All right.
So, viz the below video, Clark Gregg is such an incredible fanboy, it's just a joy to watch him geeking out over the stuff happening to him, let alone the stuff happening elsewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So …
I'll confess that the final ep of the season was, honestly, a little bit of a let-down, if only because the (appropriate) triumph of Our Heroes over Garrett, Ward, etc., was not balanced quite enough by "Yeah, and here's why this immediate victory isn't that big a deal" kind of things.
True, there are clearly some Big Issues coming up in Season 2. The A/B plot will be Skye's Parentage and Coulson's … state. And there's clearly a C-plot about What's Up with Fitz.
And, of course, anyone who thinks we've seen the end of Ward is kind of loopy.
(By the way, note that final team tableaux: two guys, three gals. Hail SHIELD.)
That said, it's a bit all too neatly wrapped up — especially when you consider that we weren't really seeing Hydra as our opponent, but Garrett, ostensibly part of Hydra, but really out for himself and his own narcissistic view of the universe. So he's down and so's Cybertek — whoop-de-doo.
On the other hand, Coulson's been handed (literally) the job of rebooting SHIELD, which is amazingly cool. Except that someone who's the Director of SHIELD v2 isn't going to be doing a lot of field ops, which has been half the fun with Coulson to date.
And … so what's SHIELD's revised status? Coulson & Co. seem to be in charge of the Bus again, and yet another SHIELD base. How much of next season will be arguments with local law enforcement / military / intelligence over turf?
It was nice to see Fury again, and his interactions with Coulson were marvelous. Though the semi-conclusion to the TAHITI subplot — that Fury considered Coulson an "Avenger" worth saving — felt a bit inadequate.
So, in summary — basically pleased with the results (May for the win!) — but it seemed just a bit too neatly wrapped. Though, honestly, that may have been as much out of hedging bets as to a renewal. If taken as a series finale, it's an appropriate level of conclusion. If only a season finale, it's not — but it's still good enough that, net-net, I have to give "Agents of SHIELD" a thumbs up and an eager waiting for the future.
I thought you liked it when the team leader stayed behind to coordinate things.
As for Coulson being an Avenger, he's now officially a Secret Avenger in the comics (along with Nick Fury Jr.)!
+Scott Randel True. And that certainly makes more sense. But I would hate to see less of Coulson; he remains my favorite character by far on the show (his geek-out over the suit case of vintage spyware was awesome).
And, yes, he is. Actual;y enjoying that book right now, as long as I ignore the really ugly covers.
What I’m looking forward to from Agent Carter? Seeing them messing with all the currently retro “classic SHIELD” gear that Coulson and Triplet have been geeking out over for the last few episodes.
@Doyce – That would be awesome. (I loved that scene when they open the case.)