Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Laws of Nature
September 30, 2015 5:35 AM - Season 3, Episode 1 - Subscribe
S.H.I.E.L.D. searches the world for more powered people in the aftermath of their epic battle with Jiaying and her army of Inhumans, while the larger world grows uneasy at the number of super-beings on the planet. However, Coulson and the team soon find out that they are not the only group looking for these new Inhumans. Meanwhile, a distraught and driven Fitz searches for Simmons.
Good opening episode. There's a full season's worth of stuff to play out there. Curious to know what planet Jemma's on and who's hunting her.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:33 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by leotrotsky at 6:33 AM on September 30, 2015
Also, Sonic needs to lay off the steroids.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:34 AM on September 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:34 AM on September 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
WHERE IS MAY?
Now that's out there... I didn't pay attention at the very beginning of the cast list. Ming-Na Wen is still listed as a regular, right? I'd be devastated otherwise.
Oh, also...
WHERE IS SIMMONS?
posted by 2ht at 6:36 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now that's out there... I didn't pay attention at the very beginning of the cast list. Ming-Na Wen is still listed as a regular, right? I'd be devastated otherwise.
Oh, also...
WHERE IS SIMMONS?
posted by 2ht at 6:36 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's too bad they already burned through their one Sonic the Hedgehog joke on poor Rayna last year, because that guy was like 1000 times more Sonic than she was.
It was interesting to note that the fish oil bottle had a real name brand on it as opposed to a TV generi-product. I wonder if that was paid placement by the supplement manufacturer (which I will not name, because buzz marketing :P) and if they're fully aware of the show's implication that Brand _ fish oil might turn you into a misunderstood and feared freak of nature.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:42 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
It was interesting to note that the fish oil bottle had a real name brand on it as opposed to a TV generi-product. I wonder if that was paid placement by the supplement manufacturer (which I will not name, because buzz marketing :P) and if they're fully aware of the show's implication that Brand _ fish oil might turn you into a misunderstood and feared freak of nature.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:42 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
But a misunderstood and feared freak of nature with... amazing super powers.
posted by 2ht at 6:46 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by 2ht at 6:46 AM on September 30, 2015
Ming-Na Wen is still listed as a regular, right?
Going by the preview for next week, she should show up again in the next episode.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:10 AM on September 30, 2015
Going by the preview for next week, she should show up again in the next episode.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:10 AM on September 30, 2015
Good opening episode. There's a full season's worth of stuff to play out there. Curious to know what planet Jemma's on and who's hunting her.
For a second I was all "she's in some kind of blue...AREA...." and got really excited for the appearance of the Marvel Universe Feature Whose Mention Most Upsets My Wife, but sadly no. I'm assuming she's on some Kree planet somewhere, though.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:16 AM on September 30, 2015
For a second I was all "she's in some kind of blue...AREA...." and got really excited for the appearance of the Marvel Universe Feature Whose Mention Most Upsets My Wife, but sadly no. I'm assuming she's on some Kree planet somewhere, though.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:16 AM on September 30, 2015
The AVClub posits that Rosalind Price is actually Monica Rappaccini, one of the top scientists of A.I.M. If that's true, then we damn well better see M.O.D.O.K. this season.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:21 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:21 AM on September 30, 2015
That was a pretty densely packed season opener. I have to admit I waffled over the summer over whether or not I wanted to keep watching, but I think I'm hooked back in:
-Skye might actually be an interesting character to me now, as she now has to deal with helping to track down the newly activated Inhumans and then do the emotional labour of helping them adjust;
-Mack might be more than the one note "aliens are bad" character he was last year. And somebody get him a shotgun-axe, please. I want that to be a thing.
-Coulson is most enjoyable when he has someone to banter with, and the banter on the train with Rosalind was great. "Wait, are we telling the truth now?" (although the framing of some of the shots on the subway was interesting; he was in half-profile for a lot of them, almost like he was turning his face away from Rosalind, facing up the train car, but then we would get a full face shot. Weird. Distracting.) Anyways, it was needed in the absence of May.
-I liked how casual the reveal of Jose being gay was, that it didn't cause a slowdown or a reaction scene or anything; everyone just rolls with it.
-And I remain a huge Fitz fan. I liked how he had his emotional reaction but still accepted the truth of what Coulson was saying, in addition to getting perhaps the coolest agent action of the season.
-Fight scenes need some work - having Skye and Lincoln just stand there with SFX coming out of their hands is...uninteresting. Take some notes from Agent Carter, please!
posted by nubs at 8:24 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
-Skye might actually be an interesting character to me now, as she now has to deal with helping to track down the newly activated Inhumans and then do the emotional labour of helping them adjust;
-Mack might be more than the one note "aliens are bad" character he was last year. And somebody get him a shotgun-axe, please. I want that to be a thing.
-Coulson is most enjoyable when he has someone to banter with, and the banter on the train with Rosalind was great. "Wait, are we telling the truth now?" (although the framing of some of the shots on the subway was interesting; he was in half-profile for a lot of them, almost like he was turning his face away from Rosalind, facing up the train car, but then we would get a full face shot. Weird. Distracting.) Anyways, it was needed in the absence of May.
-I liked how casual the reveal of Jose being gay was, that it didn't cause a slowdown or a reaction scene or anything; everyone just rolls with it.
-And I remain a huge Fitz fan. I liked how he had his emotional reaction but still accepted the truth of what Coulson was saying, in addition to getting perhaps the coolest agent action of the season.
-Fight scenes need some work - having Skye and Lincoln just stand there with SFX coming out of their hands is...uninteresting. Take some notes from Agent Carter, please!
posted by nubs at 8:24 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
The AVClub posits that Rosalind Price is actually Monica Rappaccini, one of the top scientists of A.I.M. If that's true, then we damn well better see M.O.D.O.K. this season.
Given how lame Mr. Hyde was, I'm not sure I agree.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who got an A.I.M. vibe from the new guys.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:31 AM on September 30, 2015
Given how lame Mr. Hyde was, I'm not sure I agree.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who got an A.I.M. vibe from the new guys.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:31 AM on September 30, 2015
I'm glad I'm not the only one who got an A.I.M. vibe from the new guys.
That was my first thought too. I wonder if the President knows, considering what they did to him in Iron Man 2.
posted by homunculus at 9:59 AM on September 30, 2015
That was my first thought too. I wonder if the President knows, considering what they did to him in Iron Man 2.
posted by homunculus at 9:59 AM on September 30, 2015
That was Iron Man 3, wasn't it? I'm glad to see that they kept William Sadler on as the MCU POTUS.
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:37 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:37 AM on September 30, 2015
Yeah, Iron Man 3. I sometimes forget that Iron Man 2 ever happened.
posted by homunculus at 11:02 AM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 11:02 AM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
From the AVClub recap: "It’s really nice to see a gay character show up on this series, and I appreciate how the writers tie Joey’s personal experience as a gay man into his current situation as an Inhuman. I hope we see him again."
This piece which Artw linked on MeFi was fresh in my mind when I watched SHIELD last night (spoilers for the comics): Inhumans and the Sinister Gentrification of Otherness
I wonder if Marvel's decision to make the season's first new Inhuman character gay was intended to broadly make the same LGBTQ association with the Inhumans which has historically been there with the X-Men franchise, and to appeal to fans who are concerned about it being lost as the mutants get eclipsed by the Inhumans.
posted by homunculus at 11:24 AM on September 30, 2015
This piece which Artw linked on MeFi was fresh in my mind when I watched SHIELD last night (spoilers for the comics): Inhumans and the Sinister Gentrification of Otherness
I wonder if Marvel's decision to make the season's first new Inhuman character gay was intended to broadly make the same LGBTQ association with the Inhumans which has historically been there with the X-Men franchise, and to appeal to fans who are concerned about it being lost as the mutants get eclipsed by the Inhumans.
posted by homunculus at 11:24 AM on September 30, 2015
(And I'm not saying that would've been the only reason - it's a natural fit, after all - but I wonder if it was on Marvel's mind considering the concerns of fans with the comics.)
posted by homunculus at 11:34 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by homunculus at 11:34 AM on September 30, 2015
‘Agents of SHIELD’ Postmortem: Chloe Bennet on Lash, LGBT Characters and Simmons’ Fate
posted by homunculus at 11:38 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by homunculus at 11:38 AM on September 30, 2015
This episode was all around good, with tons of the little beats that mean so much to me. From the casual, no big deal, notice that Joey was gay, to the banter between Daisy and Mac, to Coulson quiet coolness about being detained (cuff his other hand!), to Fitz handling himself well in the field, to the reveal of Simmons.
Top notch stuff, all round, this season is starting off right.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:57 PM on September 30, 2015
Top notch stuff, all round, this season is starting off right.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:57 PM on September 30, 2015
Agree; this was the best season opener they've done. Usually the seasons start weak and become much stronger towards the end when they can stop treading water until after the Marvel Movie of the Year is released. Here's hoping this time the entire season is high quality.
I do like how Skye started out as the annoying, useless, and completely gratuitous pseudo-eye-candy (remember the... second?... episode with the running in the wet dress?) and was bait-and-switched into the most powerful SHIELD agent on the show? With actual superpowers?
Cool.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on September 30, 2015
I do like how Skye started out as the annoying, useless, and completely gratuitous pseudo-eye-candy (remember the... second?... episode with the running in the wet dress?) and was bait-and-switched into the most powerful SHIELD agent on the show? With actual superpowers?
Cool.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on September 30, 2015
She's definitely an easier character deal with now, her personality doesn't grate as much. Hopefully, the show won't focus on her as much, which was one of the largest problems for me. There's a whole team of interesting people, let's focus on all of them!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:19 PM on September 30, 2015
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:19 PM on September 30, 2015
This year they've only got one Marvel movie to deal with, and it'll be at the end of the season, so hopefully there's no water treading.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:21 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:21 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
I do like how Skye started out as the annoying, useless, and completely gratuitous pseudo-eye-candy (remember the... second?... episode with the running in the wet dress?) and was bait-and-switched into the most powerful SHIELD agent on the show? With actual superpowers?
They've taken away a lot of the annoying tropey bits - "I'm an orphan"; the mysterious origin backstory; and made both her replacement families - SHIELD and the Inhumans - unstable, potentially threatening groups that she has to balance between. So she's suddenly key in the arc of the show, instead of being the outsider/audience proxy (which she was in S1 for SHIELD and then in S2 for the Inhuman camp) who can be used for the infodumps.
I think she's still being used as eye-candy; I was a little taken aback at her tank top last night, on a show that's been pretty good about the women dressing appropriately for their current tasks/functions and also professionally . I mean, I can see the utility of it while Skye is in the field, but it seemed out of place while in the main facility as part of the various discussions about what else was going on. Perhaps I am too sensitive.
posted by nubs at 1:38 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
They've taken away a lot of the annoying tropey bits - "I'm an orphan"; the mysterious origin backstory; and made both her replacement families - SHIELD and the Inhumans - unstable, potentially threatening groups that she has to balance between. So she's suddenly key in the arc of the show, instead of being the outsider/audience proxy (which she was in S1 for SHIELD and then in S2 for the Inhuman camp) who can be used for the infodumps.
I think she's still being used as eye-candy; I was a little taken aback at her tank top last night, on a show that's been pretty good about the women dressing appropriately for their current tasks/functions and also professionally . I mean, I can see the utility of it while Skye is in the field, but it seemed out of place while in the main facility as part of the various discussions about what else was going on. Perhaps I am too sensitive.
posted by nubs at 1:38 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
After wearing the heavy gear of a field agent, both her and Mack were wearing much lighter clothes in the "office." Seemed reasonable.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:43 PM on September 30, 2015
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:43 PM on September 30, 2015
My superpower may be sensitivity.
posted by nubs at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nubs at 1:57 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
My wife has NEVER paid attention to this show. She's never even in the same room when it's on. But last night she wasn't feeling well, and I swear was asleep, so I watched SHIELD on the TV instead of the laptop. Her first ever comment on the show?
"She needs to wear a different shirt."
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:17 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
"She needs to wear a different shirt."
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:17 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think she's still being used as eye-candy; I was a little taken aback at her tank top last night, on a show that's been pretty good about the women dressing appropriately for their current tasks/functions and also professionally . I mean, I can see the utility of it while Skye is in the field, but it seemed out of place while in the main facility as part of the various discussions about what else was going on. Perhaps I am too sensitive.
No, I noticed it too. It wasn't the tank top itself that I found bothersome, it was how weirdly tailored it was to show maximum boobage without any visible bra-lines/bra-strap. (It reminded me of an episode of Buffy way back where she was supposed to be getting ready for sleep and her nightwear included a spaghetti-string tank top with matching bra.) If Daisy's outfit was meant to be believable field-work gear, she should have had a sports-bra under the tank, as it was it looked like there was Star Trek Next Generation-level undergarment wizardry going on underneath a pretend-casual exterior.
Other than that, I was happy with the episode overall. Glad to have the show back.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:14 PM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
No, I noticed it too. It wasn't the tank top itself that I found bothersome, it was how weirdly tailored it was to show maximum boobage without any visible bra-lines/bra-strap. (It reminded me of an episode of Buffy way back where she was supposed to be getting ready for sleep and her nightwear included a spaghetti-string tank top with matching bra.) If Daisy's outfit was meant to be believable field-work gear, she should have had a sports-bra under the tank, as it was it looked like there was Star Trek Next Generation-level undergarment wizardry going on underneath a pretend-casual exterior.
Other than that, I was happy with the episode overall. Glad to have the show back.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:14 PM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
"She needs to wear a different shirt."
Why?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:45 PM on September 30, 2015
Why?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:45 PM on September 30, 2015
She's going to catch cold. The AC is probably cranked way up with all those computers and electronic equipment in a bunker-like building.
posted by Justinian at 5:51 PM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:51 PM on September 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
My gf remarked on the tank top too fwiw.
posted by idb at 7:22 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by idb at 7:22 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, for what is a supposedly non-splashy, not really "sexy", not noticeable piece of clothing, it jumped out at me like a shark escaping an aquarium tank. It didn't read military functional. It definitely came across as styled and fitted to the max to definitely call attention to the actress' body in a way we really hope (fingers crossed) is subtle.
As for the show itself, it felt stronger than it typically does. I'm still not willing to admit the show is good (I was contemplating pulling the plug on it this season after suffering through the first two), but based on this, I'm willing to give it a (temporary) reprieve.
posted by sardonyx at 9:22 PM on September 30, 2015
As for the show itself, it felt stronger than it typically does. I'm still not willing to admit the show is good (I was contemplating pulling the plug on it this season after suffering through the first two), but based on this, I'm willing to give it a (temporary) reprieve.
posted by sardonyx at 9:22 PM on September 30, 2015
Oh, and the one other thought that crossed my mind was the appearance of the Inhumans: so far this season, good, nice Inhumans are pretty. Evil, bad guy Inhumans are alien or ugly. I really, really hope this isn't a pattern they're going to repeat ad nauseam. Actually this is pretty much a carry over from last season with Raina, and teleporter guy on one side of the fight and pretty doctor boy on Skye's side.
posted by sardonyx at 9:29 PM on September 30, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 9:29 PM on September 30, 2015
Every time I give this show another chance, I always cone away with the same feeling. Hammer-handed dialog meant to sound smarter and more interesting than it really is.
The show is aimed at a younger, less sophisticated target audience than literally every other MCU property. That's OK, I get it. It's not bad. It's just not for me.
It's the Taylor Swift of the MCU.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:59 PM on September 30, 2015
The show is aimed at a younger, less sophisticated target audience than literally every other MCU property. That's OK, I get it. It's not bad. It's just not for me.
It's the Taylor Swift of the MCU.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:59 PM on September 30, 2015
carry over from last season with Raina, and teleporter guy on one side of the fight
Well.. kinda sorta but then not really - Raina ended up on the 'Good' side, and was shown to be (largely) on the up-and-up once she got her seer powers..
posted by coriolisdave at 10:40 PM on September 30, 2015
Well.. kinda sorta but then not really - Raina ended up on the 'Good' side, and was shown to be (largely) on the up-and-up once she got her seer powers..
posted by coriolisdave at 10:40 PM on September 30, 2015
And Dinah Lachman, someone no-one would call ugly, was head of the bad Inhumans.
posted by Justinian at 11:39 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 11:39 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
She was scarred though.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:27 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:27 AM on October 1, 2015
Also, she only turns evil after being chopped up and stitched back together, so it still works out as beautiful = good and beautiful + slight foxing around the edges = evil.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:12 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:12 AM on October 1, 2015
They went the other route the once, but it was with Lorelei, and... no, just no.
posted by mordax at 9:43 AM on October 1, 2015
posted by mordax at 9:43 AM on October 1, 2015
Hey, it's Seattle!
Phil, that subway SCREAMS setup.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:40 PM on October 1, 2015
Phil, that subway SCREAMS setup.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:40 PM on October 1, 2015
The subway also screams "wait, what does a Metro train look like again?" I just got back from NYC so it was funny to see what was (probably?) one of their cars doubling for DC's. (Amusingly that scene wouldn't have worked in an actual Metro set, because there are no seats that face each other.)
Also, my thought with the villain was less Sonic, more Akuma.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:46 AM on October 2, 2015
Also, my thought with the villain was less Sonic, more Akuma.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:46 AM on October 2, 2015
I appreciated the way they set it in Seattle without making a point of it. Although there's not really a lot of brick buildings around Fifth between Pike and Union, and I'm pretty sure you could not afford to leave near there on a construction foreman's salary.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:59 AM on October 2, 2015
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:59 AM on October 2, 2015
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:17 AM on September 30, 2015 [4 favorites]