Yikes! This is getting crazy. I'm so excited that we got to see J. August Richards back as Deathlok! Let's dive in to the plot.
Coulson and Hunter hide themselves in the Retreat, the same place where both Skye and Bruce Banner hid away from their powers. They are able to watch surveillance footage which shows them Skye using her powers to rebuff the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who were trying to take her. They also see Gordon take her away. Coulson triggers the alarm at the Retreat, in order to lure S.H.I.E.L.D. to their location. He plans on stealing their quinjet so they have a chance of taking S.H.I.E.L.D. back for themselves. At first it looks like they are grossly outnumbered and doomed to fail, but Coulson assures Hunter that backup is on the way. The backup turns out to be Deathlok, also known as Mike Peterson. With Deathlok's help, Coulson and Hunter are able to get control of the quinjet. The next step is to find Skye. Coulson knows that he only has one option to do that: he needs find Grant Ward.
Meanwhile, Skye wakes up in a place with Chinese aesthetics called "Afterlife." She meets Lincoln Campbell, a man who is tasked with helping her come to terms with her powers. The two of them bond over their powers and their experiences, but then Lincoln accidentally lets slip that Raina is also there. Skye is furious that they would be trying to help Raina, after all she has done. Skye goes to confront Raina, but before things can get out of hand, Jiaying (Skye's mother!) shows up and diffuses the situation. She asks Skye to stay and explore their connection. Skye also wants to get a message to her friends to see if they're alright, but Gordon says he'll have to get permission from the elders. Gordon also visits Cal, who is imprisoned and not allowed to see his daughter.
Back with the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gonzales is nervous about Coulson's resources. When he realizes that Coulson has Deathlok on his side, he believes Coulson must be collecting gifted people. On Bobbi's recommendation, Gonzales goes to talk to May, asking her to sit on their board. He says that they're going to bring Coulson in no matter what, and that May could be helpful as an advocate for him. Gonzales is also determined to open the toolbox from Fury, but it seems complicated. S.H.I.E.L.D. asks for Fitz's help in opening the box, but Fitz refuses.
Then, Simmons comes forward and offers to help. She says she might be able to get in to the toolbox. Mack tries to convince Fitz that they're all on the same side. Fitz learns from Mack that Simmons is trying to help open the toolbox. He angrily confronts her, saying that he wants to leave. He wants no part of betraying Coulson. Fitz leaves, but we then see that it was all a plan: he has the real toolbox, along with a sandwich and a note from Simmons, asking him to be safe. Simmons tells Bobbi and Gonzales that regretfully she can't figure out how to open up the toolbox.
This episode was just full of surprises, and so many characters I wasn't expecting to see! I don't know if I have any major complaints... I suppose I could say that I did see one of the "twists" coming. It was pretty obvious that Fitz and Simmons were working together. Fitz was just a little too over the top with his exclamations, so I caught on right away that they must be in cahoots. Besides, even after everything they've been through, who could really believe they'd turn on each other? Similarly, I felt like the scene with Gonzales and May was a tad cliche. The whole thing about Gonzales handing May a loaded gun reminded me of several scenes I've seen before in other shows and movies. Not a terrible flaw, but maybe something more complex and original might have been nice.
That being said, I was just floored by this episode. There were so many moments in this one short hour that had me gasping in shock, or smiling with joy, or grimacing in worry. It was chalk full of interesting twists and turns.
Firstly, Coulson is the best. I love that they've really stuck with his characterization from the beginning. Even when everything is falling apart around him and he's lost everything, Coulson is such a wacky nerd. He doesn't tell Lance about their cyborg backup, because he wanted to see the look on Hunter's face. He geeks out over howling commando stuff. It's just so delightful!
And speaking of said cyborg... Mike Peterson! That was, in some ways, the most shocking moment in the episode. I just honestly wasn't expecting to see him again, and I was so happy when I did. It was a nice way to remind us how evil HYDRA can be, given what they did to poor Mike. It's also a way to differentiate between the different types of not-quite-human characters that populate this world. Mike is one thing. Skye, Raina, Lincoln and the others are something else entirely.
It looks like we finally have a way to bring Ward back into the story, and this time Coulson needs his help. What will Ward do, for Skye's sake? Is he as over her as he says he is? I'm so excited for this.
I really like Lincoln Campbell. He's an immediately likable character, who is so indoctrinated into this whole "Afterlife" business that when he feels comfortable with it, you almost can't help feel comfortable too. The whole Afterlife plot thread is so frustrating because, as a viewer, you really want to trust in it. You want this to be a place where Skye can be happy, and learn more about her powers, and grow as a person. But of course lurking under that is the certain knowledge that this is all too good to be true.
Another shocking reappearance this week - Skye's mother, Jiaying! How is she alive? I knew she had that whole never-aging thing going on, but she was pretty ripped up when we last saw her. Maybe Cal saved her? In any case, it was shocking in the best possible way to see her make this reappearance. In retrospect, I should have seen it coming, but I was happy to be surprised.
My obsession with Fitzsimmons being what it is, I of course adored their plot thread this week. The way they communicated without being able to really say what they felt was so reminiscent of Season One Fitzsimmons. I didn't realize how much I missed it! I'm crazy about the fact that Fitz never really believed Simmons would betray him. He knew what she was up to from the start. Also, I love the transformation from Simmons being a terrible liar to Simmons using her skills of deception to outwit important and powerful people. And she made Fitz his special sandwich! Aww!
The S.H.I.E.L.D. vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. conflict continues to delight. Bobbi, Hunter, Gonzales don't come across as bad people, even given the messy situation. I love that. And Coulson's methods are becoming more and more extreme. Using a cyborg to hijack an aircraft? Turning to one of Hydra's most notorious and dangerous members for assistance? The lines are blurring between what's right and wrong, and that makes for some excellent television.
I shall stop there. This season, much like Season One, had a lot of buildup in it. However, it has totally delivered! I'm so excited for the rest of the season!
9/10
Back with the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gonzales is nervous about Coulson's resources. When he realizes that Coulson has Deathlok on his side, he believes Coulson must be collecting gifted people. On Bobbi's recommendation, Gonzales goes to talk to May, asking her to sit on their board. He says that they're going to bring Coulson in no matter what, and that May could be helpful as an advocate for him. Gonzales is also determined to open the toolbox from Fury, but it seems complicated. S.H.I.E.L.D. asks for Fitz's help in opening the box, but Fitz refuses.
Then, Simmons comes forward and offers to help. She says she might be able to get in to the toolbox. Mack tries to convince Fitz that they're all on the same side. Fitz learns from Mack that Simmons is trying to help open the toolbox. He angrily confronts her, saying that he wants to leave. He wants no part of betraying Coulson. Fitz leaves, but we then see that it was all a plan: he has the real toolbox, along with a sandwich and a note from Simmons, asking him to be safe. Simmons tells Bobbi and Gonzales that regretfully she can't figure out how to open up the toolbox.
This episode was just full of surprises, and so many characters I wasn't expecting to see! I don't know if I have any major complaints... I suppose I could say that I did see one of the "twists" coming. It was pretty obvious that Fitz and Simmons were working together. Fitz was just a little too over the top with his exclamations, so I caught on right away that they must be in cahoots. Besides, even after everything they've been through, who could really believe they'd turn on each other? Similarly, I felt like the scene with Gonzales and May was a tad cliche. The whole thing about Gonzales handing May a loaded gun reminded me of several scenes I've seen before in other shows and movies. Not a terrible flaw, but maybe something more complex and original might have been nice.
That being said, I was just floored by this episode. There were so many moments in this one short hour that had me gasping in shock, or smiling with joy, or grimacing in worry. It was chalk full of interesting twists and turns.
Firstly, Coulson is the best. I love that they've really stuck with his characterization from the beginning. Even when everything is falling apart around him and he's lost everything, Coulson is such a wacky nerd. He doesn't tell Lance about their cyborg backup, because he wanted to see the look on Hunter's face. He geeks out over howling commando stuff. It's just so delightful!
And speaking of said cyborg... Mike Peterson! That was, in some ways, the most shocking moment in the episode. I just honestly wasn't expecting to see him again, and I was so happy when I did. It was a nice way to remind us how evil HYDRA can be, given what they did to poor Mike. It's also a way to differentiate between the different types of not-quite-human characters that populate this world. Mike is one thing. Skye, Raina, Lincoln and the others are something else entirely.
It looks like we finally have a way to bring Ward back into the story, and this time Coulson needs his help. What will Ward do, for Skye's sake? Is he as over her as he says he is? I'm so excited for this.
I really like Lincoln Campbell. He's an immediately likable character, who is so indoctrinated into this whole "Afterlife" business that when he feels comfortable with it, you almost can't help feel comfortable too. The whole Afterlife plot thread is so frustrating because, as a viewer, you really want to trust in it. You want this to be a place where Skye can be happy, and learn more about her powers, and grow as a person. But of course lurking under that is the certain knowledge that this is all too good to be true.
Another shocking reappearance this week - Skye's mother, Jiaying! How is she alive? I knew she had that whole never-aging thing going on, but she was pretty ripped up when we last saw her. Maybe Cal saved her? In any case, it was shocking in the best possible way to see her make this reappearance. In retrospect, I should have seen it coming, but I was happy to be surprised.
My obsession with Fitzsimmons being what it is, I of course adored their plot thread this week. The way they communicated without being able to really say what they felt was so reminiscent of Season One Fitzsimmons. I didn't realize how much I missed it! I'm crazy about the fact that Fitz never really believed Simmons would betray him. He knew what she was up to from the start. Also, I love the transformation from Simmons being a terrible liar to Simmons using her skills of deception to outwit important and powerful people. And she made Fitz his special sandwich! Aww!
The S.H.I.E.L.D. vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. conflict continues to delight. Bobbi, Hunter, Gonzales don't come across as bad people, even given the messy situation. I love that. And Coulson's methods are becoming more and more extreme. Using a cyborg to hijack an aircraft? Turning to one of Hydra's most notorious and dangerous members for assistance? The lines are blurring between what's right and wrong, and that makes for some excellent television.
I shall stop there. This season, much like Season One, had a lot of buildup in it. However, it has totally delivered! I'm so excited for the rest of the season!
9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment
I'd really appreciate hearing what you think!