Robert Kojder – Supporting DC’s Strategy
As you’re probably already aware from reading this article, Marvel and DC have different visions moving forward for their shared universes. On one hand, there is Marvel integrating all of its television shows into their wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, while DC has opted to keep the two mediums separated from each other.
However, when looking at the common consensus regarding the quality of Marvel’s flagship show for the MCU – Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. – you get the impression that it’s a load of filler that doesn’t really become interesting until around the 17th episode. Around the time of that episode, Marvel was preparing to release Captain America: The Winter Soldier, resulting in numerous touches and references from the show towards the film.
It’s great for the viewers at home that the show finally became relevant to the bigger picture and more entertaining as a whole, but it’s a bit frustrating for those of us that find television to be too much of a time sink. In my case, I do watch quite a bit of television, but none of the superhero related shows. I’m more inclined to watch HBO dramas like Game Of Thrones – the best show on television in my mind – or the various WWE related shows that air throughout the week, because I also cover that industry. As such, I don’t really have time to watch something like Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. – especially if most people I trust tell me it isn’t worth it anyway – but, during Marvel films, it upsets my OCD a tad when I’m missing references that only make sense if you watch the TV show.
Furthermore, I just don’t think having licenses cross into other mediums yields much success. Gamers out there will remember a video game called Defiance where your actions would somehow affect the show on SyFy of the same name. To make a long story short, no one played the game because it was broken and terrible, and no one watched the show, either. Obviously Marvel has been more successful with meshing together movies and TV, but again, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t exactly held in high regard.
Not being constrained to a large universe will also allow DC’s upcoming shows to have a tighter narrative and focus. They can be their own thing, succeeding or failing based on the merits of everyone involved. You can’t help but get the feeling that maybe Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could be a more interesting and entertaining show if the writers didn’t have to restrict themselves to one concept and goal.
Honestly though, while what Marvel has done with the MCU has been revolutionary and phenomenal, I simply prefer separate universes, period. If one of the crucial reasons why a talented director like Edgar Wright was taken off Ant-Man is because his vision didn’t align with the MCU, then who knows what would’ve happened to Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy if DC had been building a shared universe. It might not even exist. Nolan having a great deal of creative control was imperative to the success of that franchise,
At the end of the day, shared universes allow for a bigger spectacle, but at the cost of narrative strength and deeper stories.
