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

They're not the 800lb gorilla in the room. I'm sure the addition of Marvel to the pressure does not serve the idea of the arc. I wouldn't expect big narrative risks to be taken here. And arcs? Narrative risks. They should just tidy up their procedural-with-interesting-people-and-a-couple-dark-secrets angle and run with it.

I can see people's points, but I'm enjoying the show and characters more and more each week.

So, did Amador use her X-ray vision on Coulson? The way she asked Melinda May "What did they DO to him?" (or was it "What HAPPENED to him?") makes me think yes, she literally *saw* something physical, rather than just a change in demeanor.

Oh maaaaaaaaaaaaan.

See, I didn't even catch the idea of Amador using her x-ray vision eyes to literally see that something was different about Coulson, I just thought she knew because he was so different from how he had been when he was her SO. That's why I need to come here and read the thoughts of folks who are a lot smarter than me.

I liked this episode most out of all the ones so far. It zipped right along; I enjoyed Amador a lot and would like to see her on the show again; it introduced a mystery villain who may or may not be the same mystery villain as the ones from the first episode (and for all we know ones in bed with Pretty Boy Villain from the last episode). I felt the Skye/Lone Wolf interactions seemed much less forced and more believable. I agree that there is no bigger "So what?" as of yet, but I'm OK with this show just being good TV and not great TV. It's an amusing way to spend 8:00 pm on a Tuesday.

They're not the 800lb gorilla in the room.

I'm sure you're right, but I don't see why that means we get such mediocre writing from a team whose writing was what set them apart.

I thought the episode moved pretty well, and felt less draggy than previous ones -- though it's not up to ME standard by far.

Best part of the episode was Fitz waving his arms to prove that they were seeing what Amador saw. And then Skye totally screwing up the getaway.

I'm sure you're right, but I don't see why that means we get such mediocre writing from a team whose writing was what set them apart.

Right?? I don't think I'd be as disappointed as I am if my standards for Mutant Enemy weren't so high. The show is fine. But I'd love for it to be great.

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 think that's fair, I just disagreed with your original blanket statement about characters.

And it's Jed and Maurissa running the show, right? I don't think they are quite a known quantity yet.

Did anyone watch Spartacus ? That's the last show they ran. I think they had a fair hand in Dollhouse as well. Unless you mean "known quantity" in the sense that they wouldn't have clout to overrule Marvel's suggestions.

Oh yeah, I meant known quantity to me! Which is probably not the same thing as in the world, eh?

Apart from the reference to the Battle of New York and Couslon being different, this episode had nary a nod to the Marvel Universe at all; it could have been any show about spies doing spy stuff (Agents of SD-6). On the one hand, I think this allowed it to establish its own identity and play to its strengths, and on the other hand, the show has a delicate line to walk when the first name in its title is "Marvel." Too Marvel and it's pandering, not enough Marvel and why be Marvel at all?