Yes. But I think that it has built some momentum, and it did benefit hugely from Cap2. The showrunner said something this week to the effect that it was hard to justify SHIELD's existence given what they were up to. By making Coulson's team the underdogs, they've largely resolved that issue about moral authority.

Avengers 2, because Stark Industries are privatizing security via Ultron. Which will make everyone want SHIELD back.

She's going to be back.

Well, I'm not saying it makes for good t.v., I'm saying that it's all planned out and very intentional.

Yeah, but imagine them running an orphanage in order to determine whether one of the children is the Celestial Madonna. It just seems like total Whedonbait to me.

At the end. One of the CENTIPEDE guys is holding it at the Cuban base.

I was offended by the whiteboard when Skye has a computer. And also, the talking not DOING.

But, in this last episode, there is the Berserker staff again. So, it did have a purpose.

I disagree and actually think what's hindering the show is the reverse scenario.

Yes, we agree. I was simply talking about the period and the mood, not the characters.

As far as the feminist angle goes, Carter founded SHIELD with Stark. Stark is clearly sexist, in the same way his son is. On the other hand, he's not so sexist that he won't promote the most competent person to the top. So, I expect those two things to rub against each other with some honesty and not hide from the…

Oh, no. Have you seen the Marvel One Shot with her? I think it's pretty clear she's a proto-feminist character, with very determined morals.

Of course it is. But Mary Sue is also a term coined in the 70s by a Star Trek fanfic writer. So, it might also be pretty clever use of the term by her alien-knowledgable nuns? I just want the nunnery to turn out to be the Priests of Pama. Because, this show needs more of that kind of stuff.

That's not true. It was all connected. All of the weapons and villains went into HYDRA's hands. They even dropped hints about HYDRA early on. They kept Coulson away from sniffing around the dead fish smell wafting off of SHIELD and had him chasing his own tail about TAHITI.

The One Shot certainly did. Sort of. It had Dum Dum Doogan confounded by bikinis as well.

Mad Men with spies, with a female lead. Seems pretty straightforward.

Skye annoyed me at first, but now I get that her purpose is someone with ideals outside the agency reminding the Company Man of why SHIELD exists in the first place. And, they sold me pretty good on that.

I suspect that's why they have the Carter series, to avoid that pitfall.

I keep wanting Tommy to show up as the Wizard. So, this is a perfect way to make this happen!

He's totally alive. He has the Mirakuru, right?