Synopsis of 4×03: Coulson, Mack and Fitz try to locate and neutralize a rogue group looking to stop Inhuman registration worldwide; Simmons and Dr. Radcliffe have only a short time to save May before she succumbs to her illness.
Guys, I have to say, I’m kind of surprised. I didn’t hate this episode of SHIELD. Granted, it wasn’t great. In fact, I did get a little bored watching it, but I didn’t have any moments of ferocious anger and disgust. That’s a step up.
The episode centered mostly around the blackouts that have been happening all over the world, triggered by the Watchdogs. And I think one of the main reasons I liked this episode is that it finally brought back some pressing real world issues. The Watchdogs, pretending to be an Inhuman Uprising set off multiple EMPs across the world in order to cause chaos but also to root out inhumans from the registered list and kill them.
This brings in all kinds of problems. Any country that signed the Sokovia Accords has access to that registered list along with a bunch of organizations. While registration keeps everyone in line, it’s also a liability and becomes something that can be used as a weapon against the people it’s meant to protect. It’s particularly interesting to watch how people react to inhumans, because, for the most part, it’s negative. Elena’s friend turns against her when she reveals her powers, even though she used them to save her life. Gabriel basically kicks Daisy out of the house, even though she’s injured and saved his life in the process with her powers.
I’d hate to think that this was all in an attempt to hurry along the plot of SHIELD becoming public, but that seems possible. With the team using Fitz’s makeshift science and quick thinking, they were able to restore power to the city and the Director uses that momentum to reveal SHIELD to the world.
On the side, Jemma takes a manic May to Radcliffe’s lab in order to figure out what is wrong with her before she dies. This ghost/non-corporeal plot seems the most tedious and unnecessary and honestly, this messed with the pacing of the episode for me. I have little love for May’s character, and her calling Phil to tell him that it should be him up there on the podium speaks to how narrow her view is. Coulson works best as a company man, as an agent, from the shadows, and under orders. He’s not a good director at all, and she should know that.
Also, does anyone find it odd that the only serious scientists we know on this show are from the UK? There must be actual American or other foreign doctors and scientists, but apparently SHIELD exclusively hires from the UK.
Mack confronts Elena about her business with Daisy, but Elena doesn’t seem pressed by Mack being upset. I actually really enjoy their flirtation, since Mack seems to bring out a real fun side to Elena and it’s nice to see him have a plot that isn’t just related to SHIELD. Honestly, they are a real joy to watch, I would like some more, please.
Meanwhile, in LA, Robbie and Daisy are going to investigate what’s going on with his uncle that links to the whole Momentum Labs incident, but an EMP strikes there too. Robbie rushes back to protect his brother, Gabe, who is in a bad part of town and about to get cornered by some gang bangers. After they save Gabe, Robbie runs out for some medicine for Daisy who has broken her arm.
Gabe correctly deduces that Daisy is Quake, which I also had a laugh at her comment about having a few names. But don’t mind me, that’s just me being sad that they replaced Skye with Daisy. Anyways, instead of being surprised or excited at the fact that she is Quake, Gabe orders her to leave and tells her that Robbie needs good people around him and that just isn’t Daisy.
I’m not really sure what to make of this, but I do enjoy the Ghost Rider storyline a lot better than most of the other storylines, so I’m interested to see where it goes.
The episode ends with a coda featuring a reporter talking about how SHIELD is wrong and the blackouts were definitely orchestrated by the Inhumans. We quickly find out that she’s involved in the whole situation and that her brother is someone who hasn’t left his terrigen cocoon yet. This episode really starts some interesting new threads. Ones that I hope they continue with, and hopefully drop some other ones.
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