Afterlife – After being grabbed by Gordon, Skye wakes up at an Inhumans mountain safe haven and with the help of a few new faces begins the process of transition into her new abilities. Meanwhile, Coulson and Hunter play their hand against Gonzalas’s Shield takeover with a surprising ace up their sleeve.
Last week was a highly enjoyable action-based episode that sent the building Inhumans and Shield civil war stories into exciting new territories. All too often Agents of Shield will follow a big week like that with a more sedated episode, and though that is still the foundations of Afterlife, the results are far more rewarding to brilliant advancement on last week’s developments. The biggest revelations come from Skye’s introduction into Inhuman society via The Tomorrow People’s Luke Mitchell as the electro magnetically charged Lincoln (a show original character). He’s a perfect casting choice, making an easy audience association from one superpowered role to another, but also comes across in the right warm and emphasising manner that we can see Skye trusting. Their secluded community is conveyed as diluted but comparable version of the comic city of Atilian. A hidden mountains retreat rather than a cloaked floating city, populated pre terra-genesis candidates as well as powered Inhumans and governed some form of council referred to as “The Elders”. Other than introductions, the main theme is an enhancement on last week’s Skye story of changing her personal feelings towards her abilities. The main emphasis is on accepting her powers has a permanent feature rather than the suppressing and inhibiting approaches she’s encountered under Shield. The episode does a great job showing her emotional transition as her confesses to going with Gordon and the false belief he could remove her powers entirely to the lovely “I’ll show you mine” scene with Lincoln demonstrating that control his possible over time. The encompassing mountain scenery looks gorgeous and adds an undertone of spirituality to many discussions. We also re-encounter both Reina and Skye’s father following their own flights on Air Gordon and like Skye are on their own journeys. Reina still courts a different afterlife rather than face her existing reality and Skye’s Dad is being treated in more contempt but partly for his own good to help him master and control his anger before being permitted to see his daughter. One other big character makes a very surprising return that makes Skye’s story ever more interesting.
The Shield Vs Shield shenanigans continue with good efforts made to keep Gonzalas and the rest from being viewed as villains. In one great scene, Coulson himself tells Hunter that despite all that happened last week, he sympathises with Bobbi and Mack over their actions and knows Gonzalas is good man. Even if he doesn’t agree with their approaches, he understands that in their own ways they are doing what in their heart they believe to be right not just for Shield but for the world. This is mirrored excellently by Gonzalas' sentiments of avoiding a civil war at all costs as he invites May to sit on his council and act as Coulson’s advocate; “We cannot afford to be enemies to each other when there are new threats waiting when we’re at our weakest. A house built on shifting sand will fall and without a strong and united foundation Shield will fall again”. Gonzalas is turning into a great character in the way his subtle and understated power comes across; hopefully the series will resolve in collaboration between these two forces rather than one achieving victory. The Butch and Sundance pairing of Coulson and Hunter is also a match that must continue for as long as possible. Right from their opening steal of a deal with the car salesman they complement each perfectly getting many great laughs throughout their exploits; Hunter struggles with how casual Coulson is about everything and Coulson’s less impressed with Hunter’s blunter statements about the rasher actions he’d like to take. Their card-playing scene is utter genius (did you spot the battering ram from Winter Soldier making a cameo?). Their mysterious cavalry provides the episode’s second for welcome character reprisal. Hunter’s reaction is priceless and the team look all the stronger with a new gun in their arsenal. Fitz and Simmons get an excellent subplot being on opposing sides of siding with the new leadership and collaborating to open Fury’s toolbox. Both their viewpoints are clear understandable in the argument of personal loyalty over duty with a very rewarding payoff in the episodes climax.
After a few sketchy weeks, these last two have really stepped these Agents of up the top of their game as the pieces become more defined and positioned for the inevitable coming together. Coulson’s concluding plans look to bring Grant ward back into the main story again and The Inhumans remain a fascinating neutral party. Their principle is to passively conceal their existence but how will they respond if (as hinted) they believe they’re society is under threat of exposure? Will they opt for a “cleansing” approach, plunging them into direct conflicts with both Shields? Just like last year’s “Turn Turn Turn” Hydra bombshell we’ve reached that same heightened point in the series where everything suddenly comes together. Agents may take it’s time getting there (more than its rival shows) but it’s most definitely worth the wait. With spinoff rumours in the air, including set up events in the remainder of this season, just what will these next two months hold for Marvel’s flagship television offering?