Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: One Door Closes (2x15)

Woah. This episode was intense! Just last week I was complaining that most of this second half of the season had felt like really slow buildup. Well... that buildup just started paying off in a big way. Let's jump in.

Gordon (the eyeless guy) shows up at the safe house where Skye is staying, telling her that he can help her control her powers. Skye, who has been bored and alone, is intrigued by what Gordon has to say. Simmons had given her gloves to wear that are supposed to restrain her powers, but Gordon points out that maybe this is a way of protecting others from her, even more than it's about protecting Skye herself.

Meanwhile, Coulson finally confronts Mack about what's been going on. Mack doesn't admit to anything, firmly saying that he "works for S.H.I.E.L.D." Coulson realizes that Bobbi is in on it, and manages to call May. As May confronts Bobbi and Coulson has other team members train guns on Mack, Bobbi does something to short out the power on the base, plunging everything into darkness and allowing Bobbi and Mack to escape. Even worse? Bobbi has Fury's toolbox, the thing that he gave Coulson to help him rebuild S.H.I.E.L.D.

Simmons is able to take down Bobbi by pretending that she doesn't know about Bobbi's betrayal, and then casually handing her something that shocks her into unconsciousness. She regroups with Coulson and May. Unfortunately, Mack runs in to Fitz, who is trying to get the power grid back online. Mack tries to explain, but Fitz is having none of it. At that point, the rest of Mack and Bobbi's "real" S.H.I.E.L.D. team shows up and takes over.

We see flashbacks to the day that S.H.I.E.L.D. fell, and learn that Bobbi, Mack, Hartley and Gonzales were all tasked with blowing up the aircraft carrier the Illiad. They disobey Fury's orders and manage to save a lot of lives. It's what makes Gonzales realize that Fury led by lies and secrecy, and that's not such a good thing.

Gonzales talks to Coulson, again in the present day, accusing him of being nothing but Fury's molded protege, and thus not really S.H.I.E.L.D. It also looks like Gonzales and his team are scared about Skye and others with powers, and they send an extraction team to go fetch Skye from her safe house.

May has managed to evade capture this whole time. She gets a phone call to Skye, warning her to run. Then, she saves Coulson and helps him escape, turning herself over in the process.

Skye gets May's message and tries to run, but the team shows up to take her in. Bobbi is there with them. She tries to stop the others from hurting Skye, reminding them that she's an agent, just like the rest of them. When Skye is cornered by several people, she uses her powers to push against them, then pleads for Gordon's help. Gordon appears and then takes Skye with him.

At the very end, we see Coulson meet up with Hunter who declares his intent to become a permanent member of Coulson's team.

Goodness gracious. This was big. I mean, nothing can really beat last season's HYDRA reveal, but this was similarly huge in what it changes for our characters. I don't know that I have a single thing to complain about, really. Well... just to be obnoxious, I'll say this: I think Bobbi's decision to switch from loyalty to Fury to something else happened pretty abruptly. She was all gung-ho about taking down the ship and killing good people, and then... well, I just wasn't entirely sure on what changed her mind. And Gonzales was pretty casual about letting her change the plan. It felt a bit too simplistic to me.

But that's honestly the tiniest of nitpicks. Because this episode? Damn. Great stuff.

First of all, the conflict between the two S.H.I.E.L.D.s is becoming far more interesting than I would have given it credit for. The whole good vs. good thing is intriguing, and all the more so for the fact that it's forcing us to question our unchallenged notion that Coulson is the best person to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. I mean, duh. It's Coulson! It's Fury! I unquestioningly trust them. But should I? Gonzales and his people took over the base, but they didn't kill anybody. They want to work with everybody that they can. And if they really think that Coulson is the biggest threat to the future of S.H.I.E.L.D., then in their minds they're doing the right thing!

There's one complication in here that makes me obviously choose to stay with Coulson's side of the divide: Skye. Gonzales and his people want to take her out. Maybe not kill her, but definitely lock her up and not give her a chance to learn. But again, it's such a deliciously complex situation, because in a way, Coulson already did lock her up. And while Bobbi encourages her people to think of Skye as just another agent, you have Simmons who is so determined to fix Skye, and is so afraid of her.

Skye is starting to see the potential positive ramifications of this new power of hers, even if she is scared out of her mind. I can totally see where everybody is coming from on the whole Skye/Quake thing. You have the understandable fear that something is very wrong with her, which is coming from Coulson, May, Simmons, and Skye herself. Then you have the stubborn belief that these powers are an unequivocal good, coming from Fitz and now from Gordon. Of course, Gonzales' team goes too far in the other direction. It's deliciously complex, and I like the way the show is expertly tracking what everybody feels about this.

Fitzsimmons feels! I think this is the first time we've heard Simmons call Fitz "Leo." Or, if it's happened before, it's certainly still a rare occurrence. They have such different ways of thinking about the Skye situation, but ultimately they still care about each other. Once the base has been taken over by Gonzales' team, they sit side by side, holding hands for comfort. That's just too precious.

I think my favorite acting moment came when Coulson realized that Bobbi was in on the betrayal. Mack doesn't have to say anything, but when Coulson first mistakenly thinks it might be Hunter, he gets this look on his face... and Coulson just knows. It was a wonderfully subtle moment.

Also wonderfully subtle is Fitz' feelings about Mack's betrayal. The first real friend he made after his traumatic near death, and then this happens? Poor Fitz! Simmons had that great moment with Bobbi, too. She used to have a real weak spot for acting, and couldn't stand up under the pressure. Now, after her extended stay with HYDRA, she seems to be pretty good at it. I was so impressed with her cleverness in subduing Bobbi.

May's loyalty to Coulson is awesome, and her close bond with Skye is also really lovely. May rescues Coulson because without him, there's no S.H.I.E.L.D. She did what she had to do for the good of the world. She's just awesome that way.

I could go on and on about my favorite parts of this episode, so I'll try to reign myself in. Ultimately, we're left with this tantalizing little scene of Coulson and Hunter, the last two members of the team still free and accounted for. How are they going to work together to save the day? I can't wait!

9.5/10