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In addition to all the shows returning to TV this season, there are some brand new programs vying for your attention, and it can be hard to tell which ones are deserving. Here are two that stick out. Once again, beware of spoilers!
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
This show has some strong things going for it right off the bat. It’s a spinoff of 2012 summer blockbuster “The Avengers” and other movies in the Marvel franchise. Marvel already has a strong, active core of fans that are ready to give the show a try- especially because the show is about popular character Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).
Though Coulson was killed in “The Avengers,” fans so adamantly denied his death that the franchise brought him back. The show has not yet revealed how Coulson survived, keeping “Avengers” fans hanging on for an answer.
Another good thing going for this show is its director, Joss Whedon. In the past, Whedon’s sci-fi and fantasy shows like “Firefly” and “Dollhouse” have garnered large fan bases, but only “Buffy: the Vampire Slayer” and its spinoff series, “Angel,” lasted more than two seasons. From his network track record, it seems like Whedon’s latest attempt at a TV series may be doomed, but his popularity among the masses tells a different story. If fans have the power to bring a man back from the dead, we can certainly keep the series afloat.
The show itself is off to a great start. It has action, romance, and awesome amounts of Coulson. For me, the most important parts of the Marvel franchise are the characters; I couldn’t care less whether Iron Man was fighting bad guys or going grocery shopping- he’s cool no matter the plot of his movie. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” gives us adequately cool characters. I don’t quite remember any of their names, but that just gives me the opportunity to create my own personal nicknames for them. My personal favorite is Marvel Chekov, so named for his resemblance to Pavel Chekov from the new “Star Trek” movies. (They’re both ginger math\science types with funny accents.)
If you’re a fan of Marvel in any capacity, from comic books to movies, or if you just like a show with action, this is a program that’s totally worth your time.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
After Andy Samberg left “Saturday Night Live,” I was worried I wouldn’t be seeing him much anymore. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” not only put those fears to rest, but also pleasantly surprised me.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is reminiscent of NBC workplace comedies like “The Office,” “Parks and Rec,” and “30 Rock.” The cast of characters is colorful in both personality and in race; the show boasts two Latina characters and two African American ones, one of whom is also openly gay. This character, Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher), is one of my favorite things about the show. It’s refreshing to see a character on TV who isn’t stereotypically gay.
Though I was most excited to see Andy Samberg’s goofball performance, he’s not the only source of comedy in the show. Every major character has had their moments, meaning no one character is the source of all the laughs.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is exactly what TV needs right now; it fills the hole left by the departure of “30 Rock” and “The Office,” it gives out a healthy dose of Andy Samberg, and it has a diverse cast of characters. In fact, it may just be the best new show of the season.
~Rachel A. Schrock