Anghus Houvouras reviews episode 3 of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2…
Early into its second season, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. feels like a show with a purpose. The pace is frenetic. Each episode is crammed full of characters, encounters, conflict, and overlapping plot points. It’s the antithesis of the first season which was far more simple in both its presentation and pacing. Everything this season seems to be about forward momentum.
The third episode brings us back to speed with the lovely Gemma Simmons who has taken on some undercover work trying to earn the trust of Hydra. Fortunately they don’t spend more than a fraction of a segment trying to convince us she’s gone to work for the other side. Hydra is trying to acquire a number of S.H.I.E.L.D. assets including Gil, a former member of the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy who gained some Killer Frost like powers after a weather machine accident went wrong.
Hydra’s top brass isn’t sure what to think of Simmons, but once they learn she has a prior relationship with the frosty threat (last season’s ‘Seeds) they send her out into the field to try and recover him. Coulson and his ragtag team are also trying to bring Gil back into the fold
The best moments of the episode come from Fitz’s discovery that Agent Ward is still alive. A secret that was being kept from him. Since Ward is responsible for ‘Fritzy Fitz’ and his impaired mental condition, he justifiably tries to exact some revenge. The dysfunctional Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are far more interesting than their season one counterparts. Fritzy Fitz finally has some scenery to chew, and Ward works far better as a traitor seeking redemption than a one note boy scout.
The problem that still plagues the show is Skye. She was a hinderance in season one, and even though they have completely reconfigured her character, she’s still the sore thumb. Even after stripping her down from superhacker to field agent, the Producers continue to double down with her as the center of attention. The mystery of her origins, the subplot about her Father, it’s the least interesting aspect of the show. Watching Skye using a sniper rifle to take down an enemy felt almost laughable. Nothing ever seems to work with Skye as she continues to feel woefully out of place in this new ‘back against the wall’ paradigm.
The other characters had a little more to do. The aforementioned Fitz/Ward scenes. Coulson has a handful of moments showing the burdens of being the leader. The Simmons ‘deep cover’ storyline has potential. I’m a little surprised with how little Tripp has to do this season. He’s become almost interchangeable with the other bald, African-American cast member who has had so little to do that I’m having a hard time remembering his name. I’ve been referring to him as ‘The Mechanic Guy’.
I’m all for expanding the cast, but can’t we give them something more to do? Tripp is one of those characters who could be interesting if they were given anything to do. Unfortunately, they’re starting to feel like Star Trek redshirts hanging around long enough to make you slightly sad when they finally bite the big one.
“Making Friends and Influencing People” is par for the course for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: A solid episode with some good moments but ultimately hindered by the magical hot girl who is super important because reasons.
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker. His latest work, the novel My Career Suicide Note, is available from Amazon. Follow him on Twitter.
Originally published October 8, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
