One Door Closes

It was at right about this time last year that the best season 1 episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired, amping up the paranoia and the stakes, pitting main characters against each other, and generally making it feel like the show had finally "arrived" creatively. Season 2 has been a lot more engaging and even. Yet wouldn't you know it, it's time for another fantastic episode that ups the ante.

This episode delivered a buffet of action -- in two time frames, no less. But it was all action with a powerful dramatic purpose. In the past, we saw how "Other S.H.I.E.L.D." first got its start, transforming from a Wild Bunch final stand into a democratic push back. In the present, we watched a wheels-within-wheels chain of deception -- Coulson fooling Mack, Bobbi fooling Coulson, Simmons fooling Bobbi (good for her!), and May outfoxing everyone.

Now we have a wonderfully gray world, quite unlike the Hydra/Shield conflict, in which both sides legitimately think they're right, and can each make a fair claim to at least part of the moral high ground. It should provide plenty of fuel for future episodes. And I for one am eagerly awaiting to see the fruits of the Coulson/Hunter team-up teased in the final scene.

All this, and a great subplot for Skye as well. There was the nice Paranormal Activity suspense preceding Gordon's appearance. There was his surprisingly plausible "recruitment pitch" (nothing like the hysterical "your friends will turn on you" warnings spewed by Skye's father in past episodes). There was the great moment where Skye got to enjoy the lighter side of her powers, playing with the faucet. And there was the dark moment where a heretofore untapped level of her powers leveled a nice chunk of the forest. There was even the fun Bruce Banner reference, complete with a Hulk fistprint left in the cabin's inner wall.

In all, every character got a great moment -- including several of the guest stars. It was a top notch thrill ride, a grade A episode.