In this instance, have known and interacted with the main characters long enough for his death to reasonably have meaning to them above and beyond those of the faceless agents also killed in the assault on the Helicarrier. The reaction was probably earned in Tony Stark's case (though I still cringed at that "His name was Phil!" line in the fight with Loki), but Rogers, Banner, and Thor knew the guy for about an hour apiece. It just felt like an unearned shorthand in service to the plot to me.

If there’s going to be a Marvel Universe TV show, I would far prefer an Alias/Jessica Jones/Luke Cage show, or something like [link] to a SHIELD series.

They'd be pretty shitty excuses for heroes if a guy in a suit suit with no special powers or protection picked up a massive gun, aimed it at a god, and died trying to save the world and they didn't feel like rallying around that.

Well, it would make them less like the chipper fun time heroes people use to contrast against Batman, for starters.

The reaction was probably earned in Tony Stark's case (though I still cringed at that "His name was Phil!" line in the fight with Loki),

"His name was Phil!" balances Tony's "His first name is Agent!" earlier on, to show that Tony did give a shit about Coulson despite being so annoying to him. Although I agree that the line is a little jarring. There are a few of those in the movie, that make me go, Really? Is this one of the lines Joss wrote at the last minute on set?

but Rogers, Banner, and Thor knew the guy for about an hour apiece. It just felt like an unearned shorthand in service to the plot to me.

That's probably why Fury felt the need to be a manipulative bastard with the bloody trading cards: to get an emotional hook in Rogers. Thor's hook was already there; this is his brother. Banner didn't go all in for Coulson's sake; it's not clear when he even found out Coulson was murdered. Rogers and probably Fury had written Banner out of the plan. Banner went all in because Tony believed in him. Ah, the Power of Friendship(tm).

Also, it was a hook for the audience. We liked Coulson. The movie went to pains to make him likeable, more so than Fury's other right hand, Hill.

Yes, I just saw the movie again. What?

I have not seen the Spiderwick Chronicles and have a chance to so. Worth seeing?

Yes, I just saw the movie again. What?

Oh, I totally plan to see it this weekend, which will be my 5th time.

Here, have more of my money, Joss.

I have not seen the Spiderwick Chronicles and have a chance to so. Worth seeing?

The books weren't that great, so I'd say no.

I'm sort of with Matt on Coulson. I was a little surprised at how popular he was in fandom because he...didn't really do much in the pre-Avengers movies at all. He was a connecting thread, but so was Nick Fury. Sure, he was a likable character, but he basically went around delivering messages to people. He is a little cooler in the Marvel shorts, though. I like him and all, but I do find the fandom love somewhat bewildering.

Why did he pull a Figwit? Because he was surrounded by madness and the superhuman, and he just seemed to be totally chill and in control and neither impressed nor amused by the shenanigans going on around him.

Fury had to get emotional for his job, because it required leading and convincing. Coulson was just...chill and effective. I'm sure TV Tropes has a term for it--Laidback Human Badass or something also not catchy.

Amusing video de jour -- BAMF Girls Club, the new web series featuring Buffy, Hermione, Kathniss, Lisbeth, Michonne and... Bella: [link]

Heeeee, the dinner scene!

Looks like it's going to be the first of several episodes. They even have a trailer for the season: [link]

I was a little surprised at how popular he was in fandom because he...didn't really do much in the pre-Avengers movies at all.

Did you see the DVD extras? Like the one on Thor?