'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Recap: 'Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Despite the fact that we are only four episodes into the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I think it's safe to declare that this has been the finest season of this intrepid series to date. The shift in tone has worked wonders, giving us grittier episodes that feature enthralling storylines that waste no time in advancing the plot and giving the audience everything it wants.

Which means, I am filled with joy to report that last night's episode, 'Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire' was simply more of the same great stuff we've come to enjoy. Because we were treated to answers galore as to what the show has been slowly setting up over these past few weeks, and more importantly...it seems that the band is finally getting back together and are unified against a common foe for the first time in a long time and that's just outright fantastic. So with that in mind, who then is the nasty foe S.H.I.E.LD. will be facing off against? Well we will get back to that in a moment, because let's start by looking at another important reveal from last night...the identity of the mole that has been feeding information to the Watchdogs.

This stunning storyline came together by way of Daisy, since when we catch up to her, her continued fight against the Watchdogs is finally taking its toll on her physically to the point where she needs some help, leading her to lure Simmons away from the team to get a little medical attention for a bullet she caught in a firefight...and use Jemma's intimate knowledge of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s systems to find out how the Watchdogs are getting their hands on private Inhuman information. Through a little espionage, er...rather, Jemma using her title to make things happen, they come to find that the Watchdogs have been able to gain access to the devices that each Inhuman is required to wear to track their movements and pinpoint their location, and it leads them to their next target, James, who we all know as 'Hellfire' from last season. James it seems has adjusted to civilian life, spending his days working in a fireworks store and despite the fact that it seems that James is comfortable with a normal life...he is hiding quite the secret.

It turns out that he is the man who has been feeding information to the Watchdogs because he cannot stand his own kind. He thinks Inhumans are a scourge upon mankind, and wants them all eliminated, including himself, putting the ladies in extreme danger. But while Jemma and Daisy uncover this ugly truth, Coulson and Mack spent their time chasing down leads on the Momentum Labs case, only to come face to face with the Ghost Rider. Their chance encounter gives Coulson quite the wild notion to trust Reyes and appeal to his better nature and well...it works. Robbie agrees to help out and the group learns everything they can about everything that happened at the lab before an alert pulls them away from their primary mission, allowing them to go and save Jemma and Daisy. This led to the coolest moment of the night where the show fought fire with fire, giving Robbie his iconic flaming chain and at last...getting the team under one umbrella for the first time since last season...which is an extremely good thing.

Because last night we learned that Momentum Labs was working on quantum particle experiments and that somehow, the Darkhold helped in those experiments and considering that Daniel Whitehall, the Red Skull and Nick Fury have searched for this book unsuccessfully it's clear that its power has been sought after by some of the classiest and nastiest individuals on the planet to either contain or control its power and now...Lucy, the ghost we met in the season premiere, no doubt is aware of the book's location. Meaning our team is reunited to find the Darkhold, and put a stop to whatever she has planned for it; and just like that...season four has its story arc and I'm loving it. This season really can do no wrong at this point, and I'm beyond excited that the team is finally coming back together and I can't wait to find out exactly what Lucy has planned for the Darkhold and how that will raise the stakes for this already incredible storyline. Until next time.

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