Episode Title: One Door Closes
Original Airdate: 3-31-15
‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ comes back to true form after the misstep of last week, with a great episode that has action, nostalgia, exposition, more Avengers references, and some cool reveals. Flashing back to the events that affected S.H.I.E.L.D. directly after the story of ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, Episode 15 titled ‘One Door Closes‘ shows us exactly how the Edward James Olmos’ Gonzalez came to head up the real S.H.I.E.L.D., how they were formed and why exactly they disagree with Coulson’s methods. The episode also takes Skye deeper into her Inhuman origins with drastic changes to the overall status of the show thus far.
This episode starts as a flashback, taking us back to the day S.H.I.E.L.D. fell. In a brief action sequence, we are reintroduced to Henry Simmons Mack, Adrianne Palicki’s Bobbi and, returning fan favourite, Lucy Lawless’ Hartley. I say reintroduced because we see these characters as they were before they appeared to Coulson, dealing with the fallout of H.Y.D.R.A.‘s coup last year after the events of ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘. Seeing these characters desperately fighting for their loves humanizes them as they betray Coulson and our beloved characters all this episode. The flashback sequences also provides much needed motivation for why this ‘real S.H.I.E.L.D.‘ has gone against Nick Fury’s philosophy and acts against Coulson. We also get to see Lawless utilized a lot better than her appearance in the Season 2 premiere, kicking a lot more ass!
In present day, Bobbi and Mack infiltrate Coulson’s team while he discovers their hidden plans a little too late as Gonzalez’s team raid the base and take everyone captive. May is able to stay ahead of everyone and helps Coulson escape, before giving herself up, but not before an amazing fight scene with Bobbi. We find out that this S.H.I.E.L.D.’s agenda is to track down any and all enhanced people that Fury may have hidden all over the world. To this end, they even track down Skye, who Coulson tucked away in what we learned is a safe house built by Bruce Banner. The flashback narrative really tied into this group’s motivations as they are made to look like the good guys while Coulson and crew seem like the rebels operating with their own agenda. It’s a cool turnaround, something I was worried about earlier.
Speaking of Skye, she has her own solitary adventures as she learns to get some control over her powers, after a visit by the Inhuman named Gordon. He friendlies up to her pretty nicely as he explains her origins, somewhat, and plants the idea in her head that she can control and use her powers as she is meant to. It’s kinda cool to see Skye getting mentored by the guy who was mentored by her mother. Something which, once revealed, I’m sure will bring them closer. One of the most visual effects heavy scene of the show happens this episode is when Skye has to use her powers to defend herself when confronted by Bobbi and Kirk Acevedo’s character. While the effect has a very ‘whoa’-like reaction, over all it’s pretty weak, but acceptable by TV standards. Surprised at herself, Skye cries for help making Gordon reappear and take her with him. The episode ends with a fugitive Coulson meeting up with Hunter, who accepts his previous offer of becoming a full time S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, planning their next move together.
‘One Door Closes’ aligns itself with the rest of the mostly kick ass episodes this season has featured so far. Season 2 hasn’t shied away from shaking things up with changes in the status quo of the series. Conflicts between main characters, deception and betrayal have been a running theme in the show so far and it seems to be paving a predictable way for the Season finale. While Gordon and Skye’s dad have been in the background for a few episodes, Raina, the only Inhuman ‘villain’ so far, seems to have been intentionally keeping a low profile. I have a feeling that those 3 will act as the big baddies this season, forcing Gonzalez and Coulson to unite their forces against a common enemy.
Channel: Superhero 
It’s been reasonably solid this season. I’m waiting, though, for one of Coulson’s team to call out Gonzales on the pure BS of their “transparency” doctrine. Coulson’s been trying to find other SHIELD agents since the fall, and he has a modest operating staff beyond “the gang”; surely some of them would have encountered Gonzales’ group if Gonzales’ group weren’t deliberately avoiding them. Then there’s General Talbot; he’s been working openly with Coulson for a little while. He has been shown to trust Coulson at least a little bit; just an episode back, with Agent 33 in play, he calls Coulson. The implication is that he doesn’t know about Gonzales’ group either — which is to say, the government doesn’t know about them.
That’s not exactly transparent, is it?
At this point, I’m far from convinced that Gonzales himself isn’t HYDRA. I’m much more likely to believe in the benevolence of Gordon, who at least so far hasn’t contradicted his own claims.
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I know right!? Also their method of operating (double agents pretending to be friends to gain trust then betray) seems very HYDRA-like. Also how can any covert agency be transparent in the first place. It defies the purpose!
I feel like the best part of the show right now is the Inhumans storyline, but they don`t wanna put their eggs in one basket, so made this political dick measuring contest as a means of creating non-Inhuman tension. But it`s just blah.
Thanks for the comment Morgan!
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