Review: The 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Season Finale Plants Marvel's Flag on The Small Screen
Out of the biggest and most frequent complaints thrown at Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. last September was in regard to the series seeming lack of “punch,” especially in comparison to its heavy hitting cinematic cousins. While a fair criticism, to a point, it often felt like series detractors were forgetting S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t a film, it’s a TV series, and the way a TV series builds “punch” is through character, not spectacle. The reason being, when the big moment of delivery finally comes, things can remain somewhat small (from a logistical stand-point), yet still feel like they have as much gravity as a feature, and that’s exactly what’s happened with the show’s first season finale.
From the first scene, “Beginning of the End” (which has now been confirmed to not be the series finale) hits the ground running, and all the built-up tension of the last 22 episodes is released into 60 minutes of pure pay off. The best part, however? Within all that making good, the series finally stands its ground and stakes its claim as a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How does one do that? By establishing world changing consequences that don’t just affect one MCU franchise, but all of them.
During its PaleyFest event back in March, the show’s panel was asked if there could ever be potential for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to impact the films the way the films have impacted Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The biggest promise made by the end of “Beginning of the End” is Marvel’s live-action world can now be shaped by anything, no matter how small… which, as it so happens, is also the main message of the episode itself. The littlest of things can change everything.
While it began as an experiment by Marvel to see just how expansive they could make their game-changing Hollywood universe, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has now become a statement on the company itself. As much as fans love the films, what Marvel’s daring to say with this season finale is “everything we do matters, and you need to pay attention to all of it.” By the time credits roll, the company dares the audience to believe they have the capability to create something far larger than anyone expected.
And while the grand scheme is all well and good, something that can’t be ignored is the fact that this is, by far, the most well put together episode of the series to date. There’s no denying a lot of that has to do with the previously mentioned build-up, but that’s okay because it’s just nice to know the series didn’t crumble under the weight of its own scale. Every story arc is given its due (even the ones audiences may have forgotten about from the beginning of the season), and every character is given a chance to shine in their own right, all well setting up more arcs for season two.
In the end, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has made good on its promise of a weekly dose of Marvel that would allow us a chance to take a closer, more personal look at the cinematic franchise. While it certainly tees up some goodies for next season, what the series never forgets is to make good in the season finale. To make good on spectacle, and to make good on answers. It’s been a long journey, and there’s no question many viewers’ patience wore thin toward the end, but that never stopped Marvel from pushing forward to one of the most entertaining hours of television this season and finally cementing a deserved place on the small screen.
The season finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesday, May 13th at 8/7c on ABC.