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Agents of Shield "S2E12 Who You Really Are" - Review


Agents of Shield "S2E12 Who You Really Are" - Review
7 out of 10

Who You Really Are – Lady Sif returns to Earth this week but some post-fight amnesia leaves her needing Coulson and the Shield team to help find her mysterious opponent and get her head straight. Meanwhile Skye is still struggling to control her new found abilities despite May’s preaching of control and Bobbi hits a rut with Hunter for the sake of her and Mack’s secret mission.

You just can’t keep a good girl down as Jamie Alexander makes a welcome small screen return in the MCU. She was an absolute riot in last season’s girl power fiesta episode Yes Man. Yet this time she doesn’t quite bring the Asguardian magic with her. Yes, her bewildered and memory lacking musings are a fun new take on her character, which Jamie does a great job of delivering. It also manages to keep the Thor-typical fish-out-of-water laughs fresh the second time around by making Sif the stranger in her own body, such as claiming she only hurts those that deserve it before realising she doesn’t actually know if that’s true and seeking Coulson’s clarification (also calling Coulson “son of Coul” will never get old). The reason her second episode outing doesn’t quite light up like the first has nothing to do with her character but the story itself; Sif just feels too much of an inconsequential passenger to the events. The main focus is still on the new Inhumans aspects of the season as the mysterious assailant is revealed to be a Kree. Someone that’s aware and responding to the recent Teregenesis event which makes complete sense. Yet throwing in an Asguardian into the mix as well feels somewhat alien overkill, and detracts the audience's attention away from the Inhuman/Kree link trying to establish. Neither main plot nor characters are wrong but they cancel each other out somewhat. That said, it does succeed in providing some much needed Inhumans back story as the alien origins of the powered individuals are explained and creates the enough weight for the episode’s  real dramatic power; Skye coming clean.

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Skye’s dilemma is handled extremely well as even without last week’s events our delicate little Daisy is given plenty of reasons to be terrified of revealing her secret; making it all the more rewarding when she ultimately does. From Gordon Kree-man’s rants about those changed being abominations bred for mass destruction or the kind natured Simmons suddenly taking a “nuke them from orbit” stance to anything non-human we completely feel Skye’s impending dread as penny begins to fall. It all does a great job making her appear isolated even amongst her friends only to deliver the rewarding switch up of the whole team immediately siding with her when it matters and claiming they always would have. It’s a wonderful relatable scenario for anyone hiding the closet from their friends. The resulting Earth Vs visitors fight sequences are great to watch as Bobbi faces a cautious round 2 with her vastly superior foe and of course everyone’s favourite toy surprise also re-appearing. Then after a lot of trembling we do get some impressive effects shots of Skye’s powers in action. While the glass shattering may have been the money shot it was her gun disassembling from her vibrations that really sparked the imagination (i.e. could she hone that for a combat technique?). As was implied last week we’re not rushing Skye into a Quake costume and, just as Arrow does so well, we’re slowly watching her develop, savouring the little events that make the big difference in her final form.

The episode does boast a good supporting trio subplot from Bobbi, Hunter and Mack. While all three get good moments as individuals (Hunter’s blood light speech being a highlight) it’s there ever complicating interactions that fascinate as a consequence of Bobbi and Mack’s secret agenda. After last week’s scan for Fury’s tool box we get plenty more tit bits this week to go on. As Mack speaks of the others fighting and potentially trying to kill them when it all goes down we know it’s something that will look very bad when they make their move. Then there’s the little hint of “We’re not Hydra”. While appearing to dispel the obvious idea that the pair are Hydra sleepers for a big unknown endgame it also makes a more direct allusion that neither are they acting for Shield (i.e. not a Nick Fury plant like May in season 1) but are working for a third party. General Talbot and the military feels the most likely answer, with Baron Von Strucker’s Hydra breakaway faction being the closest long shot (following his mentions last week). Adrianne Palicki has some great scenes as her renewed feelings for ex-husband Hunter leave her conflicted between duty and desire. The pair makes for a great, if volatile, couple. So let’s hope that after they’ve beaten 50 shades of black and blue out of each other, they kiss and make up just as ferociously. As for Mack, for the second week running he’s quite the audacious dark horse. Though his early bro-stock take down with Coulson makes out he’s back his regularly self, is he? Either a long buried falsehood or the residual after effects of his possession seem to be emerging. He states “violence isn’t really my thing” when Coulson wants him in the field but that doesn’t stop his sizeable fist find the Kree’s face. Neither are his final moments that of a pacifist. Are we slowly watching Mack become an antagonist? Or is he greater good motivated?

After last week’s good and heavy ground covering return, Shield’s attempts to slow things down again don’t quite have the same impact but none the less entertain. The empty Diviner case tantalises the creation of more new Inhumans this season. There’s still no sign of Ward of Agent 33, which needs to be addressed soon. The brief reflections on destiny certainly make us look in the right direction.

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