The Katherine stuff was great. Katherine at the party shoveling food into her mouth and whispering "c'mon…the secret society"…."you know, the SOCIETY" was priceless.

Ah. Didn't really think that was hilariously bad. There were two parts to the story, like two chapters in a book. The first part was actually somewhat quick as they honed in on the source of the killings. Not a lot of filler to the investigation part.

Bad pacing.

It could theoretically take the Scandal route and not prove what it can do till the second season. Who knows? I wouldn't say it's time is "incredibly short."

To be fair, I didn't really care about Scully and Mulder, or Buffy and her entourage, a whole lot after six episodes of their respective shows. I do like your final sentiment though. They are trying to fill in the backstory and personal conflicts for people like Coulson and Skye and Melinda at least. Ward is still…

They live and breathe this stuff, stands to reason they will reference Avengers…

How so?

I doubt we're going to see Carrie push strollers around the CIA. I think it's unlikely she'll actually give birth so I'm waiting to see what the writers do with the storyline.

First, I think people shouldn't castigate you for your comment. Any criticism is welcome.

Although I'm sure some tuned out, I would have to look at the DVR numbers closely week to week to figure out any long-term trends. I know for me at least the premiere was a big television event and was watched live by a lot of people. Hell, I know some Whedonites who expressly threw dinner parties and had people…

Sounds like an antidepressant problem.

I don't think ALL the dialogue was pretty bad, but some was mediocre.

Yeah, last week's and this week's were much better than those first three.

Hm? There have been several moments between Melinda and Coulson.

It dropped 0.1, not 0.2. I also think you are giving the show far too little credit in its long game for the reasons Jacoby cited. It's not a perfect show by any yardstick, but it is trying to do all the things you are saying.

It's in the article. After the Langley attack.

Why is it dumb as shit?

Completely agree with you too SG. It feels plausible to me based on Carrie's character.

Yeah. I think a lot of the questions the critics are having about the narrative flim-flam can be explained by what Carrie said to Saul at the end, i.e., that the "charade" went on way too long and she snapped, desperately wanting to get out of that place.

The Saul / Carrie plan was apparently hatched from the get-go, which should make a rewatch interesting. Danes was told to play at least one major scene with multiple layers.