.jpg)
A man performs street magic for a crowd in Hong Kong. They’re underwhelmed until he throws in some hands free pyrotechnics. When a woman in a flower dress approaches him afterward, asking for more, he creates fire in his palm. She’s in awe.
The woman, known as Raina, and Chan the magician go back to his place to talk about his hot body, er, fire powers. He’s a fan of the greats, like Houdini, but he discovered, “There’s no real magic there; just tricks.” He again demonstrates his power and tells Raina it just started happening a few years ago. “You have a gift,” she whispers reverently.
She thinks he’s been chosen for something special and repeatedly tells him he has a gift. He agrees, so when she asks him to close his eyes, he does. Only instead of getting lucky, Chan gets nabbed by some guys in HAZMAT suits.
On board the Magic S.H.I.E.L.D. Bus, Skye and Ward play Battleship, supposedly to help the S.O. evaluate Skye’s thought processes. Ward is complimenting Skye for being a quick study at everything and she is astounded to hear the compliment. But she’s more delighted to be beating him at Battleship. Off a ways, Coulson and May also quietly compliment Skye. Boy I hope their trust in the newest team member isn’t called into question later this episode.
The two agents also discuss Coulson’s sleeping habits, or lack thereof. She offers to “lay out the mats” and “go a few rounds with him.” It sounds saucy but she means combat training (I’m mostly sure). They’re interrupted by an alert telling them Chan has been taken. A Hong Kong agent named Kwan fills them in and says they were hacked again…by Rising Tide. All eyes train on Skye. Huh, that was quick.
Back from commercial Skye is pleading that it wasn’t her that did the hacking. Ward believes her but Coulson is skeptical. Being with S.H.I.E.L.D. could’ve made it easier to hack in, not harder.
Chan wakes up somewhere not his apartment but still with Raina. He vents about being read the S.H.I.E.L.D. “power protocols” again but she tells him she’s not from S.H.I.E.L.D.. She does however want to run some tests. Chan isn’t interested but stops when she tells he could be superhero Scorch, someone who is remembered for his power. It takes some convincing but Chan finally nods his agreement.
On the Bus, FitzSimmons and Skye have traced the hacker to Austin, TX. Apparently the guy has an impressive resume that includes infiltrating the Kremlin. The team heads out to bring him in but on the mission, the hacker easily makes Ward. He scurries off and Coulson pursues but that too fails. Never fear! Skye finds Mr. Hacker all on her own. Dang, she’s such a good agent, you might be thinking but you’d be wrong. Skye and the hacker are old friends. Turns out she sent him a warning text.
Hacker Man is apparently the guy who taught Skye everything she knows. He also misses her, which as we know, is the cue for female TV characters to throw themselves at said guy. And indeed, Skye grabs him for some kissing which moves quickly to discarding clothes.
After commercial Skye is doing the redress of shame, which includes keeping a computer chip in her bra. She’s making progress on S.H.I.E.L.D. but tells Mr. Hacker aka Miles the agency is off limits since she’s there. For some reason, Skye’s search for her top leads her to the apartment door, which reveals May looking pissed beyond all reason.
A fully dressed Skye now sits as Coulson interrogates her about her connection with Miles. She swears they’re not working together and starts to ramble an explanation but Coulson silences her by holding up a finger. “I’m really sorry,” she says. “Noted,” he replies.
May grills Miles who is stupidly snarky. Does he not realize he’s talking with The Cavalry? In any case, he has nothing useful to say, at least not right now. Ward cuffs Skye and Simmons stops her to say she missed a button on her shirt. Heh.
Back at the Secret Lab of Raina, soon-to-be Scorch is injected with a superhero stimulant. His powers immediately amplify, as does his ego. He is ready to show off his sweet fire tricks now that S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t there to hold him back.
In the interrogation room, Miles and Skye bicker about S.H.I.E.L.D.’s tactics and purpose. Miles is disgusted that his protégé/girlfriend isn’t more bothered by S.H.I.E.L.D.’s methods. Meanwhile, FitzSimmons search for data on Miles comes up empty. Coulson watches the interrogation room feed and gives May the go-ahead on an “I told you so.” Skye is a risk, just like she said. Coulson still thinks Skye is hiding something though.
Simmons finally strikes evidence gold: Miles deposited a million dollars in the days after the S.H.I.E.L.D. data on Chan was leaked. The hacker folds immediately. He wanted to get paid for distributing information instead of doing it for free like normal. As the Joker once said, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” But don’t blame Miles; he thought the information was going to an environmental project called Centipede. Some woman in a flower dress said he had a gift after all!
Back at Raina’s lab, Scorch is running on the treadmill while she observes from another room. The scientist from the Pilot reports that the platelets in his blood prevent the Extremis from burning him up like poor J. August Richards and their previous patients. They congratulate each other, and then gas Scorch so they can “drain him.”
Coulson reports to the whole team that Centipede is responsible for Chan’s kidnapping. FitzSimmons quickly deduces that Chan could be the newest Extremis patient. Maybe Project Centipede should think about hiring them.
In the lab, Chan is tied to an exam table but when he tries to escape, he burns his hand. Centipede has removed all of his platelets, making him vulnerable to his own power. Chan pleads with Raina, “You said I had a gift.” “And your giving it,” she replies. Dang, that’s cold.
Back with our agents, Coulson has decided he’s going in with May because he feels responsible for bringing in Skye to begin with. Ward looks put off. What is his function again?
Skye and Miles argue about Rising Tide and Miles’ desire to make money doing what they do. She tells him an innocent man could die because of him but Miles seems pretty unfazed. He’s more upset that he can’t find “what he’s looking for.” He thought it was Skye but now he’s lost again. Boo hoo.
At the Centipede site, Coulson commands Kwan’s team and warns them about the explosive qualities of Extremis. They blow the door and May does her kick ass thing. Kwan approaches Chan, who spies a whole tray full of his platelets. All it takes is for Coulson to turn away for a moment and Chan has burnt a hole through Kwan. Coulson is horrified as Scorch sends a wave of fire at him. Commercial.
Coulson and Chan are having a heated standoff as the latter burns himself up using his power. May pleads with him in Chinese but he is convinced he cannot trust anyone. “I was given this gift for a reason. To burn bright.” Ward grabs Miles and Skye for some help with Centipede’s computers and locked doors.
Scorch is feeling pretty invincible but Coulson tells May that all he needs is one clear shot. She distracts the flame thrower while Coulson empties his clip of tranquilizers to no effect. Thankfully the computers go down, so Scorch slips out to hunt down the Extremis doctor. Raina happily leaves her at his “mercy,” meaning Scorch burns her alive. Pretty graphic there ABC, but great effects all the same.
It’s at this point that I begin to wonder how many times this guy can “burn bright” before the his third degree burns take him down. But my logical thoughts are interrupted by Coulson appearing to apologize for having to hurt Chan. May jumps into action, injecting a double-shot of a paralyzer into Chan, who gradually begins to build to combustion. Miles, deciding to finally be helpful, diverts the resulting fireball through the vents to the roof.
Returning to the Bus, Coulson graciously offers Miles a small black box. “Take what’s in this box or we put you in a slightly bigger one.” The bracelet inside will keep the hacker away from electronics. Oh and also, Coulson has donated Miles’ money to Agent Kwan’s family and is deserting Miles in Hong Kong. Tough love, you know.
Speaking of, Miles and Skye depart on barely friendly terms as she heads to Coulson’s office. Coulson is angry because she’s been lying and she made him look like an idiot for standing up for her. He calls her bluff and she gives him the data chip. It doesn’t have S.H.I.E.L.D. secrets though; just redacted information about Skye herself. She’s looking for her birth parents but S.H.I.E.L.D. has classified a file on them. Coulson warns her about looking further but she is determined. He softens and offers his help, giving her a box like Miles’ before walking out. She tearfully puts the bracelet on.
Our credits scene this week is of Raina. She speaks to a man in prison and reports that they’ve found a solution the combustion problem. They can move to Stage Two.
She wants him to talk with “the clairvoyant,” who apparently doesn’t like being contacted, to see if he can help with Stage Three. Their conversation ends this way. “I like your dress.” “I know,” Raina responds. Okay…
Field Notes
The number of times Raina said this line tonight was annoying. “You want to be recognized…for your gift.” That being said, it’s strikingly accurate when you think about why so many regular people want to have super powers.
Could Ward have been any more obvious during the mission to bring in Miles? Guess stealth isn’t high on his list of skills.
Eye roll inducing dialogue of the night?
Miles: “You’ve changed.”
Skye: “Good.”
S.H.I.E.L.D. has an INDEX of people with powers. I can’t be certain it’s spelled with all CAPS like that but it really should be. Guesses on the acronym there?
May does Tai Chi. Because she’s awesome.
Skye’s haughtiness toward Miles when they argue about S.H.I.E.L.D. would’ve carried a lot more weight if she hadn’t slept with him like ten minutes prior.
Coulson talks about how he used to trust his brain to make decision but “then that alien staff went through my heart.” Don’t mind me, I’m just sniffling over here.
Best line of the night- “Oh crap. They gave him a name.”
I know it’s probably a coincidence that both Once Upon a Time and S.H.I.E.L.D. had lines this week about “one clear shot” to take down the villain but I still snickered with delight.
Seriously, can anyone out there explain the importance of the dress comment at the end? I’m thinking I’m ignorant of some comics tie-in but that’s about all I’ve got.
So S.H.I.E.L.D. continues to plug ahead with Extremis at it’s center and Skye trying valiantly to become more interesting. We’re getting little bits of character back-story here and there and the mystery around Coulson keeps deepening. I like the direction we’re heading, agents, so I’m sticking with this show. How about you?
Agent Coats, signing off.
No comments:
Post a Comment