But they don't really feel like a big deal

Right, which is why they don't count. There's nothing driving the action forward, really. It's just a bunch of quippy attractive people flying around in a superplane solving crimes. Which isn't to say it's not fun, but the show still hasn't answered the question of why they're doing it at all.

I thought the ep was an improvement--people playing to their strengths, very little angst between people, an interesting "monster" of the week. Skye wasn't even that annoying, she was competent in her areas and had weaknesses that weren't Sources of Drama. She and Fitz/Simmons made an interesting grouping. And the peeing in the van was a good touch.

The previews look very intriguing, too. And I bet Skye was looking at Ward through the x-ray glasses.

the show still hasn't answered the question of why they're doing it at all.

It's their jobs? And it keeps Skye out of jail--though next week will be interesting.

Is it a question of Why are they SHIELD? Or why are they on that plane? I don't see it as a big deal, more like "Why do cops fight crime?" Or do you prefer cops to have some sort of tragic backstory that drives them on a quest to fight injustice and all that?

In a narrative, yes, there has to be something driving the characters other than "because it's my job and I have nothing better to do."

Not in a straight procedural, there doesn't.

I get very bored with Tragic/Dramatic Backstories. I like character who get pulled into things rather than characters that are pushed into thing. "There I was, doing my job, which I am pretty good at, when Something Happened and now I have to cope." Which I suppose can be "Why are they doing this?" I find it more relatable than the usual Past Trauma/Tragic Loss of Family Member/I Must Atone thing. It's one reason I liked Scully so much. Before she met Mulder, her biggest drama was her family disapproving of her joining the FBI.

edit: And then she acquired a destiny and delightful badassness.

Not in a straight procedural, there doesn't.

If this is a straight procedural, it needs better cases-of-the-week. If this is a character driven long-form story show, it needs better characters and better mythos. Right now I don't think it's doing either one well.

I like character who get pulled into things rather than characters that are pushed into thing. "There I was, doing my job, which I am pretty good at, when Something Happened and now I have to cope."

If Something would Happen in this show, I would be delighted. But it's ep 4 and there's just no forward momentum at all.

Yeah, but I do think we are more arc-driven than the general public. I'm guessing ABC is a little gunshy on arcs given the lack of success recently with them on network (as opposed to cable) television.

Not in a straight procedural, there doesn't.

Yeah, what Jessica said. I don't think it's out of line for us to expect more from Mutant Enemy than a straight procedural.

I'm mildly grateful we're finally finding an arc.

I'm very grateful Akela Amador survived the episode, and I'm hoping that means we'll see her again. And I'm absolutely positive she saw something in Coulson with her x-ray vision that she didn't expect.

But dear sweet FSM, these characters are boring me. Mutant Enemy is better than this. They've already had way more time than Doctor Horrible, and yet we have very little character insight and delineation.

The only one I really like is Melinda May, because Coulson is just... I dunno. Not working that well for me. I like the actor, but the character seems off (although maybe that's the point).

I don't like the dialogue being predictable, like May's line about the solitude in the cockpit. Where's the snappy dialogue that advances the plot and reveals character? Where's the quick turns from humor to tragedy? It feels labored and slow: Whedon on a 3rd-generation videotape.

because Coulson is just... I dunno. Not working that well for me. I like the actor, but the character seems off (although maybe that's the point).

Right????

Coulsen isn't quite Coulsen and I hope there's a reason because I frankly adored him in the movies and adore the goofy actor who portrays him. But Coulsen isn't quite Coulsen right now.