AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. is The Big One, not just for ABC but for any network this fall. A spin-off of one of the most successful movies ever made (and part of a gigantically successful ongoing franchise), co-written and directed by the film’s director himself–who just happens to be a brilliant TV auteur in his own right… This will either be a massive hit, or a disappointment that scars the entire season. ABC is showing its confidence by having SHIELD lead off an entire night of new shows on Tuesdays, and it was in such a hurry to let viewers know the series was coming that it aired the show’s first promo during the season finale of Once Upon A Time.
For Whedon fans, this trailer is pretty irresistible stuff, with his trademark mix of quippy dialogue (“Welcome to Level 7”) and fantasy action-adventure. (Not evident, so far, is his tendency to go dark, but one imagines that will surface as well, if Marvel/Disney allows it.) The series, of course, will have nothing like the production values of the movie–or even, judging from the trailer, of the pilot. So smart writing and a strong ensemble cast will be key despite the pre-sold high concept. While it’s hard to tell in 2:45 how much of that is here, there’s certainly enough to make SHIELD look as promising as ABC needs it to be.
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About the Author
Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."
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