“Code Yellow” Plot Summary:
S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sarge (Clark Gregg) face off again when Sarge’s team attacks Deke (Jeff Ward).
Since our heroes made it back to their own time, Deke has somewhat felt out of place in the series. While the revelation that he’s Leo (Iain De Caestecker) and Jemma’s (Elizabeth Henstridge) future grandson came at a crucial moment in those characters relationship (before that version of Fitz died), Deke has felt superfluous to the overall narrative. Making him an important aspect of this season presents an interesting challenge. How do you keep him interesting as a man out of time?
The show has a elected to give Deke what seems like the most logical path for someone who has knowledge of advanced technology: Deke becomes an entrepreneur. While it sidesteps the issue of S.H.I.E.L.D. allowing Deke to get this far, and the parody of Silicon Valley tech companies isn’t as funny as the show would think, there are some good moments. I do like the moment when Deke finds out his best friend is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and the look Mack (Henry Simmons) gives Deke when he sees Deke’s Framework version of Daisy (Chloe Bennet) is hilarious.
Sarge’s assault on Deke’s company is more engaging than I expected it to be. It’s mildly heartbreaking to see Deke call out the name of a fallen security guard. It’s such a small moment most people wouldn’t think about, but it’s sad if you do. Snowflake (Brooke Williams) continues to be the creepiest and most memorable of Sarge’s lackeys. She also has an excellent fight scene with May (Ming-Na Wen). The show continues to find new and exciting ways to show off May’s skill and resourcefulness. May is absolutely right when she says she doesn’t need a gun. Just a give her a keyboard or a phone and she’ll turn that into a weapon.< While I wasn’t all that invested in Yo-Yo (Natalia Cordova-Buckley) and Keller’s (Lucas Bryant) romance, it was freaky to see the alien bird fly into Keller's mouth. The whole storyline, from the autopsy to Keller’s death, is harrowing. Keller continues the long tradition of love interests biting the dust. Significant others really do have a horrible track record surviving on this show.< While this episode’s humor is overbearing in few places, some jokes do land. And the plot is back on track, more importantly. It looks like the show will give us answers in the next episode, but we’ll have to wait until the 14th.
