Episode Title: Shattering the Glass Ceiling with KNIVES!
Original Airdate: 3-26-14
Welcome back to another episode of the webseries We Might Be Superheroes where we continue our conversation where we left off last week. As always, if you can’t wait to check out the rest of the episodes, visit their official website. It’s time to kick off season 2 with a bang with a larger than life villain: Athena.
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Episode title: Earth Mover
Original air date: September 25, 1999
If you cast your mind back to my coverage of the first season (or failing that just hit the archive section) you will remember that I noted that in the character of “Inque” the series has essentially reworked the classic villain “Clayface” to fit into this new world and now a mere 15 episodes into the show and they essentially rework him again with this episode as we are introduced to the one shot villain “Earthmover”. Yes this might seem like some very lazy writing, but stick with us here as this episode more than manages to stand on its own merits.
Episode Title: Scars
Original Airdate: 5-5-15
It’s a post ‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’ Marvel Cinematic Universe, and ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ does not shy away from acknowledging that fact. The penultimate episode of Season 2 titled ‘Scars’ not only makes references to the events of the film, but the characters themselves even analyze those events to get their point across in this episode. It’s a bold move but it pays off, as the show uses those events to further their own story and still make connections that answer a few questions and add to both the movie and the show. Although, maybe not enough to make the movie better. Fair warning: this Review of the latest episode of ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ will contain many major SPOILERS for ‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’, (my Spoiler-free Review can be found here) so if you haven’t watched the movie and don’t want to be spoiled… be wary!
Episode title: Splicers
Original air date: September 18, 1999
After the surprise success of the first season, it was unsurprising that the showrunners would be given twice the episode allotment for the second season which runs for a whopping 27 episodes compared to the paltry 13 of the first season.
This debut episode starts by introducing a new element to the “Batman Beyond” world as here we get our first introduction to splicers, who are average citizens who choose to splice their DNA with animal DNA in the name of fashion and to give them certain characteristics such as leopard spots or cat eyes. Of course like any fashion style there are those who choose to take it further than most with the results seeing them turning themselves into humanoid versions of their chosen animals. Bruce meanwhile is suspicious of this new trend and more so of the shady Dr. Abel Cuvier who runs the Chimera Institute which is spearheading this latest trend.
For those up to speed on their Batman history will understand Bruce’s reason to be suspicious at the mention of gene splicing having had his own brush with these kinds of experiments with the “Man-Bat” in the episode “On Leather Wings” back in the original animated series. Of course like all of Bruce’s suspicions it soon turns out that things aren’t quite what they seem at the Chimera Institute with Curvier looking to take out D.A Sam Young who is trying to outlaw the practice of splicing believing that causes an increase in aggressive behaviour. True it would have been great to have Bruce we wrong with his hunches, but when you look at how obvious a villain Curvier is, especially with his Vincent Price styling even someone who isn’t a master detective would assume something was up with him.
The splicers make for a great foe to open the season with, especially when they come with so much unlimited potential, with this episode seeing Terry battling foes that have combined themselves with the DNA of a ram, cobra and tiger respectively, with the ram splicer “Ramrod” being voiced by Ice T in what I would like to say is one of his more random roles but it really isn’t. Even Terry isn’t free of being spliced himself as he finds himself being turned literally into a Batman. The centrepiece of these splicing antics however comes at the finale with Curvier turning himself into an actual chimera before soon warping into something a lot more twisted and which left me wondering where he line is actually drawn when it comes to censoring children’s cartoons as the final form Curvier takes was a lot more shocking than I would have expected to have seen on a mainstream show and more the sort of thing you’d expect from 90’s anime.
It would seem in the time which has passed between seasons that Bruce has come to trust in Terry’s abilities as the Batman a lot more, even going as far as stating that the splicer situation is one that they would need to clean up, seemingly indicating that Bruce has now settled in his position as advisor. Equally the episode see’s the first appearance of “Max” a fellow student at Terry’s school who is worth keeping an eye on, especially as she soon becomes another important character in the Batman universe as will become clearer later in the season. Sadly this episode marks the last appearance of the splicers, even though their presence is still felt throughout the show as they turn up in supporting roles, it would sadly not be in a central role but they make for a great season opener.
Next Episode: Earth Mover
Episode Title: The Dirty Half Dozen
Original Airdate: 28-4-15
With the phase 2 culmination of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe releasing May 1st, the latest episode of ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ pushes forward with its own story, while setting up some cool Avengers plot points. With Lincoln, the Inhuman, and Deathlok captured by H.Y.D.R.A., Coulson confronts Gonzalez with a plan to infiltrate H.Y.D.R.A. and deal them a severe blow. The episode entitled, ‘The Dirty Half Dozen’ brings together the original ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘ team from Season 1, while tying in some of its more recent Season 2 storylines into the upcoming ‘Avengers: Age Of Ultron’ movie.
Episode Title: Frenemy Of My Enemy
Original Airdate: 21-4-15
After a few episodes of various sub plots focusing on different characters, this week’s episode of ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ converges all of them together in an epic confrontation. After which, it’s hard to be certain whose side to be when the dust settles. The latest episode titled ‘Frenemy Of My Enemy’, start bringing plot points back together, after the detour of the other S.H.I.E.L.D. arc with Edward James Olmos’ Gonzalez, and getting back to the story of the good guys versus H.Y.D.R.A. while it seems that the Inhumans have their own beef with H.Y.D.R.A.
Original Airdate: 15-4-15
Episode Title: Melinda
Primarily serving as a somewhat origin story, the latest episode of ‘Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.‘ gives us a history of the character of Melinda May played by Ming Na Wen. While showcasing the painful past, the episode also reveals some big surprises regarding the Inhumans, and connects the past to the present with some ominously vague reference of things to come, and ending with Coulson getting another step closer to retaking S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s a surprisingly good episode with amazing action and lots of feels!
Episode Title: One Door Closes
Original Airdate: 3-31-15
‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ comes back to true form after the misstep of last week, with a great episode that has action, nostalgia, exposition, more Avengers references, and some cool reveals. Flashing back to the events that affected S.H.I.E.L.D. directly after the story of ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, Episode 15 titled ‘One Door Closes‘ shows us exactly how the Edward James Olmos’ Gonzalez came to head up the real S.H.I.E.L.D., how they were formed and why exactly they disagree with Coulson’s methods. The episode also takes Skye deeper into her Inhuman origins with drastic changes to the overall status of the show thus far.
Episode Title: Love In The Time Of Hydra
Original Airdate: 3-24-15
New characters. New storylines. New conflicts and much else arise in the latest episode of ‘Agents of S.H.I.EL.D.’ entitled ‘Love In The Time Of Hydra’. Although it’s a curious title given that there is no more H.Y.D.R.A. Supposedly. But there are two relationship angles playing out this episode. One of the conflicted one between Nick Blood’s Hunter an Adrianne Pallicki’s Bobbi, and another budding relationship between Brett Dalton’s Ward and the returning Agent 33 played by Maya Stojan. Despite all this, the most interesting elements of the show take a back seat this episode, which is very disappointing.
Episode Title: One Of Us
Original Airdate: 17-3-15
After a well-deserved vacation where Bubba was kind enough to fill in for me last week, I am back and was geared up for the continuation of last week’s shocking cliffhanger on Marvel’s ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D’. However, similar to my co-workers’ reactions to my mild tan from the hot Bahamian sun, I was underwhelmed. The episode titled ‘One Of Us’ decided to slow things down this episode for more light hearted banter and character development, decent action, some subtle plot points and a big confusing reveal in the end.
Channel: Superhero 