Danny Hale reviews the second episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4…
Meet the New Boss lived up to its name as we got our first look at the new face of S.H.I.E.L.D. and he’s . . . oddly charming. I’m not sure what I was expecting from the new director but this Jeffrey really works; Jason O’ Mara completely sold this role with suave confidence. Jeffrey borderlines an archetypal positivity P.R. man-bomb but happily the new director shoots Coulson down and indeed keeps him in the dark. This is a man who knows how to present a happy, trustworthy demeanour while never compromising his authority or his integrity.
Elsewhere I really appreciated Daisy’s determination as she rocked up to Robbie’s garage posing as an old friend. I was just glad that Robbie called her out for having a death-wish because as much as I enjoyed her confidence it was way reckless. Most importantly it offered an extended opportunity to see Robbie engage in regular conversation without getting his flame on. We got a second albeit smaller Quake vs. Ghost Rider fight which resulted in Robbie taking Daisy prisoner and rifling through her belongings. One mention of the Momentum Alternative Energy Lab though and Robbie takes off queuing Daisy to break free of her bonds and, using her abilities, perform an incredible vault to the roof of his speeding car. The ensuing sequence speeding through a tunnel followed by a shot of Robbie’s eyes burning red and his engine catching fire was a short but impressive moment for the show.
We learned a good deal more about our mysterious ghost-in-a-box from last week; her name is Lucy and it appears there are others like her. It seems an as-of-yet unnamed man kept these people imprisoned in identical boxes known as cells but the purpose of such remains a mystery. My first impression is that it’s an experiment gone wrong but Ghost Rider seems to tie in somewhere and a much mentioned “book”. One of the entities, Frederick, rigs the entire Momentum lab to explode wanting nothing to do with Lucy or the apparent technology that caused their condition anymore. Fitz and Mack’s assignment brings them into contact with Frederick as Fitz desperately tries to halt the detonation of the lab. I am so grateful that there was no mention of Mack’s shotgun-axe; when he first pulled it out I prepared to cringe at the little nod to the viewers but there was nothing, it’s just part of his arsenal now. It was a way more effective way of bringing it back. It doesn’t take long before Ghost Rider arrives with Quake on his heels. Daisy arrives in time to save Mack but not Frederick who gets obliterated by Ghost Rider’s fire in another impressive display of his abilities.
I was really happy that we began to see the effect Lucy had on May last week so soon. It seemed to affect the random goons quick enough so I was wondering how long it would take to take hold of May. Also, there is an extra level of tension seeing May lose her mind; even swarmed by a room of agents I still feared for their safety over hers if she attacked, which she did and it was awesome. I absolutely loved how quick Coulson adapted to seeing May so unhinged and he did a remarkable job of initially gaining her compliance. What really took me by surprise was the reveal that Jeffrey is in fact an Inhuman and then that he was able to take out May with such startling ease. He really has the potential to be a great addition to the show.
Two episodes in and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is off to a great start; Ghost Rider and Daisy have at least temporarily joined forces to investigate Momentum and by extension Lucy and her gang. Daisy agreed to fly back with Mack and Fitz yet she still refused to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. adding further weight to her guilt over Lincoln’s death and her absconding from her old team. Mack learning that Elena has in fact been deceiving him was a great moment too; he was hurt by both Elena and Daisy whom he cares deeply for and will hopefully help shape his arc further down the season. Finally, seeing May all strapped up and screaming and out of Coulson’s control is quite distressing but if we’re headed down a May-centric sub-plot, I am all in.
Danny Hale
