| "The Asset" | |
|---|---|
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Gravitonium_in_Agents_of_S.H.I.E.L.D.png) Gravitonium, as seen in the episode's end tag, with visual effects by FuseFX. | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Milan Cheylov |
| Written by | |
| Cinematography by | Jeff Mygatt[citation needed] |
| Editing by | Joshua Charson[citation needed] |
| Original air date | October 8, 2013 |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
"The Asset" is the third episode of the first season of the American television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D., it follows Phil Coulson and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they investigate the kidnapping of Dr. Franklin Hall. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and acknowledges the franchise's films. The episode was written by co-showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, and directed by Milan Cheylov.
Clark Gregg reprises his role as Coulson from the film series, starring alongside Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge. The episode adapts the character of Hall from the comics, portrayed by guest star Ian Hart. It features Hall's gravitational technology, powered by the fictional element gravitonium that was created for the episode by visual effects vendor FuseFX. The episode also introduces David Conrad as recurring villain Ian Quinn, with his own villainous musical theme; a variation of this theme is played on ethnic instruments to support the episode's Malta setting.
"The Asset" originally aired on ABC on October 8, 2013, and was watched by 12.01 million viewers within a week. The episode received a mostly positive critical response, especially for Hart's portrayal of Hall, but the development of the main cast seen to be lacking.