There’s been a lot of “will they or won’t they” when it comes to the oft-mentioned Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff featuring agents Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird and Lance Hunter (Adrianna Palicki and Nick Blood, respectively). But it looks like ABC has finally decided that they’re going to give Marvel’s Most Wanted a shot. As reported by HNGN late Monday, ABC president Paul Lee let slip at the Television Critics Association last week that they’ve ordered a pilot to start production “in the next few months.”
It’s a smart decision, as the evolving relationship between Bobbi and Lance this season on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been extremely entertaining. Seeing more of them together has the potential to give us a much more nimble, more intimate Marvel show than we’re used to seeing on the major networks.
Then there’s the title. Marvel’s Most Wanted gives rise to all kinds of images of the two agents tracking down villains who’ve gone to ground, like government-sanctioned bounty hunters. Is that the direction they’re going? Who knows? I’d still love to see something reminiscent of West Coast Avengers. Back when Mockingbird was announced for AoS, I had my fingers crossed that she would be broken out into her own show. Similar to GeekDad Will James, one of my early Marvel favorites was the West Coast Avengers. It gave a more nuanced and personal view of superheroes, with a lot of the focus on the then-married Mockingbird and Hawkeye.
Obviously, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a much different dynamic going on; but every time I see Bobbi and Lance sniping playfully (or not so playfully) at each other on AoS, I’m reminded of that four-color iteration of Mockingbird that I grew up with in West Coast Avengers.
Whatever the plot, branching out and giving the Marvel Cinematic Universe more room to grow is always a welcome thing. Here’s hoping that pilot turns into a full season!
