Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. was often criticized for not utilizing its full potential in its first season, but the writers and show-runners are looking to remedy that in year two. Part of making the series more exciting involves bringing in characters from the comics, which is something fans were hoping for since the beginning.
It looks like things are going to change a bit in season two, as it was announced today during the Marvel TV panel at San Diego Comic-Con that several new characters would be joining the show. Xena: Warrior Princess and Battlestar Galactica alum Lucy Lawless will play Isabelle Hartley, a longtime S.H.I.E.L.D. veteran with a penchant for knives, while Trollied star Nick Blood will play a mercenary named Lance Hunter, who in the comics is the director of S.T.R.I.K.E., the UK version of S.H.I.E.L.D. The “Big Bad” of the season will be a HYDRA agent named Daniel Whitehall, who comic fans will recognize as “The Kraken,” played by Moneyball actor Reed Diamond.
The most buzz-worthy addition to the series has yet to be cast though. Patton Oswalt’s Agent Koenig appeared in a video teaser and name dropped Barbara Morse, a.k.a. Mockingbird. For those unfamiliar, Mockingbird is a longtime Avenger and the eventual wife of Hawkeye, which makes me wonder if she’ll ever head over to the film side of the MCU. We’ve seen several characters from the show move back and forth between TV and film, so perhaps if her character is a big hit we’ll see her team up with the rest of the Avengers.
What do you think of these new character additions? Do they help raise your excitement for the show’s second season? Sound off in the comments below.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns on Tuesday September 24th, 2014 on ABC.