Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Writing on the Wall

November 12, 2014 5:33 AM - Season 2, Episode 7

May, Trip, Bobbi and Lance hunt the escaped Ward as Coulson and Skye try to find the meaning of the alien map.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (22 comments total)

Did they really do a record scratch sound effect when Ward said "Hello Skye" or was I just imagining it?
posted by Ian A.T. at 7:36 AM on November 12, 2014

The biggest gripe I have with this show is the lack of time it can devote to its characters. I think they're doing it right - not trying to shoehorn every character into every episode - but that does mean you can go a lot of episodes without significant time on a particular character. I was expecting more from Tripp this time, for instance, since he hasn't been used much yet. But we did get a much better Ward storyline, at least, and we can move past the focus on the alien symbols a bit now.

I see a big Fitz-centred story coming up, along with the big Skye-daddy meeting. There's a lot of good plotlines going on here.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 7:36 AM on November 12, 2014

Here's a snarky recap made just for you!

Overall, it's a good episode, but I think the weakest of the season so far. But since the season has been so good, that's not negative, just a note. It was more plot driven, with characterization taking a back seat, but not completely. Simmons seems to be in a strange place, pulling CSI type stuff, while not really talking to anyone. Everyone else seems very focused on Plot A or Plot B, which is understandable, but the patter between characters was missed.

I do wonder if that alien city is the vanished one from the beginning of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:33 AM on November 12, 2014

Interesting that both Coulson and Ward are vinyl fanatics, apparently. Hey, maybe that'll be part of the redemption arc bonding?
posted by GhostintheMachine at 9:06 AM on November 12, 2014

I agree about characters taking a back seat. I found the wrap up of the carving / map plot satisfying though.

There are so many characters. No one had a lot to say last night. I feel that FitzSimmons has really been put on the back burner. Not that that's a bad thing. I look forward to more interaction between Bobbi and...the guy. I can never remember his name...her ex. Someone in a past Fanfare described him as Discount Johnny Lee Miller and now that's all I can think of when I see him. Haha.

Does anyone else have a giant crush on Coulson? Those eyes. Oh my god.

That teaser for Agent Carter at the end of the show last night .... the first thing you see is a tight shot of her leg as she's pulling up a stocking. Groan. I really hope they aren't going to sexualize her. I haven't seen any coming attractions of Agents of Shield with Coulson sexily pulling up his socks.
posted by the webmistress at 9:33 AM on November 12, 2014 [6 favorites]

I do wonder if that alien city is the vanished one from the beginning of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

That seems unlikely, because how are they going to get there? The whole point of AoS is the humans scale of it, and if they take off into space, that will be lost.

My bet is that there is a hidden Kree city on Earth, that has been abandoned for thousands of years.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:28 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

Well, Attilan (the hidden city of the Inhumans, who were created by the blue-skinned Kree) was once in the Himalayas...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:44 PM on November 12, 2014 [6 favorites]

Well, Attilan (the hidden city of the Inhumans, who were created by the blue-skinned Kree) was once in the Himalayas...

And wasn't Skye found in a destroyed village somewhere in China?
posted by nubs at 4:31 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

And wasn't Skye found in a destroyed village somewhere in China?

So, the current theory is that Skye's father is Kree or part Kree?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:47 PM on November 12, 2014

So, the current theory is that Skye's father is Kree or part Kree?

I think the current dominant theory is that he is Mister Hyde and Skye is Quake. Maybe mommy was Kree or Inhuman?
posted by Jacqueline at 4:58 PM on November 12, 2014

Does anyone else have a giant crush on Coulson? Those eyes. Oh my god.

I have cried myself to sleep literally dozens of times over how much I love Coulson and how this love will never be requited due to him being a fictional character. :(
posted by Jacqueline at 4:59 PM on November 12, 2014 [4 favorites]

If anyone can convince Clark Gregg to sexily pull up his socks in slo-mo, I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER.
posted by Kitteh at 5:11 PM on November 12, 2014 [12 favorites]

What, not love for a shirtless Brett Dalton cuddling a puppy?
posted by elgilito at 2:16 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

Hah. No way. They aren't even in the same Marvel galaxy. Ward always has the "Oooo I'm a model, check out my jawline" Blue Steel look on his face. Always. Phil Coulson (and of course Clark Gregg) is dreamy. The face. The smile. The voice. He has a sweet and vulnerable manliness I find very appealing. Totally fangirling here and not ashamed. Clark Gregg is perfect for the role of Agent Coulson.

Cute puppy though.
posted by the webmistress at 6:08 AM on November 13, 2014 [7 favorites]

Seconding no love for Brett Dalton, but I'll take the puppy. I mean, sure, he's good-looking, but he's generically good-looking.

Uh, Brett Dalton, I mean. Not the puppy.
posted by Kitteh at 6:20 AM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

I haven't seen any coming attractions of Agents of Shield with Coulson sexily pulling up his socks.

I'd watch the hell out of it though.

I'm not much on beards, nor was I much on Brett Dalton in season one, but apparently evil, bearded Ward does something for me, so I was sad to see the beard go last night and enjoyed the utter pandering of shirtless puppy cuddles.

Overall, I really liked this week's episode except there was not quite enough May. And Jemma. And Jemma girl-crushing on Bobbie. But the Mac 'n Fitz hangin' out gave me fuzzies.
posted by Squeak Attack at 1:44 PM on November 13, 2014

That teaser for Agent Carter at the end of the show last night .... the first thing you see is a tight shot of her leg as she's pulling up a stocking. Groan. I really hope they aren't going to sexualize her.

I'm so annoyed at the lame sexism of "the best man for the job" that I wouldn't be surprised by anything. Yeah, it's a classic phrase. But it's a shitty one for no good reason here.
posted by phearlez at 7:49 PM on November 13, 2014

I'm going to chalk up the shittiness of the Agent Carter tagline to ABC's legendarily shitty promotions department. Back when LOST was still going, my friends and I used to play a regular game of "how will ABC misrepresent this week's episode?" AoS is no different in this regard -- the teaser for next week's ep even had ABC's old reliable "SOMEONE. COULD. DIE." stinger. (Spoiler: They probably won't.) So I've just been ignoring anything that ABC has to say about Agent Carter, and letting the preview clips and production news speak for itself. I've got to say, it looks pretty neat.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:11 PM on November 13, 2014

I'm so annoyed at the lame sexism of "the best man for the job" that I wouldn't be surprised by anything. Yeah, it's a classic phrase. But it's a shitty one for no good reason here.

Maybe they want their ads to be period-appropriate too. :/
posted by Jacqueline at 12:08 PM on November 14, 2014

But the Mac 'n Fitz hangin' out gave me fuzzies.

Me too. And I'm kind of glad Mac was slagging on Coulson's mental health a bit. His blocking/body language during Coulson's "I'm no longer nuts" pep talk showed a quite a bit of contempt, which is an interesting contrast to the rest of the team's loyalty.
posted by klarck at 4:05 PM on November 15, 2014 [2 favorites]

Post-episode Coulson porn for those of you who would be interested in that sort of thing
posted by Jacqueline at 1:22 AM on November 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

Yeah I'm hoping that with this being a major conclusion of Coulson's arc we are going to have a bit more room for the other characters. I don't mind plot focused episodes, especially when they are as well structured and as fun as this one is, but I think the show could make room for more character driven episodes. I also hope Ward never gets reformed, because he's so much more fun as a bad guy than a hero.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 2:47 AM on December 9, 2014