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patentdragonYes. Oh heavens, yes.
Now, is that an AVENGERS-level "yes"? Not just yet, but you have to start somewhere. I mean, Buffy started with a movie that wasn't exactly stellar, right?
The lead-in is quick and painless. We're spared too much reference to the existing cinematic backstory (maybe priced out of the picture by someone's pay demands?), so we don't alienate the potential audience the movies haven't (somehow) managed to reach. Just enough is revealed to get the show rolling before the most badly-kept secret in TV history bursts onto our screens. Yup, the t-shirts and GIFs were right - Coulson Lives.
Or does he? There is a dark secret behind our hero's miraculous return, and fandom seems to have a bead on it. Poor fellow's an LMD - a Life Model Decoy - and he doesn't even know it. There could, of course, be a lot more to it than a simple (heh) android imprinted with the human's brain patterns, and we might be on course for the appearance of a much-loved android Avenger...
But enough speculation - Chitauri technology, obviously left over from AVENGERS, features strongly in this first episode, as part of a scheme by persons unidentified to provide people with super-powers, and one down-on-his-luck man exposes it all, at potential great cost to himself and others. Thankfully, the show doesn't go for the "quick fix" for the fans, who've been thinking the "hooded man" is the latest addition to the hero stable to make the transition from comic-book page to screen - but the potential is there. Enough about that for now, however...
Coulson seems to have a "free pass" to pick his team as he sees fit, adding to the roster on the fly as an outside character soon gets folded into the mix. As always, show boss Joss Whedon has assembled a good cast, and gets strong performances out of all of them - and boy, does Clark Gregg get a golden opportunity to expand on the Coulson character, with (almost) more screen-time than in four movies in this episode alone. We are all very eager to see how his story unfolds.
For a show with such a strong visual pedigree from the movies, you might expect a plethora of special effects, but there are surprisingly few FX scenes, with most of the action coming in the form of a heap of stunt-work. "Everything in moderation" seems to be the watchword(s), and that's a good thing; the movies are for the heroes, and this show is about us. keep that in mind, show creators, and you will be on to something VERY special.
So, we get a happy ending, a bunch of foreshadowing of what to expect, news of a mysterious second mission to whet our appetites for next week's episode... oh, yes, and Lola. God damn, I just geeked out. However, the show should dial back on the gadgets just a little, to avoid the "convenient get-out clause of the week". If the show stays grounded - like the movies - it should do just fine.
I am a fan, and I am satisfied. The wait has been worth it.
And before we forget, "Mr Peterson" technically no longer exists. If he retains any of his powers after his treatment, guy's gonna need a new name. Luke Cage sound good...?
The Final Verdict... We have a hit, and a definite "drop everything" show for Friday night. I am most intrigued to see what else this show has to offer... 8/10
Now, is that an AVENGERS-level "yes"? Not just yet, but you have to start somewhere. I mean, Buffy started with a movie that wasn't exactly stellar, right?
The lead-in is quick and painless. We're spared too much reference to the existing cinematic backstory (maybe priced out of the picture by someone's pay demands?), so we don't alienate the potential audience the movies haven't (somehow) managed to reach. Just enough is revealed to get the show rolling before the most badly-kept secret in TV history bursts onto our screens. Yup, the t-shirts and GIFs were right - Coulson Lives.
Or does he? There is a dark secret behind our hero's miraculous return, and fandom seems to have a bead on it. Poor fellow's an LMD - a Life Model Decoy - and he doesn't even know it. There could, of course, be a lot more to it than a simple (heh) android imprinted with the human's brain patterns, and we might be on course for the appearance of a much-loved android Avenger...
But enough speculation - Chitauri technology, obviously left over from AVENGERS, features strongly in this first episode, as part of a scheme by persons unidentified to provide people with super-powers, and one down-on-his-luck man exposes it all, at potential great cost to himself and others. Thankfully, the show doesn't go for the "quick fix" for the fans, who've been thinking the "hooded man" is the latest addition to the hero stable to make the transition from comic-book page to screen - but the potential is there. Enough about that for now, however...
Coulson seems to have a "free pass" to pick his team as he sees fit, adding to the roster on the fly as an outside character soon gets folded into the mix. As always, show boss Joss Whedon has assembled a good cast, and gets strong performances out of all of them - and boy, does Clark Gregg get a golden opportunity to expand on the Coulson character, with (almost) more screen-time than in four movies in this episode alone. We are all very eager to see how his story unfolds.
For a show with such a strong visual pedigree from the movies, you might expect a plethora of special effects, but there are surprisingly few FX scenes, with most of the action coming in the form of a heap of stunt-work. "Everything in moderation" seems to be the watchword(s), and that's a good thing; the movies are for the heroes, and this show is about us. keep that in mind, show creators, and you will be on to something VERY special.
So, we get a happy ending, a bunch of foreshadowing of what to expect, news of a mysterious second mission to whet our appetites for next week's episode... oh, yes, and Lola. God damn, I just geeked out. However, the show should dial back on the gadgets just a little, to avoid the "convenient get-out clause of the week". If the show stays grounded - like the movies - it should do just fine.
I am a fan, and I am satisfied. The wait has been worth it.
And before we forget, "Mr Peterson" technically no longer exists. If he retains any of his powers after his treatment, guy's gonna need a new name. Luke Cage sound good...?
The Final Verdict... We have a hit, and a definite "drop everything" show for Friday night. I am most intrigued to see what else this show has to offer... 8/10
