The pieces were all in position, the stakes were set, and the drama had reached a fever pitch. Everything was ready for a dramatic showdown in the midseason finale, and that’s just what we got. The rules have been changed, and going forward nothing will be the same. Characters died, mysteries were solved, new questions were asked, and things set off in entirely new directions for the rest of the season. In short, this was a big, exciting, important episode for SHIELD, one that delivered on the promise of season two thus far in almost every way imaginable. So without any further ado, let’s find out “What They Become”, written by Jeffrey Bell and directed by Michael Zinberg.
With only a week to go before the midseason finale, things are really heating up on SHIELD. Our last episode helped position the pieces for the endgame of this half of the season, and this week’s episode gave us what felt like part 1 of the finale. This week had it all, with dream sequences ripe for fanfiction, fight sequences, possessed characters, two Melinda Mays, two Koenigs, the return of Raina, and some confirmation of a popular theory. It’s all building up to an exciting midpoint next week, before SHIELD takes an extra-long break while Agent Carter gets a chance in the spotlight (I’ll be recapping Agent Carter as well). So let’s jump into “…Ye Who Enter Here”, written by Paul Zbyszewski and directed by Billy Gierhart, and let’s do it quick before my local TV station cuts in with a random commercial at the worst possible time.
Things are starting to move quickly on Agents of SHIELD. Last week saw the solution to the mystery of Coulson and the alien writing, even if it left many more questions in its wake, and this week’s episode continued along that path, providing some new revelations and lots of momentum heading towards the midseason finale. Skye’s father played a big role tonight, as did the confrontation between Ward and his brother, and we finally got some answers about Whitehall. Not to mention some mortal peril, humor, sex, and possibly the goriest sequence we’ve seen on the show yet. And to top it all off, Agent Carter made another welcome appearance! Things are definitely coming to a head with only two episodes left before SHIELD goes on its winter break, and I for one am as excited for the show as I’ve ever been. So let’s jump into “The Things We Bury,” written by DJ Doyle and directed by Milan Cheylov.
Agents of SHIELD took a week off and returned with an exciting episode that took a big step forward for some of the big story arcs of the season. The last episode moved some of the key pieces around but this week gave us some big forward momentum along with a healthy dose of revelations, with presumably more to come. We learned some new information about the Guest House, the alien, and TAHITI, not to mention a solution to the alien writing puzzle. Ward got to stretch his wings, setting out on a plan that kept me guessing throughout the whole episode. In all, it was a fast-paced episode that set the ball rolling for the second half of the first half of season two (the second quarter?) going into the winter. So let’s jump into “The Writing on the Wall,” written by Craig Titley and directed by Vincent Misiano.
After last week’s tense, exciting episode, it would have been tough for Agents of SHIELD to try to match that level of intensity. The standoff between Raina and Coulson, with Simmons’ life hanging in the balance, combined with some new and emotional revelations about Skye’s father, would have been a tough act to follow. Wisely, SHIELD charted a different course this week, giving us one of those all-important connect-the-dots episodes, that helps position the pieces for bigger things to come. And while it might have been a slight but inevitable let down, it still packed in some great moments both fun and emotional, while setting up one big game changer that will affect how the rest of the season plays out. So let’s take a look at “A Fractured House,” written by Rafe Judkins and Lauren LeFranc and directed by Ron Underwood.
Welcome to “Trailer Tuesday” where I talk about trailers for upcoming movies.
Marvel’s plans to premiere the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer during next week’s episode of Agents of SHIELD were altered when the trailer leaked online last night. Instead of waiting, Marvel decided to go ahead and officially release the trailer early, so without further ado I’m bringing it to you. Take a look below, and read on for my shot-by-shot thoughts and analysis.
I hope you’ve got your lanyards handy, because Agents of SHIELD got serious again this week. Last week’s episode was all fun and action (and Philinda), but this week was drama, suspense, and emotional moments. While last’s week was more of a standalone episode, giving us some small progress but not doing much to advance the plot, this week took some major steps forward. We didn’t get any concrete answers to the show’s main mysteries, but they did shake up the status quo quite a bit. Simmons undercover experience with HYDRA came to a head, and Coulson’s secrets are becoming less secret. We learned more about the Doctor, none of which sounds good, and Raina was put in a tough position. Oh, and there’s Bobbi Morse, who is the best. So let’s dive right into “The Hen in the Wolf House,” written by Brent Fletcher and directed by Holly Dale.
The Love Pirate 