No Regrets – Coulson and The Patriot infiltrate a Hydra facility for contact with an inside source. Daisy continues to be Hydra’s captive with Radcliffe as new cell mate while Ward and Simmons debate just meaningless his fake world really is.
So this episode was effectively a TV Captain America episode with Mace’s Patriot appropriately filling the star spangled shoes. The thing is, that’s not just in concept but in content as the episode develops into an absolute blockbuster and heart wrenching final act in full Shield Vs Hydra fashion. This episode was a mini-TV movie and it was brilliant. Some aspects of the beginning and middle acts did move a bit slower as they doubled down character work with the action being saved for the end. However, like many cases this season the show kept things interesting by being smarter we expect. Take Simmons trying to lay the real world truth on Mace and Ward. Their response could so easily have been straightforward anger and denial but instead we get Mace exploring how horrifying the truth would be; that his entire life of fighting Hydra and everyone he’s lost was all meaningless. It immediately makes things engaging because the idea of having to process such feelings is almost incomprehensive. Then we have Ward’s various pro-Framework arguments towards Simmons throughout the episode. This was namely using Mack and his daughter as source of positive consequences; that all evil in the world becomes insignificant then so does the good. The script from Sharla & James C. Oliver is absolutely on point for all the key subject matter. As we’ve seen with the last 2 episodes, Coulson’s current “outer geek” character is used for just enough comic relief to break up the episode (he still hasn’t given up on mind control soap).
This episode gave another excellent reveal over a character’s “one regret” that created their alternative version. This time concerning Fitz’s cold and ruthless Doctor persona. In keeping with May’s wish gone wrong creating Hydra dominance this an equally poignant case of being careful what you wish for. Fitz addresses a base pathological need by wanting his father to still be around but, in demonstration of the power nurture, said Fitz Senior turns out to be his Darth Sidious. Although seeing Doctor Fitz having self doubt over killing Agnes felt a bit out of place it served its purpose of affirming this father son relationship. That Daddy Fitz has in fact groomed his son to be this monster by overpowering the positive influence of his mother which is where Fitz’s better characteristics came from. We all know that it will be Simmons that eventually brings Fitz around and scenes efficiently setup such a Darth Vader, “I feel the good within you” scenario. It also ties in well with Radcliffe’s sentiments that anybody has the potential to be anyone by showing how such a key influence has created such a radical alternative character.
So let’s talk about the final act (spoiler free of course). Watching it is like being repeatedly punched in the face by entertainment. The big hits just keep coming and coming as events continue to one up themselves for something more spectacular or unexpected; culminating in genuinely one of the most moving scenes in the show’s history. The show is using the whole idea of this Framework world like an MCU Ultimate Universe go all out crazy without the shackles of continuity and I have to admit, I am absolutely loving it. Yet this is not just an action fest for the sake of it as it serves to visualise May coming around or at least turning away from Hydra.... but not before a bloody good bout of Patriot Vs Mega May. Ming-Na Wen is superb here in showing her character being altered by the “power hour” cocktail (the same serum Mace used to fake his powers in the real world). She’s borderline feral as she screams with each swipe and a world away from her regular confident composure. Plus keep an eye out for the cast return you had idea you wanted.
Three episodes in and I’m starting to feel like The Framework is the best thing to ever happen to the show. Even the attention grabbing and visually awesome addition of Ghost Rider didn’t produce content this good. It pokes questions at perceptions against reality while still being an action packed comic book/spy show and it’s shaking gems from years of character investments like a dangling niffler. It feels genuinely sad that whatever happens we have at max 4 episodes like this before it’s back to reality.