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TV Review: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3.15 “Spacetime”
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season 3 Episode 15: “Spacetime”
Directed by Kevin Tancharoen
Written by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen
Created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen
Starring Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, Luke Mitchell, Blair Underwood, Matthew Willig, Powers Boothe, Mark Dacascos, Alexander Wraith, Bjorn Johnson, Wolfgang Bodison, Lola Glaudini, Markus Flanagan
ABC
Air Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9pm

This week’s installment of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “Spacetime” asks the question, “can the future be changed?” Unfortunately, as much as the previews and sneak peeks intended to hype up this episode, calling it “the most astonishing episode of the season,” its premise isn’t too original and it ends fairly flat.

Daisy (Chloe Bennet) is called to a police investigation after a grocery store owner sees the future and calls explicitly for her. How does a regular citizen go about seeing an event before it actually takes place? By touching a homeless man, that’s how — or should I say, a homeless Inhuman. The Inhuman’s name is Charles (Bjorn Johnson), and he is a hot commodity, specifically in the eyes of Hydra. It isn’t really discussed as to why, but it’s pretty obvious that with an ability like that, Hydra would always be able to be at least one step ahead of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Inhuman arms race.

Hydra attacks Daisy and the gang in the middle of a city street, but only to grab Charles. Daisy tries to stop them, reaching out and touching Charles before he’s whisked away. This is when the episode becomes “astonishing.” Daisy sees the future — a conglomeration of events in what looks to be an eerily grim montage: a woman crying; Coulson (Clark Gregg) shooting Daisy; Lincoln’s (Luke Mitchell) face covered in blood; Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) holding hands in the snow; and someone dying.

The team really wants to prevent these events from occurring, but as fate would have it, they are continually pushed towards the inevitable, beginning with the crying woman. When Charles’ wife shows up at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, she explains how his abilities began and why he left: in order to protect his daughter. The tears begin to flow, of course, and Daisy knows she’s in for trouble.

May (Ming-Na Wen) and Coulson, however, have other plans. Daisy had also seen herself running into a room filled with Hydra agents in an attempt to rescue Charles, but she’s unable to save him. So, the team sets up a training room and facilitates multiple practice run-throughs with May as the rescuer. All is looking good until Andrew (Blair Underwood) shows up, claiming to be turning into Lash for the last time, and needing to say goodbye. Well, May is out, Daisy is on her way to save Charles, and just like that, all of Daisy’s visions come true: Coulson shoots Daisy, but through a one-way mirror (she’s safe!); Lincoln fights Giyera (Mark Dacascos) and gets an extremely bloody face; Fitz and Simmons hold hands in the snow; and Charles saves Daisy from a brutal fight with Gideon Malick (Powers Boothe), but dies in the process.

While taking his last breaths, Charles asks Daisy to protect his daughter, which she agrees to and then touches his arm, receiving one last vision of the future: a ship in space, a S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia on an arm within the ship, and then the ship exploding.

The episode ends with a very abrupt “post-credits” scene, that just feels disjointed and takes away from any good the episode accomplished, which wasn’t a lot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad. “Spacetime” ventures into some dark, depressing material, which I find can often be very compelling. Chloe Bennet gives a great performance and some of the other actors add excellent support. But one of the issues I have with this episode comes from the hype of the network and its unoriginality.

The idea is nothing new — the future is set in stone; it’s fixed and can’t be changed, no matter how hard you try. It’s been done in other television shows, movies, and books before, S.H.I.E.L.D. just uses a different means to get the point across. So for the network to tout this episode as “the most astonishing” one yet, it better deliver on all facets, but unfortunately, it’s a weak script. This is lazy writing at its finest. Which brings me to another issue I’m having with this show in general: rehashed storylines.

Season one was all about S.H.I.E.L.D. versus Hydra. Season two saw S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra both rebuilding themselves and adding Inhumans into the mix. This season is simply combining the two: S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra using Inhumans for their own purposes. But it’s constantly S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra and it is getting boring. Nothing changes, week to week. Sure, some of the characters progress here and there, relationships develop, but S.H.I.E.L.D. is always trying to find those dastardly Hydra agents, and those dastardly Hydra agents are always trying to take over the world. Give the viewers something new. We deserve it.

S.H.I.E.L.D.ed Observations:

– Gideon Malick wants power. Gideon Malick gets power in the form of mechanical arms with enhanced strength. Gideon Malick uses his newfound power to crush a man’s skull and beat the crap out of Daisy. Gideon Malick’s power is a tool for Not-Ward (Brett Dalton) to use in whatever plans he may have in the future; because Gideon Malick is a puppet.

– Not-Ward is looking very Keanu Reeves — circa 1999 — The Matrix style.

– Andrew tells May that he thinks S.H.I.E.L.D. might need Lash, even though she doesn’t want to hear it (oh foreshadowing, how I adore you). They then have a tearful goodbye, behind a glass window, as Andrew turns for the last time.

– Fits and Simmons hold hands in the snow and smile and it is the best part of the episode.

Videos

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×15 Promo “Spacetime”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×15 Sneak Peek #1 “Spacetime”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×15 Sneak Peek #2 “Spacetime”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×15 Sneak Peek #3 “Spacetime”

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