| "Pilot" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 1 Episode 1 | ||
| Directed by | Joss Whedon | ||
| Written by |
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| Cinematography by | David Boyd | ||
| Editing by |
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| Original air date | September 24, 2013 (2013-09-24) | ||
| Running time | 45 minutes | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.season 1 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Pilot" is thepilot and first episode of thefirst season of the American television seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Based on theMarvel Comics organizationS.H.I.E.L.D., it followsPhil Coulson and his new team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The first television episode to be set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it acknowledges the continuity ofthe franchise's films. The episode was written by series creatorsJoss Whedon,Jed Whedon, andMaurissa Tancharoen, and was directed by Joss Whedon.
Clark Gregg reprises his role as Coulson from the film series, starring alongsideMing-Na Wen,Brett Dalton,Chloe Bennet,Iain De Caestecker, andElizabeth Henstridge. The pilot was ordered in 2012, after Joss Whedon wrote and directedThe Avengers (2012). It was filmed in early 2013 inLos Angeles, with additional filming inParis.Cobie Smulders guest stars, reprising her role ofMaria Hill fromThe Avengers, with previous Whedon collaboratorsJ. August Richards andRon Glass also guest starring. Emphasis was put on consistency with the MCU films, including reusing elements from them such as the substanceExtremis fromIron Man 3 (2013).
"Pilot" originally aired onABC on September 24, 2013, and was watched by 12.12 million viewers, the highest ratings received by the first episode of a drama series since 2009. The episode received mostly positive reviews, particularly for Joss Whedon's work and Richards' performance, but some critics were disappointed that the episode did not reach the standard of the MCU films. The use of the name "Rising Tide" for a hacktivist group in the episode received backlash from a real-life group ofthe same name. The episode received a nomination forOutstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program at the12th Visual Effects Society Awards andBest Sound Editing – Short Form: Music at the61st Golden Reel Awards
After the events ofIron Man 3,[1]Mike Peterson is out with his son,Ace, when the top floor of a nearby building explodes. Peterson uses enhanced strength to saveDebbie, a trapped woman from the building, and is filmed doing so bySkye, a member of the hacktivist group the Rising Tide.
AfterGrant Ward recovers aChitauri Neural Link from a flat owned by a black market dealer namedT. Vanchat,S.H.I.E.L.D. deputy directorMaria Hill interviews him for a new assignment. AgentPhil Coulson, who is officially dead, walks in alive, assigns Ward level 7 security clearance, and reveals the team's first mission is to investigate the Rising Tide. Coulson also recruits the reluctant AgentMelinda May, who had previously retired from field duty.
Skye meets with Peterson and warns him about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s penchant for covering up superhero-based events. She is shortly arrested by Coulson, and placed in the S.H.I.E.L.D. team's mobile base of operations, a modified Boeing C-17 Globemaster III nicknamed theBus. During questioning, Coulson slowly begins to gain her trust, and she reveals her limited knowledge of the mysteriousProject Centipede and the location of the explosion; AgentsLeo Fitz andJemma Simmons go to investigate the scene.
Peterson returns to the factory he was recently fired from, and injures his former boss, calling him the "bad guy" and himself the "hero". Peterson then visits the woman he saved in the hospital, who is actually the doctor that gave him his abilities by implanting the Centipede device in his arm. She warns him against revealing his abilities to the public, which would be against the wishes of her backers. Fitz and Simmons discover from a damaged Centipede device, found at the explosion scene, that it combines several previously known sources of superpowers, includingExtremis, and it was the unstable Extremis within a previous Centipede-created superhero that had caused the explosion.
Peterson abducts Skye and makes her delete his and Ace's personal information from the government's systems, though she manages to warn the team at the same time. The two are tracked to a train station by Coulson's team and a gunman sent by Peterson's doctor. May takes out the gunman, and Ward shoots Peterson with an advanced stun gun developed by Fitz and Simmons, which stabilizes his Extremis. Afterwards, Coulson offers Skye a place on his team when a call for an "0-8-4" comes in.
In August 2012,ABC ordered apilot fromJoss Whedon, who wrote and directed theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmThe Avengers (2012), for a television series set within the MCU.[2] ABC presidentPaul Lee compared the pilot to the seriesOnce Upon a Time, in terms of budgetary and technological ambition, and spoke of his excitement for the crossover potential with the larger film universe.[3] The pilot was executive produced by Joss Whedon,Jed Whedon,Maurissa Tancharoen,Jeffrey Bell, andJeph Loeb.[2]
Joss Whedon explained that his previous television shows were based on ensembles, withS.H.I.E.L.D. being based in part on theBuffy the Vampire Slayer episode "The Zeppo". That episode highlighted a lesser seen character, which was something he wanted to achieve with the character of AgentPhil Coulson. The pilot was written by Whedon, along with his brother Jed Whedon and sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen. At the same time, Joss was writing the script forAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015), which meant that he could use the series to explain the resurrection of Coulson rather than trying to include it in that film. He revealed that he received notes from ABC on things to change in the pilot, but noted that the network was encouraging and excited about the project, so "you take the notes. You don't take all of them. But you never walk in expecting not to get any."[4] At the 2013San Diego Comic-Con, Tancharoen talked about telling a Marvel story on a television budget, calling it a challenge but noting that the series is "looking at it through a different lens"; it tells the human stories in the superhuman universe, with Coulson—the human, grounded character in the films—leading a team of "real people", albeit extremely skilled people.[5]
In October 2012, a casting sheet for five lead roles was released.[7] AtNew York Comic Con later that month, Joss Whedon,Kevin Feige, andClark Gregg announced that Gregg, who portrayedPhil Coulson in the MCU filmsIron Man (2008),Iron Man 2 (2010),Thor (2011), andThe Avengers, as well as theMarvel One-Shots short films,[8] would be reprising his role in the pilot.[8] In late October, actressMing-Na Wen was cast as agentMelinda May.[9] The next month,Elizabeth Henstridge,Iain De Caestecker, and newcomerBrett Dalton were cast as agentsJemma Simmons,Leo Fitz, andGrant Ward, respectively.[10][11] In December,Chloe Bennet was cast asSkye, the sixth and final main cast member.[12]
Cobie Smulders, who portrayedMaria Hill inThe Avengers,[13] indicated in January 2013 that she would be open to appearing in the series.[14] That July it was confirmed that she would guest star in the pilot, with Whedon stating that he wanted to include Smulders because "sheis S.H.I.E.L.D. She's cool and commanding and has the dry humor that plays so well with Clark's."[13] Other guest stars in the episode include two actors from other Joss Whedon television shows:Ron Glass, who playedShepherd Book inFirefly and the subsequent filmSerenity (2005),[15] appears in "Pilot" as S.H.I.E.L.D. doctorStreiten;[16][17] andJ. August Richards, who appeared in Whedon'sAngel asCharles Gunn, portrays the characterMike Peterson.[18] Whedon auditioned other actors without luck, before considering Richards late in the casting process.[19] Additionally,Shannon Lucio andBob Stephenson guest star as the Centipede doctorDebbie and Mike's former boss Gary, respectively.[6]
Construction on the sets for theBus' interior, interrogation room, and Fitz and Simmons' lab, along with Debbie's charred lab and the Paris apartment, began on December 6, 2012.[20]: 35 Filming on the pilot, under the nameS.H.I.E.L.D., began on January 22, 2013,[20]: 31 inLos Angeles where Joss Whedon was working on other projects.[3]David Boyd served asdirector of photography.[21] On the first day of shooting the pilot, images of vehicles meant to be kept secret during production had already been leaked online, quickly showing the producers how difficult dealing with secrecy on a Marvel project would be.[22] Location shooting took place at Los Angeles'Union Station for four days beginning on January 30. The production was the first to shoot on the east side of the station, in its newly built escalator atrium. Bell served as second unit director while at Union Station.[20]: 42 Principal photography concluded on February 11,[20]: 31 with Smulders filming her role on the final day to accommodate her filming onHow I Met Your Mother.[20]: 44 Additional filming then took place in Paris on February 14 and 15,[23][24] which Dalton said lent the episode "a kind of authenticity". When the series' crew was scouting locations in Paris, the weather was "almost too perfect", but during filming it was foggy and raining. Dalton described this as "more authentic" since it prevented the location from being unnecessarily "picaresque".[23]
Visual effects supervisor Mark Kolpack wanted to ensure that the audience could not tell the difference in quality between the pilot and what they were accustomed to seeing in the MCU films. For the opening sequence when Mike Peterson saves Debbie, digital doubles for the actors were created to transition between footage shot with stunt double and footage of Peterson and Luccio.[20]: 39 The final shot of Lola flying was achieved with a scissor lift to mimic the car rising off the road, along with a CGI version and green screen filming.[20]: 47
The episode uses theExtremis virus fromIron Man 3 as one source of power for the character of Mike Peterson. Executive producer Jeffrey Bell explained that the idea of using it came up independent of the film, but the crew realized that it would be a good opportunity to tie in with the films, and worked withMarvel Studios on the tie-in to ensure that "they didn't feel like we were just ripping off their idea."[1] Additional sources of power for the character includeChitauri technology, fromThe Avengers and the Marvel One-ShotItem 47 (2012); and super-soldier serum, fromCaptain America: The First Avenger (2011) andThe Incredible Hulk (2008).[25] Centipede was introduced in such a way to aid audience members that might have been unfamiliar with the Marvel universe.[20]: 32 The events ofThe Avengers are referenced numerous times throughout the episode, and archive footage from the film is briefly used in an opening montage. Also, Coulson's flying car is a working model of the prototype seen inCaptain America: The First Avenger.[26]
The firsttelevision spot for the episode was released on May 12, 2013, during thesecond season finale ofOnce Upon a Time. It featured footage fromThe Avengers and new footage from the episode, and was compared to the Marvel One-Shots.[27] Two days later an extended trailer was released, "devoted to expository dialogue, setting up the characters and establishing the pecking order".[28] "Pilot" was screened at San Diego Comic-Con on July 19, 2013, and was met with a positive reaction from the crowd.[29] As part of aviral marketing campaign, posters asking for witnesses of "Suspected Extraordinary Activity" were placed around London ahead of the episode's airing in the UK.[30]
"Pilot" was first aired in the United States onABC on September 24, 2013.[31] It was aired alongside the U.S. broadcast in Canada onCTV,[32] while it was first aired in the United Kingdom onChannel 4 on September 27, 2013.[33] It premiered on theSeven Network in Australia on October 2, 2013,[34] and onTV2 in New Zealand on February 16, 2014.[35]
The episode, along with the rest ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first season, was released onBlu-ray andDVD on September 9, 2014. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a blooper reel.[36] It was released in Region 2 on October 20,[37] and in Region 4 on November 11, 2014.[38] On November 20, 2014, the episode became available for streaming onNetflix.[39] The episode, along with the rest of the series, was removed from Netflix on February 28, 2022,[40] and later became available onDisney+ on March 16, 2022.[41]
In the United States the episode received a 4.7/14 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 4.7 percent of all households, and 14 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 12.12 million viewers.[31] This was the highest ratings received by the first episode of a drama series in the United States for almost four years since the pilot episode of ABC'sV,[42] howeverNCIS was the most viewed show in the time slot with more than 20 million viewers.[43] "Pilot" was watched by 2.71 million viewers during its Canadian premiere, earning the third highest viewership for the week on the network.[32] It was watched by 14.2 percent of all viewers in the UK watching television at the time of the broadcast, an average of 3.1 million. The broadcast had a 27 percent share of those aged between 16 and 34. It was the most viewed new drama on Channel 4 in 2013.[33] The Seven Network premiere in Australia was watched by 1.3 million viewers, the top show of the night.[34] In New Zealand, the first episode premiered to 326,790 viewers, the fourth highest show of the night, and the most watched show on TV2.[35]
Jason Hughes ofThe Huffington Post said that "Everything about this premiere worked". He felt that the show was a cross betweenFringe andHeroes with elements ofThe X-Files included. He thought that there was a potential for the series to be a success and thought that it would attract both Marvel fans and new viewers alike.[46] Dave Bradley gave the episode four and a half out of five forSFX magazine, saying that the show was going to become a phenomenon alongsideDoctor Who,The Walking Dead andGame of Thrones. He felt that using the Skye character to introduce the viewer to the series was cheesy, but effective. He praised J August Richards' performance but did not enjoy some of the characterizations of the main characters, which made him think the team was similar to that seen inTorchwood.[26]
Eric Goldman atIGN rated "Pilot" 8.5 out of 10, stating that the "inspired collaboration" between Joss Whedon and Marvel that began withThe Avengers is highly entertaining, and should keep fans wanting more, but noting that viewers wanting the series to have the same scale as the MCU films "will be disappointed – this is a high budget TV series, but it is a TV series".[44] Emily VanDerWerff ofThe A.V. Club gave the episode a "B", feeling that the episode had enough "fun and funny moments" to indicate that the series could "settle into a groove with time", but also that there were cautious and predictable moments, and that even at its best, the episode feels like "the product of several hundred cooks."[47] Brian Lowry, writing forVariety, found the episode to be "OK", finding some dialogue to be "a little precious and clunky" and feeling the plot to be "yet another twist on a procedural, albeit with a few mythological elements to sweeten the experience", summing that "with great boxoffice and ostentatious synergy come super-sized expectations."[48] Tim Goodman ofThe Hollywood Reporter was not sure from the pilot whether the series would go on to be good or not. He thought that having Joss Whedon's name attached the project would lead to positive reviews for at least a month. Goodman said that "It's a fun hour and calling it 'good but not great' has more to do with expectations in the wake of the Marvel movies than anything else."[49]
Jim Steranko, known for his work onNick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., felt the episode was unfocused and "had no menace, no tension". He lamented the absence ofSamuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, and felt the episode needed "to be much tougher, much stranger, much edgier to reach its potential".[50] James Hunt ofDen of Geek, thought that the episode struggled to meet expectations. He thought that theCGI was worse than that seen onSmallville and that the sets seemed small. However, he praised the script and in particular the speech given by Richards' character at the end of the episode. He thought that the start was better than Whedon'sDollhouse, but was not perfect.[45]
"Pilot" was nominated forOutstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program at the12th Visual Effects Society Awards, but lost to theGame of Thrones episode "Valar Dohaeris".[51] It was also nominated forBest Sound Editing – Short Form: Music at the61st Golden Reel Awards, but lost to theGame of Thrones episode "The Rains of Castamere".[52]
The episode introduced a group called the "Rising Tide", also the name ofa real-life volunteer group who work onclimate change issues. The group issued a statement saying that they were concerned with the use of the name for the fictional group which appeared to be similar toAnonymous. They have since been mistakenly contacted onTwitter by fans ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and have created a petition againstThe Walt Disney Company to stop using the name.[53]
