Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D returns this week with the hostile takeover of S.H.I.E.L.D by the other S.H.I.E.L.D that plays out against a flashback of the hostile takeover of the former S.H.I.E.L.D by HYDRA. Whatever this juxtaposition was meant to demonstrate, “One Door Closes” wasn’t terribly effective. At most it reinforced the argument that this other S.H.I.E.L.D is the rightful S.H.I.E.L.D by demonstrating their resolve against Hydra and their ability to go against orders when they don’t agree with them, something Coulson’s group also does all the time. I appreciate the ambiguity and that the audience has a reasonable cause to root against our protagonists, unfortunately it just isn’t particularly compelling.
Fighting over who is the better good guy is a lot less interesting to me than the potential progress that could be made against HYDRA, A.I.M, and their other enemies. i don’t really see any of this playing into the broader MCU, and though I can appreciate the parallel to Civil War, I like my “Agents” to be part of the big picture rather than something to hold us over until the next film (only a month until Avengers 2 by the way).
Speaking of bigger picture stuff, Skye is visited by Gordon, the eyeless Inhuman, and Banner’s cabin where she is hiding out. Now this is what I’m talking about! He gives her some vagueries about her potential and more than enough reasons for her to want to ditch the holding pattern and go somewhere she is desperately wanted. The potential of her abilities is really unlimited and I can’t wait to see what she is capable of. We got to see the perfect representation of her two paths: the beautiful shape she bended the life giving water into, and the forest-leveling sonic boom that stopped and bullet and put a tree branch through the middle of Agent Gravel-voice. She might not be excited about it, but I sure as hell am.
Positives:
-Skye wreaks havoc
-Skye begins to embrace her potential
-Skye is a waterbender
Negatives:
-The infighting seems tangential and probably inconsequential in the long run
-Two turf wars for a whole episode was actually kind of boring