- Photo Credit: (ABC/Mitch Haaseth)
‘Option Two’ Plot Summary:
Coulson (Clark Gregg) and the team fend off an alien attack on the Lighthouse.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has the misfortune of doing an alien invasion/apocalypse story while Marvel also releases Avengers: Infinity War. Saving the world is typical comic book material, but despite the show’s best efforts, people are going to compare it to the high budget movie. Of course, the productions of the movies and the show have rarely been in sync, with the Hydra twist in Captain America: The Winter Soldier blindsiding the television writers. It seems this time, with years of foreknowledge about Infinity War, the TV staff decided they didn’t care.
When I say that the producers didn’t care, I don’t mean they resigned to mail in the season. On the contrary, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has enjoyed an increase in quality since it started doing its own thing. If fans compare the show with the movies, so be it. It’s up to the viewers whether they enjoy both or not.
Despite not having hundreds of millions of dollars to rely on, this week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is pretty entertaining. We get more Patrick Warburton as the Lighthouse computer guide; Patrick Warburton is always a plus. Coulson is impatient though and accidently initiates a lockdown designed for a nuclear strike. Coulson humorously tries to shrug off the fact that he’s trapped the team for 15 years. Another good joke is Fitz (Ian De Caestecker) seemingly about to tell his future grandson Deke (Jeff Ward) he loves him but instead demanding Deke never call him Gramps again.
“Option Two” also features some good action. The alien hit squad’s assault reminded me of last season’s “Self Control.” The dim lighting, claustrophobic atmosphere, and swarm of enemies taking massive amounts of bullets are straight out of a horror movie. Mack’s (Henry Simmons) shotgun-ax sets the scene too.
Something that probably few fans predicted was Talbot (Adrian Pasdar) infusing himself with gravitonium. It honestly feels like it’s out of left field until you consider it’s basically the only way to get out alive. Much like Yo-Yo (Natalia Cordova-Buckley) is willing to do anything to saving the future, Talbot is willing to make the hard decisions to save their lives. But only time will tell if it’s the right decision.
We’ll no doubt find out in the coming weeks whether Talbot is a hero or a threat, as well as if Daisy (Chloe Bennet) can save Coulson’s life, if he’ll even let her. This storyline is coming to an end in three episodes and whether it sticks the landing or crashes and burns, it’s going to be a wild ride.
