Phil makes things more personal than they ever should be for such an agency. This had led to some questionable calls already... It makes for great television, not a realistically better director.

So my pick is Nick Fury.

I will have to rewatch AoS a second time and watch every movie SHIELD was in another one before I can give an actual answer to this tbh. I'll bump it then.

Peggy Carter > both of them though. The OG sht.

I'd have to go with Coulson, just because he's a lot more morally principled and his charisma inspires a lot more loyalty. One thing Fury does better though, is delegation and bureaucracy. He excels at managing SHIELD from an administrative standpoint, it's really quite remarkable as a skill. Coulson is better at logistics and tactical planning for operations, which is also a great skill.

@rogueshadow@rbt Thoughts?

(also, in b4 buildhare comes in with knowledge of SHIELD that is solely predicated on the films)

Nick

Coulson for me

Nick Fury. Let's face it, realistiaclly...he's ALWAYS been the director. Outside of the personal fights, all Coulson really did was carry out Fury's plans.

Although, you could argue that Coulson is directly responsibly for taking down every single head of Hydra, so he's got Fury beat thete pretty damned hard. But that was a result of the aforementioned personal fights.

Coulson>Carter>fury

He basically stopped planetary level destruction.

Fury.

Probably depends how we're defining best.

Fury was director of a much larger SHIELD organisation than Coulson was, so his role was very different. In terms of having to manage the organisation on that scale, he was better. He also did things like assmebling the Avengers, responding to Sokovia/New York etc. But then against, HYDRA did grow within his SHIELD.

Coulson is definitely more principled and personal, so a very different kind of director. He managed to dismantle HYDRA, which Fury couldn't, though Fury could possibly have done the same if he were director during that time period instead. As a result of managing a smaller SHIELD, you get the feeling that everyone knows him better and is more comfortable around him - whether that's a good thing for an organisation like SHIELD is another question entirely.

Fury may be more efficient/effective, but Coulson is more principled. I think that Fury was better suited to managing the larger SHIELD, whilst Coulson was better at managing the smaller SHIELD. Both were well suited to their individual time periods. We'll have to see how Mack measures up in May.

And this thread makes me miss Agent Carter again - we never got a conclusion to that cliffhanger. Hoping we'll somehow see her briefly in Endgame.

@jsdoctor:

Exceptional analysis. Granted I think Mack is a random hypocrite not at all suited for Director, but hey.

Fury didn't notice an organization-wide infiltration.

Coulson was infiltrated not once, but TWICE in his personal circle.

Leaning towards Fury for now.

@the_magister Would make a better director than both of them.

@jsdoctor: Great breakdown.

@anthp2000: @the_magister:Thanks - and Mack did seem like a bit of an odd choice to me too. I was expecting it to go to May (experience etc) or Daisy (arguably the show's other protagonist with Coulson).

@jsdoctor: Yeah, everyone was lol.

Fury stomps

Fury by far, Coulson only had a lead a much smaller version of SHIELD which is probably a lot easier. Fury also would never do something like Coulson did when he went after Ward, he totally put his own vendetta before SHIELD. Fury seems smarter and more competent to me. And we can't be blaming Fury for HYDRA infiltrating SHIELD, especially when Coulson didn't notice anything either.

@supremegeneration: Um Fury did notice which is why he sent Batroc to the ship and Black Widow to steal a file during the ship fight. @plotweapon16255: Which he kind of has a hand in almost causing?

Also his life when he gave the serum to daisy.

@jsdoctor: I wanted it to be May. She's extremely competent and level-headed, not to mention a strict disciplinarian. She makes Fury look like one of those parents that coddles their kids, when it comes to strictness. As for Coulson... she makes him look like a kid, in terms of strictness.

@chicago_bastard: Bro I don't think you watch the show, based on your comments on other threads lol

@jayc1324 Thanks for elaborating

Fax.

Definitely Coulson - he's a better person and also has better feats like taking down the majority of HYDRA within a single night.

All the more reason my answer stays as Fury lol

This basically sums up my thoughts. Great analysis JS.

Wasn't she the one who allowed Hydra to infiltrate them in the first place?

@totallynotjucas: She was also the one who created SHIELD in the first place. All these discussions wouldn't even be an idea without Carter.

@anthp2000: Your feminist agenda is off the charts

@the_magister: Whatever.

Idk, man. Letting the Nazi death cult spread right under her nose seems pretty bad to me.

Anything Great Colsoun does Fury gets credit for until the most recent season, Colsoun was just following Fury’s blueprint and hell Fury brought Colsoun back from the dead.

@totallynotjucas: Still, HYDRA and the Nazis were eliminated because of her. She had a vision, and it wasn't a vision of her leading an organisation, it was a vision of an organisation been led. Obviously she'd have a successor, and that successor would have a successor. Along the way, Coulson became the Director that cleared HYDRA for good (AFAWK). It was still all because of her. SHIELD wouldn't be an idea without Carter. I doubt something as big as HYDRA could be eliminated by anyone director in one lifetime, which is why it took 4 and we're still going.

I watched an AoS interview where Ming Na Wen explained how Peggy is the real deal when it comes to SHIELD today, it's honestly pretty obvious when you think about it.

Nick

@kevd4wg: It has arrived.

@supremegeneration: To be fair, Coulson was infiltrated by Grant Ward and Bobbi Morse. Fury was infiltrated by literally all of Hydra...which Coulson destroyed.

@the_magister: I almost bought my niece that shirt a minute back, but sjw's are currently ruining it.

Hydra was already operating in Shield before Fury became the director

It should be easier, at least imo of course, to spot two traitors who you talk to every day.

To be short Fury has basically set up everything Coulson had to follow. There were multiple times in the show where Coulson directly stated he was just following Fury's orders.

Also (clears throat) the avengers.

@mickey-mouse: Coulson brought Coulson back from the dead. He was the agent in charge of TAHITI.

Coulson is dead because AoS is non canon

TBH that was crazy, Coulson caught them like fish in a barrel. It was ingenious.

Fury.

I ike coulson,but Fury was better director.