Article first published as MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Review Season 2 Episode 4 Face My Enemy on Seat42F.
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MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., in an episode titled “Face My Enemy,”
Coulson (Clark Gregg) and May (Ming-Na Wen) go undercover to obtain an
artifact that has the same strange markings Coulson has been carving.
They are hampered by a familiar face with unknown motives. Meanwhile,
Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) may be the only one who can save the rest of
the team when The Bus is sabotaged. But with his mental problems, is he
up to the task?
“Face My Enemy” isn’t
a relatively big episode, by any means. There are some nice character
moments, but little movement on the larger arcs, the script mostly
focused on a mission-of-the-week. This is disappointing as AGENTS OF
S.H.I.E.L.D., like most shows, works best when it favors the overall
story, rather than a procedural format. Hopefully, as in some of the
rough episodes early in season one, the seeds planted this week will
blossom into something more enticing as the year unfolds.
In
looking at the characters, Fitz has the best plot. He is still
stammering, still hallucinating Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), and
growing very frustrated that he is no longer valued. I think he’s wrong
that the others don’t care him, as they will do whatever they can to
help, but he’s right that his importance is minimized, with a new lab
being built without consulting him. These decisions may make sense
logically, but Fitz’s feelings should be considered, too.
Fitz
is determined to prove himself to be valuable once more. It’s no easy
task, but an excellent opportunity presents itself when several lives,
including his, are put on the line. Operating under pressure and strict
time limits is a constant part of the job, and that’s when it’s most
vital that Fitz step up. Thankfully, he does, working with Hunter (Nick
Blood) in a couple of moving scenes that show Fitz not only getting
better, professionally speaking, but starting to form new bonds of
friendship, which will serve him well in his re-integration to the team.
At
the same time that everyone on MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. is able
to stop worrying about Fitz, they need to start worrying about Coulson.
Coulson clearly wants to help himself, going out into the field
personally to recover the artifact in “Face Me Enemy,” rather than just
sending his people. Yet, he himself wants to discuss contingency plans,
naming May heir apparent, a mantle she doesn’t want to shoulder, as
she’d rather devote her resources to taking care of Coulson.
How
much should one really be worried about Coulson? He keeps saying he
doesn’t want to end up like Garrett, but Garrett was part of Hydra long
before he took the medication. His issues went far deeper than the
connection he shares with Coulson. Coulson may lose his judgment and
reasoning skills, but as long as May is able to help him step down from
the Director job, he doesn’t need a bullet in the head, Coulson’s
suggestion for dealing with the problem. Why is he thinking in such
extremes?
I sincerely hope MARVEL’S
AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t remove Coulson from the game. It’s hard
to imagine the show without him, the writers already bringing him back
from death to star in it. The characters on this show are not static,
but there are plenty of directions to take Coulson in without killing
him. Whether he is healed or descends into madness, there’s no reason to
get rid of him any time soon.
Besides,
Coulson will be needed. Whitehall (Reed Diamond) is demanding Raina
(Ruth Negga) give him back the mysterious obelisk, and it looks like
she’ll have to if she wants to live. In Whitehall’s control, there is no
telling what the strange device will do. We’ll need all hands on deck,
including Coulson’s.
Is it just my
imagination, or is something sparking a little bit between Skye (Chloe
Bennet) and Triplett (B.J. Britt)? There’s nothing overt, but an
underlying tension seems to be present, and I’ll take this pairing. They
are both young, hot, and capable. Why not?
There
are plenty of enticing things in “Face My Enemy,” from the “reveal” of
Talbot (Adrian Pasdar) to be Hyrda, to the reveal that he’s not actually
Hydra, to May fighting a woman disguised as May (both played by Wen),
to some lovely dialogue between May and Coulson. For an episode that
really doesn’t go far enough into the mythology, it’s still pretty
entertaining.
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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