After a week off, we’re returning to the ongoing adventures of S.H.I.E.L.D. versus Sarge’s… group of people. What does this week have in store for the multiple storylines? Let’s find out, because in spite of what the episode title may say, there are quite a few other things to look at.
1. Tahiti
Melinda May’s scenes in this episode were interspersed with flashbacks to her last days with Coulson. It’s relaxing, idyllic even, as they laugh and drink and try to overlook the fact that Coulson could die at any time.
What makes these scenes effective is how they’re used. The flashbacks are tied between moments of May’s capture and eventual escape, contrasting the kind and caring Coulson against the all-business and less than polite Sarge. It was especially impactful during their fight, when it kept flashing between the two characters with every hit.
2. Sarge and May
So that brings us to the characters themselves. We get some decent moments as the two talk; Sarge has noticed that people seem to recognize him, especially May’s hatred. To all of S.H.I.E.L.D. – and us, by proxy – Sarge is a Coulson imposter, but to Sarge, Coulson is a strange double of him everyone keeps comparing him to.
Oh, and apparently he’s over a hundred years old. Traveling through dimensions does that, apparently.
Yet Sarge also thinks he can turn May to his side by demonstrating what they’re fighting. After she gets attacked by a space-bat infected corpse, and stabs it with one of the special daggers, it seems he’s convinced it’s worked.
While yes, it does let her (and us, as viewers) know what they’re after and why, to assume that she’d blindly follow him after he did things like all the robbery and murder (including a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent) is… pretty short-sighted. Come on, Sarge, you should be smarter than that.
3. Meanwhile, in Space
Anyways, let’s get back to our space-faring crew. We’re introduced to more Chronicoms, including Atara, Enoch’s superior and possibly former fling. Apparently their planet has been destroyed, along with a few others, due to some time-space distortions.
Not Incursions, though. Those are pretty much reserved for the comics.
While the Chronicoms are interesting characters to observe, they’re not the main focus. Instead, we get a little bit of Enoch trying to decide where his loyalties and priorities lie, and a whole lot of… Fitz and Simmons being used as leverage for each other.
Okay, look, we get it: the two will do anything for each other. Simmons will stay behind to spare Fitz, and Fitz will work on the time machine to save Simmons. It’s the same as we’ve seen a hundred times before on this show, and it comes as no surprise when Enoch says that using Simmons will motivate Fitz.
Can we safely say their relationship is codependent at this point? Because they’ve gone from characters with good chemistry and amusing science-based banter to two powder kegs that will explode if kept apart for two long.
That’s not even a good metaphor but it still summarizes their relationship.
4. Drama and SHIELD
Speaking of relationships, let’s get back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. team on Earth. Yo-Yo is reeling from her loss (having to stab her boyfriend after he got infected by a space-bat couldn’t have been fun), but there’s definitely some tension between her and Mack. Not the romantic kind, of course.
But we also have Dr. Benson, who’s growing more interesting as a character. Struggling between his alcoholism, the intense pressure of the S.H.I.E.L.D. job, and his own curiosity, it’s hard to tell which way he’s going to go. The struggle humanizes him and helps him stand out when compared to the other characters who are much more used to the craziness that happens at S.H.I.E.L.D., plus he thinks he’s on to something with the bats and monoliths. Will this tie in previous seasons to the ongoing plot? We’ll have to wait and see.
5. Shrike
Okay, I’ve called them “space-bats” long enough. Coulson explains that these parasitic flying creatures are called Shrike. According to my research, the only other Shrikes in Marvel are one or two C-list villains, so this looks like an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. original.
So what are they? They travel between worlds, infecting and controlling hosts until they die, at which point they either find another host or explode. But they eventually overrun worlds and basically wreck the entire dimension. More importantly, they have a creator, who Sarge describes as “the death of everything.”
The Shrike give both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sarge’s team a common foe, but it’s unlikely they’ll team up too well to fight against them. They’re not a bad concept as far as creatures go, but hopefully the big boss behind them will be a more compelling antagonist.
