S.W.O.R.D. & The Infinity Stone.
22 Episodes. Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Jeff Ward, Adrian Pasdar & Dominic Rains. Creator: Joss Whedon.
Thanos. There! We and they said it. Happy now? So lets move on like a click of the fingers. And that absurd death snap notion that the mad titans soul clap is going to mean a permanent end, ashes to dust for some of Marvel's mightiest heroes with Avengance. You do know half these supes in nano-tech tights that kicked the dust bucket in 'Infinity War' have sequels coming out over the next couple of years right (not you Loki!)? I mean the Spider-Man 'Homecoming' sequel is called 'Far From Home', not 'Far From Aunt May's Vacuuming Bag' for I'm not crying, you're crying out loud. And as all these cinematic comics crossover and prove it's all connected, what about 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and it's own season five after four foreclosed with a big bang? Following it's literally explosive beginning straight out of theatres, 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' four poured a shot of gasoline onto a flaming skull and set the whole scorching season on fire. As hells angel Gabriel Luna took the John Blaze reigns and chains off the steel horse and rode through as Robbie Reyes. The new Ghost Rider in a Black Beauty galloping powered Dodge Charger, ante up. A leather road warrior who needs his own show vehicle, pedal to the metal after stealing the last one here. To pun it bluntly I'd do a deal with the devil and sell my own soul to see that 'ish. And if that wasn't enough after tapping into our deepest and darkest fears this side of the world, wide web and the advancement and assimilating threat of A.I., Marvel and ABC shot these Agents into space as simple as one, two, three for the finale, planet sized cliff-hanger of season four. S.H.I.E.L.D. in space the same time as Marvel's Avengers and those Guardians of the Galaxy A-holes? Surely we're finally in for a cosmic, cinematic crossover right? Because all of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's creations will need all the help they can get going up against the grimace of the purple one and his gold glove. But alas, they must be in a whole other galaxy, far, far away. A place no Stark or Star-Lord has boldly gone before.
Thanos gets name-dropped once. But in this gauntlet of planetary wars for stones, these 'Agents Of S.W.O.R.D.' taking a slice from the graphic novels are left with the crumbs of meteors. Save what for a few split seconds looks like a maroon leather and cool space helmet, Peter Quill lookalike (who ends up I add looking more like a young Bradley Cooper ladies) and a blue man group Kree oyster cult (sniff...Yondu...sniff. He'll always be Mary Poppins y'all!). With 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' lost in space there's more chance of the street-level Netflix 'Defenders' blasting off to help (we reckon Luke Cage could take Thanos). The next time you'll see Clark Gregg's Agent Caulson in cinemas (after the last time he was kebabbed by the God of mischief in 'The Avengers'), is next years born in the 90's, with classic Marvel anti-ageing C.G. (a God send for 'Ant-Man And The Wasps' original Hank Pym, Michael Douglas), 'Captain Marvel' movie paged in by Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. But even if they are being left on the televised sidelines again this crack team in the spy game have a whole universe of problems to deal with like for instance, "the destroyer of worlds". Sounds like Josh Brolin, but in actuality it's a lot closer to home for your favourite cable show. Just look to the Sky. But beyond the stars you'll see some other worldy things this out of this world, Tardis travelling season. Like some alien creature critters looking like cousins of those 'Stranger Things' demi-dogs stalking the bowels of this space station like Ridley Scott's greatest creation...no we're not talking about Matt Damon's 'Martian'...close. Or some fight for New York finale showdowns that will remind you of the first 'Avengers' movie...that's the closest you'll get to a cinematic collaboration assembling fan boys and girls. But for all the fists of fury and energy pulsed punches between the super suits that could really do with paying Edna from 'The Incredibles' a visit this Summer, nothing can stop the tears of an emotional ending that will have you wondering how S.H.I.E.L.D. can bring the tender touch with truer testament than their silver screen big brother. But yet despite all this in relation to the fire and intelligence of the last season this all feels a little artificial. And this show is still reeling with the loss of the charismatic and compelling Brett Dalton. No flashback or clip shows here. This series will remind you of the one and done, critically and criminally underrated 'Inhumans' IMAX spectacle. But this is a good thing (this also having it's own extended season premiere to set it off). The bad thing is that even though this season is in a whole nother solar system and time frame, five still feels like a step back from four. And with sixth sense it seems like the next 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' series will be almost cut in half to an unlucky for some, Netflix like 13 episodes. But with their closest small screen rival from D.C. 'Gotham' heading to a kiss from the rose, fifth and final season that will finally see Bruce Wayne's Bat take wing, perhaps it's all cape and cowl fitting. Maybe it's time.
Thanos...oh sorry, I thought we were starting every paragraph with his name. Anyway if season six turns out to be the last hoorah like Al Pacino no longer smelling ladies, then Clark Gregg's Phil Caulson could do a lot worse than keeping his feet in the sands of the beaches of Tahiti, holding a special someones hand. I hear it's a magical place...that is when you're not having pins and needles running through your open brain. Clark's cocksure, charismatic Caulson is the true leader of this school of spies and not having him for another full season of the agents behind the Avengers is the pure opposite feeling of having him back on the big screen alongside another Captain for a real 'Marvel'. Especially stun gun fighting fit alongside, "will they, won't they", sidekick, superior officer Ming-Na Wen's Melinda May. May this Summer sending those on the receiving end of her Black Widow making kicks back to the same 'E.R.' she made her career work mentoring in. Ming-Na alongside franchise face Chloe Bennet's quaking daisy maker Sky (or whatever you want to call her), show that this series was all about female superheroes, powers or not, making a name for themselves before the Wasp made movie-name, Marvel first lady, way overdue history alongside Ant-Man with their sequel this Summer. And as much as we would love to see Scarlett Johansson's Romanoff (at least we're finally getting a 'Black Widow' movie...thank you 'Red Sparrow'), or Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill report for S.H.I.E.L.D. duty (and don't even think about tagging Jeremy Renner. He's not even in the new 'Mission: Impossible-Fallout'. Let alone 'Avengers: Infinity War'), there's more here with the intelligence over stereotypes with some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best and brightest. Like real hero Elizabeth Hendstridge, their unsung x-factor. And her Fitzsimmons perfect, better or worse partnership with Iain De Caestecker. Showing more dark designs behind his complex, anxious, angst-ridden character than his framework, mirror dimension, 'Agents Of Hydra' alternative ego. This show is all about coupling up the dynamic duos, as 'Coco' voice Natalia Cordova-Buckley gives more than her Bucky right arm in this phase that sees her Yo-Yo character swing back and graduate to being a series regular. She makes up for the spies we've waved goodbye to with a raised glass. As does a red-hot Nick Blood cameo for one of the best episodes of this run. But it's the shotgun axe to grind from the tank built Henry Simmons that really spreads influence and makes its mark like buckshot. Forget the "Chris Hench-worth" physique for a moment. Evoking every emotion that shows vulnerability is as much a mans strength as capability is, this man takes a swing and shot at tired notions of toxic masculinity. This Simmons is the soul of this series. And when it comes to the guest stars just wait until all is revealed about Quill and Rocket Racoon appear alike Jeff Ward's true identity for one of the most enthralling revelations of this 22 set on your T.V. Even Adrian Pasdar's Talbot soldier makes more of a general appearance this time round. Alongside first pod antagonist Dominic Rains evil-Smurf character that swaggers with sinister charisma only his vile villain snake thinks is charming. All in all and amongst all the new Marvel shows like 'Legion', 'Cloak and Dagger', 'The Gifted' and 'The Runaways' joining all those Netflix ones (let alone all those M.C.U. movies), this series that shot for the same Moon Thanos threw at Tony and tore the world apart seems better suited down to earth. But the Ziggy Stardust trip was fun whilst it postcard lasted. Even Mickey Mouse knows with the Galactus galaxy fantasia of the 'Fantastic Four' there's room in the sandbox for more to play superhero suit-up. It is a shared universe after all. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Inhumans', 'The Gifted', 'Gotham'.
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