12 Years Later, Marvel TV Still Hasn’t Matched the First Official MCU TV Show

by

As a critic, I’ve been watching Marvel Studios really dominate both the big and small screens. The success of the MCU has proven people will happily sign up for a streaming service just to keep up with the ongoing story. We’ve already seen how seamlessly shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and WandaVision tie into the films, and it’s clear that trend isn’t stopping anytime soon. I’m particularly intrigued by how Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 is poised to connect with the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day – with both being set in New York City and focusing on those street-level heroes, I expect some major crossover potential.

MCU TV shows don’t need to feature hugely popular characters like Daredevil to be successful. Even the first MCU show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., lacked many of the elements fans now expect. What it really needed—and what any show needs—is enough episodes to tell a compelling story that stands out from the rest. There’s even a possibility Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could come back someday if Marvel makes the right decisions.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Still in a League of Its Own

It might not seem like it, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actually works well despite its unusual premise. The show centers on a team of agents who handle the less glamorous, often unwanted, tasks within S.H.I.E.L.D. The first season starts slowly, but around the three-quarter mark, the show takes a dramatic turn when the secrets of HYDRA, as revealed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, begin to surface. This creates intense paranoia for Phil Coulson and his team, as anyone could be a traitor. Ultimately, they discover that Grant Ward is the mole, betraying them in a painful way. Surprisingly, though, Ward’s betrayal ends up benefiting the team in the long run.

Honestly, I was a little worried when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actually got rid of S.H.I.E.L.D. so early on – seemed like a huge gamble for a show with that name! But it totally worked. It allowed the show to break free and explore some really unexpected storylines. I mean, who would have predicted the Inhumans being tied to HYDRA, or Ghost Rider showing up? And then they went even further with a time travel season where they met classic Marvel characters – it was wild! The show eventually wrapped things up nicely, giving everyone a good send-off. But even though it’s over, I really hope we see these actors and characters pop up again in the wider MCU – they deserve to prove they’re more than just a side project.

The MCU Should Find Room for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

A major missed opportunity for the Marvel Cinematic Universe was not having Coulson reconnect with the original Avengers team before they disbanded. Considering they first united in the original film to avenge his death, it feels strange that they wouldn’t find out he was alive again. Luckily, there’s still a chance to fix this. While Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. eventually establishes itself as a separate reality, the existence of the multiverse offers a way to bring Coulson back and allow him to connect with his old teammates.

Daisy Johnson, a character who grew a lot throughout Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – starting as a frustrating hacker and becoming a true hero – deserves a spot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There was talk she might appear in Secret Invasion, but even though that didn’t happen, other chances will likely come up. Perhaps the next two Avengers movies could take a risk and explore the reality where beloved characters like hers live, letting fans see what they’ve been up to and enjoy some action. It would be a great way to acknowledge the dedication of the original Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans after all these years.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/5-mcu-plot-holes-fixed-by-agents-of-shield-without-most-marvel-fans-knowing/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-24 03:10