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I've stayed this long watching Shield, so I obviously enjoy the show. I need to say though, Season 4 is kind of stupid.
The Ghost Rider arc pumped me up big time. One of my favorite comic characters. Even the mad scientist motivations through it were pretty interesting, though I would have FAR preferred the show to pursue magical/supernatural elements that the Ghost Rider is so famous for. However, I do understand Shield has a major boner for science. Seriously, the show should be renamed "Look! Aliens and Science!".
Then of course, Ghost Rider exits and the rest of the season is about nothing but science. I began yawning more and more every episode, and even became angry. Why? Because the world doesn't make sense. Aida the android has been given WAY too many episodes. If this were the real MCU, the Avengers would have cleaned this up. Three major U.S. cities hit by a repeating EMP? Where are any of the Avengers? A U.S. senator and Russian pirate (hehe) marching Watchdogs across the globe without impunity? Where are any Avengers? The current Shield infiltrated by LMDs? Phil Coulson and the Patriot replaced by androids and kidnapped? Where's Nick Fury? Where are any Avengers? The framework, a virtual reality simulation holding their brains hostage and only Simmons and Daisy are available to save them? Sure. That's believable in a world where actual Marvel heroes aren't allowed to intervene. An android that is building a human body using an arcane/alien tech mystical, probably conscious, book? Basically the exact endgame theme the Ultron had with his new body (Vision). And I'm supposed to believe no Avenger, not even Stark, is aware? Did they really just spend like 10+ episodes stealing the theme from Age of Ultron?
To top this all off, this entire show is now literally about acience and Inhumans. But wait, we have the entire 4th season and only two new inhumans are introduced. Patriot who is cool, ends up being a fake inhuman. Not only that, it rewrites the comic version of Mace who was NOT an inhuman. He was Captain America's replacement during WWII after Cap disappeared in the ice. But sorry folks, that WAY cooler origin story is in the garbage. He's now a fake Inhuman. Oh yah, and he dies in the Matrix. The only other Inhuman introduced is Vijay, the Senator's brother, who ends up having a pretty badass set of powers. Sorry though, he's killed in the same episode he's introduced. I know he went through a 2nd Terragenesis underwater, but whatever, not utilized well again in season 4.
So now we're just left with Quake and Yo-yo...because you know...they haven't had enough focus in the first three seasons.
As far as other storylines: Mack's three season long drama pain is getting really old. Oh, and they willingly left him in the Matrix. Wthell?!? May and Coulson's half-handed love arc is pretty forced. Fitz turning evil is actually a little edgy, so not bad. However, it required the Matrix world, so not 100% real or Fitz's fault...lame. Simmons is pretty one dimensional, and always has been. Her double-agent arc last season was thrilling. Now she's back to full-time science person who is sometimes a damsel in distress. I'm so glad Daisy stopped being an emo terrorist Hot Topic employee. However, it did seem like she rejoined Shield quite a bit more quickly than believable. She then went back to playing exactly the same character as the prior seasons.
More things that annoyed me: the stupid real world movie references (Terminator, etc.). They are hamfisted. Stupid out of place sarcasm and jokes in really serious, tense situations. This **** has been tiring even from the movies. Moles in spy agencies. ALWAYS leaks. ALWAYS moles. It's the most cliche spy theme. Shield collapsed because it was infiltrated by Hydra. Shield then secretly reforms, announces itself to the world, and within a few episodes: bam. Infiltrated. **** then the Matrix brings this "What If?" Storyline where we're supposed to believe small past changes within the lives of Shield team members actually led to Hydra winning and the Triskellion still standing. Wait. Who actually brought down Hydra and the Triskellion? Cap and friends? Was it Cap and friends? I thought it was Cap and friends. But yeah. Forget all that. A small change for some Shield team members and Hydra wins. Forget Cap existed at all. His contribution was minor anyway.
In summary: Shield, please. Stop with all the science-heavy **** Marvel is about superpowers. I remember during season 1 I literally said out loud "where are the freaking superheroes?". Shield characters make almost zero progress in their lives. They just scurry around in circles. The alien worlds, the history of Hydra, and Hive, were all pretty damn thrilling storylines in prior seasons. This season we mostly get female Ultron and "spy agency problems". These are the reasons I say this season is average at best.
P.S. I hope The Inhumans TV show isn't Shield 2.0… Expand
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