Ward’s juicy backstory got even more dense in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2, episode 6. Read our recap and share your thoughts on “A Fractured House.”
Deadly duplicity
Hydra attacks the United Nations as Glenn Talbot gives a speech about how much S.H.I.E.L.D. sucks. Hydra uses spinny projectiles to turn people into Obelisk-dust, which is pretty bad.
What’s worse? These douchefaces are masquerading as agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Having history
Simmons and Skye watch Ward work out in his cell; both are glad Simmons isn’t dead.
If you’re trying to foreshadow something here show, we do not appreciate it.
The desperately-needed girl time is interrupted by news of the attack. The doucheface leading the assault is named Marcus Scarlotti, and he has stupid hair.
Coulson sends the now-blonde Bobbi, May, and Hunter to track down Hydra’s weapons manufacturer, Tashiro Mori; they need to know the location of the next attack.
Brothers
Glenn Talbot takes hell from Senator Christian Ward for allowing “S.H.I.E.L.D.” to attack. To his credit, Talbot isn’t certain S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t the culprit, but the senator wants to take control – he’s concerned everyone will find out about his brother.
Who is, you know, Grant Ward.
Later, Coulson and Skye watch Christian Ward talk about exterminating S.H.I.E.L.D. He brands them a terrorist organization, weakly protested by a Belgian representative named Beckers.
Skye offers to get information from Ward. “Keep the focus on his family – not yours,” Coulson warns. Coulson then orders an Agent Walters in the Netherlands to hide in their safehouse.
Date fight
Bobbi takes a risk and talks with Toshiro, who she knows well enough to kiss rather passionately. Hunter gripes about Bobbi’s duplicitous abilities.
Bobbi learns that Toshiro invented the spinny things, or “splinter bombs.” Toshiro wants to work on “the Diviner” – aka, the Obelisk.
Hunter storms in when Bobbi’s cover is blown. They bicker after a brief firefight, but learn of Hydra’s next target – Beckers, the pro-S.H.I.E.L.D. Belgian minister.
Lost for words
Simmons awkwardly asks Fitz for help repairing the Hydra hard drive. He struggles for words, but a tearful Simmons can’t offer the right ones.
The tension between the two scientists mounts. Simmons insists that she’s trying not to treat Fitz differently; he says he is different, and she can’t accept it. Fitz demands to know why she left, but Simmons cannot give him an answer.
It hurts us, precious.
Distracted
Ward warns Skye to stay away from his brother – Christian always has an angle and “gets joy from one thing – hurting people.” He is desperate to know if Christian knows where he is.
But Ward’s fear turns to calculation when he catches on to the fact that Skye is still upset about her father. Before information can be exchanged, Coulson shuts down the interview.
“Stay on mission,” he orders Skye.
Truth and lies
Coulson badassly surprises the Senator in his office. When Christian calls his bluff, Coulson announces that he has Ward in his basement.
Coulson says he knows that Christian made Grant torture their youngest brother, but Christian claims that Ward is a liar. Grant would always blame him for the abuse of their brother Thomas – but there is something dark inside his brother.
“I’ve spent too much of my life trying to unravel his lies,” the Senator says.
“So have I,” says Coulson. “I think I know a way we can both get what we want.”
Out of here
Skye returns to chat with Ward, who continues to insist that Christian is way worse than he is. At Skye’s prompting, he tells her that the people her father killed in China were Hydra agents – and they killed Skye’s mother.
“When your father got there, he lost it,” Ward says, at which point we start to seriously question how the heck he has all this detail.
Ward admits that he doesn’t know exactly where to find Skye’s dad, but promises that they can find him together. “It’s time we get you out of here,” Skye tearfully says – and then announces that Coulson is handing him over to Christian.
This deserves a “Booyah!”
In Bruges
As May and co. race to Belgium to save Beckers, Mack and Fitz figure out that the hard drive was designed by Hydra scientist Vincent Beckers – the “friendly” minister’s grandfather.
In other words, the safehouse is a trap, which quickly claims poor Agent Walters.
Hunter walks into the safehouse with beer – but his offer to switch sides is a ploy. May and Bobbi burst though the windows. Bobbi and Hunter take out most of the agents, while May subdues Scarlotti.
Bobbi thanks Hunter for saving her life; later, she invites him to stay with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Unfair
Simmons thanks Mack for helping Fitz. “I don’t help him,” Mack says. “He doesn’t need any.” Mack likes Fitz as he is; Simmons claims she does too, but Mack calls her out for leaving after Fitz confessed his feelings.
“The only thing that makes him worse is you,” Mack tells her.
“I know,” Simmons says. “Why do you think I left?”
Aaaaand we no longer have the capacity to feel pain. Thanks, show!
Goodbye, my lover
After some exquisitely stinging remarks from Coulson, Ward appears resigned to the fact that Christian will quickly have him tried and executed for working with Hydra.
The team watches as anonymous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents escort Ward through the Playground. Simmons stops him from talking to Skye. “If I ever see you again,” she promises, “I’ll kill you.”
As he is packed into the plane, Ward tells Coulson to tell Skye that he will keep his promise.
Yeah, that’s going on Coulson’s To-Do List for sure.
Meanwhile…
Christian Ward gives a press conference where, as promised, he (subtly) reverses his position on S.H.I.E.L.D. He announces the truth about Grant.
“I will personally make sure my brother is punished for his crimes,” he promises.
In Bruges, Talbot shakes May’s hand in sympathy over the fallen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Maybe he’s not a doucheface.
At the same time, Ward pulls a Cavalry and breaks his thumb to slip out of the cuffs. Bye-bye, anonymous guards.
Pain
After a clip from Age of Ultron, a man goes to a tattoo parlor. He pays to finish his still-raw design – Coulson’s markings, inked all over his torso.
“The pain helps me remember,” he says.
We really wouldn’t know about that.