Guys, this episode was funny! I laughed. I enjoyed all the different character interactions. I actually felt it in my gut when Skye got shot. And even though I know she'll survive (she has to survive, right?), I'm anxious for the next episode.
A flip got turned somewhere, and I finally care about this show. It's not perfect yet. It's not even really great television yet. But it's worth watching, worth caring about, finally worth writing about.
SHIELD did a lot of smart things this episode. For starters, they shook up the team and created some new pairings. This meant that we actually got to explore a couple of relationships. We got to see May and Coulson's deep friendship on display and Ward's jealousy of that bond. It clearly isn't just sex for him. We got to see Simmons go into over-prepare mode and Coulson be a little uncomfortable with it. (That scene did go on a little long.) We got to see Skye and Fitz work together and Skye completely take charge. It was so nice to see some actual character development in all these little moments that peppered the episode.
The structure was smart, too. At first I thought we were going to get a time-loop episode. Those are always fun, so I was only mildly disappointed when I realized we were heading into flashback territory to get a new side of the story. Breaking it up like this was smart. Seeing the story play out once character at a time built on both suspense and characterization. And having the plot advance a little farther each time kept it interesting.
There were a few things that were off. The holograph table scene was a little jarring, tonally. Coulson's distress over Skye seemed a tad overplayed, though that's mostly due to a lack in previous episodes than anything in this episode.
But those moments get balanced out by May's brilliant escape. By Fitz's concern over Simmons when she gets frozen and the beautiful shot of their hug at the end. By the look on Skye's face when Quinn shoots her for the second time. (Okay, my emotions in that scene may have been tied to my flashbacks to Kaylee's gut wound. This episode had more than a little in common with Firefly. But that appears to be a good thing).
I'm excited again.We have interesting relationships, serialized plot, a cohesive bad guy, promises of Sif. Now if the show can just keep on improving, it may be worth committing to a second season.
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