Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Making Friends and Influencing People
Henry A. Otero
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This week, we learned Simmons is undercover as a HYDRA agent. She did not abandon Fitz, Coulson sent her on a very important mission.
HYDRA has been attempting to recruit Donnie Gill, aka Blizzard, but he's not having it. In fact, the young man's pissed and S.H.I.E.L.D. races to save him from HYDRA. Unfortunately, it's Skye that ends up taking him out on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 3.
I knew a meeting between Fitz and Ward was inevitable, but I never expected it in the third installment. How moving was Iain De Caestecker's performance?
So the real Jemma Simmons kicked things off this week and it was a fun, bubbly opening sequence until we realize she's working for HYDRA. What?!? I thought to myself watching the teaser for this episode, "why would Marvel/ABC reveal Simmons is HYDRA in a trailer?"
I guess I've been watching TV too long, because the minute I saw Coulson in her apartment I knew he had sent her undercover. The two talk of Donnie Gill and HYDRA's plans to recruit him. Donnie was one of my favorite "gifted" characters last season and it was great to see him back.
Undercover is all about the relationships you make. If you're going to move up in HYDRA you need to make friends.
Coulson
Again, the visual effects this week were brilliant. I feel like I'm watching a Marvel feature film not a TV show with a limited budget. There's no question the creative team learned from their Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 mistakes and have improved the show in every way.
I've mentioned before Skye was not one of my faves last season. Well she is quickly becoming a favorite now. I love this new Skye. Her line about picturing Ward whenever she shoots is exactly how any one of us would feel after such a betrayal.
Ward told Skye he was never loyal to HYDRA. He was loyal to Garrett. The clues were pretty obvious in the first season. Garrett was his father figure and "built him up" as he told Skye. After tonight, I feel a redemption story arc is definitely coming for Ward and that's fine. I just hope she makes it tough for him. You know?
The traitor informed Skye that HYDRA acquisition teams were sent in to convince or capture. If that's not possible, the gifted will be taken out.
When Lance Hunter knocked the team out in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 2 and Coulson mentioned May can hold a grudge, we expected her to get back at him. His apology here was a waste of time "don't be sorry, just wait" May told him. She's just so badass.
We caught up with Donnie In Morocco who froze several HYDRA agents solid before making his way to the Maribel del Mar (their floating base). I understand when S.H.I.E.L.D. fell it was hard to know who to trust. However, Donnie should have known Fitz and Simmons would have his back. Don't you think? Turning to them sure would have saved him a ton of trouble.
Anyway, the scene where Simmons was taken upstairs for questioning by HYDRA agent Sunil Bakshi was nerve-racking. At one point Skye mentioned that Simmons was a bad liar. I thought surely she was going to blow it during that interrogation. Like Ward explained, stick as close to the truth as possible. Yes she knew Donnie, but not that well. That's true, the young man bonded with Fitz much more. The fact she's loyal to science was true too. Hey, perhaps Simmons is getting the hang of this spy thing after all!
Either way, HYDRA used Simmons' familiar face to convince the young man to turn himself in.
I want to be left alone but you people won't stop coming after me. So I'm done hiding. It's time HYDRA learn once and for all I'm not interested. I'm not afraid. I'm pissed off. And every HYDRA agent they send is going to feel it.
Donnie Gill
Didn't you wonder how S.H.I.E.L.D. would locate Donnie? I loved that Mac said "freezing over a ship in the Middle East is not subtle." Naturally Fitz and Mac stayed behind. Wasn't it cool the way Mac's now helping Fitz find the right word? I love that.
As I mentioned earlier, the Fitz/Ward face off was inevitable but man did it ever blow my mind. Iain De Caestecker is absolutely killing it this season, is he not? What cojones Ward had to tell Fitz that despite everything it was good to see him. The sad thing is, I believe he meant it. When he explained Garrett ordered him to kill Fitz-Simmons, I remembered Ward's dog. He didn't have the heart to shoot it, if you recall. Same here, he gave the brainy duo a fighting chance. I knew that's how Ward would play it anyway.
Of course, he had no idea Fitz would suffer oxygen deprivation. Part of me loved that Fitz cut the airflow into Ward's cell. The other part was thinking, come on Fitz, you're better than that. The scene was fantastic and one of those moments that will stay with me all season.
At the ship, Donnie recognized Simmons and Bakshi told her to repeat his words. I had no clue Donnie had been brainwashed by HYDRA. Did you? Aren't these little twists and turns the writers throw our way awesome? I mentioned the show has improved tremendously; that includes the writing. This is the series I hoped for from the start. It took them a while, but they're really delivering now.
May shooting Lance was great; payback's a bitch. Skye taking out Donnie without raising her heart rate proves she's in control. Well, unless Ward's sharing the news her father's alive. That got a rise out of her. Still, once Donnie's programming was triggered, Skye didn't hesitate to take him out. Perhaps she's also learning a thing or two from Ward? Simmons' cover was maintained as well.
We learned Donnie's body was never recovered. I have a feeling he survived and if you thought he was pissed now, wait till he resurfaces.
Coulson's chat with Fitz was another standout moment for me...
Fitz: Is there anything more?
Coulson: That I'm keeping from you? Yeah I'm Director, there's a hell of a lot more. But there is one other thing you should know. Simmons is on an assignment. That's why she hasn't been in contact. That's why she left.
Yep HYDRA wants to know who's leading S.H.I.E.L.D.; they're becoming a problem. Expect an episode where they come after Director Coulson. The fact Bakshi even mentioned if Simmons can't be trusted he'll make her comply means we'll also get a "brainwashed Simmons" episode. I'm not complaining; both of those sound great to me!
What did you think of this installment? Was Fitz your MVP this week, as well? Liking Lance Hunter better now? Were you sorry to see Donnie Gill go or do you think he survived somehow? You're turn my fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. fanatics, hit the comments below to talk Episode 3. Don't miss our Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. round table coming later this week!
If you've missed an installment, remember you can watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. online right here via TV Fanatic.
