indigo sunrise

LysCat

So excited to watch it! I'm really hoping that Skye and Ward come face to face again. And I can't wait to see Skye reunited with Coulson. Question, why is Lincoln drawn into it? I can understand Skye, unless he has a tie that we don't know about yet. Or is he like her unofficial guard and he's going because Skye is?

gingerly

Thanks for posting! Curious that there's so little of the episode itself in the promo and they're already promoting AoU with the show (figured that'd happen in 2x19 and 2x20).

indigo sunrise

Yeah, makes me wonder if it's deliberate because they want most of the episode to be a surprise, or if they just wanted the extra promo for AoU I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Yeah, your guess is as good as mine at the moment! I think it'll be because he'll be with Skye when they get into contact again, or maybe he'll be sent along with her to help her control her powers or something along those lines, but it also really wouldn't surprise me if there's more to him than what we've seen of him so far!

Raonaild

I noticed this too, and I just assumed they were using AoS to promote AoU and vice versa, whether there is much of a connection or not. I doubt it has anything specifically to do with the next episode, it's just because of the timing of the AoU premiere.

indigo sunrise

Well, seems like they posted the actual promo now

ETA: and sneak peek #2. Adding it to the OP!

gingerly

Thanks for those! I love Coulson's "Hey sweetie."

indigo sunrise

Me too also why was Ward buying a plant? Is he into gardening now? (I'm guessing it has an actual reason but still)

lisagslack14

Yes thank you adn I loved that line as well

Karri

I love Coulson.

indigo sunrise

Pretty riveting episode, definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. So many things going on at once though so I find it a bit hard to find a place to start talking about it

First of all, wow talk about bad timing for Jemma and May to see what was happening. Them seeing Coulson work with Ward, out of context looked baaaaad. I guess that'll get cleared up pretty soon next episode, but still. Also, show of hands on who else totally didn't buy that Bakshi was actually brainwashed. Come on, this was the guy who worked with the brainwashing technology for ages, I'm sure he would've taken precautions and knows about a way to counteract it if it was ever used against him. The fact that they really didn't see it coming that he was just pretending was a bit out there. That being said, great performance by Simon Kassianides. The scenes where he was supposed to be brainwashed were pretty funny and almost endearing.

I really liked the scenes with Cal and Skye, they almost made me feel a bit for the guy. What Skye said is so true though, he needs to find a way to let go of the past. She's not that little girl anymore. I also like that she stood up to Jiaying - also it really showed how hard Jiaying has become, especially with how her current behaviour contradicts the stories Cal told about how she used to be. Skye's pretty much like how she used to be, she cares so much about everyone, so I could see that clashing even more in the future.

I love that Fitz almost went off on Ward. I wish they'd let him get at him for a bit I pretty much wanted to punch Ward too when he casually asked Fitz how he was, when it was really clear that the guy was literally shaking trying to hold back his anger. I still really don't like that they're working with Ward and this episode hasn't made me like him any more either. I'm kind of scared that this is how they are going to somewhat redeem him though, by having him fight alongside them and probably have him do something heroic to save them all. I really hope that's not how it goes down. I'm really interested to see what will happen when Jemma sees him next episode, especially since the last time she saw him, she told him she'd kill him if she ever saw him again.

Speaking of Jemma, I absolutely loved her attitude this episode (Not that this is news, I always love Jemma). It took some balls to go off on May like that, but I think she was right to. I don't think May was wrong in telling the rest, but she could've told Jemma that before or even told them together. I love that Jemma is so fiercely loyal after everything. Also it was pretty funny how she made sure May knew it was her idea and totally not Fitz's to duplicate the toolbox, cause even in situations like this she can't help being competitive what a dork (said with heart eyes obviously). And I can't not mention that I also love that she basically said she's doing everything she's doing to keep Skye safe ETA: I just rewatched a few parts and completely missed the first time around that May had told Bobbi and co that the full blame was on Fitz and that Jemma was just trying to cover for him. Makes more sense now.

I guess now SHIELD and the Inhumans will have to work together to get Mike and Lincoln back, and take down Hydra since that's in both their best interest. I really hope the Inhumans will see it that way too.

I could honestly mention a lot more but this is pretty long already so I'll save it for next time

Humbugged1814

"Take me to your leader" - Oh Coulson !!

Raonaild

A lot of threads finally coming together on this one. Coulson's team, Hydra, Cal, Inhumans and SHIELD 2.0 all mixing it up in the same building.

If I were them, I don't know what I'd make of that. But I don't think I'd automatically assume it meant Coulson was up to no good. Not Simmons and May anyway.

I think it's possible the brainwashing is still in effect, and he's just throwing himself into the role (Ward did instruct him to behave like he would have before the brainwashing, after all).

But like Fitz, I don't really trust any of them - Bakshi, Ward or 33.

I actually did feel for Cal in this episode for the first time. And Skye was totally right to empathize with him and try to soften the blow. And I was not at all impressed with Jiaying, lying to Cal and sending him away to be someone else's problem, in a way that would surely bring out the worst in him. I kinda get that the Inhumans resent regular folk because of other peoples' attitudes towards them, but I don't like the us versus them mentality that seemed to be coming out in this ep, like their only concern was themselves and anyone who wasn't like them didn't matter.

I think the way Fitz reacted to Ward was completely appropriate, I felt the stress just watching him sit there before Ward spoke to him. And I thought it was sweet the way Hunter was trying to look out for Fitz during the ep. But Fitz with a gun you knew was not going to end well.

I don't think any of his actions, no matter how heroic, could ever redeem him to the point that the team would actually trust him again. But, Coulson did mention TAHITI - if they actually went through with it and wiped out all the manipulative stuff that his family and Garrett did to him, that could be the reset button the character needs to get Ward back on the team.

I loved that Jemma said she didn't care what was in the box, because she knew that whatever Coulson was doing was to protect Skye.

Oh, and May - getting into the box isn't the only way to get to the bottom of what Coulson was doing. You could also ask him.

I don't think it was Simmons being competitive, I think she said it was her idea because she felt May was throwing Fitz "to the wolves", getting him into more trouble with SHIELD 2.0. It was also cute the way she said Fitz did his part "to perfection".

I guess at least Coulson's team and SHIELD 2.0 put aside their differences to go after Hydra. And I'm not at all surprised from the preview that the "Dirty Half-Dozen" looks like six original S1 team members.

ETA - One other random thing ... I noticed that Fitz and Coulson intentionally avoided talking about the fact that Skye had powers now in front of Ward. So he doesn't know yet.

indigo sunrise

Could be, but I thought his little smile after he first sent Mike off was pretty telling, and then him taking out both Mike and Lincoln at the end definitely seemed to be a choice of his own. Guess it's still possible he's under the control of brainwashing and just very good at being himself but I don't know, I thought it was deliberate.

I really don't know how I feel about this option, I'd only be okay with it if in the end, it's Ward who chooses to go through with this, if it's forced upon him that would be pretty horrifying and no better than brainwashing, IMO. Still... even if he wants to go through with it, I'd feel like it would be a bit of a cop out to just hit a 'reset button' on him as it were. It wouldn't sit well with me at all.

Yeah, I edited my original post. I completely missed during my first watch that May made up a story about how it was all Fitz's doing - makes much more sense now. Although I do still think there was an edge of pride to what she said too, although she was certainly proud of Fitz's part in it as well.

Raonaild

I'm not saying I want them to take this route, but it did come up so it's possible they'll go there. I don't think they'd force it on Ward though, I think if it happens he'll be a willing participant.

And if they did take that route, it's not necessarily 100% effective. Coulson knew there was something wrong even when he couldn't remember after it was done to him. And Fitz did say the last time that they used the memory machine that the brain keeps backups, the memories may still be there to be recovered.