# Agents of SHIELD: Shadows S02E01 \[open spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339 "2014-09-23T12:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/61 "2014-09-25T12:58:42Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > I actually expected Fitz to be totally cured by the end of the episode as is the norm in episode television drama. Fortunately, it’s not the norm for Joss Whedon shows. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/62 "2014-09-25T15:25:38Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > I actually expected Fitz to be totally cured by the end of the episode as is the norm in episode television drama. I’m glad they seem to be taking a more realistic approach. I wasn’t at all happy with the character direction at first; it was my main complaint about the episode. But the more I think about it, the more I like it. One thing I just realized is that the surprise reveal of Simmons’s absence might speak worse about Fitz’s sanity, but it also means his aphasia isn’t as severe as we’d been thinking. For most of the episode it seemed that words were regularly unavailable to him. But if Simmons wasn’t there, it means that Fitz was coming up with the missing words on his own, which suggests he’s slowly mending those neural pathways (and no, I have no idea what I’m talking about, I realize–but then, it’s a comic book neural condition). If Fitz ends up being ineffective for too long, I’ll be bored; but if he’s a brain-damaged occasional genius, that could be a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/63 "2014-09-25T16:05:20Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Fortunately, it’s not the norm for Joss Whedon shows. 🙂 …its not a Joss Whedon show. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/64 "2014-09-25T16:21:33Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > …its not a Joss Whedon show. It’s produced by _Mutant Enemy_, so technically it is a Joss Whedon show. Just like Obi-wan wasn’t lying when he said Vader killed Luke’s father. _Technically._ For one given value of “Truth.” 😛 But yeah, Joss has little to nothing to do with the show other than get it off the ground and oversee the production company that makes it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/65 "2014-09-25T16:34:00Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > …its not a Joss Whedon show. He’s still the executive producer, isn’t he? But he’s not credited as a writer on S02/Ep1, that’s correct. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/66 "2014-09-25T16:49:47Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > One thing I just realized is that the surprise reveal of Simmons’s absence might speak worse about Fitz’s sanity, but it also means his aphasia isn’t as severe as we’d been thinking. For most of the episode it seemed that words were regularly unavailable to him. But if Simmons wasn’t there, it means that Fitz was coming up with the missing words on his own, which suggests he’s slowly mending those neural pathways (and no, I have no idea what I’m talking about, I realize–but then, it’s a comic book neural condition). If Fitz ends up being ineffective for too long, I’ll be bored; but if he’s a brain-damaged occasional genius, that could be a lot of fun. I got the opposite impression. We saw in the final scene where he was talking to himself, that he’s not actually producing the words. He gets to a point where he can’t remember a word, he imagines Simmons tells him the word, and then he goes on. So the reality is that he’s imagining the word just as he’s imaging Simmons. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/67 "2014-09-25T17:17:03Z")
I’ll go on record as predicting that before the end of the season, Fitz will use some Hydra/alien technology to attempt to restore himself to normalcy. This will result in him dying a gruesome, useless death. Not unlike the show, which earned really sucky ratings for the season premiere. I can’t see ABC sticking with the show too much longer if ratings don’t pick up promptly. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/68 "2014-09-25T17:30:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ll go on record as predicting that before the end of the season, Fitz will use some Hydra/alien technology to attempt to restore himself to normalcy. This will result in him dying a gruesome, useless death. I think it’s more likely he’ll be manipulated by some third party in what Fitz sees as a noble effort to become useful to the team again. The character is being set up for a tortured fall from grace. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/69 "2014-09-25T17:34:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not unlike the show, which earned really sucky ratings for the season premiere. I can’t see ABC sticking with the show too much longer if ratings don’t pick up promptly. This show exists as advertising for Disney’s Marvel movies, which make monster-truckloads of money. Disney owns ABC. It’s unlikely to be canceled any time before the heat-death of the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/70 "2014-09-25T19:02:24Z")
Joss has complete creative control over how to spend his paycheck but doesn’t do anything day to day for Agents of SHIELD. His brother and Sister in law do. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/71 "2014-09-25T19:05:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ll go on record as predicting that before the end of the season, Fitz will use some Hydra/alien technology to attempt to restore himself to normalcy. This will result in him dying a gruesome, useless death. > > Not unlike the show, which earned really sucky ratings for the season premiere. I can’t see ABC sticking with the show too much longer if ratings don’t pick up promptly. As has already been pointed out, that’s not likely to happen, the part about ABC cancelling this show. This show is part of a much larger universe and Marvel and Disney have big plans to introduce plot points that will play out in the movies in this show. It’s not your ordinary slave-to-the-ratings show, and I frankly LOVE that about it. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/72 "2014-09-25T19:16:34Z")
I literally yelled for joy when Absorbing Man showed up. But I wish he’d been played by WWE’s Ryback. That guy looks just like the guy does in the comics. Not that this guy was bad, just one of those “what if” things. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/73 "2014-09-25T19:17:45Z")
I’m a fan, too, and want the show to succeed, but incestuousness aside, if the ratings suck then it’s a straight up bean-counters decision. I really hope you are right and I am wrong, but what good does it do to introduce characters or plot points when there are only 15 people watching the show? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/74 "2014-09-25T19:27:46Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I literally yelled for joy when Absorbing Man showed up. But I wish he’d been played by WWE’s Ryback. That guy looks just like the guy does in the comics. Not that this guy was bad, just one of those “what if” things. Ohh man. I just googled that guy to see… YEP. He would have been great. I also disagree with people saying the show is bullet-proof. It was on the bubble last year and didn’t even get a full season order right away. If the show tanks in the ratings it will get cancelled. The movies don’t NEED a tv show to help them along. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/75 "2014-09-25T20:03:00Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m a fan, too, and want the show to succeed, but incestuousness aside, if the ratings suck then it’s a straight up bean-counters decision. > [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I also disagree with people saying the show is bullet-proof. I’ll third it. The only bullet-proof show on network TV is _Big Brother_. Corporate connections might have given _Agents of SHIELD_ a second chance but it will have to improve its ratings or it’ll be cancelled. The good news is the show’s been moved to a better time slot. It’s no longer competing against _NCIS_ and it has _Dancing with the Stars_ as a lead-in. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/76 "2014-09-25T20:03:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ll third it. The only bullet-proof show on network TV is _Big Brother_. . Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/77 "2014-09-25T20:21:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why is that? The host Julie Chen is married to the president of CBS. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/78 "2014-09-25T21:41:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > and it has _Dancing with the Stars_ as a lead-in. I think DWTS is back to Mondays only starting next week. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/79 "2014-09-26T01:43:39Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I also disagree with people saying the show is bullet-proof. It was on the bubble last year and didn’t even get a full season order right away. On the bubble according to whom? ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339/80 "2014-09-26T02:20:36Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I also disagree with people saying the show is bullet-proof. It was on the bubble last year and didn’t even get a full season order right away. The full season pickup was announced on October 10, after the third episode aired. It was one of the _first_ full season pickups announced last season. I think only **The Blacklist** was picked up sooner last season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-shadows-s02e01-open-spoilers/699339.md?page=5)