The Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows of All Time: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)

The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.

What Is It?

This series focuses on the super-secret organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), and it is based on the Marvel Comics, taking place in the MCU. It follows Agent Phil Coulson as he assembles a small team of specialists to investigate strange phenomena, superhuman threats, and advanced technology tied to the secretive world of superheroes. Across its run, the team deals with alien artifacts, rogue organizations like Hydra, and emerging super-powered individuals, while uncovering conspiracies that threaten both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the wider world.

Aired: ABC, 2013-20, 7 Seasons Totaling 136 Episodes

Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood

Developed By: Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen

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Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:

When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. first arrived on the Prime Time schedule, it acted as an extension of the MCU films which were performing quite well at the Box Office at the time, though it mostly charted its own course with only a few character crossovers from the movies. The first season had its moments, though it could be uneven, and it was hard to get a feel for what the show was really about. The second season introduced the promising Inhumans storyline, though the show continued to stumble at times, and it appeared headed to cancellation at the end of the year. But ABC remained committed to the show (likely at the behest of Disney), and it continued for a notable run of seven seasons.

The third year expanded on the Inhumans storyline, and the show started to hit its stride. By its fourth season, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went full-on sci fi (and a little bit of fantasy with the introduction of Ghost Rider), and it never looked back. It delivered storylines covering virtual reality, alternate histories, alien invasions, time travel, and more. And it actually did a pretty good job of developing its sci fi concepts while also exploring its genre elements.

The show also had a heck of a good cast led by Clark Gregg, though it was very much an ensemble series. Once they got the core team solidified (some characters came and went during the first few seasons), the show really came together with a cohesive central group, and the cast had good chemistry. And while the show was dismissed by many as an ersatz MCU entry that diverged from the films, those paying attention knew that it delivered a heck of a good science fiction series, and one that should be considered a genre great.

Argument Against:

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. started out with a lot of promise, but it never fully realized its potential. Initially, the group was looking for people across the globe with superpowers, and it could have been a great way to introduce and try out any number of characters from the comics. But it did not stick with that direction, and it ultimately wasted some good Marvel teams and characters like the Inhumans and Ghost Rider. It did come up with some interesting sci fi storylines at times, but it never stuck with one for more than about a season, and ultimately it ended up feeling rather uneven as a series. The show had promise and a network that kept it going despite low ratings, but it ultimately delivered only a mediocre genre entry.

Johnny Jay’s Take:

When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. first premiered, I rather enjoyed it even though the general reaction early on was rather mixed. I did feel like they should have brought in more characters from the comics, but I liked its initial direction (as well as the witty scripts from the Whedons). It started to go off the rails in the second season, though, when it was forced to deal with the repercussions of the second Captain America film, and I began to lose interest. I watched very little of the third season, but I did tune in for the fourth year because I have always liked the Ghost Rider character. They did a good job with him in my opinion, and I was hooked through the rest of the show’s run.

After the Ghost Rider storyline, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went full-on sci fi and actually became one of the best genre entries on television. It steered away from the MCU continuity, but that was okay because it introduced a rather interesting alternate timeline of its own. And since ABC kept it going through its seventh season (a rare example of a network sticking by a low-rated show), it got to fully explore some great storylines and ultimately provide a satisfying resolution. This one pretty much went under the radar for a long period of time, but in retrospect, it accomplished a lot and turned into an all-time great among sci fi TV shows.

Where Can You Watch It?

The entire series is available to stream with a subscription to Disney+, as are the two seasons of Agent Carter which acts as a spin-off/prequel of sorts to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It is also available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray and VOD.

Do you consider Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to be one of the greatest sci fi TV shows of all time or was it too uneven over its seven-year run? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.

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