Written by: Brent Fletcher

Directed by: Milan Cheylov

Plot: With Colonel Glenn Talbot now on their trail, Coulson and his team seek refuge in the last place anyone would look, where they begin to uncover S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most dangerous secrets — secrets that could destroy them all.

Review:  Continuing from the momentum of last weeks killer episode, this episode speeds through with a ton of great character beats. While there is not real plot per se, I still found this to be a really enjoyable episode.

I think the real revelation on this weeks and last week’s episode is that I think the writers finally figured out how to write this show’s verion of Phil Coulson.

Since day one, Phil has always been a really interesting choice to lead a show like this. He isn’t slick and cool, like say Captain Jack Harkness from Torchwood. He’s not full of dry wit and dark passion for the strange like Agent Fox Mulder. He’s Phil. He’s the guy who collects trading cards, antiques, plays Call of Duty here and there, makes really subtle jokes, and is pretty by the books.

This kind of character doesn’t lead shows like this, yet here we are. One of the things about this show is that I always felt that they had to find ways to make Coulson more like the characters who would be the leads in this show. They upped his anger and angst, but it always felt off. He never really felt like the Agent Coulson that I saw in the movies.

I honestly think these last two episodes finally got the right balance. Phil’s reaction to Skye informing him that the Bus has Wi-Fi now is kinda precious and really funny, but also very Coulson. Yet, his big speech outside of the secret base that Fury lead them to is great, and the show finally earned that moment for Phil to get pissed.

Seeing how Ward has been acting in this episode, I really really really wish he doesn’t turn good. For the first time, Ward has a god damn personality, and the way Brett Dalton has been playing him in this episode shows how well he can play a bastard. I mean, if Ward remains a bad guy, it would actually make the early episodes of the show look kinda genius in hindsight. Why was Ward so bland and dull? Because that’s the role that Hydra Agent Ward wanted to play. For reals, no turning back for this guy. It would be killer to see Ward become one of the shows main antagonists  after getting used to him being one of the good guys. And man will it hit the team hard every time they see him.

BUFFY SPOILERS: (Highlight if you wanna read.)

Kinda like if we found out that Angel was actually an evil prick the whole time. 

As a big Patton Oswalt fan, I’m quiet happy to see him here, and he’s doing a great job. I kinda hope that they get to keep him as he would be a great addition to the cast.

I also gotta wonder if the “Providence” base could be a potential permanent home for the show…you know, if Hydra doesn’t destroy  it first of course.

Several quick comic book elements popped up in this episode.

We get a nod to a classic Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. spy gadget  as Raina is being lowered down in a barber chair much like Fury used to do…

And we are introduced to Glen Talbot, a regular supporting cast member of the Incredible Hulk comics.

 

Glen Talbot actually appeared in the Ang Lee Hulk film too, but this is his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  He doesn’t really get to do much in this episode, but I’m sure that’s going to change in the next few episodes.

This show is on the fast track to being some great entertainment, I hope they don’t loose steam before the season ends.