The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. mid-season 2 premiere left us positively quivering with questions. Here’s what we most want to know — and what we think might happen next.
Seriously, what is up with Bobbi and Mack?
We didn’t learn much more about Bobbi and Mack’s mysterious agenda in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. mid-season 2 finale. But in place of details, the case against the conspirators was bolstered with good, old-fashioned feelings.
Because while we may expect Bobbi to lie to Hunter, watching Mack manipulate Fitz gave us some very bad feelings. And seeing Mini Lola, the ultimate innocent, the symbol of good-will and honest intentions, be revealed as an instrument of espionage! Well, it left us with more narrowed eyes and suspicious hearts than if Bobbi had fist-bumped Mack and whispered “Hail Hydra.”
So what could these two be up to? Are they deep, deep, deep Hydra sleepers? (We really doubt it, but the possibility exists.) Are they agents of S.W.O.R.D., S.H.I.E.L.D.’s counterpart for extra-terrestrials? Is that why Mack is so sensitive about the “alien crap”? Could they be working for Robert Gonzales?
…Maybe they just want to change the lunch menu.
Will Simmons come around on the Inhumans?
One of the most unsettling elements of “Aftershocks” was watching Simmons reach the conclusion that alien alterations to human DNA are a plague-level crisis that should be uniformly eradicated. For all that we kind of understand why she feels that way, we couldn’t help but get flashbacks to… well, basically every X-Men Versus Scientist plot line ever.
And those don’t usually end well for the scientists.
The fact is, Simmons is on the wrong side of history here. As the the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. mid-season 2 premiere made eminently clear, the Inhumans aren’t coming – they’re already here. And when (or preferably before) that truth becomes evident, we’d really like Agent Simmons to give Skye a hug and hop off the “well-intentioned evil scientist” train before it reaches Termination Station.
We can see it happening, certainly. But we can also imagine Simmons becoming entrenched in her ideas, and we’re really not sure which way she’ll go.
Is Hydra really done?
There’s no way anyone could have predicted that Coulson would basically take out Hydra in “Aftershocks,” but by all appearances, that’s what happened. The never-before-seen-but-apparently-super-important bad guys were all slain at each other’s hands, and Coulson seems to think that this particular burden has been successfully dislodged from his shoulders.
But is that really the case? Aside from being, we must confess, a somewhat dissatisfying end to such a formidable foe, is it realistic that Hydra could be disbanded in one evening?
We suspect that answer is something along the lines of “Yes… for now.” Baron Von Strucker, the Avengers-level villain who was gratifyingly name-dropped in the episode, remains potently at large (though he may be less interested in Hydra than he once was.) Mr. Bakshi is also alive, presumably destined to join Crusher Creel in the bowels of a government containment facility.
(So pretty.)
But it is the lingering threat of brainwashing which keeps us most curious about Hydra’s continued relevance. The origins of the Faustus Method were revealed on Agent Carter, and we saw the method brutally deployed against Agent 33 and others. Lots of theoretical money was placed on Agent Simmons being a victim of brainwashing, but so far, that has not come to pass.
Are we meant to forget it, then? Or is this idea, like that of Hydra, merely slinking back into the shadows to await a better opportunity?
Next: Inhuman issues –>
Who are the Inhumans loyal to?
This is a big question, and probably not one we can come close to answering yet. But given the already complicated relationship between two Inhuman movers and shakers — Skye’s father Cal, and Gordon No-Eyes — it seems worthwhile to lay out what we know.
Both Gordon and Cal had close relationships with Skye’s mother, which might suggest that they would find common cause. But if Cal was so desperate to see Skye transform, why wouldn’t he contact Gordon — who, as the terrifying cut-scene from “What They Become” showed us, has had his own Diviner this whole time?
And why would Cal team up with Hydra (and work with the loathed Daniel Whitehall) if there was already a supportive network of Inhumans to tap into?
For now, we are more inclined to believe that Gordon and Cal are just ignorant of each other than they are actively antagonistic – though that’s just a guess. But what may change this is the arrival of Raina into Gordon’s sphere of Inhumans. Having basically been told to jump off a bridge by the “Doctor” she followed for so long, Raina may be nursing a bit of a grudge against Skye’s father. (And honestly, we’re lining up behind her.)
But while we’re all for Raina leading an Inhuman charge against Cal the Asshole, we’re a bit more concerned about her established resentment for Skye. Hopefully Gordon will explain that Skye’s presence in the temple had nothing to do with Raina’s transformation – but the odds that No-Eyes is going to be a big fan of S.H.I.E.L.D (and that bloody Index) are probably low.
At this point, we’re not putting Gordon and co. in the Baddie category. But knowing what Raina is capable of, we’re watching these guys very closely indeed.
No pun intended.
When will Skye’s secret come out — and how will the team react?
If there’s one thing we know about television, it’s that secrets have a very short shelf-life. Especially the series-changing, massive-character-development-inducing kind of secret — which is exactly what Skye and Fitz are keeping between them at the moment.
And let’s get real, if Skye doesn’t betray herself by accident, she’ll probably wind up doing it on purpose.
We might be inclined to pin the revelation of her whacked-out DNA and earthquake powers on the season 2 finale, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been pretty chick-chock with their conflicts this season. Plus, this.
So, how will the rest of the team react?
Unfortunately, Simmons’ response is probably a foregone conclusion. We don’t think that three or four episodes (if that) is sufficient to dispel her anti-alien prejudice — which, interestingly, will put her directly at odds with Fitz.
But what about Coulson and May? Ordinarily we’d think the Director and S.O. would be understanding, but as seen above, Skye’s powers don’t exactly manifest themselves in calm, controlled circumstances. Chaos and shouting are probably the best we can hope for — at worst, Skye could literally bring the Playground down around everyone she loves.
No pressure, Daisy dear.
So in the interest of drama (and sadness, #MaurissaAndJedWHEDON) we have to assume something happens to make Skye feel that May no longer trusts her; Coulson could go either way at this point. But first impressions are indelible, and if Skye sees her surrogate parents looking at her like a leper… well, we suspect she may be on the run sooner rather than later.
Do you agree? Think we’re nuts? Tell us in the comments below!