted by King Bee at 12:49 PM on May 13, 2013


Maybe they'll do something like Michael Chrichton did with Ian Malcolm in The Lost World and just have Coulson say "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" and never bring it up again.
posted by brundlefly at 12:49 PM on May 13, 2013




Maybe they'll do something like Michael Chrichton did with Ian Malcolm in The Lost World and just have Coulson say "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" and never bring it up again.

The cries of anguish from the nerd circles would be deafening. That doesn't make it a bad idea, but I suspect the Wheadon would think it was too much of a cop out.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:52 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


I might be the only person alive who enjoyed Dollhouse...

I liked it, too. It was just one of those things that you just had to keep watching. The second season is actually pretty solid.
posted by King Bee at 12:52 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Only 56,000 followers 12 hours later? What's with the slacking, fans?

I expect Fox is going to cancel his twitter account just as it starts getting good. We're going to need more followers to start a letter writing campaign to have his tweets released on DVD.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:53 PM on May 13, 2013 [9 favorites]


(i did only see a poster image or two so idk)


But don't let that stop you from coming into the thread and throwing around stuff about racism!
posted by kbanas at 12:55 PM on May 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


I might be the only person alive who enjoyed Dollhouse...It was like Charlie's Angels...but campy.

Also, unsettlingly posthumanist, once you get to Season 2. Dollhouse was a slow burn, but I think it ultimately paid off a number of its better ideas in a way that I haven't seen done in network TV SF.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:55 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


Dollhouse totally rocked from "There are three flowers in a vase. The third flower is green." onward.
posted by Jacqueline at 12:56 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Dollhouse was a great 12 episode series stuck inside a larger two series show. If you haven't checked the second season out, I recommend it only for actually dealing with why Doll Technology is a SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA.
posted by The Whelk at 12:57 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


Dollhouse was a great 12 episode series stuck inside a larger two series show.

Definitely. There was a pub trivia night devoted to All Things Joss Whedon about a year ago, and it was my job as part of the team to rewatch all of Dollhouse to get prepared. I was thinking almost exactly this same sentence, like "just cut out about half of these episodes, and the whole thing would be super solid and awesome."
posted by King Bee at 12:59 PM on May 13, 2013


Epitaph One and Two broke my heart. I sobbed myself to sleep after that final scene of Echo curling up with you-know-who in her head.
posted by Jacqueline at 1:00 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


I loved Dollhouse starting from around 1x06. (Incidentally, 1x06 deals with a lot of the same things that the original pilot did before Fox made Joss retool the show. Total coincidence, I'm sure.) Still not totally on board with the last big twist of the show (which was not planned for from the beginning, from what I remember) but still a great show overall. And as much guff as I always love to give to Fox, that Dollhouse got a 2nd season is some kind of latter day miracle.
posted by kmz at 1:02 PM on May 13, 2013


But don't let that stop you from coming into the thread and throwing around stuff about racism!

Yep that's exactly what I did! I am an asshole for being concerned about minority representation!
posted by elizardbits at 1:02 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


It's like, Joss who???

Actually it's Josh Wheaton, Wil's older brother.
posted by kmz at 1:04 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Yep that's exactly what I did! I am an asshole for being concerned about minority representation!

MONSTER.
posted by Kitteh at 1:04 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yep that's exactly what I did! I am an asshole for being concerned about minority representation!

That and seemingly not bothering to watch the 30 second promo in the single link post.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:05 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


Yeah, I remember reading TV By The Numbers when the renew/cancel orders were coming out for that year, and they had a piece on how renewing Dollhouse basically broke their prediction model because no TV show had ever gotten a new season with ratings that low.

(So, for once in my life: thanks, FOX!)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:05 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


You know, I know a bit more about Marvel than the average movie goer, but I thought the Avengers is all right and I'm not that much of a Whedon fan.

Is this really that good? I watched the promo and, I'm like "Oh, okay, that guy's back." and it looks like a by the book weekly episode thing, that'll probably be used as a marketing tool to push the next Marvel Movie (TM) that comes out. I keep thinking it's going to be like:

Agent Coulson: Quick, we have to stop Baron Zemo!

Generic Agent: But where's Cap?

Coulson: He's hunting THE WINTER SOLDIER and cannot help us. We should get an update from him on APRIL 4, 2014 about THE WINTER SOLDIER. COMING SOON.
posted by FJT at 1:17 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Actually it's Josh Wheaton, Wil's older brother.

No, that's Joe Sweetin, Jodie's slightly creepy but ultimately harmless uncle.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:18 PM on May 13, 2013


Man, I hope J. August Richards is playing Luke Cage.

Except then he'd might be suffocated from the sheer weight of panties thrown at him.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:21 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]


I'll be in my bunk.
posted by never used baby shoes at 1:22 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Yeah, I hope this series will be a way to show a lot of the B-List superheroes deemed unworthy to have their own movies.
posted by cazoo at 1:22 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Anyone that hasn't seen the pics of Agent Coulson as the Vision should do a google image search.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2013


(To be slightly off-topic, though also somewhat on-topic considering Joss's history with TV networks... I'm happy about S.H.I.E.L.D. but also giving ABC the stinkeye for canceling Happy Endings. If USA does pick it up, I might forgive them. And hey, it would be another resurrection! #HappyEndingsLives)
posted by kmz at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I hope this series will be a way to show a lot of the B-List superheroes deemed unworthy to have their own movies.

And maybe to gauge whether B-List superheroes maybe should get their own movies.

If the Luke Cage episode of SHIELD gets five million purchases on Amazon and whatnot, then, well ...
posted by kafziel at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


We'll know my wife didn't take the credit card away in time?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:24 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Jessica Jones (cue Alias spinoff)!

This was apparently almost already a thing? And maybe could still be?
posted by kmz at 1:27 PM on May 13, 2013


Is this really that good? I watched the promo

The promo is honestly pretty mediocre, but that doesn't really mean anything, tbh. You can pretty much make anything look like anything in a promo. I'd trust his track record for rich characters, deft storytelling and playing with genre conventions over 30 seconds of tease, a third of which is text cards, punctuated by a lame joke.
posted by nathancaswell at 1:35 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


(To be slightly off-topic, though also somewhat on-topic considering Joss's history with TV networks... I'm happy about S.H.I.E.L.D. but also giving ABC the stinkeye for canceling Happy Endings. If USA does pick it up, I might forgive them. And hey, it would be another resurrection! #HappyEndingsLives)

One difference is that this show arises above your standard sitcom fare in regards to how the show sits in the greater continuum that is the Marvel moneymaker for Disney Corp. This show will do multiple things, barring it being so bad as to make the corporate overlords fear it would damage the Marvel moneymaking franchise: It will serve as a fill gap to keep people interested in the cinematic Marvel universe between movies; It will provide an opportunity to potential toy/figurine lines; and also probably serve as a way to raise the attention of viewers to comic titles of lesser known superheroes. There's just a lot of potential for a show so intricately linked to everything Marvel that has been a cash cow for Disney over the last few years, which to a degree, will probably help insulate it from the typical tv network head honchos.
posted by Atreides at 1:38 PM on May 13, 2013


Here's a quote from actor Clark Gregg, who plays Coulson, on the character's return from the dead:
When describing his character's return from the dead, Gregg said, "When Joss described to me the mystery… and the complexity and the unanswered questions about Phil Coulson standing there trying to deal with this, I found it so fascinating and so true to the world of the comics and mythology in general as I understand them that I was immediately in."
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:42 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Maybe they'll do something like Michael Chrichton did with Ian Malcolm in The Lost World and just have Coulson say "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" and never bring it up again.

Someone mentions it every now and then, and he just says, "Pff. Please," and waves it away. Eventually, Agent Hill is in the room when he does this, and she storms out, furious.
posted by Etrigan at 1:48 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


I am deep enough down the rabbit hole that my first reaction is "but how is this going to fit in to the Toasterverse?" (Which I also wondered about Iron Man 3, and my conclusion was the writers had been reading the Toasterverse too.)
posted by restless_nomad at 1:52 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Which I also wondered about Iron Man 3

(Another tangent: I was really dreading the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 and I have to say they dealt with it in probably the only non-problematic way possible, short of just completely forgetting that such a character ever existed, which I would have also been fine with.)
posted by kmz at 1:55 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Totally agree. I had seen some pre-buzz from people I generally trust that they'd handled it well, but I couldn't imagine how. But they did!
posted by restless_nomad at 1:58 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


There's just a lot of potential for a show so intricately linked to everything Marvel that has been a cash cow for Disney over the last few years, which to a degree, will probably help insulate it from the typical tv network head honchos.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no illusions about the business realities involved here. Honestly Happy Endings already survived longer than I thought it would too. Just venting as all show fans do when they're canceled.

(Though it is no "standard sitcom fare", but now I'm just digressing on digressions.)
posted by kmz at 1:59 PM on May 13, 2013


I'm kinda disappointed in some of you peoples. I can't believe that anyone who watched the Avengers and thought "Agent Coulson is for sure dead forever" has ever read a comic book in their entire life. WE NEVER SAW THE BODY!
posted by straight at 2:09 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


And sometimes they come back even after seeing the body on the cover.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:17 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


AGENT COULSON

(。♥‿♥。)

now all I want is cameos from Black Widow and Hawkeye lurking around in the background behind Coulson ready to leap out and take a bullet IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS okay and Nick Fury is standing there going I GAVE HIM BODY ARMOUR go away and kill people and then both master assassins kind of just hiss at him before melting back into the shadows

and then I want Captain America to sign his trading cards

posted by zennish at 2:24 PM on May 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


I can't believe that anyone who watched the Avengers and thought "Agent Coulson is for sure dead forever" has ever read a comic book in their entire life.

Relevant.
posted by The Tensor at 2:25 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


YES zennish YES YES

basically I need all the "Coulson is the Avenger's mascot/minder/confidante/BFF/Sixth Ranger member" fic I have read obsessively since last May-ish to come truuuue.

On that note: Stockholm Syndrome and Other Drugs. And yes, the Toasterverse!

Also sorry CBS, I need Two Broke Girls to die quickly so Kat Dennings can come be Darcy Lewis, snarky SHIELD newbie, on a weekly basis, kthx.
posted by nicebookrack at 2:30 PM on May 13, 2013


I'm kinda disappointed in some of you peoples. I can't believe that anyone who watched the Avengers and thought "Agent Coulson is for sure dead forever" has ever read a comic book in their entire life. WE NEVER SAW THE BODY!

The amusing part is the Avengers getting sad over Coulson dying, but all the other workers killed by brainwashed Hawkeye? Not a beep. Hell, nobody but Black Widow seems to give a damn that Hawkeye is brainwashed and running around killing people.

But Coulson supposedly buys it and all of sudden its "oh know, ONE OF US".
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:31 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Re: Mandarin derail (and yes maybe SPOILERS). Yeah, not only did the writers dodge a bullet on some really racially problematic stuff, they turned it into a trenchant (for a Big Hollywood Actioner) critique of terrorism as a kind of twisted PR. It was well done, I think in part because they must've decided early on "we are not even trying to do the Mandarin from the comics." No half-measures.
posted by gauche at 2:33 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Brandon Blatcher: "I'm kinda disappointed in some of you peoples. I can't believe that anyone who watched the Avengers and thought "Agent Coulson is for sure dead forever" has ever read a comic book in their entire life. WE NEVER SAW THE BODY!

The amusing part is the Avengers getting sad over Coulson dying, but all the other workers killed by brainwashed Hawkeye? Not a beep. Hell, nobody but Black Widow seems to give a damn that Hawkeye is brainwashed and running around killing people.

But Coulson supposedly buys it and all of sudden its "oh know, ONE OF US".
"

Temp workers, man.
posted by boo_radley at 2:33 PM on May 13, 2013




Ben Urich should be an angry anti-SHIELD political blogger so I can EXPLODE from fangasm.
posted by nicebookrack at 2:35 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


re: Maria Hill.

does anyone know who the comics version of Maria Hill was physically based on? (a celebrity, actress, etc...)
posted by Auden at 2:42 PM on May 13, 2013


Marvel did just get the rights to Luke Cage back from Sony so here's hoping.
posted by the_artificer at 2:43 PM on May 13, 2013


They also got Daredevil!
posted by nicebookrack at 2:45 PM on May 13, 2013


I need Two Broke Girls to die quickly

Don't need to say anything else, really. What a godawful show.
posted by kmz at 2:45 PM on May 13, 2013


*KINDA SORTA IRON MAN 3 SPOILERS*

kmz: "Another tangent: I was really dreading the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 and I have to say they dealt with it in probably the only non-problematic way possible"

Also, kudos to their marketing people. It's rare these days that I manage to go into a movie unspoiled, much less not know there was something to be spoiled. Turns out you can get away with surprising people simply by not saying "Twists! Secrets! We got secrets here!" at every opportunity.

*cough* J.J. Abrams *cough*
posted by brundlefly at 2:49 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


The promo is honestly pretty mediocre, but that doesn't really mean anything, tbh. You can pretty much make anything look like anything in a promo. I'd trust his track record for rich characters, deft storytelling and playing with genre conventions over 30 seconds of tease, a third of which is text cards, punctuated by a lame joke.

Wait, so there's still a chance that the show is actually subtle and slow moving police procedural where every week Coulson has to balance of the needs of his promotion-grabbing superiors who just want the case to be shut down and go away with the needs of his agents to do good detective work that will get the real villains off the streets?

I can just imagine:

Season 1 is the huge fight that S.H.I.E.L.D. has with the Justice Dept. about the legality of tapping into Oscorp Industries private network, because of a suspicion that they're selling pumpkin bombs to the North Koreans.

Season 2, mostly happens in the Latverian Embassy in France, where a man named "Adrian Germain" is forced to stay after leaking secret S.H.I.E.L.D. communiques on the Internet.

Season 3, a controversial new presidential candidate promises to put S.H.I.E.L.D. under proper congressional oversight. Should S.H.I.E.L.D. fight back with a Super PAC, or maybe just accuse him of being a Skrull?
posted by FJT at 3:01 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Season 4, where we see some pre-teen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents going to S.H.I.E.L.D. school, and the problems they deal with on a day-to-day basis, both in and outside of the school, plus a previously disgraced S.H.I.E.L.D. agent ends up being one of their teachers and he takes one of them under his wing, etc.
posted by King Bee at 3:12 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


You know, I really enjoyed "The Avengers", and even when viewed with a jaundiced eye as just another mercenary summer blockbuster designed to earn Disney all the money in the world, I thought it was sort of an interestingly ballsy move on their part to produce it at all. I don't know that "Thor", or "The Incredible Hulk" made very much money at the box office. I mean, I'm sure they were profitable enough, but to send these movies out into the marketplace with the intention of making the real money with film number 6...that's impressive.

I'm looking forward to this show. I might be looking even more forward to seeing how draconian Disney wants to get about reclaiming the movie rights to some of their characters that have previously been farmed out elsewhere. I mean, they got back Daredevil and Luke Cage, apparently. Now I want to see them drive hard to the hoop in an attempt to get back Spiderman and the Fantastic Four. And then let Whedon have all the toys in the box.
posted by Ipsifendus at 3:13 PM on May 13, 2013


Season 3, a controversial new presidential candidate promises to put S.H.I.E.L.D. under proper congressional oversight. Should S.H.I.E.L.D. fight back with a Super PAC, or maybe just accuse him of being a Skrull?

Dude, I know you're making a joke but since I spent a good couple thousand words on who the hell is running cleanup post Chitaturi invasion I'm saying I would watch this SO HARD.
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


In terms of character rights, there's rumors (*** Avengers 2 possible spoiler alert! ***) that Joss wants a certain pair of siblings to be in Avengers 2, who apparently fall into some weird rights limbo where both Fox and Marvel are allowed to use them, as long as they're careful about how they handle their affiliations.
posted by kmz at 3:24 PM on May 13, 2013


CONTINUED POSSIBLE AVENGERS 2 SPOILER ALERT

Is is wrong that I am already gleefully anticipating the Loki & Pietro Dance-Off for the title of Douchiest Arrogant Douchebag in Smugland as they flip their shiny, perfect hair?

Also I will cling to the last possible second to the "Coulson=Vision" fan theory, because Wanda appreciating Robot Phil's many human charms would be so, so right. (House of M never happened and will never happen, lalalala)
posted by nicebookrack at 3:35 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Joss wants a certain pair of siblings

The Wondertwins?
posted by davros42 at 3:39 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:42 PM on May 13, 2013


I'm comforted by the very short glimpses of what looks like a slight limp(and arm stiffness) that Coulson doesn't get any sort of ridiculous Lazarus Pit treatment, but probably something more along the lines of "here you go, months of physical therapy yaaay."

Anyway, I am beyond excited for this show, and I've probably been spending too much time on tumblr looking at slow motion .gifs of the promo.
posted by sawdustbear at 3:44 PM on May 13, 2013


Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

Also twins, also a wonder
posted by davros42 at 3:47 PM on May 13, 2013


Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

Also twins, also a wonder


Except in the Ultimate Universe, where they're less wonder and more Lannister.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:51 PM on May 13, 2013


Links to slow motion GIFs please!
posted by nicebookrack at 3:51 PM on May 13, 2013


Slow motion .gifs are abundant on tumblr! This one collects a lot of them.

I'm totally getting sucked into Avengers/SHIELD fandom...everyone is just so enthusiastic and happy and it's awfully contagious and I'm pretending I didn't just read 10k of fanfiction featuring Phil Coulson fucking Hawkeye.

(Nope, because I actually read 50k of fanfiction.)
posted by sawdustbear at 3:58 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Joss wants a certain pair of siblings

Simon and River, yes?
posted by lydhre at 4:00 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I may have Clint/Coulson recs if the room needs them

I may have recs for any pairing you may potentially imagine, for that matter

and I totally do want to read YOUR recs and Coulsony recs
posted by nicebookrack at 4:03 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Seriously, I think it's cause they have the least amount of screen time so there is more room to invent but BOY OH BOY DO PEOPLE WANT CLINT AND PHIL TOGETHER.

I mean, the number of fics that turn "violinist" into code for " bow man" .....
posted by The Whelk at 4:07 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I wonder how they're going to build the Marvel universe when Sony and Fox have the rights for so many of the pieces. Can they mention the Daily Bugle? Mutants would probably be a pretty big part of SHIELD's brief, since they'd be popping up everywhere and scaring regular folks. But can they even use the M word?
posted by Kevin Street at 4:10 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I think it's the spy headsets. Spy headsets = spy phonesex, obviously.
posted by nicebookrack at 4:11 PM on May 13, 2013


Mandarin's a Liverpool fan.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:12 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


By the way, The Whelk, I just screamed at my friend Erik(flaterik) "WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THE WHELK WROTE AVENGERS FANFICTION."

My favourite Clint/Coulson fanfiction tropes in order:

- Spy phonesex
- Apparently Hawkeye cooks.
- Clint Barton is the Cellist, because bows.
- Coulson really likes desserts.
- Hawkeye spends a lot of time in the airvents above Coulson's office.
- Clint Barton and/or Phil Coulson are corgis.

(I fucking love the MCU fandom, I really do.)
posted by sawdustbear at 4:13 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I have to link this because, to quote myself: "I begged on AvengerKink for awesome Clint/Coulson Ladyhawke-romaaaance, and the GODS HEARD MY PLEA": Shapeshifting and Shenanigans

THAT THIS FIC EXISTS MAKES ME SO HAPPY.
posted by nicebookrack at 4:16 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I can verify that said IM screaming happened. I was kind of surprised this was news to her!
posted by flaterik at 4:19 PM on May 13, 2013


Its 26 chapters of people being cocks to each other go nuts
posted by The Whelk at 4:20 PM on May 13, 2013


Whedon's involvement is reassuring, of course, but I have some serious qualms about the casting.

Though I don't actually dislike either one of them, Ming Na and J. August Richards have always been the least interesting actors in pretty much everything I've seen them in - although if it turns out the latter is playing Luke Cage, there might be some potential there.

Beyond that, the presence of only young, pretty people (other than Coulson) makes me concerned that this will end up being like a WB superhero show, with that same one-step-removed relationship to the source material. Or a sort of "SHIELD 90210," which would be super-lame.

Are there no longer any SHIELD agents who are battle-scarred veterans? No oddballs like Arthur "The Gaffer" Levine, Jasper Sitwell, etc? Is SHIELD recruiting exclusively these days from among the ranks of former catalog models?

I know it's a TV show, they're in the business of casting good-looking folks, etc. But the idea of a worldwide spy agency that teams up with superheroes would seem to provide plenty of opportunities to cast interesting character actors, and this bunch, at first glance, looks pretty bland.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 4:24 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


(To be slightly off-topic, though also somewhat on-topic considering Joss's history with TV networks... I'm happy about S.H.I.E.L.D. but also giving ABC the stinkeye for canceling Happy Endings. If USA does pick it up, I might forgive them. And hey, it would be another resurrection! #HappyEndingsLives)

You know what, universe, I was so, so, SOOOOOO happy when I saw this promo today that I almost cried. My son and I are gonna nerd out and watch this so hard and I'm refusing to tell him Coulson isn't actually dead until we watch the show when it's first on. AND THEN THERE'S THIS?! Fucking hell.

If there was ever something that proved the world was going to hell in a hand basket, it's the cancellation of Happy Endings. "SHUPS FOR LIFE!"
posted by youandiandaflame at 4:25 PM on May 13, 2013




I bet Joss Whedon can get Nick Fury on the phone any time he wants. Access is power, man!
posted by Kevin Street at 4:55 PM on May 13, 2013


There is clearly a SHIELD equivalent to every Bat-thing. SHIELDphone, SHIELDarang, SHIELDshark-repellant!
posted by nicebookrack at 4:59 PM on May 13, 2013


*signs into into sChat*
posted by The Whelk at 5:02 PM on May 13, 2013


Dear Hollywood:

Once you tire of the Avengers series and realize the Justice League probably peaked with the animated series, you still have options for superteams. Assuming for some reason you do not want to do NEXTWave: Agents of H.A.T.E., you still have the option to bring out Warren Ellis's run on Stormwatch/The Authority.

The tagline's already written: "Welcome to Earth. We're here to hit you."
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 5:09 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


There is clearly a SHIELD equivalent to every Bat-thing. SHIELDphone, SHIELDarang, SHIELDshark-repellant!

Same SHIELD time! Same SHIELD channel!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:17 PM on May 13, 2013


Oh wow, the Authority. Imagine the apoplexy if Warner Brothers released a movie where the main villain is a giant alien beast called God.
posted by Kevin Street at 5:18 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


> "Its 26 chapters of people being cocks to each other go nuts"

But [SPOILER WARNING] never actually *sticking* their cocks in each other despite lots of emo buildup. :( Which is why The Whelk needs to write a smutty sequel ASAP -- who wants to sign my petition?!
posted by Jacqueline at 5:41 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


you still have the option to bring out Warren Ellis's run on Stormwatch/The Authority.

...

Oh wow, the Authority. Imagine the apoplexy if Warner Brothers released a movie where the main villain is a giant alien beast called God.


Not to mention a superhero movie where the Superman-analogue (Apollo) and Batman-analogue (Midnighter) are literally gay-married to each other while simultaneously being 1000 times more bone-crunchingly badass than the "real" Superman/Batman.

It's also worth noting that you can pretty much draw a straight line between Ellis's barnstorming run on The Authority -- which helped popularize the idea of "widescreen" action-film styled comics -- and Mark Millar's subsequent run on The Ultimates, which was basically The Authority in Marvel drag. Of course, The Ultimates basically gave Marvel the blueprint for updating their heroes in a 21st-century cinematic context (including the Sam Jackson incarnation of Nick Fury), and helped lead to the last ten years of Marvel eating DC's lunch at the cineplex.
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:52 PM on May 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


There is clearly a SHIELD equivalent to every Bat-thing. SHIELDphone, SHIELDarang, SHIELDshark-repellant!

When I was in elementary school my bff and I decided we were agents of SHIELD and made up badges and applications and orders and costumes. For, like, the entire sixth grade, everything we did had to be officially SHIELD-approved.

Huh. I hadn't thought of that in years.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:24 PM on May 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


OK, here's a crazy theory about how they resurrect Agent Coulson for the TV series: He's not the original flesh-and-blood Coulson, but rather a state-of-the-art android/LMD, imprinted with Coulson's personality, memories, and so on.

I don't know what the state of the tech is supposed to be in the current Marvel movie universe, but the ability to create android replicas (Life Model Decoys) and to download personalities into an android (The Vision) both have existed in the comics, albeit in imperfect form, since the Silver Age.

Put 'em together, and you can bring back Agent Coulson without making his death in the Avengers movie into some sort of cheat. Imagine that since his last memory backup was before the events of the movie, the reborn Coulson has to learn about what happened all over again, as well as get used to the idea that he died and has been brought back as an android. That would give Clark Gregg some additional stuff to play, and the character also could gain some surprise meta-human abilities (extra strength, speed, agility, the ability to replace damaged parts) that would still fit into a TV budget.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 6:26 PM on May 13, 2013


yeah, I thought about the Live Model Decoy angle too, and agree it would be a good way to go - you could do all sorts of interesting things with it along the lines of Whedon's previous work on Dollhouse in terms of identity, autonomy, individuation, external puppet-masters, etc. Ideally you would keep the fact hidden from the rest of the cast, and perhaps it might turn out that Coulson's software has been hacked by AIM or who knows.
posted by Auden at 7:01 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I would watch Vision!Coulson with such alacrity.

(note: that is not actually Vision!Coulson, but I dream anyway)
posted by nicebookrack at 7:04 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I don't know what the state of the tech is supposed to be in the current Marvel movie universe, but the ability to create android replicas (Life Model Decoys) and to download personalities into an android (The Vision) both have existed in the comics, albeit in imperfect form, since the Silver Age.

Robert Downie mentions an LMD in the Avengers. So that might have been a deliberate call-out.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:44 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Phil dies at the end of every episode

You bastards! You killed Coulson!
posted by homunculus at 7:48 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


This is how I imagine computer-backup Coulson going, while upping the ante on heartbreak and body horror.

A picspam break from the fic I keep spamming: Son of Coul & daughter of Son of Coul! (Philsdottir?)
posted by nicebookrack at 7:56 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


You bastards! You killed Coulson!

So many beers I want to have with her now. So many.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:18 PM on May 13, 2013


On topic: SO excited for the SHIELD show.

Off topic: Forget The Authority. When is the Planetary HBO miniseries going to start airing?
posted by Elementary Penguin at 12:16 AM on May 14, 2013 [3 favorites]


When is the Planetary HBO miniseries going to start airing?

The comic book itself is good because it's well executed, but I'm really, really tired of the basic idea: "Classic Heroic Characters With The Serial Numbers Filed Off...With a Därk Twist!"

I'm afraid a Planetary TV series might not deliver anything that wasn't already inadvertently satirized by Ellis's Ruins.
posted by straight at 8:56 AM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


(Noooooooooooooooooooooo D: D: D: )
posted by kmz at 10:47 AM on May 14, 2013


Just to fill out the list of minutiae, ABC announced today that SHIELD will air at 8PM on Tuesdays, going head-to-head with the reigning 800-pound gorilla of procedurals, NCIS. Should be interesting.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:12 AM on May 14, 2013


My mom owns the TV and is in love with NCIS Agent Gibbs' baby-blue eyes, but I am younger and more vicious, so this may be an interesting fall TV season at my house.
posted by nicebookrack at 11:19 AM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


It JUST connected in my head (I blame the mustache) that the actor playing Bucky Barnes in Captain America is the same actor who played the Mad Hatter on Once Upon a Time, which is getting a Wonderland spinoff on ABC this fall too. Is he going to play both roles? Is ABC recasting Hatter (nooo)? Will Bucky show up in the SHIELD series? Will there be exciting, incestuous ABC crossovers between OUAT and SHIELD?
posted by nicebookrack at 11:25 AM on May 14, 2013


Bucky is currently dead (well, as far as anybody knows), so he wouldn't be in a position to appear in anything until the Captain America sequel has come and gone.

(I wouldn't be shocked to see a crossover with OUAT, at the rate that show is turning into a live-action Kingdom Hearts)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:34 AM on May 14, 2013


(Noooooooooooooooooooooo D: D: D: )
posted by homunculus at 11:35 AM on May 14, 2013


CA Winter Soldier is out in April 2014. I smell SHIELD movie-tie-in season finale Buckyness!

I wouldn't be shocked to see a crossover with OUAT, at the rate that show is turning into a live-action Kingdom Hearts

This is completely the reason I keep watching (that and the potential chance to see actual live-action Axel et al and maybe Storybrooke's Heartless). It is crack for crossover junkies like me, with bonus incestuous small-town soap opera dramallama. Maybe SHIELD can double-crossover with The Incredibles? Still waiting for the talking Hamlet lions, Disney!
posted by nicebookrack at 11:59 AM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


And...more promo shots! I'm a little weirded out by the amount of photoshopping...Ming Na is 49 for god's sake, let her look it! Given, the show I really want to watch is grumpy SHIELD agents wrangling the new SHIELD junior agent class of 2013, so it perturbs me that she looks about 24.
posted by sawdustbear at 12:34 PM on May 14, 2013


My mom owns the TV and is in love with NCIS Agent Gibbs' baby-blue eyes, but I am younger and more vicious, so this may be an interesting fall TV season at my house.

I spent a bit trying to figure out why imagining Mark Harmon guest star Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. set my heart a-flutter until I realized it was a hidden West Wing connection. Again.

Ming Na is 49

Photoshopping or not, my mind is blown.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:53 PM on May 14, 2013


Extended preview! (Sorry non-US peeps, trying and failing to find a Youtube link; I'm sure one will pop up soon.)

(And I just want a Fillion cameo on SHIELD. Is that so much to ask for? Same network!)
posted by kmz at 12:59 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


Hold on, Jeph Loeb is an executive producer on this? Please please please let him be killed off in the first episode.
posted by ooga_booga at 1:01 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


Ming Na is 49 for god's sake, let her look it! Given, the show I really want to watch is grumpy SHIELD agents wrangling the new SHIELD junior agent class of 2013, so it perturbs me that she looks about 24.

I saw Ming Na in person, up close, about a year and a half ago. My exact thought was, Wow, that woman looks like Ming Na used to back when she was Ming-Na Wen... holy shit, that's Ming Na.

I'm not saying they don't photoshop her, but they don't do much.
posted by Etrigan at 1:25 PM on May 14, 2013


I'm not saying they don't photoshop her, but they don't do much.

I saw Jewel Staite at close range a couple years ago and thought "man, it must have taken some pretty talented makeup artists in Firefly to make her look grubby and cute instead of face-shatteringly beautiful." It's not that photoshopping isn't a thing, but man, some people are just pretty.
posted by restless_nomad at 1:30 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


Nathan Filion SHIELD cameo as Captain Hammer

JOSS CAN DO IT
posted by nicebookrack at 1:32 PM on May 14, 2013 [4 favorites]


TEASER

FADE IN:

CLOSE-UP on the newbie agents preparing their gear and loading their weapons. They are talking about their new handler, the legendary PHIL COULSON. Their gossiping is inter-cut with CLOSE-UPS of a pair of dress shoes walking down a hallway.

AGENT RANSOM:

I heard he single-handedly took on Loki and nearly stopped the entire invasion himself.

AGENT O'BRIEN:

Well I heard he died and was re-built into some kind of super cyborg machine.

AGENT TULLMUS:

I thought he was a clone, secretly beefed up with the Rebirth serum.

AGENT O'BRIEN:

Nah he was grown in a vat by SHIELD specifically to create the biggest, stone-coldest badass.

AGENT ELBA:

They say he stopped an armed robbery, with donuts.

AGENT TULLIMUS:

That didn't happen. But I did hear only one person has seen him without his suit on, and that person is no longer alive.

We hear a door opening and the agents scramble to get into an orderly line. We PULL-OUT to reveal we are in:

1. INT. SHIELD LOCKER ROOM

The door opens to reveal a massive bodybuilder of a man in padded body armor. The Agents look nervous. The massive man steps aside to reveal the much shorter PHIL COULSON, holding a box from DUNKIN' DONUTS.

COULSON:

Good morning everyone! Bear claw?

MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE (:45)
posted by The Whelk at 1:34 PM on May 14, 2013 [12 favorites]


The Whelk for President of ABC Network and also My Heart

all in favor say AYE
posted by nicebookrack at 1:36 PM on May 14, 2013 [4 favorites]


And I just want a Fillion cameo on SHIELD. Is that so much to ask for? Same network!

On the one hand, a Richard Castle cameo would be totally awesome. On the other hand, if Edgar Wright manages to snag him as Ant-Man like we keep on haranguingcasually nudging him about, which would also be totally awesome, they might be leery of doing it. On the other other hand, they could easily have the Scott Lang Ant-Man (not a fan of Hank Pym what with all the wife-beating and such) in the movie and the Eric O'Grady Ant-Man in the show, seeing as how the latter is/was a SHIELD agent. And maybe they could both...

Y'know what, I'm getting a bit tingly in my funtime areas just thinking about all of this, so I should really stop before something gets awkward.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:58 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]




scream scream scream scream
posted by The Whelk at 2:04 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


OH

EM

GEE

Okay, now I'm like 100x more excited for the show. But c'mon Disney, you couldn't post the trailer in HD?
posted by zombieflanders at 2:05 PM on May 14, 2013


Can it be fall now? I would like it to be fall now.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:05 PM on May 14, 2013


SHIELD, pretty liberal with the whole head-bagging kidnapping thing! (Cause large paramillitary shadowy organizations are not known for being friendly)

(also ha ha blogger lady has Dan's job)
posted by The Whelk at 2:09 PM on May 14, 2013


Tor.com has a different theory about the mystery superhero.
posted by restless_nomad at 2:20 PM on May 14, 2013 [5 favorites]


That would be awesome. And they're right about how it would tie into the movieverse - it has the Ultimate Universe thing going on where every superpower comes from either an alien artifact, miscellaneous super-science, or an attempt to reverse-engineer the Super-Soldier Serum.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:24 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


SHRIEK SHRIEK SHRIEK

Okay pretty much confirmed that J. August Richards is Luke Cage Y/Y? Who wants to speculate wildly on Glowy Intangible Guy?

Also I would've sworn tha VoiceOver Lady was Amy Acker, but I guess she has a voice twin instead.

"Welcome to Level Seven."


SHRIEEEEEEEEEEK
posted by nicebookrack at 2:25 PM on May 14, 2013


I take it back! I like Tor's theory better!
posted by nicebookrack at 2:27 PM on May 14, 2013


guys
guys
Young Avengers
HULKLING/WICCAN
Joss Joss make it so
posted by nicebookrack at 2:30 PM on May 14, 2013


Possibly better quality version? 720p anyway.

And it seems the person interrogating the new agent ("what does SHIELD stand for?" which comes with a perfectly Whedony answer) might be Cobie Smulders/Maria Hill.
posted by kmz at 2:45 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


I feel bad for Coulson, he seems cranky and yelling. Maybe Nick Fury figured herding newbie ducklings would be less stressful than the herd of cats that is Tony Stark?

An important issue: when will Galaga Guy return?
posted by nicebookrack at 2:51 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


I really, really, really love Tor's theory.
posted by sawdustbear at 4:26 PM on May 14, 2013


I'll only watch this if it's based on the 60s Ditko comics and has a cameo from Hasselhoff Nick Fury.

But seriously the best comment came from a friend:

fuck that, i have this analogy of him, he is the embodiment of the fall of the western civilization because he primarily acts as a fan service character right ? these roles are usually reserved for some sort of fetish or wish fulfillment. ie: hitting some sort of sexual fetish quotient.

With Cuntson, he is fulfilling the fetish of the world to want to be "the sumtimes witty 9 to 5 guy working for a cool company and collects baseball cards" i mean, jesus atleast Narcissus was widely accepted to be good looking. We dont even need that anymore, as long as we "collect cards and has nerdish qualities" we can fap to ourselves. how much more hedonistic can you get ?

posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 12:44 AM on May 15, 2013


Why make the superhero show about the most bland, ordinary character? It'd be like making a BPRD show based on Rip Torn from Hellboy. Is it to keep budgets down?
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 12:45 AM on May 15, 2013


Joss' Twiter bio mentions Mandroid.
So happy.

J. August Richards (aka Gunn - as if y'all don't know) turned up in Arrow recently, and he was an awesome Smooth Assassin ion the style of The Operative or Jubal Early.

There has been some talk he's Rage (Who? I know) and not Luke Cage. To be honest until we hear "Sweet Christmas" in a trailer (which, to be fair, could be Joss fucking with us) I'm keeping my options open.
posted by Mezentian at 3:26 AM on May 15, 2013


Oh man, can't wait for the SHIELD and Archer crossover! Coulson could use a night out with Sterling.

Why make the superhero show about the most bland, ordinary character?

Lots of people love The Coulson. He's an almost perfect 'everyman' character.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:14 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


Coulson canonically wears tailored suits, can kill you with a bag of flour, verbally owns Tony Stark, is eminently unflappable, speaks with courtesy even to supervillains, makes the people around him look cooler just by being there, and in his downtime from badassery collects geeky WWII memorabilia and watches Supernanny.

I don't know that he's Everyman, but I would definitely not mind being him when I grow up.
posted by nicebookrack at 6:33 AM on May 15, 2013 [8 favorites]


- Apparently Hawkeye cooks.

I don't know. He seems more of a take-away guy.
Or Grills..... *sobs*
posted by Mezentian at 7:11 AM on May 15, 2013


Why make the superhero show about the most bland, ordinary character?

It would appear from the trailer that the whole theme of the show is "How do bland, ordinary people cope with superheroes running around?" With Joss at the helm I'm pretty sure the answer won't be "by continuing to be bland and ordinary."
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:28 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]




Tell Me No Lies: It would appear from the trailer that the whole theme of the show is "How do bland, ordinary people cope with superheroes running around?" With Joss at the helm I'm pretty sure the answer won't be "by continuing to be bland and ordinary."


I agree. Though if we don't get a Lower Decks episode from the perspective of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cafeteria workers, I'm going to feel like a massive opportunity was squandered.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:23 AM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


Now I am sad thinking about the cafeteria workers at the prison in Watchmen. "You're all locked in here with me!"

While we're at it, Rorschach was definitely no slouch in the "bland, ordinary" department, even if the superpower guy got him in the end.
posted by nicebookrack at 10:33 AM on May 15, 2013


Why make the superhero show about the most bland, ordinary character?


Well, it worked for Gotham Central, which was about how the police in a major city deals with a bunch of crazed super villains and the antics of Batman. IIRC, there were rumors and talks and stuff about a television show based on it. But, as always, nothing came of it.

There was also Powers, which is kind of about the police and media dealing with that stuff too.

I tend to think GC has more room to mine the whole "normals in a world of supers" than SHIELD, since I remember SHIELD has a frickin' helicarrier and billions of dollars in equipment to fight against extranormal threats. SHIELD strikes me more like a whole DCAU Project Cadmus thing that was in one of the latter JLU season-long story arcs.
posted by FJT at 11:35 AM on May 15, 2013


Now I am sad thinking about the cafeteria workers at the prison in Watchmen. "You're all locked in here with me!"


Now I'm happy imagining an at the episode should be centered around my imagined S.H.I.E.L.D. cafeteria workers in lockdown because of an (off screen) Hulk rampage where everybody talks about their feelings living in a world with super heroes and secret agents with the occasional flashback to events they witnessed but were not a part of. It'd be cheaper than other episodes and Joss Whedon should write the dialogue.

But then I realized I was pretty much imagining the awful post-9/11 West Wing episode.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:38 AM on May 15, 2013


I think SHIELD is going to be equal parts normal people making sense of a world where superheroes exist and a sort of "hub series" around which any superhero can revolve, without giving one or two comics characters extreme priority. A Gotham Central sort of approach does the first one really well, but isn't a very good platform for the second - which is probably the main thing Disney/Marvel Studios wants out of this show.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2013


What do ordinary people think of the superheroes? It's an interesting question. In the regular Marvel Comics universe that question was answered pretty spectacularly by Busiek and Ross's Marvels. In that series it's like the gods returning to Earth after being away for a couple thousand years. Suddenly New York becomes this place where literally anything can happen anytime. On the way to work you might see Giant Man fight a living Whirlwind, and on the way home catch a glimpse of Mister Fantastic stretching himself across half the skyline. At the coffee shop you might stand in line behind The Thing and Crystal of the Inhumans, and hear them talk about going to the Moon like it's no big deal.

But we're living in a post 9/11 age now where change = fear, and the Marvel movies have already set up a world where the villains have killed hundreds of innocent people. So it's more likely they'll take the approach that superpowered people are dangerous, both hero and villain, and SHIELD will be trying to keep a lid on things, rather than work with the heroes like they do in the comics. I hope they keep some of that original sense of wonder, though.
posted by Kevin Street at 2:16 PM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]


But then I realized I was pretty much imagining the awful post-9/11 West Wing episode.

Yeah, but with Joss writing.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:35 PM on May 15, 2013




Any picture of Chris Evans is relevant, like, to anything. Dude's on my top 5 list, and I'm at least nominally straight.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:21 PM on May 15, 2013


There is a reason why I'm now blonde.
posted by The Whelk at 4:34 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


That photo is very relevant to my interests. I am dumbstruck. Jesus God, Chris Evans is pretty. In defense against/of shallow sexual objectification, my love of Evans-as-Cap is like 60% the acting/writing/character portrayal of Steve (he is so NICE but not BORING, this is unpossible), 40% the pretty, even if the pretty is the bold-underlined percent. those arms

In conclusion the in-series SHIELD recruitment video must star Captain America, because all Cap needs to do is look up through his long eyelashes and ask me to volunteer "for America, ma'am," and I would join any latrine-scrubbing suicide mission. And Steve will be so proud that so many of this crop of SHIELD newbies are so, so patriotic.
posted by nicebookrack at 4:55 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


I just don't get it. I loved Avengers, loved all the Marvel movies, but I saw Coulson as somebody who existed to get killed. It seems like making a Buffy series centred around Xander, or if Dollhouse was about the milqutoast engineer Whedon self-insert creepy guy.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:03 PM on May 15, 2013


I think he has to be that unironically Norman Rockwell nice and decent or we might have Problems with America owning a human shaped super weapon.
posted by The Whelk at 5:03 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


latrine-scrubbing suicide mission

Brings all new meaning to "you do NOT want to go in there right now"
posted by flaterik at 6:12 PM on May 15, 2013


It seems like making a Buffy series centred around Xander

And I think, if done right, that could be an awesome series. I find something compelling in the idea of a normal, ordinary human working, contributing, surviving the midst of a bunch of super-powered, over-sized heroes and enemies.
posted by never used baby shoes at 6:14 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


Plus I always felt that the show was centered on the GROUP, not just Buffy. And that's part of why it was so great. The show is centered on SHIELD, of which Coulson is a part.
posted by flaterik at 6:15 PM on May 15, 2013




Huh, I thought Isaiah Mustafa was going to be Luke Cage.
posted by homunculus at 8:04 PM on May 15, 2013


Isn't that what stupid Arrow is supposed to be?

The season finale looks like a remake of Batman Begins with archery.
posted by homunculus at 8:53 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


Huh, I thought Isaiah Mustafa was going to be Luke Cage.

Maybe they're saving him for the Black Panther movie?

The season finale looks like a remake of Batman Begins with archery.

With Captain Jack bringing the torture.
I hope River Song turns up for no reason.

(Actually off to watch it now. Well, forgot to hit post. That was awesome. I love how Arrow takes the CW tropes, and both uses them and breaks them. I figure if Smallville was fun, and Arrow is awesome, the addition of Team Joss could.... there's no English word.)
posted by Mezentian at 5:58 AM on May 16, 2013


(NOTE: The following link is kind of a spoiler alert for the show, so although I've cut it from the text, it still appears in the link description in your browser)

Executive Producer Jeffrey Bell Talks Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:13 AM on May 16, 2013


- Apparently Hawkeye cooks.
- Clint Barton is the Cellist, because bows.


He's also a sculptor.
posted by homunculus at 5:11 PM on May 16, 2013


I love how Arrow takes the CW tropes, and both uses them and breaks them.

How so? I mean, I like Arrow, but I don't get what you mean here.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:21 PM on May 16, 2013


*KINDA SORTA IRON MAN 3 SPOILERS*

"Another tangent: I was really dreading the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 and I have to say they dealt with it in probably the only non-problematic way possible"

Also, kudos to their marketing people. It's rare these days that I manage to go into a movie unspoiled, much less not know there was something to be spoiled. Turns out you can get away with surprising people simply by not saying "Twists! Secrets! We got secrets here!" at every opportunity.


Though in retrospect, this might have been a clue.
posted by homunculus at 10:38 AM on May 18, 2013




And I think, if done right, that could be an awesome series.

Coming this fall... ZEPPO!
posted by Zed at 10:18 PM on May 19, 2013


Coming this fall... ZEPPO!

He likes the quiet.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2013




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