Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reinvented itself once again in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 2, episode 15 — and it was insane.
Rebirth
On the day S.H.I.E.L.D. fell, Mack was rescued from Hydra by Bobbi and Isabelle Hartley. Bobbi had a directive from Fury to save “Commander” Gonzales, and orders to sink the ship — and its dangerous cargo – when Gonzales was safe.
But Mack and Gonzales refused to let Bobbi die sinking the ship. They followed Fury’s orders as far as the engine room, but Mack (who lost his boyfriend Tim earlier to Hydra) urged Bobbi to reconsider — how many innocent S.H.I.E.L.D. agents would die if they followed Fury’s orders?
Gonzales disagreed, but Bobbi decides that the days of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s dictatorship are over. She refuses to sink the ship, and decides they will wrest it back from Hydra instead.
And thus, S.H.I.E.L.D. 2.0 was born.
Invasion
Coulson holds Mack at multiple gunpoints when he refuses to confess his true allegiance.
“I’ve lost too many friends to Hydra,” Coulson says.
“So have I,” says Mack.
May interrupts Bobbi’s theft of Fury’s Toolbox from Coulson’s office. Bobbi tells her that she works for S.H.I.E.L.D., but May does not, and (regretfully) sets off an EMP. She and Mack escape May and Coulson as the Playground is plunged into disconnected darkness.
The team’s efforts to regroup are aided by Simmons, who completely hoodwinks Bobbi and knocks her out with tech like a total boss. Simmons and Coulson wait for May to gut Bobbi’s locker as Fitz and Mack find each other in the electrical corridors. Mack insists he would never hurt Fitz, but Fitz — undoubtably having the same flashbacks to Ward as we are — is unconvinced.
The matter is decided when gas leaks through the vents. Realizing what’s about to happen, Mack shields Fitz from the an explosion with his own body.
Allies in the shadows
And before you can blink, the S.H.I.E.L.D. we knew is swallowed by the S.H.I.E.L.D. we’re only coming to know; the only problem is that nobody can find Agent May.
Because nobody finds Melinda May until Melinda May wants to be found.
Fitz and Simmons huddle together in the lab, their tension thawing amid the chaos. Agent Weaver tells them what’s up; she insists that Coulson “has no right” to call his operation S.H.I.E.L.D. With Fitz’s tacit permission, Simmons checks on Mack.
Meanwhile, Bobbi and Agent Meany Baldy Calderon plan to pick up Skye at Dr. Banner’s “Retreat.” This plan is overheard by May, who is everywhere and nowhere at once.
Sound and Fury
Meanwhile, Gonzales grills Coulson. He is deeply mistrustful of the Director, believing that he may be a “messenger” for an alien race; Coulson can’t deny the possibility. Gonzales asks him to open the Toolbox, so other-S.H.I.E.L.D. can hunt down the dangerous objects that Fury has hidden around the world.
Coulson is like, “LOL, no.”
Angry, Gonzales claims that Fury literally created an “heir” to S.H.I.E.L.D. in Coulson, and that Fury’s secrets destroyed the organization. Coulson disagrees – that, he reminds Gonzales, was Hydra.
The truth is, both men have a point. Nick Fury never does anything for just one reason, and the goodness of his heart is a very shallow place.
Anyway, Agent May interrupts the conversation by ICER-ing everyone in the room except Coulson. She bundles him out of a secret exit to save Skye, and surrenders to Agent Weaver.
Later, Coulson meets up with Hunter in a very Tahiti (actual-Tahiti)-esque bar. Hunter is signing up, and they’re gonna go kick ass or sunbathe or something.
Not alone
Meanwhile, Skye has been having a few solo adventures in the safe-cabin. She tries on Simmons’ gloves, disconcerted when they make her woozy, and gets a visit from Gordon No-Eyes.
Gordon tells Skye about her gift – everything in the Universe gives off vibrations, he says, and Skye can now tap into that. Gordon muses that when he transformed, his mentor hugged him, while S.H.I.E.L.D. has quarantined Skye.
Which is completely unfair, incidentally. Both Gordon and Jaiving actually knew what Terrigenesis was – just like Skye, her mean old friends at S.H.I.E.L.D. had no idea.
But whatever. Gordon invites Skye to join the “others” and learn about her abilities, free of pain and fear. She hesitates, and Gordon says he’ll find her when she’s ready.
Skye removes Simmons’ gloves and finds that she can literally waterbend, presumably by manipulating the vibrations of the water. This gentle manifestation of her power makes Skye smile for what might be the first time since her transformation.
The most dangerous kind of pain
Unfortunately, the good times don’t last long. May calls and tells Skye to run away from S.H.I.E.L.D.; she tries, but finds herself surrounded by helicopters, agents, and Bobbi. When Calderon fires a bullet at Skye, she… she…
She basically airbends around her, blowing away not just the bullet, but the trees and anyone standing within a forty-foot radius.
[Insert obligatory Avatar reference here.]
It’s insane, and Skye knows it. “Gordon,” she whispers. “Help.”
And as Bobbi watches in shock, Gordon blossoms up out of nowhere. “Would you like to go home?” he asks, and when Skye nods, he sweeps her away.
Away from her assailants. Away from S.H.I.E.L.D. Away, perhaps, from even being Skye at all.