Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2, Episode 18: The Frenemy of My Enemy
Four different factions all after Skye (five if you include poor Cal). Both S.H.I.E.L.D. organizations, the Inhumans and now Hydra is back in play. They even mention Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker as the new head of the group. I’m fairly certain he won’t make an appearance until Age of Ultron though. I can definitely see the possibility of the show’s plot being affected by that movie.
We saw a lot of Deathlok, but he didn’t get too into the action. He fought, but it was pretty much completely off screen. I suppose it was a decent way to avoid spending too much money on special effects so close to the season finale. The episode was action packed, but most of the action was off screen. I’m assuming the majority of the budget is going toward the superpowers they show nowadays. I’m not complaining about that, I only hope we get some more inhuman abilities.
I feel sorry for Cal. He’s clearly a murdering monster, but he did so much to give himself power that he’s hardly himself anymore. All he cares about in the world is the family that loves him, but they’re having a hard time loving him back. What’s worse is they neither can, nor will give him what he wants. He’s doomed to failure and unhappiness. Whitehall truly took everything from him. Maybe Skye should have just let him be dropped off without her. At least then he might not have been a problem.
I like Ward now. He was the most boring character ever at the beginning of last season, but now he’s awesome. His team up with Agent 33 makes him completely free from Coulson’s crew emotionally. He has love, so Skye is no longer his problem. I can’t imagine what might happen if 33 gets jealous, so hopefully he really is over her.
It’s starting to look a bit like my prediction is coming true. We’re on the verge of seeing the two organizations merge. The resources of both can make rebuilding go a lot faster and honestly makes more sense than the pointless competition they’re in. I don’t get why they wouldn’t just talk to Coulson in the first place. They accepted his team members really easily, so they know they’re a reasonable bunch, so why go through all of this trouble? Just have a sit down, which seems to be the conclusion Coulson has eventually come to.
He’s on his way to meet the “real S.H.I.E.L.D.” and talk to their leaders. It seems like the smartest thing he’s done in a while and definitely in this episode. He should’ve known his team wouldn’t be enough and even Deathlok was captured by Hydra. Hopefully they can get him back, because he’s definitely their best asset at this moment. I’m interested in seeing where the dialogue with Gonzales and the others gets him and the direction this show can go in.
Jonathan Thomas Jones is a speculative fiction author and founder of geekhavenreviews.com. He has been passionate about all things geek for his entire life. See more about him at jonathanthomasjones.com and follow him on twitter @jtgloryjones.
