Danny Hale reviews the twenty-first episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4…
Well, any fears I had that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to let the momentum drop this week by our heroes escaping the Framework were completely unfounded; the opening encounter between Coulson, May and Ivanov to the wonderful return of Ghost Rider at the episode’s close bookended an incredibly fast paced episode that has now set up what hopes to be an incredible series finale.
It was great to see Coulson and May get some conversation and catching up done this week considering just how dire their situation was. May’s mention of Robbie Reyes and his uncle quickly established just how long May had been gone while also bringing mention back to Ghost Rider before his big reveal. With David Tancharoen directing it’s no surprise that the ensuing fight between Coulson, May (after taking a controlled dose of Mace’s serum) and two Ivanov androids was so visually appealing and May’s take-down of her Ivanov android is up there with some of May’s most crowd-pleasing moments. This was only outshined by Coulson’s utilisation of his shield to slice through his Ivanov android’s face. So, so good.
The Ophelia, Fitz and Simmons material this week was by far my favourite aspect of The Return, Mallory Jansen once again taking this role even further and showcasing just how versatile she is as a performer. Watching her experience human emotions for the first time was quite touching and the result of a beautifully measured performance. I quickly found myself falling under her spell; as she had emerged as a human with complete free-will for the first time, is she not now innocent? Does she not get a clean slate? I loved the route Fitz was taking in trying to appeal to her humanity and his questions of empathy and if she could in fact feel it. Her subsequent rescue of Mac was a great moment, both visually and emotionally; the dramatic appearance of Fitz, Ophelia and Mac amid a crash of water, Ophelia’s happiness at assuaging her guilt and Simmons icing both of them all made an awesome sequence of events.
I was so grateful the writers didn’t drag out the love triangle between Fitz, Simmons and Ophelia. For a moment I did think Fitz was going to ‘choose’ Ophelia because he didn’t feel Simmons would ever forgive him. To see the scene not play out this way was such a relief and not because I really love Fitz and Simmons together and can’t bear to see them separated but because it would have been a disservice to Fitz’s character and the incredible bond the two have built over the 4 seasons of this show. To see Ophelia then try to process love quickly followed by heartbreak was staggering; her reaction was as shocking as it was wonderfully child-like. Her subsequent display of powers was a great moment and a deserving display for a villain we’ve spent so much time with. On the other hand, Fitz and Simmons’ reunion was perfectly silent. The camera sat and captured the moment from Simmons’ tentative approach and Fitz’s out pouring of emotion fuelled by shame, fear and love. It was one of the shows more powerful moments and these are the character beats I live for.
Given her absence in the Framework it was great to see Elena get some good material this week. The fact that she has entered the Framework to save Mac fits perfectly with her character and her argument with Daisy’s failure at rescuing him really hit me. Her realisation then that Mac has his deceased daughter with him in the Framework was heartbreaking. I loved that Daisy never knew about Hope; it solidifies Elena and Mac’s relationship as Mac and Daisy were partners for a long time and have an established bond yet he never shared this with her. Despite that Yo-Yo was last seen waking up in the Framework, strapped to a gurney in a burning building I’m not too worried about her fate as of yet; I have no doubt she will be reunited with Mac next week in the Hydra run world but whatever way I look at this scenario, I cannot see it ending painlessly.
‘The Return’ did a great job at keeping the ball rolling from the amazing episodes spent in the Framework to the season finale next week. It’s all to play for and I genuinely feel every character is at risk; the Framework has permanently altered the bulk of our cast’s mentalities and now with an Ivanov army joined by a massively powered Ophelia things will surely be irreparably damaged once the dust clears. Let’s do it, one more episode to go and then roll on season 5.
Danny Hale
Originally published May 11, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
