Thursday at San Diego Comic-Con has always been a mixed bag due to it being most con-goers first day, allowing for some things get lost in the shuffle. But this year, Hall H had a big draw that really filled the room: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel. Now, this was already a must-do for many but, just a few hours before the panel, it was announced the upcoming season 7 would be the last for the longest-running Marvel series, which really increased the popularity.
As executive producer Jeph Loeb took the stage to introduce the cast and creators of the show, he discussed the wrap up of the show and how this is a panel to celebrate the show. Cast members Clark Gregg, Chloe Bennet, Ming-Na Wen, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, and Jeff Ward as well as executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeff Bell were on hand to take a trip down memory lane.
After a recap video of Season 1, Clark Gregg talks about how “season 1 was a magical place” and he attributes the Coulson Lives campaign as the reason this show ever made it on television. Later in a round table interview, Gregg also spoke on how he hopes the legacy of the show is how the cast and crew kept fighting to stay alive thanks to never just accepting things. One of the most touching things Gregg and Wen said about the show was how the show was about family is not always the one you were born into but the one you find and finding your heart.
As the panel went on we found out they were currently filming the final episode so emotions were running high even to the point where Wen needed some tissues as she talked about her love of the cast and the show. With the seasons rolling on the point where Fitz and Simmons’ (Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge) relationship started to grow became a fun topic as both cast members joked as if they were a married couple, especially when talking about Henstridge being trapped on an alien planet and kissing another man.
One of the most interesting topics was when they got to Henry Simmons (Mack) joining the cast in season 3. This included him admitting he “didn’t know a damn thing about the show” when he was coming on to it and how the rest of the cast reacted to him by seeing dollar signs when he first showed up. When Henry was asking about his inspiration when he took over as the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., he said it was all him and just took it as it came, having confidence in his acting ability.
Heading into season 5, it was talked about how Jeff Ward’s was supposed to be cast as someone completely different, but when he came in, he just blew everyone away and was recast as Deke. He has been making everyone laugh since. It was also talked about how, as season 5 was ending, they thought that was the end of the show. Then it got picked up and now they get to end it the way they want to. With the panel running short on time, they had time for a quick Q&A where we not only learned the current events of the show takes place before “The Snap” but there have been talks about a comic book spin-off of the show based on the time where Quake and Simmons were in space looking for Fitz’s frozen body.
It is not very often I get emotional at a Comic-Con panel — okay, that is a lie I have been known to cry at both Star Wars and Marvel panels but this show I have felt an attachment to since the 2013 D23 Expo when I snuck into to the arena and stood in the back watching the first episode as it was screened for the best fans in the world. Seeing this show that has been a labor of love for these amazing actors and crew come to a end is a sad thing, but if I had to bet money, I’d put it on the fact we will be seeing these characters again in some form down the line.
Make sure you watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on your local ABC channel and you have enough time to catch up before the final season coming next year.