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Short Version: If you have watched every episode of Season 1 and the first six episodes of Season 2 you would find this episode reWARDing in many ways. If you haven't caught every episode or weren't paying close attention to all the details than this episode just didn't fit together. This episode was assembled more along the lines of a Mystery (whodunit) than the typical action oriented episodes of the previous five weeks.
Long Version:
Skye told Director Coulson "It's All Connected" and I couldn't agree more. There have been soo many Easter Eggs and hints about the show and where it is going that is intriguingly interesting if you are a puzzler and want to assemble the puzzle. Speculation on what you don't know and how it fits into the over all puzzle. It's not just this week episode but in almost every episode there are multiple references to a larger Marvel Universe. I'm still trying to understand Agent 33's connection to MCU as she is the individual in the comic universe who recruits Hercules in a similar fashion as Coulson recruited Thor in the MCU.
In discussions after Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released show runners Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon explained how they were presented with a copy of the movie script and told to plan changes to the series around it. At that point either May or Ward had to become Hydra mole and due to some logistics it became Ward. (1)
While there were many complaints about Ward and whether Brett Dalton was airmailing in performances it clearly in hind sight was all building to make him a great antagonist to the team. We can only hope he isn't over used as the story progresses.
IMHO this progressing to the point where Grant Ward will be a Mercenary for Hire, neither supporting Hydra in its entirety or completely an enemy of the rebuilt S.H.E.I.L.D. Several bloggers have suggested that Grant Ward could a representation of the "Swordsman" and a couple have suggested he could be the next Punisher. As far fetched as that idea seems its grown on me.
Another thing this episode attempted to do was tie up a great number of personal character story arcs but it wasn't just about ending but starting some new potential issues going forward.
IMHO many of the story lines that they were ending, went on one episode too long. I have said this about the show before but you have 7 episodes of story told in 8 episodes, same deal last year.
Clearly this episode ends the prequel stage to the fall series and next episode starts the 5 episode run up to the fall season finale.
Could we have are first connection to the Punisher? When Director Coulson asks Skye about the images from the murder scene She replies "One of my sources, Micro, he is kind of a crime scene junkie." Is Micro short for Microchip, an Tech savvy ally of Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, who happens to be a crime scene junkie in the comics. It's an Easter egg that bears watching.
Spoilers Below - You have been warned.
This is a great shot from the end of the Episode.
It shows the small ragtag bunch Director Coulson is leading:
Director Coulson is separate from the team, he is no longer the father figure of season one, but the man in charge, the man who has to make difficult choices.
Agent Simmons is fascinated by the map, in Making Friends and Influencing People she said it was the Science that mattered not the team. She is also not standing by Agent Fitz.
Agent Morse is staring at Director Coulson, it really looks like she is questioning his authority to lead S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hunter has the look of what the heck did I get myself into, is this worth what I am getting paid.
Skye wants to know more from Coulson, like maybe why isn't she going crazy?
Agent Fitz is the background obscured and covered in Shadow
Agent Tripplet is looking to something off screen and away from everyone else.
Mac is clearly intrigued with the map.
So much thought went into this one five second shot it mind numbing.
Another interesting tidbit we learned this week Adrianne Palicki who plays agent Bobbi Morse revealed that she has a agreement to appear in one of the Phase 3 Movies. I should also note the Frank Grillo who plays Brock Rumlow, aka Crossbones, has a contract for up to 5 Movies.
Originally Adrianne Palicki character Mockingbird was supposed to appear in a handful of episodes but with such fan support its believed she will be elevated to regular (or as close as you can get) for the remainder of the Season.
Adrianne Palicki is on record suggesting (2) that Jeremy Renner who plays Clint Barton / Hawkeye may be appearing in a later episode of MAoS if his work schedule allows it. Jeremy Renner who is currently working on Mission Impossible 5 would be tentatively available before filming of the Bourne Betrayal begins which would be during the filming of the spring MAoS series, just saying.
Could we be reaching the point where MAoS has multiple teams in the field?
We also learned that Brett Dalton (Grant Ward) next week ends his run a regular cast member to the show. He technically didn't appear in S2E2 but he was still a credited star of that episode.
Next week episode list of guest stars include Hayley Atwell (Agent Peggy Carter), Lou Ferrigno Jr. (Agent Hauer), Reed Diamond (Daniel Whitehall) and Kyle MacLachlan (Skye's Father).
The new interesting character on the list is Agent Hauer, could this be Joesph Hauer the British Super Soldier (A mutant who is a cross between Wolverine and Captain America) who's primary ally in the comics is Commander Lance Hunter.
We are expected to learn more about Skye's Father, could Skye's Father be Gordon Nobili, an Inhuman with Superhuman Strength (and the ability to talk to his dead ancestors) who goes on to lead the Nobili crime family in the comics and is later consumed with hatred of the Punisher who's actions he believes lead to the death of his sons? I should note that in the comics Gordon Nobili is transformed from a relativily normal looking elder gentleman to purple rock like dude.
There are rumors that a number of C and B list characters will be making an appearance in MAoS especially during the Spring Series of 10 Episodes. These include Taylor Kitcsh as Nova, Fran Kranz as Speedball and a list of other potential members of the New Warriors whose failed attempt to capture Nitro on a reality TV show created the crisis that leads to Marvel Civil War. If true that indicates MAoS is no longer just reacting to MCU but helping setup the minor details of a bigger universe before hand.
(1) http://collider.com/agents-of-shield-season-2-story-details-easter-eggs/\
(2) http://screenrant.com/mockingbird-hawkeye-movies-adrianne-palicki/ and http://www.mtv.com/news/1991433/agents-of-shield-adrianne-palicki-hawkeye/
1 comments:
For me... it's Attilan!
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