Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Heavy is the Head

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This week's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 2 was really the second half of a 2-part premiere. It picked up right where we left off, with Hunter trapped in the overturned truck.

Speaking of Hunter, the guy proved himself your typical mercenary. Easily sold to the highest bidder. Last week I liked him, this time around not so much. Though he did come around in the end.

Mack managed to reach Fitz and May is in on Coulson's alien writing secret. Plus, Skye's father made an appearance and he's got secrets of his own.

"Heavy Is The Head" basically tied up the loose ends from Agents of SHIELD Season 2 Episode 1. If there was any doubt Hartley and Idaho were dead, that was put to rest in the opening moments of the installment.

Why is it the least loyal of the bunch survived? I guess it keeps things interesting, but after the events of this week I'm not sure Lance Hunter can be trusted. The fact he disobeyed orders was touched on a few times. I mean, I get why Coulson needs him, he's a valuable asset but the guy's shady. That's all I'm sayin'.

So Agent May hops on her bike and chases Creel down. How amazing is Ming-Na Wen guys? Wow! Though it was a fun scene, Coulson orders her to drop back so the chase came to an abrupt halt.

Back at the base, Skye and Tripp arrive in the stolen Quinn Jet. I love that Mack was tasked with reverse-engineering the cloaking tech to adapt it for the Bus. It allowed him to partner up with Fitz. Another tough scene watching poor Fitz fall to pieces.

Skye: Fitz would be crushed if he saw this. He's been working on cloaking since before Simmons took off.
Triplett: Still can't believe she abandoned him like that.
Skye: She abandoned all of us.

Hunter was captured by soldiers. Finding him becomes a priority for the team. Were you as surprised as I was that General Tablbot hired the mercenary to take Coulson down? They agree to 2 million and a proper burial for Izzy. Yeah that's a pretty sweet deal.

Did you catch the blink and you'll miss it Agent Carter cameo? Go back and check out Coulson's hologram sequence.

Fitz is questioning his value to the team. Imaginary-Simmons is there to offer her support. Mack comes straight out and asks who the hell he's talking to. Like Simmons, I appreciated Mack's honesty. Better still, he managed to get Fitz to open up. Yep, I've got a new favorite character. Please don't kill Mack off Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon and company.

So Hunter returns and has a sit down with Director Coulson. Was anyone else surprised Coulson already knew about Talbot's deal? Like he said in the episode he's the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ha! Hunter wants vengeance and to get paid what he's owed, plus Hartley and Idaho's cut for their families. Ok so maybe he's not a total a-hole after all.

Elsewhere, we learn Creel accidently absorbed the obelisk. Not good big guy. He attempts to absorb several different materials to counter the effects of the 0-8-4 with no luck.

It isn't long before Raina appears offering the Absorbing Man carbine, which is three times harder than diamonds. Sweet! He refuses to hear her out and simply snatches the carbine ring. Luckily it has a tracker.

The secret Hydra frequency mentioned last week reveals a phone number. Who's waiting at the other end? Yep, none other than the girl in the flower dress. She's not Hydra apparently and doesn't want the obelisk falling into the wrong hands.

Notice the way Coulson picked up the phone, effectively shutting speaker phone off when Flowers mentioned the alien writing? Now if that wasn't a sign the Director is hiding something, I don't know what is.

Hunter is allowed to take part in the mission to bring Creel in. I knew that decision was going to bite Coulson in the ass. As expected, the mercenary's vengeance kicked in, he knocks out May, Skye and Triplett and does he own thing. Freakin' mercenaries.

As Hunter takes his shot, Creel absorbs the stolen carbine and the bullet ricochet's right off. Coulson himself appears in the field, attaches a device of Fitz's making to Absorbing Man. Watching him cycle through the various materials he's absorbed was spectacular. Killer effects again this week!

Hunter: Well that's just marvelous. Talbot wants me dead and now I have no funds to run with. Any tips?
Coulson: Yeah, don't run. Work for me instead.
Hunter: Creel must have hit you in the head. I shot three of your agents.
Coulson: Including Agent May, not a smart move.
Hunter: Is she the type that holds a grudge?
Coulson: Savors it actually. No doubt you've made some mistakes, so have I like letting you go after Creel but I felt for you.
Hunter: Yeah and I took advantage of that. How do you know I won't do it again?
Coulson: I don't, but the reality is I don't have a fleet of Hellicarriers, or Quinn Jets or thousands of agents at my disposal anymore. We're lucky we still have our George Foreman grill.
Hunter: You need warm bodies is that it?
Coulson: I need skilled assets in the field who are willing to step over the line. To do the wrong thing but for the right reason. I need you because I can't be you. Not anymore.

May's not pleased that the Director went out into the field and tells him he's due another "episode." That's right, Agent May is in on Coulson's big secret. As he carves the alien writing on the wall, she gets busy photographing his artwork. Did this surprise you as much as it did me?

Raina is asked by Skye's father to pick the obelisk up. What?!? I feared for Flowers for a second there. Upon touching it, the thing begins to glow and the alien writing appears. "It let you live" the man tells her. My question is, why? How is it the obelisk which normally kills anyone who touches it, spared Raina? What exactly does Skye's father want to show her? I wouldn't trust him either.

In the end, Coulson and Talbot meet. Creel is turned over as a peace offering and Coulson says again "We're the good guys."

Just when Talbot is questioning whether S.H.I.E.L.D. is a viable threat these days, the cloaked Bus and Quinn Jet materialize. Was that cool or what people?

What did you think of this installment? Did Fitz making a new friend tug at your heartstrings? What's your opinion of Lance Hunter now? You're up S.H.I.E.L.D. fanatics, hit the comments below to discuss episode 2. F.Y.I. our Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. round table is coming later this week!

Miss the season premiere? Luckily you can watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. online right here via TV Fanatic.

Heavy is the Head Review

Editor Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (47 Votes)
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 2 Quotes

Skye: Fitz would be crushed if he saw this. He's been working on cloaking since before Simmons took off.
Triplett: Still can't believe she abandoned him like that.
Skye: She abandoned all of us.

Hunter: Well that's just marvelous. Talbot wants me dead and now I have no funds to run with. Any tips?
Coulson: Yeah, don't run. Work for me instead.
Hunter: Creel must have hit you in the head. I shot three of your agents.
Coulson: Including Agent May, not a smart move.
Hunter: Is she the type that holds a grudge?
Coulson: Savors it actually. No doubt you've made some mistakes, so have I like letting you go after Creel but I felt for you.
Hunter: Yeah and I took advantage of that. How do you know I won't do it again?
Coulson: I don't, but the reality is I don't have a fleet of Hellicarriers, or Quinn Jets or thousands of agents at my disposal anymore. We're lucky we still have our George Foreman grill.
Hunter: You need warm bodies is that it?
Coulson: I need skilled assets in the field who are willing to step over the line. To do the wrong thing but for the right reason. I need you because I can't be you. Not anymore.