This week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D was very much the ‘Empire Strike Back’ episode of the series, and perhaps the show. The good guys had a plan on stopping Hive, but it just all backfired. Everything that could have gone wrong in fact did go wrong. Our heroes were left to lick their wounds with a bit of sadness and despair, but it sure made some great TV!!
The episode began as a mini origin story for Hive. Turns out the parasite organism in Grant Ward’s body was once a primitive human who just wanted to hunt for some food until being kidnapped and experimented on by members of the Kree alien race. Hive revealed that he was one of the first that was experimented on, and he was banished from Earth due to the fact that he has the ability to infect other Inhumans. Hive found the only remaining Hydra leaders, who were in fact dedicated to him, and in turn made them his newest science experiment. Hive’s new mission is to turn normal humans into Inhumans, where he can exert his influence even further and eventually dominate the globe. By the way, Hive’s monologue referencing Tony Stark and Steve Rogers was the perfect amount of foreshadowing for the upcoming Captain America: Civil War film.
Meanwhile over at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, everyone is trying to track down Hive and rescue Daisy. Newly copulated couple Fitz and Simmons are also working on a scientific means to attack Hive and create an antidote against Hive for Inhumans. But with last week’s Dr. Radcliffe kidnapped and working for Hive, they are having trouble devising a way to combat Hive on a cellular level. Meanwhile, Lincoln feeling useless agrees to have the antidote tested on him, even though it might possibly kill him. His dedication to saving Daisy is that strong. Mack also is still hopeful that Daisy is still herself. They caught a break when they see her on a CCTV and learn the location of where Hive’s base is, in the town he purchased with dearly departed Malick’s money. Mack thinks Daisy got caught on the TV because she unconsciously wants S.H.I.E.L.D. t come and save her. Coulson isn’t convinced but still wants to use this opportunity to try and kill Hive.
When the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents try and storm the compound. May pretends to be a Hydra security contractor in the town where she flirts with Inhuman James to glean information about Hive’s global plans. When she gets enough intelligence, she knocks him out and then the strike force mounts their attack. Hive, ever the strategist is two steps ahead of them and uses the Kree artifact from last week to summon his former Kree torturers to come clean up. The Kree “Reapers” crash land where they proceed to try and kill Hydra agents as well as other Inhumans, who they view as “abominations.” Hopefully, the show will incorporate more Kree/Inhuman drama so we can see what made the aliens turn on their foot soldiers/experiments. Was there a Kree uprising? Hive only mentioned a civil war, but didn’t give any more information. Perhaps this will be discussed next season (especially since Marvel’s Inhumans film is pretty much dead in the water now) and we might even meet some of the Royal family and Attilan.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents lay low as the Kree Reapers tear through the compound. Daisy displays her full power and actually takes down one of the Kree Reapers, who Hive needed their blood for the human experimentations, which failed without it. The other Reaper attacks Hive where they have a full on battle. Mack takes it upon himself to try and save Daisy. Their confrontation is heartbreaking. Although she is brainwashed and under Hive’s control, she does speak some truths that hurt Mack, especially when she said he failed his own brother. As Daisy attacks him, she does no resist in a scene reminiscent of Captain America: The Winter Soldier when Captain America lets Bucky beat him with no resistance. Before Daisy can deliver the killing blow to Mack, she is shot by S.H.I.E.L.D., which in turn proves Hive’s indoctrination correct.
The agents return back to their base, where not only did they not succeed, but the medical procedure Fitz and Simmons were working on proved to be a failure. Lincoln, who injected himself with the serum without anyone’s approval, had his immune system shut down as a result and it didn’t even work. Meanwhile, Hive is pissed at Daisy for not stopping Mack from destroying the Inhuman she captured and there was no Kree blood for them to use. To prove her loyalty Daisy reveals that Coulson healed her from death previously with Kree blood, so, as a result, he can drain her blood to improve the experiment. Will Hive sacrifice Daisy?
If this was the 'Empire Strikes Back' episode, hopefully, we’ll soon have a 'Return of the Jedi' episode and our heroes will be able to stop Hive and save the world from his takeover. Even though Coulson feels betrayed and is thinking pragmatically towards Daisy, rest assured she’s still his surrogate daughter and he’ll break whatever protocol to save her. The Kree Reapers were a great addition, even though they died. With Hydra gone, and hopefully the Hive Inhuman problem to get resolved, we’ll need a new bad guy, and the Kree would make a great nemesis, which would actually require the Inhumans to team up with S.H.I.E.L.D. to overcome. Next week continues to tease the inevitable confrontation between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hive with the promise of someone important dying. Who could it be? We’ll find out soon enough.
