It may have been seen as a magical place to gear up the ratings, but Marvel's Agents of SHIELD has taken a few poundings since its launch - a considerable drop from its pilot and complaints of missed creative opportunities - but it is still on air with a strong fanbase and with realtively healthy numbers when compared to most other shows.
However in the second half of the season, it looks as if ABC may be pulling out some, if not all the stops. Two major guest-stars have been revealed for upcoming issues.
Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic, 2 Guns, Big Love) will join the series as a character with at least a four episode arc. His character, John Garrett (possibly based on the comics character of the same name who appeared in Frank Miller's Elektra Assassin title many years ago) is believed to be a rough-and-tough SHIELD operative and an old associate of Coulson's. Also appearing in an upcoming episode will be Jaimie Alexander as the Lady Sif, the Asgardian last seen kicking ass and being the possible 'other woman' for Thor in last year's Marvel cinematic outing.
Until recently the show was being seen in the UK just a few days after its US broadcast, but since SHIELD's return to American screens, Channel 4 have not been showing any episodes. As the US pattern of programming allows for several 'rest' weeks (the show won't have a new episode Stateside until February) it is believed they will return in mid-March, enabling the British channel to show the remaining episodes of the season without interuption, unlike America.
A recent trailer for the next new episode says that it's a game-changer and sees Coulson trying to save someone who appears to have been shot or injured. Could this be the 'one of the cast will die' turning point that we predicted early on?
In other Marvel news - though everyone is staying tight-lipped - it appears there IS some movement on the proposed Agent Carter series, expanding the idea from the short film attached to the Iron Man 3 DVD set. It seems Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas may be onboard as showrunners with Hayley Atwell ready to reprise the character if all goes to plan. We quite like the idea of tying together the modern SHIELD and the early days of the organisation (created with Howard Stark and Peggy Carter). A connected time-travel story would be a great launch-pad, no?
