If you think like me, you got excited when ABC announced its Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (AoS) series because of two main reasons.
1) Agent Coulson—He's Alive!
Coulson's death in The Avengers served as a great dramatic turning point in the film. But you felt his death because Coulson is (or, perhaps, was, if you're following his arc in AoS) part agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and part fanboy. (Remember when he met Cap, as well as his collection of old S.H.I.E.L.D. gadgets?) He was the loveable, down-to-earth everyman in a world of gods and monsters who you could relate to.
When AoS was announced, you wanted to find out how he could be alive. (Remember the body double theory? Or was his resurrection supernatural or advance science?) And, of course, you wanted your fill of Phil.
2) A Weekly Dose of MCU
With an ongoing Marvel series, now you could get your MCU fix every week to make the wait between theatrical releases easier! You had some doubts, but you were thrilled about the possibilities.
But . . . still assuming you think like me, while you have enjoyed the evolution of AoS and the improvement of the show with each new season, you still feel that AoS isn't quite reaching its potential. You get to see more characters from the pages come to life onscreen, like Deathlok! . . . almost. You get tie-ins to the movies! . . . kind of. You get the Inhumans! . . . sort of.
Then I read about the cancellation of Agent Carter, and the petition to bring the show to Netflix got me thinking: What other, possibly better, ways could Marvel Television spend its money and creative energy?
I propose that Marvel Television bring AoS to a graceful close while, in a Hydra-like fashion, having two more series take its place. It would go a little something like this . . .
Inhumans
With the Inhumans movie getting pushed back (and possibly in question altogether), give the property an ongoing series on the small screen instead—and do it properly!
The Royal Family has spent the last several years hunting down and killing Kree throughout the universe. But after learning of the events at Afterlife, the Inhuman awakening, the actions of Hive, and even Kree coming to Earth (as seen in the AoS season 3 episode “Failed Experiments”), the Royal Family returns to reestablish Attilan on the moon with the ultimate plan of founding Attilan on Earth.
These events draw Daisy and the other Inhumans away from Coulson's team. Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D. can no longer even hope to contain the Inhuman issue or protect Inhumans. The Inhuman “invasion,” the threat of a Kree invasion, and human-Inhuman relations become the thrust of the new series. Coulson or other AoS cast members could guest appear on the show from time to time (or not).
Left without a super-powered team, Coulson explores other resources.
Venom: The First Secret Avenger (or Venom: Secret Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
This would not be an ongoing series, but an introductory miniseries.
Much like the Secret Avengers' creation in response to the Superhuman Registration Act in the comics, Coulson sees an opportunity—no, a need—to form a clandestine special ops team of enhanced people following the establishment of the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War.
The show would center on Phil Coulson's efforts to get his Secret Avengers team up and running, starting with Agent Venom. Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird would return as Coulson's choice to train Agent Venom and ultimately lead the Secret Avengers team (instead of Steve Rogers or Hawkeye leading the team).
Coulson's first objective: recruit candidates for, call it “Project: Rebirth” or “Project: Venom.” I suggest using a Symbiote origin resembling the one featured most recently in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, but make it yet another attempt at creating super soldiers, maybe one that was apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D. when it took down Hydra (also seen in season 3).
The Venom miniseries will lead into the Secret Avengers ongoing series.
Secret Avengers
This show would give Marvel and ABC a chance to feature a lot more heroes and villains. In addition to Agent Venom and Mockingbird, the roster could include, to name a few, Moon Knight, James Rhodes as War Machine (bring in Don Cheadle or recast), Spider-Woman, Tigra, Cloak, Dagger, Valkyrie, Goliath, Living Lightning, Nighthawk, Silhouette, Namor/Sub-Mariner (if they could get around the mutant issue), and a host of other Marvel heroes. And there is no reason why the show has to stick to the roster in the comics.
Coulson would maintain his ongoing role as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. on this show.
Crossover Opportunities
This is something that DC/Warner Brothers has done very well on TV. Marvel has its Netflix shows that have begun to cross over and are building to the Defenders team-up. But with Inhumans and Secret Avengers romping around the world, the galaxy—dare I say, the universe—they'd have to bump into each other once in a while. Heck, an Inhuman or two might even be called on to join the Secret Avengers.
What do you think? Can Marvel and company do better than AoS? Would you watch an ongoing Inhumans or Secret Avengers series? Is a serial the right format for these properties? What would you do differently? Let us know.