‘Toldja’ Plot Summary
Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) attempt to escape Kitson while Sarge (Clark Gregg) attempts to escape S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
I had a surprising amount of engagement with other viewers on Twitter after my review of last week’s episode. I was not all that enthusiastic about the episode, despite it featuring fan-favorite couple Fitz-Simmons. I said last week trudged up old drama and the season was using comedy to extend storylines (filler, in other words). My hope for the future was all that was behind us.
Unfortunately, the space hijinks continue in this week’s episode. I was under the impression that Fitz, Simmons, and Enoch (Joel Stoffer) went straight to Earth, but it turns out they accidentally teleported back to Kitson. I suppose whatever work Fitz and Simmons have signed up for will be important to the overall narrative, but their storyline in this episode did not impress. It’s a weak use of Anthony Michael Hall’s guest appearance, and we still don’t get to see the brothels they keep mentioning. At least Enoch is finally gone, though we probably haven’t seen the last of him.
The storyline on Earth has better luck. The A-plot of “Toldja” centers on the mind games Mack (Henry Simmons) and Sarge play with each other after Sarge insists that S.H.I.E.L.D. will soon be taking orders from him. I’m glad Sarge’s first attempt to escape doesn’t work, though the fire-breath effect looks horribly cheesy. I’m also not sure if Sarge ever expected it to work, since he smiles when Mack tells him it failed.
The problems with this storyline are it’s at the midpoint of the season and other stories have used this kind of the plot development so much it’s become cliché. This is what happened in The Avengers with Loki, for crying out loud! Mack even echoes Cap, saying there’s only one God. While I’m glad that Sarge remains a bad guy, even after all the information about the Shrike we’ve learned, I knew he would be free by the end of the episode.
The problem with Season 6 is I keep waiting for the good part. The promos make it look like something exciting is going to happen, but the moments in the promos usually are the most exciting parts. This week is a step up from last, which I went too easy on, in retrospect. If I had to rate that episode again, I would give it a 4 out of 10. As for this week, “Toldja” is not a bad episode. Clark Gregg is appropriately menacing and things like Deke (Jeff Ward) thinking Michael Jordan invented shoes got a smirk out of me. However, “Toldja” is mediocre in the context of where we are in the season and what the season is providing. I’m no longer looking forward to watching each new installment and writing about it.
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