Agents second episode continues where the premiere left off, with Lance in distress in a crashed vehicle. His comrades all dead, the Obelisk with Creel and a set of boots approaching. Thankfully it was May and not someone else swooping in for a kill. While May did aid Lance (momentarily) she went off to pursue Creel. Lance who was too injured to assist in her pursuit stayed behind and was captured by Talbots soldiers.
It's hard to complain about AoS because it has been so highly charged from the first scenes of its premiere. This episode followed suit, right from the start, not leting down with the followup.
We got a larger peep hole into the background of the Terrestrial MCU but it was still a peep hole. We get a better sense that there are other forces outside of HYDRA at play for the Obelisk and Reina Flowers re-emerges into the arena. The large focus is of course the pursuit of Creel throughout the episode and that pursuit also gives us a duality in Lance Hunter. One that probably was easily fueled for comic fans that were aware of his source material. Truthfully, I may have also fueled his characters controversial role with my breakdown pointing out his STRIKE connections in the comic. Something that I realize now may not have the same attachment (at all) in this material. STRIKE was an all HYDRA tactical team inside of SHIELD that was hunting Steve Rogers during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. So the connection that I made is likely utilized to bait comic fans into the wrong perspective. Although the breadcrumbs were solidly placed for the general mainstream fans by focusing his character as a mercenary only considerate of money.
I have a different outlook on Lance Hunter now and while I think there is still more to the character as a wildcard I think he'll still be surprising us down the road.
There were a variety of scenarios opened up during this epsiode. Let's look at this weeks #TheBreakdown for Agents of SH.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 2 "Heavy is the Head" and try and get some perspective on new and existing characters for this season.
Phil Coulson: Is still behaving like Nick Fury and locking away everything he deals with inside his mind. Although he hasn't lost his sense of humor and seemingly gained an edge for intelligence. Coulson is still a very strong character that Agents is capable of building around.
This episode allows Coulson to succomb to his stated 'episodes' that cause him to cut large alien patterns into the wall.
If the first season was solidly rooted in Chitauri Alien Tech, this season i'm now certain (almost certain, fairly certain...) is the season of the Kree. We have the new images for the alien writing Coulson is creating. The scene when he first did this in the first season. The images that materialize on the Obelisk and what
I pointed out last week. You are also able to see a slight mark on the Blue Aliens arm that matches these symbols as well.
Coulson is likely going to soon understand what these symbols mean and is even shaping paperclips into the familiar markings. Whether its a language, form of circuitry, a starchart or an alien DNA pattern (like the structure of say the Inhumans?) we won't know just yet. But this aspect of the series is becoming more prevalent as the foreground material for this season with each new episode.
Melinda May: May took a small backseat in this episode but had a powerful presence none-the-less. From chasing Creel and almost taking it upon herself to execute him to following through with Coulson's orders.
She was important in this episode as a strong rock for Coulson to rely on while he allowed himself to give in to the alien impulse forcing, or compelling, him to create the alien markings.
She is a very solid female role that is amazing to watch on the screen. If there was ever a proper bechdel test to pass it's usually whenever May is in frame.
Brigadier General Glenn Talbot: Talbot had a few moments that caused doubt toward Lance Hunter. In all honesty, I think knowing the comic source (as mentioned above) is what allowed for that feeling to creep on me more specifically. Because I want to find the characters connection to ulterior motives.
Talbot is pretty straight forward. He wants to get rid of what remains of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Coulson politely drops a gauntlet on his head all the while giving him a gift with the other hand.
Talbot I suspect won't be as large a concern in every proceeding episode after the evets at the end of this episode but I don't think we've seen the last of his shenanigans. Again I relegate his character to that of General Ross chasing the Hulk--he's been quelled for awhile and will be licking his wounds for awhile until it's pertinent for his return.
He represents the bureaucratic stryfe a series like this usually has. In Stargate it was the US Government constantly affecting their leadership, in Battlestar Galactica it was a civilian counsel. Talbot represents a makeshift version of that scenario (even if my comparison is specfic to science fiction series).
Dr. Reinhardt "Daniel" Whitehall: He's only mentioned in this episode and has no screen time. I suspect we won't be seeing him very much until plots are opened wide and we're taken down major events in the meta-story.
Grant Ward: Ward is still locked up and had no screentime in this episode. I expect he won't be tapped as a resource unless Coulson needs specific details about HYDRA or certain personnel where information is somehow lacking.
I'm glad in a sense, we don't need the kind of insane banter Ward was spouting in the premiere in every episode.
I do suspect that he may be freed by an inside operative at a later point when it's relevant to reveal said operative. My cynical mind and hyperactively objective sense of humor says it can be Trip or Lance...But I'm not holding to those thoughts as a hardline just yet.
Skye: She was a bit more tenuous in this episode. Somewhat whiney and nagging. Chomping at the bit to get into action and to get more answers. So far it seems that Coulsons episodes are being kept from everyone else. We've yet to see if Skye is having the same episodes.
Then gain she was only given a serum, her brain did not undergo the same surgical procedure Coulson went through.
Reina Flowers: The enigmatic Reina Flowers has re-emerged with a variety of questions being raised. Among them, that she's no longer with HYDRA and has aligned herself with Skye's father, played by Kyle MacLachlan, and is capable of holding the Obelisk that has killed a couple of people so far--including Izzy Hartley, a waitress and is still unclear if it killed Crusher Creel.
She also had in her possession a stone that she called "Carbine" and was stated to be three times harder then diamonds found in stardust. What she used in attempts to lure Creel into negotiation. Subsequently he stole from her and fled.
I'm wondering with Age of Ultron around the corner if this material is essentially Vibranium or some variant. It's an interesting and subtle little droplet of something coming down the pipe in AoS and possibly for the rest of the MCU.
Reina was able to pick up the Obelisk "...It let you live."
Carl "Crusher" Creel: Crusher was experiencing instability throughout the episode because of the Obelisk. Even though we saw him absorb a rubber tire to pick up the object it still affected him causing his powers to become unstable. He was also able to bring up the same material in his body to effect others in the same manner as if they touched the Obelisk itself.
A waitress that bumped into him and accidentally touched the exposed section of his arm ended up dying.
Crusher was subdued by using a device that Fitz had already created, simply named the Overkill device, which neutralized his abilities. When this was done, the Obelisk completely turned him into stone.
Coulson ended up delivering him to Talbot anyway as a form of peace offering. Coulson also stated because Crusher could turn to stone originally it was unclear if he could turn himself back to normal.
I think we may just see him down the road. I also found it interesting that the diner he was in is a similar diner we saw Crusher encounter Bruce Banner in during the animated series, leading up to their epic clash.
Lance Hunter: This episode was very important for the development of this character. The series rollercoastered the debates of his loyalty all the way until the end of the episode. I originally talked about this character, referencing his source material in the comics. Mostly regarding his connection to STRIKE and Captain Britain.
After watching some of the MCU films again looking for other references regarding SHIELD and HYDRA I realized I had forgotten (almost completely) that
Captain America: TWS uses a tactical team of soldiers, alongside Rogers, called STRIKE.
This team is mostly lead by Agent Rumlow (Crossbones) and turned out to be fully under the control of HYDRA. If I was going to have any other crazy theories for this season, aside from Hunters comic book connection to STRIKE. It would be if those connections are going to be revealed, that Hunter is a HYDRA Infiltrator of some sort, similar to Ward.
It's all very hard to tell as the character is extremely likable. A fitting replacement for Ward on the team.
Al Mackenzie: Mack was extremely important in this episode. He helped Fitz become slightly more functional. Even if this aspect of the series is just as sad as it is annoying. You feel bad that Fitz is in this state. However, we do get a better understanding that Fitz may simply have his speech and memory impaired. Not necessarily his abilities or intelligence.
With Fitz' limited help Mack was able to get the cloaking equipment to work for Coulsons "Bus" and was able to modify his "Overkill Device" to takedown Crusher Creel.
Skye's Father ???: Finally coming out of the shadows and making a large point over the Obelisk. Reina's faithful adoration to power and the next evolution of the human condition is a strong expository force when seeing her behavior toward this character. There is a lot coming this seasons with his presence, the Obelisk along with Skye & Coulson's alien DNA intermixed from the serum they both were given.
Antoine Triplett: Trip hasn't gotten a lot of development as of yet. He's there and is firmly planted in the story but as a solid soldier. We've yet to see this series actually delve deeply into this character. There is still an air of mystery surrounding him in my opinion. Simply because he was one of John Garrett's agents.
The fact he's been somewhat in the background makes him someone you'd naturally forget. But i'm not so sure, I may simply be in Easter Egg/Plot Point Foreshadowing Hunter mode. I'll just keep him in my sights for the time being.
Sunil Bakshi: Makes a more prominent appearance and had a very specific affect on Crusher. He is still a bit of a mystery and is obviously working for Whitehall but beyond that we do not have a lot of information on him.
Fitz & Simmons: Simmons is still gone but in Fitz' mind she is very much nearby. Fitz grew as a character a bit this episode. He was able to work through his impediment and aided his fellow agents in taking down Crusher and likely in helping Mack get the cloaking equipment to function.
He still has a variety of speech based dysfunctions which were difficult to deal with but he was able to get his message across.
I'm hoping Coulson is able to help Fitz mend his broken mind. However, using Mack as a makeshift translator for the rest of the season will become a frustratingly roughshot situation. While there is a tender aspect to this relationship (proceeding in this manner), it will be highly irritating to say the least.
We did get a glimpse of some tech as Mack was able to figure out what Fitz was trying to say. While we recognized some of the tech, two items stood out. One of which was the Gravitonium, which we'd seen before and hopefully will come into play again this season. Even if Graviton, as a character, is too overpowered for these characters to apprehend. It's not Gravitonium I was interested in. I was curious about the random item he backed away from to find the Overkill Device.
This episode closed out a spectacular premiere with as many answers given as questions were asked and more so with a variety of subtle clues (tossed in) toward the overall goal of the season as much as it was for the MCU.
I feel a very Kree-centric season with all of the breadcrumbs being laid on the ground for us to follow; however, i've learned my lesson harshly when trying to predict Marvel's intentions. While I have solid predictions that have been extremely accurate in the past--many in my circle and community refuse to read some of my pieces to not gain early spoilers about such predictions. But because I have also predicted things that were traps for us to follow, I'm not ruling out that much of what we're being shown is a bait and switch to keep us away from the real intention.
Eitherway, I have thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I think we're going to see more of Crusher down the road. I think we're in for a set of reveals based on the metal that was glimpsed and some of the random tech we also saw.
Coulson was right when he said "...That's just the tip of the iceberg." I think that statement was more for our benefit as an audience as it was for Talbot and his men.
Did anyone else also notice that the cannons on the 'Bus' were interestingly similar to the Insight Weapons on the Helicarriers? Or that there is a slight soundbite of a Klingon vessel decloaking when the Bus comes into view during this scene? I know...totally random! But I had to throw that in there.
Now that the two-parter is complete the rest of the season can open up and focus on the task at hand. From chasing after HYDRA to the recruitment of other agents and heroes in play. Uncovering more about the Obelisk, the Blue Alien, Skye's father and their role in the greater picture toward the MCU and the Marvel Cosmic Universe.
Agent's hit hard with a second episode closing out the cliffhanger from the premiere but it's numbers are still dropping, 19% from last week which was already low for its premiere episode. Agents will have to continue putting out strong material this season to raise its numbers, otherwise the series may face some hard times down the road.
While the numbers are not helping, the material so far has been stellar and has proven the studio is going to take risks and pull no punches in showcasing the storyline it has prepared this season. What do you think about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and this weeks episode, 'Heavy is the Head'?
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by @EmanuelFCamacho
Up next on #TheBreakdown, The Strain Season 1 EP13 Finale - The Master, Airing 10/05/2014