I felt that initially Agents of SHIELD was going to be less superheroy and more just MIB types of cases. The show wasn't always well received and ratings eroded. When they changed the formula to delve into the inhumans etc. there was a resurgence of interest. The take home lesson was that people want more FX driven shows so that's why Carter is getting more gimmicky.
That's what they wanted it to be, they wanted AoS to be all humans, no superhumans, but that's not what the comic book viewing audience wants to see. The same was true of Arrow. It was supposed to be all humans but once Flash came along, they revamped the show so they could have all kinds of supers showing up. That's where the ratings are. Carter, which came along after they learned their lesson on AoS, is going to be the same way. That's what fans want to see. Fans are what the advertisers want to see. Advertisers are what the networks want to see. There's a direct causal link.
I think they got the wrong message. I think AoS could have succeeded on its original premise if THE WRITING was better. The show picked up because the story got interesting and the writing got better. I think the writing now is not at its best but it's definitely improved from the lows of the early first season.
I don't think so. They're making a show to appeal to the comic book superhero crowd. The show picked up specifically because it became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by taking up the storyline of Winter Soldier. I think early in the first season, they were still finding their legs, they initially thought they could have a standalone show. That didn't turn out to be the case.
But Agent Carter is a different creature altogether. The lead is so strong I think she can sustain a show provided the writing supports her. The first season was certainly of a better quality with great Hopperesque cinematography and great dialogue. I worry they're trying to inflate the show with the same sci-fi that's prevalent in AoS which would be a huge mistake. Agent Carter could and should have a character all its own. It should tell a story about the early days of SHIELD. We don't need the tie-ins. The cast can sustain that more so than the cast of AoS. The first season had promise. I haven't finished the second season but the reactions so far in this thread don't make me feel good about it.
I don't find Carter to be different at all, except that it's set in the past. They can't directly tie it into what's happening in the MCU. However, it is still trying to appeal to the same audience that AoS and all of the movies are. Most people, at least that I've talked to, never really cared to see Peggy Carter, secret agent, they wanted to see her start S.H.I.E.L.D. That what their entire interest in the show and the character. When they didn't get that in the first season, they started to drift away. When it didn't happen in the second season, even more left and it showed in the ratings. The problem is, this isn't about the early days of S.H.I.E.L.D., it's Peggy Carter, girl spy. People want S.H.I.E.L.D. They want helicarriers. They want the superhero aspects that ties her to the MCU. The reason people love Coulson is because he's right there with the Avengers, he's an unofficial part of the team. Other than almost going on a date with Captain America once, what does Peggy Carter have?