Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season 3 Episode 9: “Closure”
Directed by Kate Woods
Written by Brent Fletcher
Created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen
Starring Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, Adrianne Palicki, Henry Simmons, Luke Mitchell, Blaire Underwood, Constance Zimmer, Andrew Howard, Powers Boothe, Mark Dacascos
ABC
Air Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015, 9pm

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 3.9 is aptly, or perhaps ironically, named “Closure.” Multiple characters are seeking closure, but sadly, none of them get it (yet). Still, the latest S.H.I.E.L.D. installment is action-packed from the opening to the close.

*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.*

In the first scene alone, we see the death of Rosalind (Constance Zimmer), who has been a major character this season. I should have known — this being a Whedon family show and all — that the sweet candlelit dinner between Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Roz was too good to last. Just as Rosalind explains to Coulson that she’s going back to the ATCU as an informant for S.H.I.E.L.D., she gets sniper shot through the window by none other than Grant Ward (Brett Dalton).

At this point we (I’m including myself, my wife, and Agent Coulson) are all in shock. Even writing this right now, I’m still wrapping my head around it. Not that Rosalind was my favorite character, but Coulson doesn’t deserve this, and it’s a reminder that anyone can be killed off. After the distraught Coulson tries and fails to keep his new love from dying, Ward phones Coulson just to rub it in his face. Ward’s Hydra cronies try to finish the job, but Coulson is a badass (the robotic hand helps too) and he escapes.

The emotions that ensue from S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director are what can be expected: grief, desperation, numbness, and copious amounts of anger. Through all of this, he makes the wise decision to take a closer look at his staff’s prior experiences with Ward. Much insight is gained from hearing each individual’s take, and what comes out of the interviews is not that Ward is an emotionless, stone-cold killer; it’s quite the opposite. It’s all about the family experience that he missed out on, along with trying to justify his past actions. At one point in the episode, Ward says, “Sometimes we have to do bad things for the right reasons.” That pretty much sums him up.

Into the action. Coulson seemingly brings his wise yogi streak to an end when he says he needs to go “off the books” in some sort of revenge mission. He puts Mack (Henry Simmons) in charge (okay, this IS a wise choice) as Interim Director. Coulson goes to see Bobbi (Adrianne Palicki) and Hunter (Nick Blood) and hot-headedly begins to choke Hunter, saying he should have killed Ward when he had the chance. But don’t worry, they’re still friends. Hunter agrees. It’s all good. No more choking friends. The three team up to take out their nemesis once and for all. In the midst of the mission, Mack notifies Coulson that Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) have been intercepted by Hydra/Ward. Instead of changing the current mission, Coulson makes it clear that they need to complete what they are doing now more than ever. After kidnapping Ward’s younger brother, Thomas, Coulson has a little video chat with Ward and Mr. Hydra is not pleased. Surprisingly, after the call is disconnected, Thomas agrees with what S.H.I.E.L.D. is doing and says he wants Ward the “monster” gone. When Ward calls back, he shows his soft spot for Thomas over the phone and S.H.I.E.L.D. is able to trace the call.

Back at Hydra’s torture hangout, Ward sicks an Inhuman with the ability to float objects (in this case, scary metal items such as knives and scissors) on Simmons. Fitz is forced to listen to her screams from a nearby room until he talks. It appears in the end that he has agreed to go back to the planet through the portal to bring back the scary sand monster, but he reveals to Simmons before he leaves that the only person he’s bringing back is Will.

With the knowledge that S.H.I.E.L.D. is on their way, Ward is getting amped to kill Coulson! Psych. Malick (Powers Boothe) relatively easily manipulates him into leading the Hydra team to the planet, even after Ward says he has learned not to be controlled by others. Maybe it’s that whole father-figure believing in him thing. Anyway, he’s a sucker.

As the members of the team go through the portal and S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft is being attacked from above, Coulson recklessly jumps out of the plane and perfectly into the portal before it closes. It appears that Hunter is about to dive in to fight some bad guys directly after him, but thankfully, Mack has sent back up (get there soon, guys!). The squad, with a combination of humans and Inhumans, includes Lincoln (Luke Mitchell), Daisy (Chloe Bennet), May (Ming-Na Wen), Joey (Juan Pablo Raba), and Mack himself.

On the planet, a sand storm is occurring, but Ward assures his team everything is fine. Ha, ha. The last thing we see is Coulson falling onto the planet, rolling down a hill, and being knocked out on the ground. Next episode is bound to be an intense interplanetary battle!

Videos

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×09 Promo “Closure”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×09 Sneak Peek “Closure”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×09 Sneak Peek #2 “Closure”