“The Devil Complex” Plot Summary:
As Coulson (Clark Gregg) lays a trap for General Hale (Catherine Dent), Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) struggles to close the rift to fear dimension for good.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is spending a surprising amount of time focusing on the fear dimension. What seemed like a one-off plot for the 100th episode is still in play. In some way, this decreases the significance of Coulson’s actions in that episode. “The Devil Complex” thankfully puts an end to it, but not before utilizing the rift in a rather ingenious way.
While some shippers will disagree, Fitz and Simmons’ (Elizabeth Henstridge) relationship has always worked the best when the two have faced hardships. The couple has literally been separated by time and space. Sure, if you like cute romances, they have their moments. But romances are generally strengthened by their difficulties. This recurring story spans generations, with examples like Odysseus and Penelope of The Odyssey (or Desmond and Penny from Lost).
Earlier this season we saw Fitz briefly confront his inner darkness, but this time he faces it head on. This week’s episode initially makes us believe Fitz’s Doctor persona is a fear manifestation, but we later learn it’s all in his head. While split personalities and hallucinations are staples of fiction, “The Devil Complex” cleverly calls back to Fitz’s previous brain injury. It’s not hard to believe a combo of stress and lack of sleep triggered it all.
After Fitz removes Daisy’s (Chloe Bennet) inhibitor in gruesome fashion, it seems like the show has done too good of a job subverting Leo and Jemma’s happily ever after. But then a plot point I previously had very little interest in, Deke (Jeff Ward) being their grandson, saves the day. What’s intriguing about this moment between Deke and Jemma is it’s both touching and ominous. While Deke’s eventually birth suggests Fitz and Simmons are going to be okay, that means they won’t be able to change the past.
If the world is going to end, we might have gotten a good glimpse of how it’s going to happen. It seems that Hale is in league with the Kree. She’s also working with Anton Ivanov (Zach McGowan), though he’s always been a lesser villain, in my opinion. I couldn’t even remember if he was still alive until he showed up.
With the fear dimension storyline out of the way, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to ratchet up the doomsday scenario. General Hale holding Coulson prisoner is a step in the right direction. Hopefully we can get some more character moments like this week’s.
