Before I start it should be made clear…I am a mega fan of the Joss Whedon series Firefly, and subsequent movie, Serenity. But it doesn’t take a mega fan to see the similarities between Firefly and the most recent Joss Whedon television production, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
If we break down the characters and their roles we might just find we’re watching Firefly 2.0.
The obvious similarities start with a mobile group, working on the fringes of the law using a cool ship as their base. Sound familiar?
The “Bus” is Serenity. Much like our beloved Firefly, the S.H.I.E.L.D. crew needs a mobile home base. A refuge that is free from the action, but not completely out of the action as the Bus often zooms in and saves the day. The Bus appears to belong to Coulson, and he’s been threatened with losing her on more than one occasion. He seems to have a genuine affection for the Bus as well as “Lola,” the red 1961 Corvette which is similar to Mal’s, almost romantic, love for Serenity.
Agent Coulson fills the Malcolm Reynolds role quite nicely. He’s the sure-minded and quick-witted Captain always ready and always looking out for the best interest of the crew and ship. The arc for Coulson seems to involve his “death” in New York at the hands of Loki and his apparent resurrection for future service and a past he doesn’t like openly discuss with his crew. He’s motivated by something more than duty and the gradual discovery of that motivation should (and has) humanize the character for us.
Coulson’s questions and self-doubt, hidden behind the gruff and business-like exterior, mirror our Mr. Reynolds in many ways.
Lola. The greatest car to ever roll off the line in the year 1961. Yes… she was a 1962 Corvette C1, but she came off the line in late December 1961.
Agent Melinda May, a tough as nails proven combat veteran who is second in command is almost a direct rip of Zoe Washburn in just about every way. She and Coulson, much like Zoe and Mal, were battle tested together and apparently understand each other on a deeper level which will hopefully be explored in future episodes. She also brings some of Book’s calmness and mystery to the ensemble…I want to know what she did, just like I wanted to know more about who Book was and I hope we’re not cheated again!
Personally I’m not a fan of that character in the pilot seat, but they’ve yet to develop her into a character of depth, so maybe that will come with time.
Agent Grant Ward needs a better first name since he’s in the Jayne role. The “muscle” of the group and often the first to throw a punch or pull a weapon, Agent Ward even has a special pistol, much like Jayne’s “Vera.” I’m waiting for more humor from his character, as he’s currently pretty dry. He’s also got a bit of Simon Tam’s angst about breaking rules and unconventional methods.
I’m still trying to figure this guy out…and apparently so are the writers.
Agents Fitz and Simmons are cleverly named to highlight their single character mentality, which is why I combine them here. They are the fun innocence of the show and get some of the best lines of dialogue, similar to my favorite “Leaf on the Wind”, Wash.
They’re also the Dr.’s of the show and provide the lab for key “science-y” scenes that save the day. I like that we’re dealing with 2 characters instead of one because it allows them cute, endearing banter, which I never got from Simon Tam.
Agent in Training and Rising Tide Member, Skye has a little bit of the mystery of River Tam, is cause for suspicion like Jayne and has a unique skill (hacking social networks) absent in the rest of group, much like Kaylee’s mechanical ability. She’s also got a lot a Inara in her as the softer, less inhibited by the constrains of duty, character who Coulson listens to for an unfiltered opinion.
She’s the common man, or the “us” on the show…the supposedly normal person’s point of view. Her discoveries and revelations are ours, a common character theme throughout Mr. Whedon’s past shows.
So the two shows are quite similar while containing completely different subject matter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad thing, and may ultimately save this latest incarnation and prove Joss’s method is working yet again. It’s taken me 6 episodes to begin to get into Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but after last night’s episode my wife said to me, “I liked that one…” So there is hope!
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs on ABC Tuesday’s at 8pm.
What are YOUR thoughts on the show? You digging it as much as you had hoped? Do you hate it as much as you knew you would?
Please let me know what YOU think!
Cheers!