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Watched The Originals and Marvel: Agents of Shield back to back last night - which weirdly benefited the Originals - in that MAoS made it look like Shakespeare in comparison.
Both are too serialized to attract new viewers. I honestly think new viewers would be lost if they jumped into either at this point. You sort of need to start at the beginning.
Brief description of both follows.
1. The Originals - is basically about a 1000 year old snarky vampire named Niklaus, who decides to go after his protegee, the 100 year old Marcel, empire in New Orleans. Marcel is a POC and hot. Actually everyone is hot in this show - it's on the CW - the casting agents only cast 20-30 something actors who look like they could double as models. Niklaus is soon joined by his older brother, Elijah, and sister, Rebekkah, who once had a thing and possibly still does for Marcel. Niklaus was brought to New Orleans - because a coven of powerful witches were claiming to be holding the mother of his unborn child captive. Niklaus, who isn't just a vampire - but also a werewolfe (ie hybrid), managed to impregnant Hayle who is a werewolf (but not a vampire - as far I know, keeping track can get confusing). His ability to due so - most likely has to do with the whole werewolf bit. These are werewolves who can control their ability to turn into wolves, by the way.
There's three factions, or rather four if you count the werewolves.
* The vampires - lead by Marcel
* The witches - lead by Sophie (who is attempting to save her people)
* The humans - lead by a priest (the actor apparently played a Terminator in Sara Connor Chronicles)
The Originals are sort of navigating their way around the three factions or in the case of Nikklaus attempting to set them against each other in order to grab power.
Marcel some time ago nabbed one of the witches - a young witch named Devina, who is uber-powerful. The witches want her back. And are using Hayley as leverage against the Originals in order to obtain their goal.
That's pretty much the set-up. It's rather fun in places. Lots of crazy plot-twists. And fun snark fests. Plus the production is quite good. The last two episodes are the best. Pilot and third episode were a bit weak. So it gets better.
2. Marvel Agents of Shield. This show is basically about an American covert government team that jets around the world in a black airplane to resolve paranormal problems, whether they be alien or science derived regardless of international or cultural boundaries. (Keep in mind this is a MARVEL series focusing on The Avengers universe (not the X-men) - Marvel is not exactly know for its cultural or for that matter ethnic sensitivity.) The crack team is made up off: 1)square-jawed 20 something fighter whose gun must be a specific weight named Ward, 2)a pretty 20 something outsider who can hack into any computer system including the government's - Skye, 3-4)two geeky 20 something college scientists who talk a mile a minute in thick British accents - Fitz and Simmons, an older, 5) world-weary, ninja fighter and pilot - Belinda May, and 6) a world-weary mentor/leader named Coulson. The cast like CW's cast is pretty, albeit not quite as pretty as CW's but this is ABC, after all.
It's a serial disguised as a case of the week. The cases serve as a means of examining how the team works together and the personal issues of the team. Although less effectively on the later, which if one of Agents of Shields many flaws. Amongst the other flaws, is the fact that it takes itself far too seriously. Also the cases of the week, unfortunately, feel like retreads from various and far better written superhero tv series and comics. Not helped by the direction which seems to favor special effects/stunts over acting and dialogue delivery. The actors often look stiff or awkward - which I blame on editing and direction choices.
Buffy television fans will miss the quippy humor and snappy dialogue they've come to expect from a Whedon series. They'll also miss some of the character development and quirkiness of Whedon's plotting. Possibly because this is not really a Whedon series. Marvel's the one behind it - and it does feel like a Marvel comic for the kiddies.
The plot to date - is ( spoilers )
Weirdly too convoluted for casual viewers yet not convoluted for serial viewers. But it may hold the attention of Avengers Movie fans and the targeted demographic 13-35. I don't think I'm the target audience.
Both are too serialized to attract new viewers. I honestly think new viewers would be lost if they jumped into either at this point. You sort of need to start at the beginning.
Brief description of both follows.
1. The Originals - is basically about a 1000 year old snarky vampire named Niklaus, who decides to go after his protegee, the 100 year old Marcel, empire in New Orleans. Marcel is a POC and hot. Actually everyone is hot in this show - it's on the CW - the casting agents only cast 20-30 something actors who look like they could double as models. Niklaus is soon joined by his older brother, Elijah, and sister, Rebekkah, who once had a thing and possibly still does for Marcel. Niklaus was brought to New Orleans - because a coven of powerful witches were claiming to be holding the mother of his unborn child captive. Niklaus, who isn't just a vampire - but also a werewolfe (ie hybrid), managed to impregnant Hayle who is a werewolf (but not a vampire - as far I know, keeping track can get confusing). His ability to due so - most likely has to do with the whole werewolf bit. These are werewolves who can control their ability to turn into wolves, by the way.
There's three factions, or rather four if you count the werewolves.
* The vampires - lead by Marcel
* The witches - lead by Sophie (who is attempting to save her people)
* The humans - lead by a priest (the actor apparently played a Terminator in Sara Connor Chronicles)
The Originals are sort of navigating their way around the three factions or in the case of Nikklaus attempting to set them against each other in order to grab power.
Marcel some time ago nabbed one of the witches - a young witch named Devina, who is uber-powerful. The witches want her back. And are using Hayley as leverage against the Originals in order to obtain their goal.
That's pretty much the set-up. It's rather fun in places. Lots of crazy plot-twists. And fun snark fests. Plus the production is quite good. The last two episodes are the best. Pilot and third episode were a bit weak. So it gets better.
2. Marvel Agents of Shield. This show is basically about an American covert government team that jets around the world in a black airplane to resolve paranormal problems, whether they be alien or science derived regardless of international or cultural boundaries. (Keep in mind this is a MARVEL series focusing on The Avengers universe (not the X-men) - Marvel is not exactly know for its cultural or for that matter ethnic sensitivity.) The crack team is made up off: 1)square-jawed 20 something fighter whose gun must be a specific weight named Ward, 2)a pretty 20 something outsider who can hack into any computer system including the government's - Skye, 3-4)two geeky 20 something college scientists who talk a mile a minute in thick British accents - Fitz and Simmons, an older, 5) world-weary, ninja fighter and pilot - Belinda May, and 6) a world-weary mentor/leader named Coulson. The cast like CW's cast is pretty, albeit not quite as pretty as CW's but this is ABC, after all.
It's a serial disguised as a case of the week. The cases serve as a means of examining how the team works together and the personal issues of the team. Although less effectively on the later, which if one of Agents of Shields many flaws. Amongst the other flaws, is the fact that it takes itself far too seriously. Also the cases of the week, unfortunately, feel like retreads from various and far better written superhero tv series and comics. Not helped by the direction which seems to favor special effects/stunts over acting and dialogue delivery. The actors often look stiff or awkward - which I blame on editing and direction choices.
Buffy television fans will miss the quippy humor and snappy dialogue they've come to expect from a Whedon series. They'll also miss some of the character development and quirkiness of Whedon's plotting. Possibly because this is not really a Whedon series. Marvel's the one behind it - and it does feel like a Marvel comic for the kiddies.
The plot to date - is ( spoilers )
Weirdly too convoluted for casual viewers yet not convoluted for serial viewers. But it may hold the attention of Avengers Movie fans and the targeted demographic 13-35. I don't think I'm the target audience.