Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents of SHIELD - S02E14 - "Love in the Time of Hydra"

[Dregride]

Just for future reference. What episode do you guys think they are filming now?

 

[ctsketch]

Possibly major spoiler for Age of Ultron

Spoiler

We might see good old 64 again...

Could be a flashback

 

[fixxxer]

Damn! Wrote up a lengthy post and lost it due to a frickin' random page refresh. So here we go again...

Another strong, strong episode. Thought it was a good step above the last one and a half step below the first two post-break episodes, both of which I thought were stunning.

Really liked what they did with Talbot, who was genuinely funny. Veering close to caricature territory without ever crossing over, and still managing to maintain the core essence of the character is quite commendable.

Also liked the Skye/Coulson stuff. While it was somewhat predictable, I thought it was very well acted and executed.

Ward and Agent 33’s little adventure was a lot of fun too. I continue to love what they’re doing with Ward. As of now, I have absolutely no clue what his endgame is, and that’s a really good thing.

I thought nuSHIELD was pretty frickin’ cool. I know there’s been a lot of criticism about nuSHIELD's alleged hypocrisy with respect to their openness/transparency manifesto, but I think y’all are reading this wrong. The transparency thing obviously extends only to their organization. They obviously don’t consider Coulson's team to be associated with SHIELD in any shape or form, and therefore would have zero reason to be open/transparent with them. From their perspective, Fury compartmentalizing SHIELD to such an absurd degree was probably the main reason Project Insight was almost a success... and I don't think they're mistaken. I can see why they would be against Coulson, who was Fury's handpicked successor.

Olmos was rather awesome, as always, in a somewhat predictable role... basically playing close to his BSG character. Kirk Acevedo randomly popping up was a nice surprise to me. I've always thought he has this really great screen presence... even in the crappy stuff he’s done. I’m a little surprised that he isn't a bigger star at this point of his career. Then again, he consistently gets a lot of good supporting roles on TV... them’s the breaks, I guess. Hope his character is given an expanded role going forward.

Speculation time. I’m thinking that over the course of this season SHIELD and nuSHIELD are forced into an uneasy alliance to go against some threat that neither team can go against alone. Then, next season, I think we might be see a SHIELD vs. nuSHIELD Civil War parallel storyline play out on TV.

Again... anyone who’s a fan of the MCU and isn't watching AOS right now is REALLY MISSING OUT. I cannot stress this enough.

 

[Demileto]

Just for future reference. What episode do you guys think they are filming now?

They're probably very close to finishing filming for the season, either episode 21 or 22.

 

[Human Torch]

It's actually not all THAT bad. still need o find a copy myself

I haven't seen it in like 10 years,but I agree. Everyone likes to poke fun at the Hoff,but he was actually an excellent 616 Fury.

The biggest downside I remember was the woman playing Viper.One of the hammiest performances to grace a CBM ever.(which is really saying something....)

 

[Human Torch]

I still have serious doubts about Simmons. Didn't trust her at the beginning of Season 2, still don't. I also question those gloves she made for Skye. Simmons wants to "cure" Skye. I'm betting that once on, she can't remove them and they cause a problem that Fitz has to fix. Could Simmons have been brainwashed by Whitehall? He did call her into his office earlier and we never saw why. If not, then I suspect she might be a sleeper for "real SHIELD". (seriously guys, you couldn't come up with a better name?)

The way they played Simmons handing Coulson the case so dramatically,I got the sense there is more to those gauntlets than meet the eye.I'm guessing whatever it is,Coulson knows,potentially putting him at odds with Fitz/Skye.

 

[Silvermoon]

The way they played Simmons handing Coulson the case so dramatically,I got the sense there is more to those gauntlets than meet the eye.I'm guessing whatever it is,Coulson knows,potentially putting him at odds with Fitz/Skye.

I've seen a theory floating around wondering if they might be the equivalent of a 'shock collar'. Trying to force the control of her powers by inducing physical pain any time she tries to use her powers. With Simmons current mind set, I could see that being a strong possibility.

 

[Heretic]

The Agent Weaver question.
She was in contact with Simmons and I'll check the DVD to be sure, but did she say: "You know where to find me" as her last words before connection was broken?

If this is true (haven't rewatched that episode) then Simmons is absolutely working with Nu-SHIELD.

And...if it is true...then my/the theory about Bobbi being a triple agent (working with Coulson but pretending to be working with Nu-SHIELD to gather info on Coulson while pretending to work with him) is probably correct. Since it seems like my hopes of Mack being Earth Sentry are completely dashed, he's expendable as a "villain." Bobbi is not expendable, and therefore has to at some point come around to where we can cheer for her again. Simmons is being built as someone we should dislike...and while its possible she could see the light...it would be perfectly natural for her character to not be loyal to Coulson.

 

[Heretic]

Good lord...rewatching Season 1 episode Turn, Turn, Turn and had forgotten the subplot about Simmons secretly talking to someone (therefore, possibly being a traitor) and it turned out she was getting help from Weaver regarding Skye's blood.

And Agent Weaver's last words to Simmons were "you know where to find me. Don't trust anyone." It sounded like before that she said "If you saw him..." but I may have misheard that (and don't really know what it would mean anyway).

So...yeah...Simmons was secretly sharing info with Weaver, who told her that she knows where to find her...and now Weaver is with Nu-SHIELD.

Props to Corwin for remembering that.

 

[DN91]

If this is true (haven't rewatched that episode) then Simmons is absolutely working with Nu-SHIELD.

And...if it is true...then my/the theory about Bobbi being a triple agent (working with Coulson but pretending to be working with Nu-SHIELD to gather info on Coulson while pretending to work with him) is probably correct. Since it seems like my hopes of Mack being Earth Sentry as completely dashed, he's expendable as a "villain." Bobbi is not expendable, and therefore has to at some point come around to where we can cheer for her again. Simmons is being built as someone we should dislike...and while its possible she could see the light...it would be perfectly natural for her character to not be loyal to Coulson.

It's possible that Bobbi isn't answering to Coulson at all, instead working with Fury to get dirt on NuSHIELD, which would provide an optimal tie-in to AoU.

 

[Marvel]

It's possible that Bobbi isn't answering to Coulson at all, instead working with Fury to get dirt on NuSHIELD, which would provide an optimal tie-in to AoU.

Then why is she breaking in to Coulson's desk to steal the cube Fury gave to him? Fury can have that back any time he wants.

 

[just one thing]

Then why is she breaking in to Coulson's desk to steal the cube Fury gave to him? Fury can have that back any time he wants.

she has to give the cube to nu-shield. Could win her points so she could take something bigger of them at a future point. This scenario only works if she is a triple agent for fury or avengers, if she is a double she is just steeling it because she believes they are the people who should have it.

The Simmons Weaver link is a good spot. Nu shield seem interested in skye, moving her was important information for them.

 

[HFK]

To be technical, 3 episodes air after AOU (by my count). eps 20, 21 & 22

That's even better.

Olmos wasn't playing his BSG character, it was his Miami Vice character (which is the same t. Who was the first guy he introduced? Sounded a lot like Calderone who was a bad guy from Miami Vice. Was it maybe a nod to MV?

 

[iambranded]

It's possible that Bobbi isn't answering to Coulson at all, instead working with Fury to get dirt on NuSHIELD, which would provide an optimal tie-in to AoU.

thats what im hoping for....
Because right now.....im not a fan of mockingbirds character right now and hope May kicks her down some stairs on the next episode.

 

[iambranded]

And someone.........PLEASE...shoot Mac.....im tired of that guy....
Also Simmons...
Show her out the door.....find a better doctor / scientist whos loyal.....

 

[DN91]

Then why is she breaking in to Coulson's desk to steal the cube Fury gave to him? Fury can have that back any time he wants.

Gotta keep appearances, after all. Any good deep cover agent knows that.

 

[EarthShaker]

I've seen a theory floating around wondering if they might be the equivalent of a 'shock collar'. Trying to force the control of her powers by inducing physical pain any time she tries to use her powers. With Simmons current mind set, I could see that being a strong possibility.

a shock collar would only anger Daisy and force her to bring the roof down, as she will just simply shatter the guantlet from the indside out., just like she did with the biometer.

The Gauntlet is some type of Inductor.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

That Damn Mask: Secrets of SHIELD episode "Love in the Time of Hydra"

The Agents of SHIELD get ready to battle the Agents of SHIELD as series turncoat Grant Ward and the evil May make a return - plus this episode confirms the existence of a super obscure Marvel character! WARNING: Neither Hydra nor love appear in this episode!

The episode's title is a reference to the novel Love in the Time of Cholera that inspired the critically acclaimed film that I don't think I would watch a second time.

The episode itself - well, the agents say it themselves when they describe events as having "too many things in play." This episode seems like a collection of subplots jammed together to make the overall story move forward, which it does very rapidly to be sure, but it seems to be missing the oomf that a Reverse Flash or giant talking gorilla could bring to a superhero TV show.

Spoiler-Light Recap: Hunter is missing! Skye is out of control! Ward is back! So how, if at all, do all these plots tie together?

On with the Comic Connections

First, let's focus on Grant Ward and (former) Agent 33. Ward was nominally a top SHIELD agent until he was outed as Hydra in the failed uprising. Agent 33 was captured by Hydra and brainwashed, eventually donning a Nanomask to become evil May, but after the mask was burned onto her face, she's been stuck as Scarface-May and the two have been on the run (from SHIELD and Hydra) since the incident in Puerto Rico. Ward and 33 find themselves in an all-American diner only to flip out on their waitress Rhoda and pull out guns Pulp Fiction style. They kidnap Dr. Selwyn, inventor of the Nanomask, who subsequently fixes 33's voice (which had some robotic reverb since the scar) and face - he couldn't remove the mask (because reasons), but he did upgrade it so she can become anyone she looks at, and can cycle between up to three different faces at any time. She's essentially the female version of Spider-Man's first villain (in publishing order), the Chameleon. Interestingly enough, Selwyn (who is named in the credits) tries sheepishly to find out if Ward is SHIELD or Hydra, only to be laughed off, and possibly killed, as Ward made sure he wouldn't "talk." Ward and 33 also have a heart-to-heart (while she's wearing Skye's face), and he tells her he and his family had problems, but they were able to "really dig in" recently, and now he never looks back.

The deadly duo decide to kidnap Sunlil Bakshi - the Hydra member who helped brainwash 33 - from US Air Force custody, which means tricking Brig. Gen. Glenn Talbot with the Nanomask, again. First 33 impersonates his wife Carla Talbot, despite having no ID and a strange-sounding voice (he lets her in anyway), then she impersonates a few others on base. The whole while, Talbot is left accusing various servicewomen of being the spy in increasingly silly ways before finally pulling a gun on his own wife. Look, Talbot was always something of an idiot in the comics - he kept badgering the Hulk until it was fatal - but this is pretty ridiculous.

Once they have Bakshi, 33 and Ward attempt to brainwash him themselves, using the Faustus Method, and 33 finally becomes comfortable in her own face and using her own name - Kara. With that the mentally broken Kara and the psychologically disturbed Ward begin some kind of relationship (but is it love or dependence/manipulation?). As mentioned previously (and confirmed this episode), 33/Kara is based on a rather obscure SHIELD agent from the little-read Hercules: Heart of Chaos mini-series. In that comic, as here, she introduced herself first as Agent 33, then had to gain the trust of the one she was working with before introducing herself as Kara Lynn Palamas. That said, the comic book version of her was able to fight off the double-agents inside SHIELD without getting captured and brainwashed by them.

Once Bakshi is confirmed missing, Talbot contacts Coulson to let him know.

Coulson, meanwhile, is checking out Nick Fury's Toolbox (the cube-shaped computer with all of Fury's secret knowledge) to check out some fortified SHIELD bases including the Red Door and Thunderclap before opening a file entitled Homestead Weapons and Armaments. So was this just background fluff to show Coulson working, or is this plot relevant? The base of the other SHIELD perhaps? It is also unclear if the names are meant to be specific Marvel references. Presumably the Thunderclap base isn't named after an obscure and useless hero using that moniker.

The SHIELD crew are primarily concerned with Skye's new powers. Fitz thinks she could be the next Captain America, Simmons fears she could be the next Hulk. May agrees with her ex-husbands assessment, that she be removed from SHIELD altogether. Coulson tells her that Skye's situation is unlike what happened in Bahrain, where a superpowered individual caused the deaths of many agents. But agrees to put her out of commission anyway. Fitz, by the way, wants a dog and a monkey. Fitz mentioned his desire for semian companionship way back in the third episode, and it has become something of a running joke behind the scenes, with even Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada drawing cartoons of Fitz' hypothetical AI monkey. Fitz and HENRY comic strips by Quesada show up regularly in the current SHIELD comic book.

Coulson tells Skye a bit more about his dad - last episode he said he barely remembered what his dad looked like, but here he mentions working on his dad's old red 1962 Corvette as a bonding experience (the car either became or inspired Lola). Skye and Coulson head out to one of Fury's many safehouses, this one was used by Steve "Captain America" Rogers for a bit when he needed to relax (perhaps where he's chopping wood in the clips from Age of Ultron?). He also gives Skye some gauntlets that Simmons says may help control her vibrations with some "side effects." Interestingly, Skye's comic book counterpart, Daisy "Quake" Johnson, wears metal gauntlets that seem to augment her powers.

With Skye taken care of, Coulson and May decide to find out what secret business Mack has been getting into.

Mack spent much of the episode at an undisclosed location with the other SHIELD, we could call them anti-SHIELD, holding Hunter prisoner. Hunter, ever the pop culture aficionado, asks if he's taking him to see the Wizard, drinking the conspiracy Kool-Aid, or following Hufflepuff. As a quick aside, he is not referring to the Fantastic Four villain called the Wizard, but man, wouldn't that be fun? The Wizard is nearly as smart as smartest-man-in-the-world Reed Richards, but severely off his rocker as he believes (correctly as it turns out) that the world might end any minute.

He learns that anti-SHIELD is apparently run by an agent named Robert Gonzalez (who was once saved by the late Izzy Hartley), along with a cabal of former SHIELD agents including Tomás Calderon and Fitz-Simmons' friend from the SHIELD Sci-Tech academy, Agent Weaver. They believe Coulson is too unstable and too loyal to Fury (whom they erroneously believe is dead) to lead the "real" SHIELD, so they made their own No Homer's Club, er, that is to say, their own "real" SHIELD. They wanted a SHIELD that operates without all the secrets and lies of Nick Fury, so of course, their SHIELD is established in secret by lying to other former SHIELD members. Seems legit! In the comics, other agencies have formed as an alternative to SHIELD, most notably HAMMER (which existed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a branch of SHIELD) and HATE (which appeared in one of the most absurd must-read comics ever). Spoiler Alert! Both SHELD alternatives turned out to be eeEEEeevil.

Bobbi "Mockingbird" Morse, a triple agent who was working for anti-SHIELD while a mole in SHIELD while pretending to be in Hydra, seems to genuinely hope Hunter will forgive her for participating in the whole kidnapping, imprisonment and attempted indoctrination thing. He still remembers (though he tries not to) the horrible time they had together in Arizona (a story for another time, maybe?) and how they first met when she was undercover stealing information from him. He decides to escape, and she gives the most half-hearted resistance ever, allowing him to discover they are on an aircraft carrier (an old-model Hellicarrier, hopefully) and hotwire a submersible to hightail it back to the mainland. Weaver estimates Bobbi has only 12 hours to reach Coulson's team and take them down before Hunter reaches communication range. Bobbi says she only needs 6 hours.

Duh-duh-duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnn!

http://observationdeck.io9.com/that...ield-episode-love-in-the-1693524059/+riamisra

 

[Heretic]

Bobbi did not break into Coulson's office to find out where he stashed the toolbox. Mack did that with the RC Lola that he built.

Mack could be a real agent of Nu-SHIELD with Bobbi as a mole from Coulson.

 

[the dmg]

I liked this episode. I enjoyed the cooky episode last week, and this one puts a little more serious stamp on things.

Coulson has always been weary of Mac, like he knows something is up, but just quite isn't sure about things. A lot of it makes sense, as Mac is always staying at the base so he can gather intel as opposed to being out in the field. With this "Hunter gone missing" story, Mae confirms that his story is ********. Hunter was brilliant during the meeting with the members of NuSHIELD. They pretty much come off as petty and jealous that Coulson was handed the keys to the kingdom, while someone of higher authority/more qualified/not revived wasn't.

Anyway, the moments between Simmons and Fitz have been really well done. Fitz is still trying to make Sky feel like she's still valuable to the team and compares her to Captain America before Simmons chimes in about how she's unstable like the Hulk. That brings them into an exchange about the Hulk, which was neat. The bit someone mentioned here about Weaver and Simmons' connection is very interesting.

I thought it was interesting to find out exactly why Coulson told Simmons not to tell anyone what she was working on, due to the nature of what they will actually do to Sky. I see those inhibitors and then think Fitz will end up making her gloves to help her control her powers. I was thinking in the next episode we would see Sky trying to use her powers at the cabin, but the preview shows that is not going to happen. The interaction between Sky and Coulson was great as always, and I really enjoyed the twizzler bit. It was touching.

Also, Ward is amazing. Not quite sure what his end game is here, but kudos to how he's being portrayed. Talbot was also amazing as always. That whole thing in the conference room was great.

 

[Pokkle]

Bobbi did not break into Coulson's office to find out where he stashed the toolbox. Mack did that with the RC Lola that he built.

Mack could be a real agent of Nu-SHIELD with Bobbi as a mole from Coulson.

Bobbi lied to Coulson about Hunter and Mack when they were alone in a plane.

I hope Bobbi will beat May, next episode.

 

[Human Torch]

Bobbi and Mack have gotten kinda unlikable in recent eps. I was never a huge fan of Mack (didn't hate the guy,just had a 'neutral' opinion of him) but I'm hoping they paint Bobbi at least a little more heroically in the future, if she's ever to graduate to "Mockingbird" status.

 

[Pokkle]

Me, I like Mack more since the spy's story.

 

[Heretic]

Bobbi lied to Coulson about Hunter and Mack when they were alone in a plane.

I hope Bobbi will beat May, next episode.

Gotcha...I just...can't imagine that Bobbi won't redeem herself quickly. It makes no sense for her to be against the team who we have been following and will continue to follow in the future. Maybe she is so deep undercover that she isn't even telling Coulson what she is doing? Maybe she's working with Fury and Hawkeye?

Besides, it makes little sense for Nu-SHIELD to be going after Oldschool SHIELD when Hydra is still out there with a bunch of WMDs that were stolen from the Fridge. I personally would have preferred them have some other story separating the war with Hydra and the war with Nu-SHIELD.

 

[hoy-small-fry]

Nice character driven episode this week. Change of pace, but moved all the pieces into place for a bigger episode next week.

Looked to me like NuSHIELD had a Helicarrier - there were certainly some around post-TWS, so nice to see one turn up. NuSHIELD fills a gap of where a lot of SHIELD-tech went, so it does work. Shame this feels like a HYDRA retread though.

Really liked Hunter in this episode. He stood up for SHIELD and Coulson, and showed Bobbi the door. I loved her before, but now she's a really unlikable character...

Looking forward to seeing two tribes go to war