Danny Hale reviews the eleventh episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4…
‘Wake Up’ began with a quick recap of how exactly May was apprehended by Radcliffe and Aida back during ‘The Laws of Inferno Dynamics’, we were then informed of another LMD in play and by the end of the episode we saw our enemies in a more powerful position.
It was great this week to spend some time with the real May even if she was mainly restricted to a simulation. The May LMD has sparked a surprisingly gripping plot but I much appreciated seeing the real May’s abduction from her own point of view and just how seamlessly Aida and Dr. Radcliffe replaced her. Granted, I was still duped into thinking the real May was genuinely escaping her captors but seeing her fight against Aida was great and the possibility that she might get free completely charged the encounter. The reveal that of course May was within a simulation the whole time and had never managed to free herself of her bonds was cool but even better was May realising that she is gradually learning and beating the system designed by Aida and Radcliffe to keep her under. It was a small win for May and she really needs one about now. She now knows herself that it is only a matter of time before she breaks free.
Senator Nadeer really laid the smack down this week simultaneously quizzing Daisy on her actions while she had gone rogue and also catching Coulson and Elena in the act of breaking into her office. It was a great turn of events as Coulson deliberately ignored Talbot’s warnings to carry out this particular task. It also comes JUST after Coulson resumed control of Operations for S.H.I.E.L.D. This places S.H.I.E.L.D. in a very bad situation with the public and Coulson at odds with General Talbot, well, more than usual. I thought Daisy did well up against Nadeer and was grateful that she mentioned Nadeer’s brother, indirectly at least. I’m really starting to resent Senator Nadeer, which means she’s doing her job as a villain quite well.
I am so glad Fitz was investigating into Radcliffe’s involvement with the attempted seizure of the Darkhold and not working against the team “obsessing” over the original Aida’s severed head. The reveal last week that Fitz was keeping Aida’s head active in secret felt like a deliberate wedge in his and Simmons’ relationship so to learn the truth behind his actions this week was a far preferable outcome. This also resulted in a nice payoff from all the time we have spent with Radcliffe and Fitz together. To hear Radcliffe refer to Fitz as a son was made all the more twisted when we realise that it was all a program. Were the LMD’s words a reflection of how Radcliffe really feels or is it a clever ploy on Radcliffe’s part to play on Fitz’s emotions? At the very least, ‘Wake Up’ has truly made me question Radcliffe’s true intentions.
‘Wake Up’ boasted a variety of strong moments; Aida’s questioning as to why they need to keep May alive was a little chilling. It is possible it was simply there to add weight to the May vs. Aida simulation but I can’t help but feel Aida is doing a lot of independent thinking of late. Elena and Mac got some nice attention this week too and while the early mention of another LMD in the mix made me overly paranoid to everyone’s actions I was happy the plot thread and the reveal into Mac’s past was all genuine and handled tastefully .I really felt for Talbot though when Coulson accused him of being the leak. Talbot has never been a bad guy and even while at odds with Coulson he has always just been a man of a different perspective, still trying to do what is right with what he has. This followed by the post credits scene really hit me hard; seeing May call Andrew after her encounter with an Inhuman in Bahrain all those years ago and to see it play out with the little girl surviving was incredibly powerful. It reminds us of that guilt that drives May and also sheds light on how, even to this day, she wishes she could change that encounter. Coming out the end of this episode I greatly wish for Nadeer to get her comeuppance and cannot wait for May to truly break free from her prison.
Danny Hale
Originally published January 26, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
