Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Season 1

As the second season has just started on this awesome new Joss Whedon created tv series from ABC, it’s as good a time to take a look back at their first season. The season revolves around the character of Phil Coulson, with Clark Gregg reprising his role from the film series, and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) agents –  Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as Skye, Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz & Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons – who are assigned to several dangerous cases revolving around Project Centipede and its leader, The Clairvoyant, while Coulson also searches for answers concerning his mysterious resurrection after dying in The Avengers.

Initially entrusted to investigate alien technology, humans with mutant or extra-ordinary super powers and abilities the team will eventually be deadlocked into a Hydra plot and with the entire SHIELD organization in shambles, the reveal of Hydra in their midst and betrayal of several key members of SHIELD who were though to be loyal the show changed for the better. Earlier this show was more episodic – strange event occurs or super powers/ object discovered and the agents are sent to retrieve it/them. By mid season the series became more arc like with each episode connected to the next and being connected. It helps that the main villain, Clairvoyant remains unknown until late in the season – while Coulson & team try to track him down they are led astray and find themselves betrayed by one of their own – Ward! Ward was recruited as a teenager by The Clairvoyant, who turns out to be a long time & highly decorated agent named John Garrett (Bill Paxton) and trained him to be loyal to Hydra while being in SHIELD’s ranks. The reveal of Garrett & Ward among others to be Hydra, alive and well, brings down SHIELD and Hydra operatives kill many of the loyal agents while commandeering technologically superior weapons that were locked up in SHIELD strongholds and also recruiting villains that were in lock up.

the discovery that Ward was a Hydra agent were all really cool, engaging events, which were integral in the series becoming much stronger in the final episodes of the season. And with Director Fury “dead” stuff just gets more intense. After Hydra reveals itself and Garrett is caught, Ward’s involvement is still kept in the dark for a while until Skye, who is romantically involved with him, finds out after he kills Agent Eric Koenig and she discovers his body. It is a double betrayal as Ward was also having a no strings attached sexual relationship with May. Ward further goes down the dark road when he dumps the infirmary room compartment in which Fitz & Simmons are hiding in, into the ocean to die. They are rescued by Fury who then along with Coulson leads an attack on Hydra. Agent Antoine Triplett or Trip, a Garrett associate who is loyal to SHIELD and was unaware of Hydra, joins the team in the fight. In the end, with Hydras grip on SHIELD revealed, the government declares both groups to be rogue enemies and the military moves in on Coulson’s men. A temporary headquarter shift is worked out in a secret location where the team can regroup.

Ward is apprehended, after finally losing a battle with May, and Garrett is killed. Fury hands over the keys of SHIELD to Coulson – the second season will see im in charge of a much smaller version of SHIELD, starting from the ground up and rebuilding and recruiting. Things looks great for this show and I hope the momentum created from the 11th episode onwards will be retained. And while Clark, Dalton, Na & De Caestecker are all awesome (as are the recurring guest stars) the shows finds are certainly Chloe Bennet & Elizabeth Hentsridge – both are lovely and cute especially Elizabeth with her humourous banter and mannerisms! Great show!

Arsenal 1 Southampton 2

In a 3rd round game of the less prestigious Capital One cup Arsenal lost at home to the Saints by a score of 2-1. Arsenal may have been understrength but have only themselves to blame for a lukewarm performance. Sure they made 10 changes to the team that won 3-0 away at Aston Villa but they had the lead when Alexis Sanchez’s superb free-kick opened the scoring. But Southampton continued their fantastic start to the season by coming from behind to beat Arsenal. Southampton hit back soon after going behind as Dusan Tadic scored a penalty given for a foul on debutant Sadio Mane. A stunning strike from Nathaniel Clyne gave the Saints a deserved lead, which they protected in a lively second half.

Arsenal strove for an equaliser in the second half but they were unable to break down the visitors, who could easily have added to their lead but for some wayward shooting. While Alexis was superb most of the players Wenger drafted in did much to stake a claim for a first-team place. Rosicky covered ground but provided relatively little, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell were largely anonymous, while Abou Diaby, making his first start since March 2013, was understandably off the pace.

David Ospina in goal while Francis Coquelin, HĂ©ctor BellerĂ­n, England under 21 defender Isaac Hayden & Callum Chambers started the match in defence. One good things Bellerin & Coquelin were good and with experience Hayden & Coquelin could become a staple at the club. And we really need more solid defensemen.