Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Bless Joss Whedon.  No matter how cruelly television treats him, he keeps going back to tell more stories in that medium.  There is good reason for it because the stories he tells deserve the extra time to develop and grow into something truly fine.

That’s not in any way trying to put down his theatrical releases; I am a huge fan of Serenity and The Avengers, yet in both cases, I can’t help but wonder what he would have accomplished if he were able to make a series of them instead of a two- to three-hour movie.  (Well, on second thought, we’d have had to deal with commercials, so never mind that train of thought.)

Now we have Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the question everyone must be asking is, Will this make it to a complete season?  Probably.  I don’t know what the ratings are, but I’m assuming there’s going to be enough fan support carrying over from the Avengers movie to at least make it worthwhile for the network to let it go on.

Actually, the reason will go on is because Disney owns ABC and Marvel, and with the power of their franchising capabilities, the show will succeed because that’s the power that Disney has.

I don’t mean this to sound unfair to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  It is a quality show; I’m commenting on the fact that Whedon has put out quality before and been shut down just when he was getting into a groove.  Looking at the power that’s behind him this time, I think he might get a good run on this.

You’ll notice I haven’t said anything substantial about the show this time.  It’s because I don’t want to spoil anything.  It’s a little goofy and steeped with plenty of opportunities for nerds to freak out, but it’s also good-hearted and there is hints at a serious and dark story underlying the great adventure it brings us on.  It’s on Hulu, which is the only way I can see it right now, but for those of you aware of TV schedules, go ahead, make the time, TiVo it, whatever.  We need more programs like this.