Marvel Cinematic Universe, I Love You

I started watching Agents of SHIELD last fall because I like the Avengers movies and didn't want to be missing stuff in fanfic about them.  I wanted a little background on the universe and didn't expect much out of it.  And, you know, for most of the season that was about what I got.  Interesting, but not really making me fannish about it.  I was particularly annoyed with Ward, who seemed to me to be a cardboard cutout stereotype.

Then Captain America: The Winter Soldier happened, and holy cow.  Because that changed everything in the MCU, and especially for any SHIELD agent.  All those plot-of-the-week episodes that I enjoyed but didn't grip me?  We were learning stuff.  We were learning stuff about the characters, and about their world.  So that when that world got turned upside down, they could do some REALLY COMPELLING storytelling about where things go from there.  (And it turns out that I WAS SO WRONG ABOUT WARD.  Or, not really, he was kind of cardboard cutout stereotype but that's because he was actively trying to be.  I got suckered SO BADLY.)

And it got renewed for a second season!  Yay!  Basically, if you haven't watched any of it yet, get it on HULU Plus or Netflix or something, because it is excellent.  And then join the fun at agents_of_shield 

Also, Peggy Carter is getting her own TV show!  I can't wait!

I grew up a DC fan, mostly because of the excellent Bruce Timm cartoons.  I've never read many comic books, and just as I had the disposable income to start, they did the New 52 thing and it was clear from the way they handled it that DC doesn't want my money, or indeed the money of anyone who is not a white dudebro.  So it is wonderful to me that Marvel is taking up the slack and giving me compelling, intelligent stories about superheroes that are inclusive and diverse.  DC should be taking lessons.  (And also giving us a Bruce Timm-directed Wonder Woman live-action movie.)