There comes a point for any great historical event or any powerful moment of change when its own reputation redefines it. As years or even generations pass by, the numbers familiar and aware with the actual events dwindle towards an indefinite zero, leading those that remain to fill in their own blanks. You’d think we’d understand. You’d think we’d remember that even the greatest moments in history were made by the same normal flawed and fearful people we are, but we don’t. Why? Because we want to believe in things beyond ourselves, we want to put these great people on pedestals in the hope of inspiring the next; in short, we want to believe in superheroes. Even if truth behind them was far more unremarkable than we could imagine. For years, Agent May has shouldered a superhuman reputation within Shield as “The Cavalry” following a near impossible rescue mission in Bahrain. Now finally, we learn the shocking but far more ordinary truth behind the death of Melinda and the birth The Cavalry,
Melinda – As Agent May investigates Real Shield’s accusations over Colusion’s big secret, we flash back to her infamous Bahrain mission seven years prior. Meanwhile, Jaiying reveals to Skye that she’s her mother while helping develop her gifts.
Four weeks back in the disappointing episode 13, the clear highlight was introducing Andrew as Agent May’s ex-husband and the teasing of their happier pre-Cavalry life together. The episode makes an excellent follow as we dive right into the Melinda buried under her cold hard surface. The May we know is smiling so much, her face might break and she's so in love with Andrew that even the routine morning baby making can’t wait until after a shower. Just like her Agent 33 scenes, this is some wonderful out-of-character acting by the ever talented Ming-Na Wen as she leaves enough of the badass we know still visible while delivering a whole new softer side to herself that forms an immensely powerful comparative to her resulting post-traumatic stress outcome. This is best showcased right before she infiltrates the building, having a touching phone call with Andrew before switching into stern combat mode. It nicely implies a duality to this May personality of old, herself as the woman Melinda and as the agent May. Both went into the building but only the agent returned leaving Melinda dead inside and May unable to switch off her harder self. As for the events inside the building, Shield is a little network constrained and can’t make things as dark as it would like (Netflix this is not) but does a good job making the key moments creepy and unsettling to make May’s transition understandable. The big twist might be a little obvious, but the way the episode connects the story, not just to May’s origin (as she takes the desk job from her episode one intro), but more surprisingly into the main Inhumans story of the episode via Skye’s mother, Jaiying, is very impressive.
When Dichen Lachman’s (Dollhouse, Shameless) facially scared reappearance was confirmed as the real mommy deal, last week, telling all to Skye seemed a foregone conclusion. Sadl,y writer DJ Doyle does overcook the reveal a little, going over the top with the sentimental dialogue. The same can be said of Skye’s “hard knock life” foster home monologue. The episode is already bordering on over-stuffed and a less-is-more approach would have done wonders in both cases (give your audience a little more credit on the intake). However, their shared scenes as guide and pupil over Skye’s powers fair much better. From the gorgeous scenery and stirring music of the mountain quake to the tender water glasses harmony you can feel the resonating connection between them. Though their best moment comes as Jaiying tells Skye the same story of May’s flashback from her Inhumans perspective and its perfect relation to their situation of rules being broken for a family relationship. Supported by the tensions between Gordon and the still impressive Lincoln, there is the impression that we could see a similar civil war (or at least developing factions) within Inhumans society with Skye’s fate being the catalyst.
In terms of the Shield civil war there’s some good work this week to show those on both sides coming to more of an understanding even if the Coulson die hards are still keeping their own agenda in mind. May has clearly accepted Chief Gonazles’s offer of a board position and even gains command their old base. Bobbi and May’s exchange on the jet forms a nice basis of working reconciliation between the pair as she explains her belief in her actions to find May understanding, in principle at least, “You’re worried I don’t understand your choice. Well, sometimes that’s the price of doing the right thing. No one will understand and it hurts like hell”. This also reverberates effectively into the play out of May’s flashback when we see her experiencing her own price of doing the right thing. Then there’s Mack harmlessly joining an anti-Coulson conversation with May and Simmons without meeting any resentment as concerns tie back to Real Shield fundamentals and the dangers of secrecy. The initial shock and betrayal feelings have faded from all parties and slowly a greater state of community is developing again.
In terms of what the “Theta protocol” protocol, it’s a safe bet that it involves setting up at least one new base with the mentioned “hundred bunk beds” and implications to Coulson’s heavy history with powered individuals (including great referencing of his Avengers links) definitely connected. Although the biggest piece of the puzzle comes off screen with the announcement of an Agents of Shield spin off show to debuting as early as this autumn. The show runners have promised we’ll see some setup events in the tail end of this Agents series and this feels like just that. As for what the spinoff will be, the obvious choice seems an Inhumans-based series, staying within their society after Agents moves on to a new story. Though personally, I’m hoping that we’ll instead get the previously rumoured idea of a Runaways series (a cult hit series from the last decade offspring of super villains that band together to fight crime). The lighter and more fun tone of the material would serve in a much better contrast to Agents of Shield ,and hopefully a renewed Agent Carter (in the same way Arrow and The Flash complement each other).
Melinda genuinely surprises with how much of an enjoyable and well structured episode it becomes. Through much of its first half it feels quite piecemeal with too many unrelated stories in play only to suddenly interweave them into detailed relevance. The discovery of Reina’s power is highly curious as it appears her clairvoyant fangirling paid off. We’ll probably never find out Hunter’s hand dryer master plan but it’s such a great random notion that you’ll be thinking about it several times before the next episode. It delivers good action courtesy of the May-centric scenes and like last week, it’s a step in the right direction for the series; that just falters slightly in some of its execution.