“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
“The Avengers” left us all in tears with the death of Captain America enthusiast, Agent Phil Coulson. But ABC is here to wipe our tears away with its series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Agent Coulson returns to build a team of other agents to defend Earth from the wicked plans of Hydra. Through the freedom of television, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” has been able to dip its toes into several Marvel plots, both big and small, and pull off successful crossovers to the films.
“Constantine”
NBC couldn’t let ABC and the CW get ahead of the game. The network decided to adapt DC’s “Hellblazer” hero, John Constantine, to television through its 2014 series, “Constantine.” John Constantine isn’t your typical hero. He’s dark and mischievous, and it isn’t a superpower or a knack for weaponry that sets him apart. Constantine is an exorcist, a master of the occult who saves the world by ridding it of its demons. The 13-episode season guided us gradually into the pasts of the many complicated characters.
“Gotham”
In 2014, Fox introduced a series that shook the superhero genre. Instead of telling the origin story of the hero, “Gotham” looks into the pasts of the city’s most notorious villains. From the classics, such as the Joker and the Penguin, to the malicious newbie, Fish Mooney, “Gotham” digs a little deeper into each character’s past in each episode, allowing the audience to track the growth of the future caped crusader and the villains he will one day face.
“Agent Carter”
This one goes out to the ladies. We thought we saw the last of Agent Peggy Carter at the end of “Captain America,” but ABC had other ideas. “Agent Carter” takes place in New York City after World War II. Agent Carter is trying to prove her worth amongst the men of the Strategic Scientific Reserve when her friend and billionaire genius, Howard Stark, asks for her help to prove him innocent. The eight-part series concluded Feb. 24 and laid the foundation for the future of the Marvel universe dominating the big screen.
“Arrow”
“Smallville” set a precedent for superheroes in television, and after its 10-year run ended, the CW decided to continue the trend in 2012 with “Arrow.” Drawing many parallels to “Batman,” “Arrow” tells the story of Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy who disappears in a shipwreck. He is found five years later and returns to the fictional Starling City determined to wash the city of its corruption by becoming the Green Arrow. Three seasons in, “Arrow” has traveled down many dark storylines, running into plot twist after plot twist in each episode.
“The Flash”
Once “Arrow” took off, the CW saw no reason to stop at just one superhero show and in 2014 launched “The Flash.” Grant Gustin stars as Barry Allen, a young forensic scientist who receives a shock while alone in the lab one day. No, seriously, he is hit by a bolt of lightning. Nine months later, he wakes up with super speed. Unlike some of his fellow Justice League members such as Superman, Batman and even the Green Lantern, the Flash’s story was never adapted to the big screen. Through the TV series, DC lovers are able to see how the Flash came to be and look into his difficult past and see how it will affect his future.
