Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. II: It's A Magical Thread

[LaZodiac]

Agent Carter is going to be the show that plays during the mid season break.

[LadyEowyn]

I understand why Coulson would agree to give Skye full information relating to the alien writing now - she's a lot more involved with it due to the team giving her the GH serum and due to her potentially being an alien. That, in addition to her being one of the longer-standing members of the new SHIELD, is sufficient reason to ensure she's fully informed.

I'm enjoying this season a great deal more than last season; SHIELD feels far more like a competent and professional organization, despite having fewer resources. In a show like Serenity (or a film like Guardians of the Galaxy), where the main cast's a bunch of crooks - or in a TV show like Buffy where they're teenagers - having them screw up a lot and spend much of their time joking around can work. When the cast is supposed to be an elite team of professionals, there can still be humour but they need to take their work seriously and be reasonably good at it.

EDIT: Also, I'm really looking forward to Agent Carter. I loved Peggy in the first Captain America movie.

[dehro]

The reasons to give her full access are manifold. She already knows 90% of it, she needs to know if she is to make any progress in her research, her dad is now an active player in the field, Coulson is slipping, May might not make the right call with regards to him, she can (and did) reach conclusions he can't, now things are getting closer to a direct confrontation with other involved parties, something might click in Skye and she might lose her bearings, switch sides or go dark at the wrong moment should she find out she's being kept out of the loop about things that involve her and start doubting Coulson whilst she's in the field.
Too many shows in the past have been let down narratively speaking by characters not sharing information for no other reason than to allow the writers to keep the tension up. Aos didn't make this mistake in the first season either, by allowing Skye to out Ward's affiliations. I'm glad they keep this trend up instead of going down the inevitable farcical path of the comedy of errors

[Avaris]

So, we've finally had season 2 start in the UK (and probably other places that don't have stupid scheduling). On the off chance that folks are coming into this thread after episode 1, discussion in the spoiler.

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Poor Fitz. Did not twig on the hallucination thing, but in retrospect makes sense. Especially with the metal to flesh thing, which I would have expected Simmons to be investigating. Also when they were watching and Simmons was also sidelined.

Do they still have Talbot captured? I wasn't clear if the scene where he woke up was an elaborate ruse to get information out of him. I assume he was actually set free, and will be very confused when gate guard shakes his hand.

Do we want a separate 'slow lane' thread for this? I typically go back and read spoilers from when the episode first aired, but might be enough UK and elsewhere viewers to have actual current discussion (and for advanced viewers to laugh at us)

[dehro]

You could just open the thread and see if anyone bites.

[Petrocorus]

The ..........
Too many shows in the past have been let down narratively speaking by characters not sharing information for no other reason than to allow the writers to keep the tension up. .....

Are you thinking to shows like Heroes, which was quite infamous for that. One of the arcs could have been solve in half an episode if the characters had shared all their info when they finally met.

So, we've finally had season 2 start in the UK (and probably other places that don't have stupid scheduling). On the off chance that folks are coming into this thread after episode 1, discussion in the spoiler.

You're still lucky compared to France.

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Poor Fitz. Did not twig on the hallucination thing, but in retrospect makes sense. Especially with the metal to flesh thing, which I would have expected Simmons to be investigating. Also when they were watching and Simmons was also sidelined.

Do they still have Talbot captured? I wasn't clear if the scene where he woke up was an elaborate ruse to get information out of him. I assume he was actually set free, and will be very confused when gate guard shakes his hand.

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Yes, they did free him, at last.

[Pex]

Spoiler: Minor Revelation

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Did anyone else notice this? Last season, in regards to Skye, Coulson and May were talking and May said Skye could never know about her parents. What specifically she couldn't know wasn't revealed. This episode Coulson and May were talking about Skye again and May extrapolated for the audience that she and Coulson already knew that Skye's father was looking for her.

[LaZodiac]

Spoiler: Minor Revelation

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Did anyone else notice this? Last season, in regards to Skye, Coulson and May were talking and May said Skye could never know about her parents. What specifically she couldn't know wasn't revealed. This episode Coulson and May were talking about Skye again and May extrapolated for the audience that she and Coulson already knew that Skye's father was looking for her.

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I thought that had to do with her adoptive parents being killed by "monsters" before she was picked up for the orphanage.

Although, if they know about the monsters thing, they likely already know about Doctor Dad. So yeah, nice catch.

[The New Bruceski]

Are you thinking to shows like Heroes, which was quite infamous for that. One of the arcs could have been solve in half an episode if the characters had shared all their info when they finally met.

It's common all over the place. Episode one of Flash established an "I know you're the Flash but please don't tell your foster sister because I'm an overprotective dad" plot and I just wish Barry had replied "seriously? They did that in Arrow and it didn't end well. Not to mention every other show on the CW. Do we need to do it again?" But I guess if he did that the show would be Deadpool instead of Flash and it would be extra awesome.

[Petrocorus]

It's common all over the place. Episode one of Flash established an "I know you're the Flash but please don't tell your foster sister because I'm an overprotective dad" plot and I just wish Barry had replied "seriously? They did that in Arrow and it didn't end well.

Yeah, i'm actually expecting that to blow up in their face. Though Barry seems less and less convinced of the necessity and the viability of that.
This habit of super-heroes to hide their super activities from their relatives actually comes from the originals comics, but the said comics didn't try to be realistic about it.

Not to mention every other show on the CW. Do we need to do it again?" But I guess if he did that the show would be Deadpool instead of Flash and it would be extra awesome.

What's the CW?

Even without breaking the 4th wall all the time Deadpool-like, a character can be genre savvy and avoid the idiot ball.
I was referring to Heroes because it's probably the worst on this things, the writers sabotaged their own ability to make a plot by giving Peter god-like power, and then turn him into a moron, and make everybody retain infos from him so he cannot solve the plot in 10 minutes.

[The New Bruceski]

What's the CW?

The CW is the station that airs Arrow, Flash, Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, The 100, and seemingly an infinite supply of other action dramas with the emphasis on drama. If you see a show with a bunch of impossibly-beautiful people (we're talking beyond normal TV standards) taking their shirts off all the time that isn't porn, it's probably from the CW. Aside from the jabs though, their shows can be pretty good and the premises are unique for broadcast TV. "Two brothers hunting undead/demons," "100 people sent to Earth to scout out a new home after a mass exodus centuries ago," or, "a superhero TV show that doesn't suck" aren't things you get to see every day, even if their execution doesn't always work.

[DigoDragon]

I think this was the best episode this season, because it focused on what Agents does well -- regular mission stuff -- and on the two most interesting characters with the most interesting relationship (Coulson and May).

Yeah, just watched the episode this past Saturday and I liked it a lot. Coulson and May have a nice chemistry thing going when together.

Not that impressive?

I found that scene to be pretty darn good. Also, kind of funny to watch May beat herself up. XD

I liked the episode a lot, though I do have a few minor nitpicks...

Spoiler: not just nitpicks

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3) I sure hope May actually killed Agent 33, or HYDRA now knows a whole lot of things about Coulson and about SHIELD that it would be better they didn't.

I wondered about that too.

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3) Cause once HYDRA finds out, they're going to shoot Coulson first when they next cross paths. Well, if May didn't kill her, maybe she knocked her head hard enough to make her forget.

...I wonder if head trauma damages the brainwashing? Seems like a comic book-y thing.

Spoiler: Something to consider

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1) The US makes use of fuse boxes and circuit breakers as well, but one detail you might want to consider is that this is a Hydra safehouse. The circuit breaker for that particular circuit could easily have already been disabled to allow for a handy low-profile torture implement.

Also interesting,

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That hanging light fixture was sure easy to break off. I'm sure it was just Rule of Cool/Drama, but it made me laugh.

"In case of emergency interrogation, break fixture." XD

[dehro]

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That hanging light fixture was sure easy to break off. I'm sure it was just Rule of Cool/Drama, but it made me laugh.

"In case of emergency interrogation, break fixture." XD

It's not actually that hard to tear down a lamp if you put your full adult weight behind the swing. I'm more surprised when such lamps sustain the weight of someone.

[LaZodiac]

Hnnngh this episode was good.

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****ing eat all the ***** Ward...and also your older brother to a degree but less so.

Seeing Coulson get mad, like LEGITIMATELY mad, reminds me why this actor is so talented. He was sputtering mad.

Mockingbird, Hunter, and May's scenes where really good. May KILLED her look about being ex married and stuff. I also kind of enjoyed how the two exs interacted.

Fitz, Simmons, and our mechanical friend here worked really well too. Seeing Simmons realize how much she can't fix him, it's pretty rough stuff.

The Ward and Skye stuff was excellent. I didn't know if she was falling for it or not but oh my god when she revealed it I just about bust a gut. I hate Ward and I love hating him so much. His walk of shame is fantastic, especially Jemma's line about killing the **** out of him if she sees him again.

...****ING WARD ESCAPES THOUGH ARGH! ARGH ARGH ARGH!

The Age of Ultron scene is fantaaaastic though. Thank you, thank you. Age of Ultron is going to rip so many asses into pieces. This is the first time I've also seen that trailer and OH MY GOD. I am free, there are no strings on me.

And now, one final scene. And uh...oh ****."

[Yana]

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Who was the guy in the final scene, was that Brecker?

I'm also somewhat surprised that it took this long for Ward to escape. It does raise the question of where he'll go though. Garrett is dead, he professes no official allegiance to HYDRA (though considering this is Ward, that means next to nothing), Raina seems to have disappeared as Coulson mentioned, and Skye's father is working directly with HYDRA. I figure once we return we'll have a week or two before he shows up again. At least he didn't escape from SHIELD custody, though you'd think that the guards would have had binders for his forearms instead of the handcuffs. It almost seemed like Ward felt no pain over breaking his thumb to slip those cuffs off.

A shame that we have a two week hiatus already. Nothing kills tempo like a hiatus.

[Palanan]

Another strong episode, and it felt like an especially jam-packed hour.

Spoiler: Global Reach, Personal Headaches

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I liked the scope of this episode, both geographically and storywise. They managed to squeeze in a little of everything, and make it meaningful--Hunter and Bobbi, Fitz and Simmons, Ward and Skye. And they did this without breaking stride in the main storyline, which covered a lot of ground.

Did we already know that Ward's brother was a Senator? Last season feels like a very long time ago, and I can't recall if Ward ever let that detail slip.

Spoiler: Talbot

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I'm a little confused about Talbot's apparent change of heart. He's delivering an impassioned denunciation of S.H.I.E.L.D. when, lo and behold, guys in S.H.I.E.L.D. kit show up and start lobbing Disks o' Crumbly Death. You'd think this would underscore his convictions about S.H.I.E.L.D.--and yet, for no reason I can tell, the next time we see him he's speculating it might have been HYDRA.

Did I miss a line somewhere that gave him a reason to think this? It seemed a bit of a jump, as if there had been a short transitional scene that was cut.

Spoiler: Fan Service

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I loved Bobbi's T-shirt at the beginning of the episode.

Spoiler: Bad May! Bad May!

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That smirk she gave Hunter was just too evil.

…Also, May was married? I don't recall that being mentioned either.

And yes, that look was priceless.

Spoiler: A Non-Boring Fight Sequence

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May vs. the knife-chain thingy. Good fight--I just wish this one could've gone on a little longer.

Don't mess with May. Knives on chains avail you not.

Spoiler: If You Love Something, Set It Free

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I'm baffled that Coulson, who knows better than anyone what Ward can do, would let him walk out in a pair of dinky handcuffs. Given everything he listed off that Ward's done, I'd say carbon-freezing wouldn't be overkill.

I could almost believe that Coulson meant to let Ward go on purpose, for some involute reason--but that would mean sacrificing the six guards in the armored car, and Coulson isn't that kind of Director.

Even so it seems an incredible oversight. At the very least Ward should be sedated and mummified in duct tape.

Spoiler: Man on the Run

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So, the question is--where's Ward off to now?

If his devotion to Garrett was all that kept him in HYDRA, he should just vanish on the wind. But of course he won't.

I'm guessing he won't run straight to Whitehall. Something tells me Ward has an entirely different objective.

Spoiler: A Sad Comment

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At some point, someone made the aside that "Raina's gone." I hope not; she's too interesting a character to waste like that.

But then, so was Victoria Hand.

Originally Posted by Yana

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Who was the guy in the final scene, was that Brecker?

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That was Skye's father, getting his alien tattoo on. All the cool psychopaths are doing it.

Originally Posted by Yana

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It almost seemed like Ward felt no pain over breaking his thumb to slip those cuffs off.

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Remember when Ward beat the ultrasophisticated lie detector at the first secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base? He slipped a splinter of metal under his fingernail, and kept it there for the entire session.

Ward can handle pain.

Also, what's this about a hiatus?!

[LaZodiac]

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Who was the guy in the final scene, was that Brecker?

I'm also somewhat surprised that it took this long for Ward to escape. It does raise the question of where he'll go though. Garrett is dead, he professes no official allegiance to HYDRA (though considering this is Ward, that means next to nothing), Raina seems to have disappeared as Coulson mentioned, and Skye's father is working directly with HYDRA. I figure once we return we'll have a week or two before he shows up again. At least he didn't escape from SHIELD custody, though you'd think that the guards would have had binders for his forearms instead of the handcuffs. It almost seemed like Ward felt no pain over breaking his thumb to slip those cuffs off.

A shame that we have a two week hiatus already. Nothing kills tempo like a hiatus.

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Ward is ****ed up enough for me to believe that's possible for him to do.

Another strong episode, and it felt like an especially jam-packed hour.

Spoiler: Global Reach, Personal Headaches

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I liked the scope of this episode, both geographically and storywise. They managed to squeeze in a little of everything, and make it meaningful--Hunter and Bobbi, Fitz and Simmons, Ward and Skye. And they did this without breaking stride in the main storyline, which covered a lot of ground.

Did we already know that Ward's brother was a Senator? Last season feels like a very long time ago, and I can't recall if Ward ever let that detail slip.

Spoiler: Talbot

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I'm a little confused about Talbot's apparent change of heart. He's delivering an impassioned denunciation of S.H.I.E.L.D. when, lo and behold, guys in S.H.I.E.L.D. kit show up and start lobbing Disks o' Crumbly Death. You'd think this would underscore his convictions about S.H.I.E.L.D.--and yet, for no reason I can tell, the next time we see him he's speculating it might have been HYDRA.

Did I miss a line somewhere that gave him a reason to think this? It seemed a bit of a jump, as if there had been a short transitional scene that was cut.

Spoiler: Fan Service

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I loved Bobbi's T-shirt at the beginning of the episode.

Spoiler: Bad May! Bad May!

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That smirk she gave Hunter was just too evil.

…Also, May was married? I don't recall that being mentioned either.

And yes, that look was priceless.

Spoiler: A Non-Boring Fight Sequence

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May vs. the knife-chain thingy. Good fight--I just wish this one could've gone on a little longer.

Don't mess with May. Knives on chains avail you not.

Spoiler: If You Love Something, Set It Free

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I'm baffled that Coulson, who knows better than anyone what Ward can do, would let him walk out in a pair of dinky handcuffs. Given everything he listed off that Ward's done, I'd say carbon-freezing wouldn't be overkill.

I could almost believe that Coulson meant to let Ward go on purpose, for some involute reason--but that would mean sacrificing the six guards in the armored car, and Coulson isn't that kind of Director.

Even so it seems an incredible oversight. At the very least Ward should be sedated and mummified in duct tape.

Spoiler: Man on the Run

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So, the question is--where's Ward off to now?

If his devotion to Garrett was all that kept him in HYDRA, he should just vanish on the wind. But of course he won't.

I'm guessing he won't run straight to Whitehall. Something tells me Ward has an entirely different objective.

Spoiler: A Sad Comment

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At some point, someone made the aside that "Raina's gone." I hope not; she's too interesting a character to waste like that.

But then, so was Victoria Hand.

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That was Skye's father, getting his alien tattoo on. All the cool psychopaths are doing it.

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Remember when Ward beat the ultrasophisticated lie detector at the first secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base? He slipped a splinter of metal under his fingernail, and kept it there for the entire session.

Ward can handle pain.

Also, what's this about a hiatus?!

After the Avengers scene, Trailer, and After Credits, they said that next week we're getting a big behind the scenes thingy, and then the week AFTER that, we're getting the next episode. It's a week long break, cut them some slack guys.

[Palanan]

That's actually perfect for me, since next week is my night class.

Spoiler: Pain...Much Pain

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@Yana: Ward definitely felt the pain of breaking his thumb--the closeup of him exhaling through his bristly mouth was meant to show that he's able to suppress or control it somehow.

[Yana]

That's actually perfect for me, since next week is my night class.

Spoiler: Pain...Much Pain

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@Yana: Ward definitely felt the pain of breaking his thumb--the closeup of him exhaling through his bristly mouth was meant to show that he's able to suppress or control it somehow.

Considering everyone else's reactions to my comment, I'm guessing that my comment was misinterpreted.

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I'm not saying that I'm surprised at his ability to suppress pain, it's that he handles it so calmly that intrigues me.

[Palanan]

Ah. Yes.

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Well, one can only imagine the things Garrett taught him.

[LaZodiac]

Considering everyone else's reactions to my comment, I'm guessing that my comment was misinterpreted.

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I'm not saying that I'm surprised at his ability to suppress pain, it's that he handles it so calmly that intrigues me.

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Naw, I got what you meant. I'm just saying I'm not THAT surprised at his ability, considering what we've seen.

Though yes I too am intrigued. Is it just his training, plus his sociopathy? Or is it something...more? Excited to find out!

[Joran]

Another strong episode, and it felt like an especially jam-packed hour.

Spoiler: Bad May! Bad May!

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That smirk she gave Hunter was just too evil.

…Also, May was married? I don't recall that being mentioned either.

And yes, that look was priceless.

Also, what's this about a hiatus?!

During the lie detector scene, Koenig asked May if she was married and she said "Once". (Someone on a reddit thread remembered that, not me).

Considering everyone else's reactions to my comment, I'm guessing that my comment was misinterpreted.

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I'm not saying that I'm surprised at his ability to suppress pain, it's that he handles it so calmly that intrigues me.

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May also did the break bones to escape handcuffs trick in I think episode 2. I think she showed a little more pain but she wasn't under the view of guards.

Also, agreed with Palanan saying that I thought Grant escaped way too easily, especially given that we've seen other SHIELD agents escape from handcuffs and other restraints.

[Dragonexx]

Spoiler: 2-5

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A seriously great episode. The character interactions were stimulating and engrossing, and i seriously don't know who's telling the truth, Grant or his brother!

[LaZodiac]

Spoiler: 2-5

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A seriously great episode. The character interactions were stimulating and engrossing, and i seriously don't know who's telling the truth, Grant or his brother!

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I feel inclined to believe the elder brother, but only believing the "Grant's always been a psycho" part. The rest of it? I'm...not sure. Their entire family is ****ed.

[The New Bruceski]

As was mentioned, next week is a special "75 years of Marvel: from Pulp to Pop." So don't panic if you download the show and the episode doesn't show up.

[dehro]

am I the only one who was reminded of Major John Casey from Chuck, at the whole "breaking your thumbs" thing?

Spoiler: what Ward will do

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I wouldn't be surprised if he re-joined HYDRA ranks and then acted as a mole from within, sabotaging them offscreen... not that I'd like this, but I can see it happen. I do hope that the writers will come up with something more interesting though. In fact, I hope he stays on the bad side, in whichever role that may be.

Spoiler: who is the guy in the end scene?

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I rewatched it and it's neither Skye's dad (which makes sense, what would he need those drawings and that map for when he probably already knows about it and he's most likely alien so wouldn't feel compelled to draw, like Skye wasn't)... nor is it Senator Ward... who wouldn't have a cash flow problem (tattooist asks if this time the guy has the money)... he looks a lot like him, but I have my doubts.

Spoiler: exhibit A

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Spoiler: exhibit B

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more importantly, when did he get a shot of the alien juice? because so far that's the source we've seen for the writing frenzy... I also find the whole tattoo thing cool, but a bit pointless. The guy has clearly done the writing himself.. what use is recording it on his skin (for all to see should he get caught)?
also, assuming Skye is right, how is this a map? is there a remote scientific/computer-y explanation for translating dots and lines in a map? or is Skye going to go "I was looking through SHIELD archives and found this alien thing that was also a map" so we can't possibly know it now?

[huttj509]

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I feel inclined to believe the elder brother, but only believing the "Grant's always been a psycho" part. The rest of it? I'm...not sure. Their entire family is ****ed.

Spoiler: The Family Ward

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My thought for that scene was "someone's getting played here...and I think it's all 4 of them.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Spoiler: Talbot

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I'm a little confused about Talbot's apparent change of heart. He's delivering an impassioned denunciation of S.H.I.E.L.D. when, lo and behold, guys in S.H.I.E.L.D. kit show up and start lobbing Disks o' Crumbly Death. You'd think this would underscore his convictions about S.H.I.E.L.D.--and yet, for no reason I can tell, the next time we see him he's speculating it might have been HYDRA.

Did I miss a line somewhere that gave him a reason to think this? It seemed a bit of a jump, as if there had been a short transitional scene that was cut.

Spoiler: Talbot

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Talbot isn't stupid. The attack was too much on the nose - as we later discovered, it was meant to be. The plan was not to get the UN to turn on SHIELD, it was to scare SHIELD into seeking refuge with the one guy in the UN that resisted the idea... thus bagging every SHIELD agent in Europe in one go since the guy was HYDRA.

But back to Talbot: he dislikes SHIELD because they are a powerful military operating in the US not under his (or his superior's) control. The military (and police) exist as part of a country's "monopoly on violence". Until last season, SHIELD was part of that monopoly, but now it is not. Talbot has good reasons to mistrust a powerful group of vigilantes. But he also knows SHIELD well enough to understand that attacking the UN would be a stupid, unproductive move on their part, and thus is rightly suspicious that someone just slapped an eagle on their uniforms.

In general, the best part of this show is that no character is carrying an idiot ball, by and large, to push the plot forward. Talbot was the one closest to doing so, but the last few episodes have shown him to be capable of learning (at the very least, absorbing man has not escaped a second time).

Grey Wolf

[Athaniar]

Spoiler: A Fractured House

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Another great episode, just like every episode this season so far. The part with the Wards trying to convince Coulson/Skye that the other brother is actually the villain was the strongest part of the episode IMHO, especially with the revelation at the end of it (second best part was Coulson telling Grant exactly how he feels about him). The episode also delivered another really strong fight scene. Good to see Scarlotti use a whip-like weapon (and I hope he reappears somewhere down the line). I also actually like that Talbot is warming up to Coulson's team, much better than keeping him an anti-SHIELD zealot forever. Maybe it was done too quickly here, but eh, still worked for me. Fitz and Simmons stuff was great too, but that practically goes without saying.

Don't think we've seen the guy in the stinger before, apparently (or at least according to IGN) he's played by Brian Van Holt. Same guy who scribbled on the painting?

[Kitten Champion]

Spoiler: Talbot

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Talbot isn't stupid. The attack was too much on the nose - as we later discovered, it was meant to be. The plan was not to get the UN to turn on SHIELD, it was to scare SHIELD into seeking refuge with the one guy in the UN that resisted the idea... thus bagging every SHIELD agent in Europe in one go since the guy was HYDRA.

But back to Talbot: he dislikes SHIELD because they are a powerful military operating in the US not under his (or his superior's) control. The military (and police) exist as part of a country's "monopoly on violence". Until last season, SHIELD was part of that monopoly, but now it is not. Talbot has good reasons to mistrust a powerful group of vigilantes. But he also knows SHIELD well enough to understand that attacking the UN would be a stupid, unproductive move on their part, and thus is rightly suspicious that someone just slapped an eagle on their uniforms.

In general, the best part of this show is that no character is carrying an idiot ball, by and large, to push the plot forward. Talbot was the one closest to doing so, but the last few episodes have shown him to be capable of learning (at the very least, absorbing man has not escaped a second time).

Grey Wolf

Spoiler: Talbot

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Personally, I think Talbot is simply a man whose ambition supersedes his sense of duty. Someone with a sharp Machiavellian edge to him. He enjoys his current arrangement of being the man tasked to hunt SHIELD who can use that position to coerce them into doing the more difficult work for him while he sits back and takes all the accolades. Coulson approached him the way he did because he understood that a self-serving nature was behind the hard-case firebrand running his mouth off on the nightly talk-show circuit.

While Talbot's not especially clever, he's smart enough to see his options. To him, denouncing SHIELD openly to the world costs nothing - it's just so much demagoguery - and he's aware of that. Which is why he can change his tune so quickly when it matters.