Can Ghost Rider Save “Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD?”

The fourth season of “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD” is subtitled “Ghost Rider,” but can the fiery spirit save what feels like a doomed show?

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Agents of SHIELD has never fared particularly well in the ratings department. Each season shows the audience slipping away. This latest push to a 10pm timeslot has most fans and watchers spouting future doom, especially when ABC has already axed both Marvel’s Agent Carter and Marvel’s Most Wanted, the latter of which never saw the light of day.

My question to you (or the general internet) is: Can Ghost Rider save Agents of SHIELD?

Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios via Entertainment Weekly

If you sit and think about it, Ghost Rider feels like an odd choice for this show. Agents of SHIELD likes to root itself in science, explaining things away. Heck, even with the Inhumans, they tried to come up with an antidote for it. Everything has an explanation. How will they explain away a vengeful spirit and a flaming skull head?

At the moment, we have zero backstory on Ghost Rider. All we know is that he’s not Nicholas Cage. He still has the flaming skull. He has a Dodge Charger instead of a motorcycle. And he feels a lot like Punisher at the moment, going after the people who “deserve” it.

Then again, those who don’t have Netflix or those who haven’t watched Daredevil have yet to see Frank Castle. It may not feel so repetitive to them.

Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Maybe this jump away from science and reason will be a good thing. Agents of SHIELD needs some sort of shakeup–and not the kind that Daisy makes. The Inhumans were a good addition, but few and far between. In Tuesday night’s episode, it was nice to see Daisy using her powers in a simple way (like keeping a hospital door shut). We need more super-powered people in our superhero TV show.

I love Agents of SHIELD. I would be incredibly happy if it stayed on for six, eight, ten seasons, kept up with the rest of the MCU. But is that realistic? No. Not everyone feels like I do.

Next: Check out our recap of 'The Ghost'

Look, I know we’re only 43 minutes into this season. I know it takes more than one episode of setting up the dominoes that will later fall to get some good action and plot progression.

I’m hopeful that Ghost Rider will help bolster Agents of SHIELD. Or at the very least, keep it on par with last season’s ratings.