‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Recap: ‘Brand New Day’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 711 of ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
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When one thinks of the penultimate episode, that all important tale that airs before the end of the series, a pretty standard formula comes to mind. One that involves some epic and harrowing moments, the kind that put the characters in a tough or dark place before leaving us with a powerful cliffhanger. Because this episode really is designed to serve as the setup for the series finale and that particular formula allows for the audience to go on an emotional rollercoaster, so that we are locked in and invested on the series finale and all of the incredible and stunning moments it is going to send our way. But some shows buck those norms from time to time and feel the need to take the setup of the end in a vastly different direction, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. just so happens to be one of those shows.
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For after years of seeing other stories follow that formula in the MCU, ‘Brand New Day’ took the opportunity to provide the audience with something a little more intimate. Simply because everyone involved with this series knows that it is the characters and not the moments that move us and that’s why it went a more emotional route in the setup. By acknowledging the fact that it is going to be hard to say goodbye to Coulson and Mack and Daisy and everyone on the team. Simply because we’ve been a part of their lives as much as they have ours and getting to know them and see them struggle and grow means a lot to us. Which is why it was quite lovely to see Mack and Daisy discuss the finer points of how change is okay and how it is necessary in life. Since it serves to remind the audience, that endings in stories are merely a different brand of healthy change.

But while that alone was wonderful and beautiful in its own right. What was truly amazing about this particular tale is that it offered up some powerhouse emotional moments designed to prepare us for next week’s farewell, a great many of which came by way of Jemma Simmons. Because Malick was digging around in her mind for a fair chunk of this story, all in the hopes of figuring out Fitz’s location and well, what he found was quite worrisome. Because we were able to see the moments that led up Jemma’s return in the series six finale, wherein she set the stage for this final adventure, and during that time… she and Fitz opted to finally enjoy their time together. For something was clearly wrong with Fitz’s health and the implication was strong that perhaps the memory device was designed to keep Jemma from remembering the sorrow of losing her love and while that it is in many ways, a bit of a cliffhanger for next week, it does serve to remind us to be ready to lose some of these heroes to death. Because a final mission often means sacrifice against incredible odds.

Which of course this team will be facing. Because despite the more intimate approach to this tale, it would have been foolish or silly to not set the stage for a final fight and that setup came about by way of Kora and Malick’s twisted plans. For their infiltration of the Lighthouse was all designed to give Sibyl full access to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s servers, and to buy Malick time to contact the Chronicom fleet and bring them to Earth. All so that they could accomplish what so many others could not and destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. at last. Something that came to fruition in a harrowing and unsettling fashion as we watched all of its bases disappear from the face of the Earth, one by one. Which means that there will be no support for our heroes in their final hour and that they will face the Chronicoms alone and they simply must not fail. For to do so would mean the end of everything and well… it doesn’t get more epic than that for a cliffhanger. 

In the end however, this really was quite the magnificent episode. Because it made us laugh and smile, especially by way of the Quake jokes and Mack’s dad like threat to Sousa over his budding relationship with Daisy, and of course, it offered up some tough emotional moments, the kind that broke our heart and left us worried. But what matters most, is that despite its deviations from formula, it still set the stage for what looks to be one epic series finale. Because the stakes are truly at their highest, and these heroes will be tested like never before and well, it is truly strange to know that next week’s battle will indeed be their last. For this really is a series that seemed as though it could on forever. But all good things must come to their end and like the rest of you, this reviewer will be counting down the minutes until next Wednesday. So that we can all see how the final mission, and this storied franchise, will come to a close. Until next time.   

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