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EPISODE 1: "Shadows"
SYNOPSIS: Coulson and his team are now wanted fugitives with limited resources–but that's not stopping them from keeping the world safe from powerful and unseen threats everywhere. However, with new members they hardly know, will S.H.I.E.L.D. ever be trusted again?
BREAKDOWN: (The following column contains MAJOR SPOILERS, so I don't recommend reading this if you haven't watched this episode).
Well, here we are after a summer hiatus that brought us a new perspective on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and the prospect of a second season of AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. At the end of season one, we were left with Nick Fury bequeathing the title of Director to Phil Coulson, Agent Ward behind bars for being a HYDRA turncoat, and the rest of the team in disarray. While the first season closed strongly, can season two pick up that same momentum?
The answer is yes. The episode opens with a flashback to Austria in 1945 and we witness Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and The Howling Commandos storming a HYDRA base to take their weaponry into SSR custody. This quickly segues into a scene in the present featuring Skye, Melinda May, and the team observing a black market deal between former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Lucy Lawless posing a HYDRA agent. The deal is for a Level 10 item but the meet is infiltrated, a HYDRA thug stealing the file and escaping.
Agent Coulson and the remnants of S.H.I.E.L.D. are now operating from their secret base known as The Playground, picking up right where the last season left off. We now have Lawless' Isabelle Hartley and Agent Lance Hunter as part of the team. Coulson has been flying around the world trying to recruit as many agents as possible despite General Glenn Talbot (Adrian Pasdar) continuing his manhunt for any S.H.I.E.L.D. agents left. From the dialogue, we can gather it has been months since the season finale but exactly how long since the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER is unknown.
Coulson recognizes the 0-8-4 that Peggy Carter locked up in the teaser as what was in the file from the recent operation. Based on Nick Fury's "Toolbox", he says this is the first 0-8-4 and could be devastating if HYDRA gets a hold of it. When we next see the mysterious man who stole the file, Carl Creel (aka Absorbing Man), we see that he is able to take the form of any material he touches, in this case a rare diamond gifted by HYDRA. Coulson requests that Skye meet with an imprisoned Ward to get intel on Creel to which Skye is not a big fan. Skye begrudgingly asks Ward who tries small talk with her before revealing he tried to kill himself. Skye stays strong and learns intel on Creel and cuts off ward before he hints that he knows about her father.
Meanwhile, we get a look at Fitz and Simmons, who after the events of last season had revealed feelings for each other despite Fitz being injured gravely. In a well played moment, Fitz seems to be unable to process Simmons' request but turns out to have in earphones. He does have memory issues stemming from his brush with death and a much more sour demeanor, but still seems to be as intelligent as ever. Coulson also has Skye investigating the mysterious glyphs we saw him etching into the walls in the stinger from the season finale.
On Ward's intel, the team discovers Creel is planning to attack General Talbot. They also found hundreds of HYDRA agents across the globe, giving the series obvious foes for a good long while. Attempting to warn Talbot, the team intercept Creel and subdue him temporarily before taking Talbot with them. With Creel in custody, Coulson tries to persuade Talbot to team with the new S.H.I.E.L.D. while also gaining access to his fingerprints in a smooth scifi move.
Sending all of their agents in at once, Coulson takes point to stop Creel and retrieve the 0-8-4. Creel, absorbing the fiberglass cell, manages to escape. Triplett poses as a General and the team get inside the base. Searching the RAIDERS OF THR LOST ARK size facility, the team spreads out. Hartley finds the 0-8-4 but is attacked by Creel. Grabbing the item, Hartley collapses in pain unable to let go, her arm blackening. Creel runs off as the alarm sounds and Skye sees the same glyphs Coulson had her investigate appear on the alien artifact.
Coulson orders Skye and May to continue their primary mission, despite Hartley's condition. Hunter tries to escape with Hartley while the rest of the team search the facility, shooting back at the military personnel with non-lethal rounds. Hunter amputates Hartley's arm while the agents steal a QuinJet. He also reveals that he doesn't have confidence in Fitz since Simmons left, showing us that the entire episode, Fitz has been talking to himself. At that sudden moment, Creel appears and absorbs the concrete, sending Hartley's vehicle flying, killing everyone but Hunter. Creel rubberizes his hand to take the item and leaves.
The episode ends with the HYDRA agent giving orders to Creel speaking to a superior named Doctor Whitehall who reveals himself to be the HYDRA soldier in the 1945 flashback, with no age difference in the 70 years since.
MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE REFERENCES:
The Howling Commandos and Peggy Carter allude to the upcoming AGENT CARTER series as well as CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Howard Stark is also referenced.
BEST LINE:
"What's the German word for nuts?" "I don't know, but I am sure if we tie a blasting cap to 'em we will find out." – Great Howling Commandos banter between Dum Dum Dugan and Jim Morita
COOLEST SCENE:
The entire infliltration sequence of the military base was well executed, but the reveal that Fitz has been talking to himself was the most gut-wrenching moment.
DO WE (REALLY) KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO COULSON YET? OR WHAT SKYE'S POWER IS? OR WHO THE CLAIRVOYANT IS?
There are brief hints to Skye's father and Coulson's mental state, but the glyphs being seen on the 0-8-4 artifact is the biggest tease. There is also a brief moment in the flashback sequence that appears to be the same Kree body that Coulson was exposed to.
EPISODE CLEARANCE LEVEL: 7/10
After the hiatus between seasons, it could have very easily been a reboot episode for AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., but instead we see the showrunners capitalize on the new direction for the show. This was not a sweeping and broad episode like the pilot but a nice return to form for the show. It does an effective job of setting up the new villain in Dr. Whitehall while also giving us some background on how the new S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to grow. I was a bit disappointed to see Lucy Lawless' character killed of so quickly as the larger team gave for a more intriguing array of personalities to follow. We still have a lot to learn about some of the new faces and will hopefully see Simmons and Ward return full time in the season. Overall, this was a decent return and hopefully it gets better from here.
NEXT ON MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.:
Episode 2 "Heavy is the Head" – Hunted and running out of solutions, Coulson puts his team right in the line of fire in the hopes of saving them all. But with General Talbot, Hydra and Creel all on the attack, can they possibly survive? Meanwhile, a mysterious Doctor (Kyle MacLachlan) harbors some dangerous secrets that could destroy one of our core team members.
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