Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Making Friends and Influencing People (2x03)

Okay, I knew something else was going on. I'm not sure why I didn't guess this from the start. I feel kind of silly for not figuring it out... but anyways, let's dive in.

After a cold open wherein we see an evil HYDRA agent using brainwashing to win over assets, we switch to Jemma Simmons. We see Simmons go through a cheerful morning routine and then arrive at work, entering a high-tech science lab. However, we now get the truth: she's working for HYDRA!

We're not given long to despair, however, as we see Coulson meet up with her. Turns out, she's on assignment, working undercover and passing information back to Coulson. She is able to tell Coulson that HYDRA is after Donnie Gill, the kid who Fitzsimmons had helped at the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy back in the first season.

Skye talks to Ward, who reveals that HYDRA brainwashes high-profile assets sometimes, but he also admits that he did everything out of loyalty to Garret, and that he was never brainwashed.

As S.H.I.E.L.D. tracks down Donnie Gill, it looks like HYDRA is getting there first - and Simmons has been asked by HYDRA to go along, since she knew Donnie. As the two teams converge, Simmons is able to get near to Donnie and try to talk to him. May, Lance, and Skye are in position to try to get to Donnie.

While this has been happening, Fitz has been trying to figure out what his team is keeping from him. He discovers that Ward is being kept on the premises, which freaks him out. He panics and nearly kills Ward by sucking the oxygen out of the room, but when he lets something slip about Donnie, Ward tells Fitz that Donnie is dangerous - and that he must warn the team.

Turns out, Donnie has already been brainwashed by HYDRA, and this mission was merely one of retrieval for the bad guys. Fitz passes the news along to Coulson. May prevents Lance from shooting Simmons, as Simmons says the key phrases that will bring Donnie back under HYDRA's control. Chaos ensues, with the end result that Simmons maintains her cover at HYDRA, and Skye shoots Donnie, sending him into the water, where he freezes.

Now that the others know about Simmons, Coulson tells Fitz as well - Simmons left because she is on an assignment. HYDRA is impressed with Simmons' work with Donnie, and they decide to promote her.

Skye goes to talk to Ward again. He tells her that Skye's father is still alive, and Ward can bring her to see him. Skye leaves, and notices that her heart rate, which had remained low and steady even when she killed Donnie, has now skyrocketed.

This was the best episode we've had this season. Even with all the improvements this show has made since the start, Fitz and Simmons are still the most enjoyable of all the characters in my opinion. After the past two weeks of wondering and worrying about Simmons, I was quite ready for this episode to come along.

First, though, a couple of complaints.

Tripp had almost nothing to do in this episode. I almost wondered why he was there. And then there's Mack. There's nothing wrong with Mack's character, but so far he's nothing more than Fitz's interpreter. I want to see more from this character, and soon. Otherwise, I'm not quite sure why they introduced him at all.

However, mostly I'm happy with this episode, as I've already indicated.

I can't believe I didn't see it coming - of course Simmons is working undercover. Duh! I loved the opening scene with her. The cheery music, the crisp morning routine, the big science lab... and then panning over to the HYDRA symbol on the wall. Simmons, who has always been very bad at lying, is now working in a position that demands it of her. I enjoy seeing this growth in her character. Of course, we're left with a lingering fear as the episode ends... now that she's being "trusted" at HYDRA, what does that mean for her future? If she ever slips up, will they torture her?

I must praise Iain De Casetecker's acting. His performance as Fitz this week was particularly stellar. He's been doing wonderful at portraying the brain damage, but in this episode, when he confronts Ward, he really stands out. His panic and fear and sorrow were all so perfectly portrayed, and it was made all the more heart-wrenching for the fact that he had just banished fake Simmons, so he had to face the nightmare of Ward all by himself.

I also appreciate the way they're making good use of Ward as a real asset. There's constant justification for why they keep him around. It doesn't feel contrived that they would continue to use him for information. He was deep in HYDRA, and he's willing to talk.

I'm still not particularly interested in Skye's mysterious father, but I did like the fact that she can't keep her cool when thinking about her father. Even when she had to shoot Donnie, she maintained a steady pulse. But when her dad is mentioned, she can't control herself anymore. It also has something to do with Ward, of course... after everything that he did, it makes sense that she can't quite maintain her calm.

One of my favorite details from the episode was Coulson's fathering ways. He chastises Simmons about her diet, and actually says "we'll talk about that when I get home" to Fitz, which cracked me up. Coulson is something of a father figure for this team, although he still has to be their boss. I like playing with the line between aloof business relationships, and closer family ones. It's an interesting tension.

There's a lot more I could say, and I feel like this isn't a particularly coherent or well written review. But here's where I leave off: I'm so excited to see where all of this is headed. I want Fitzsimmons back!

9/10