Far and away the best episode Agents of Shield has ever produced. The only episode that can give it a run for its money is last season's spotlight episode on how May earned her nickname. There's a lesson there -- centering an episode on an individual story, particularly one that centers around one of the better actors in the cast, gives the show a focus that is often lacking when trying to juggle multiple intersecting plotlines at once.
This was a hell of a showcase for Elizabeth Henstridge. The production design team helped. (Production design as a plus in 'Agents of Shield"? I"m as surprised as you are.) The blue tint was a cheap way to sell the alienness of the world, but it totally worked, and the dessert topography really sold the desolateness of the environment and contributed to the sense of hopelessness in that world.
But Henstridge is what made the episode work. She sold the isolation, the small moments of crestfallen loneliness and discouragement, the little joys of success and friendship, the simple humanity of a survival story. Her burp, her wistfulness when she says "My dad would like you," and her conversations with an imaginary Fitz (a nice nod toward Fitz doing the same routine last season) all made her feel like a three-dimensional person in an extreme situation. There's a sense that this is Marvel's take on 'Castaway' or even 'Last Man on Earth', and doing this kind of laser-focused narrative requires a lot of the actors involved. These types of stories are, by necessity, character pieces; Henstridge was more than up to the challenge, and it deepened my appreciation for Simmons.
The actor who played Will was pretty good as well, and while his story could have felt too cliche, it worked in the context of the episode as a whole. Really, this felt like a well-structured science fiction short story as much as it did an episode of an ongoing series, and that's not a knock. Knowing Fitz and Simmons's relationship helped give certain moments more weight and significance, but it could almost work as a standalone piece. That's how strong and self-contained this was.
There was also a legitimate sense of menace from the planet. The zomibe-like astronaut, the tentacle creature, and the dust storms all suggested something frightening and alien about this world. It prompted so many great emotional moments from the two characters stuck on it. Doing an episode like this, so unlike AoS's usual M.O., was something of a gamble, but it paid off like gangbusters here.
Huh. Y'all can skip this one
"I would rather live with your judgment than die with your sympathy"
You're a host, you're a host, you're a host, we're in this timeline, now we're in this timeline, go fuck yourself - westworld 2018
are u telling me i spent all this time watching two seasons of this show so that u can just tell me none of it actually happened ????????? hELL NAW
I hope Darhk destroys the world so that I don't feel like I need to keep watching this show
matt: im gonna put on some pants
foggy: no
same
Malcolm: And no offense none of you are particularly good actors.
Tell me that was not funny :-P
I truly dislike jump scares, not because they scare the shit out of me (they do!), but because they're a cop-out, a lazy option overused in today's horror. But - holy shit! - that scene with the sisters arguing with each other in the car... THAT'S how you do a jump scare! Also, nice way to stop a fight. Then, Theo's monologue right after was emotionally intense, I could feel her despair creeping inside me. This show can be slow and boring, at times, but the acting is consistently well above average.
Whole season, I was expecting that Frank's going to see Beth again but he didn't. I'm kinda disappointed about that.
5 Years later the mothers of the Liars are still in the cellar..
Deeply disturbing. But an excellent chapter. Makes me wonder what awaits me next chapter.
"What in the name of Kevin Spacey’s self-made Christmas Eve video message to try to get back on House of Cards is going on here?" A+ line.
Iain De Caestecker is amazing actor. All I had to say
This episode made me realise that we've not had enough Krystal in this show.
Grace: "Ben, you should have told me about all of this sooner. I would have understood."
Me: Bitch, I tried to tell you at the hospital, but you thought I was crazy.
Tessa Thompson teaming up with a mech, what more could you want from a television show honestly
Oh, it's so good to finally know what happened to Fitz. And I squealed with joy when I saw Hunter again. It's been so long! I've missed my dumb English son. It's absolutely hilarious to me that Fitz managed to communicate with him by insulting his favorite soccer team in a magazine. I guess it's canon that at some point in the past they decided it would be their emergency line of communication. It's so British. I'm a little disappointed Bobbi wasn't there as well, but I guess Adrianne is too busy these days working on The Orville. Good for her, she deserves it. I still miss Agent Morse though.
I'm not saying Fitz telling those military guys "They were abducted by aliens" should become a meme, but... oh wait, that's exactly what I'm saying.
I feel so bad for Polly. First she lost her husband because of his Terrigenesis, now her daughter is practically out of her reach as well. Also, I can't believe that they brought this seemingly random family from season 3 for this episode.
Enoch observing humanity for 30,000 years kind of reminds me of those creepy bald dudes on Fringe.
So if I understand correctly, Lance and Bobbi spent the rest of their lives knowing the world was going to end. Did they survive it? Did they die in the Lighthouse? Thinking about it breaks my heart.
That little Han/Leia moment with Fitz and Hunter made me cackle and warmed my heart at the same time. This is such an underappreciated brOTP.
I can't wait for the next episode. It's a shame that we have to wait two weeks for it. Oh well. Happy Holidays, I guess?
This year, like every year before, the cruel and mighty gods of television descended to Earth to feast on the poorly-rated or otherwise unfortunate shows and banish them to eternity of damnation in the land of cancellation. As they made their way from network to network, shows old and new, dramas and comedies alike cowered in fear, uncertain of their fate. Only those few that had already been blessed with a renewal stood tall amidst the chaos and bloodshed.
At last, the gods knocked on the door of a small cottage on the outskirts of ABC, ready to devour another victim. Agents of SHIELD opened, a wicked grin on its face and a cup of wine in its hand, looked the gods straight in the eyes and said, "Not today, bitches".
In other words, AoS has been officially renewed for a 22-episode season 5, and if you can hear someone screaming outside your window, it's probably me failing to contain my excitement and joy. I've spent the last two months filled with anxiety, and now I feel like I can breathe again. Unfortunately, the show isn't coming back until mid-season because Inhumans are set to air in its timeslot in the fall, and it's moving to Friday at 9 PM, but honestly, I'm not going to complain. I'm just happy we're getting more episodes.
This was a little weird. I don't know why. The pacing was kind of awkward, maybe? Aida's death was a bit underwhelming and I feel like they rushed everything too much. But I still liked it. We got some awesome moments, like Jemma shooting Aida (* Mushu from Mulan voice * My little baby, off to destroy people), YoYo being ready to die with Mack in the Framework (if you're suffering and you know it, clap your hands), Daisy's speech at the end (she's shaping up to be a great leader). Overall, they wrapped up all loose ends, Aida's a pile of ash, the Darkhold is gone, Radcliffe's dead (that was a pretty amazing scene too, I can't believe they just cut him off in the middle of his big speech, what even). Daisy and Robbie had a major case of heart eyes going on and I really hope he returns next season. The whole team together in the diner was cute as well. And I guess the US government was so fed up with SHIELD that they just fucking launched them into space. I'm totally down for it. I can't wait for all the inevitable references to Guardians of the Galaxy.
Oh, and a round of applause for Mallory Jansen and John Hannah. I wish them both all the best. Their performances were incredible and they contributed to making this season great.
Well, that's it for now. See you all whenever season 5 premieres!
So Liz spent all last season as americas most wanted and then publicly exonerated and now nobody knows who she is and she can go undercover? BS
What a dull season finale, compared to the last one which had me at the edge of my seat all throughout, this one struggled to even keep me watching past the 20 minute mark.
Truly disappointing.
the blurring thing becomes annoying and distracting
I really hope they add a mid-season villain to replace Cicada. I can't handle 9 more episodes of that goof.
Maeve's plot is the best of the show yet.
I am so glad that Iris threw some shade at that stunt by Oliver and Felicity.
I did like this episode, but they did kind of just gloss over the most difficult and major problem of the entire episode, making it vanish, just like that.
Boom, Barry suddenly recovers completely, and conveniently has no memory of the psychological effects of long-term isolation. I'm not complaining that he suddenly recovered to save Iris, but that he completely recovered, after saving Iris, for no reason, whatsoever.
I like his augmented powers, but not the basically skipped plot.
I have ran out of words to praise this show. Great acting, great writing, great production.... what more could we want in a show :-)
"Seriously, you idiots haven't figured this out by now? It all started when we blew up the time pigs, the Time Masters. Now history's all screwed up, and it's up to us to unscrew it up. But half the time, we screw things up even worse. So don't call us heroes, we're something else. We're legends. Who writes this crap anyway?"
I've been laughing for an hour. No joke. There are tears in my eyes, my stomach hurts and I'm wheezing. This is so perfect and in character for Mick. And it sums up the show really well.
The Legends have a chore wheel, celebrate Christmas together and they actually called themselves a family. I love this team dynamic so much. They're all my children, including Stein. My stupid, violent children, getting in trouble all the time and making poor life choices. What can I say? They've stolen my heart.
Michelle Yeoh is just so damn good in every scene she's in. She was an excellent bit of casting. This was a really fun episode and so far I'm loving this season.
