Day One

This year marked the first time that I’ve attended PaleyFest. It’s an annual festival bringing together the creators and stars of current and past tv shows and to interact with their community of fans.

My first panel was the breakout hit of the 2013/2014 season – Sleepy Hollow. The main cast: Nicole Behaire, Tom Mison, Orlando Jones, John Cho, Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Len Wiseman, Heather Kadin. The panel was moderated by Sandra Gonzalez.

The producers were tight lipped and didn’t give away to many hints for the upcoming season. The only tidbits dropped were that the we be a new boss in charge of the station. Frank Irving will be facing trials and tribulations and the Horseman of War will be getting his own henchman!

The highlight of the panel was the sparkling chemistry between the cast. Nicole Beharie was the first person attached to the show and the producers included chemistry test in the when casting the remaining actors. The cast director deserves special addition because this cast really sells this ridiculous show.

Paraphrase(s) [ I didn’t take notes so it’s not an exact quote]

Tom Mison “I had to google “shipping” and “IchAbbie”

Waiting for the second season with baited breathe.

Day Two

The producers were really shocked by the fans reaction to the relationship to Crane and Katrina. Which is understanding Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie have sizzling chemistry and to put it kindly Tom Mison and Kara Winter do not. I don’t want Crane and Abbie to have a relationship but I want Katrina out of the way. The Horseman of Death can keep her.

Today was the Agents of Shield panel. Because of usual lateness and the horrible LA traffic, I was 20 minutes late. To my pleasant surprise, the powers that be were screening the next episode of the show. Of course, the audience was going nuts. I won’t provide any spoilers but I’m looking forward to seeing it in its entirety.

After the screening, the brainy and radiant Felicia Day sat down to moderate the panel: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennett, Elizabeth Henstridge, Brett Dalton, Iain De Caestecker, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon, Jeffrey Bell, Jeph Loeb.

The highlight of the day was when Clark Gregg jumped off the stage to hug a fan. Here. It’s really heart warming to see an actor really show appreciate for their fans.

The lowlight of the night, during the brief Q&A session. The lucky few who got to ask questions kept asking the same ones over and over.

Q: Has the show been renewed for a second year.
A: Not yet

Q: Is there any cross over with the upcoming Captain America: Winter a Solider
A: Everyone skirted this question

There were a lot of great quotes:

Clark Gregg “Marvel doesn’t leave a lot on the table. They make the most of what fans want. They listen to that”

Ming Na “Skye is the love child of May and Thor. I want flashbacks to those scenes”

Chloe Bennett “We ship Skimmons”

Jed Whedon “The relationship of Fits and Simmons was based on the relationship between Casey Affleck and Scott Caan in Ocean’s 11.

Thoughts on a second season. Agents of Shield got off to a shaky start. The stories were basically a procedural of the week. The cast hasn’t gelled. Outside of the Melinda May, the characters weren’t interesting. Over the last five or so episodes the show has started taken a turn for the better. Having a more focused Big Bad has given the story a long and interesting arc to work with. The additions of Bill Paxton and Maximiliano Hernàndez as recurring Shield agents brought a much needed humpf to the show.

Ming Na and Elizabeth Henstridge are the strongest members of the cast and they can work with anyone. Clark Gregg is great as Coulson in the movies but the writing on the show doesn’t play to the character’s strengthen. If the show is brought make for a second season, I hope some new writers are added and some of the current ones let go.

As I’m drawn further into the Marvel Universe, I’m tempted to start reading the comics.

PaleyFest ends March 28. The events are streamed live on the Paley app.