Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Recap: "Face My Enemy"

Written by Shae

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

Remember kids, this show is based on fiction and is totally not real. Or that’s the lie I’ve been telling myself that ever since this season started. Why? It’s so hard not to get caught up in this show. Thankfully we take a bit of a break from the emotional torture, and get to see some awesome spies in action. This time, we get to go undercover! Granted, Simmons is already doing that, so it’s not entirely new, but we do have a few new faces going incognito this time around. Coulson and May take this case, leaving the others to handle the Bus. Mac and Hunter do get to be out doing a bit of spy stuff, while Fitz, Triplett, and Skye were busy researching the artifact they were after. What is this magical artifact, you ask? Well, in Miami, there was a fire in some church that destroyed everything…except a particular painting. Dubbed the ‘Miracle Painting’, it’s survival of the fire not only make it popular, but makes it a commodity that both S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA want. Coulson is most interested in what’s on the back of the painting. Those strange alien markings that he’s carved into walls himself, adorn the back of this painting. So, Skye hacks them into a special event that offers a viewing of the painting, while Coulson and May set up to find and steal the painting. Both are thrown into a bit of nostalgia from their younger agent days together.

Things never go according to plan for the team. Coulson and May are soon faced with General Talbot. Or is it him?! When our two favorite agents get to the room the painting is held in, they discover that Talbot had taken it earlier. The general seems to be playing nicer than normal, and that might be because it’s not him. Still, Talbot offers Coulson a chance to examine the painting, in a secure facility. Coulson requires to talk with his team first, and they set up a time. Mostly, it’s an excuse for May to follow the general and find out what’s really going on.

Shortly after, May finds out the real deal. Talbot is really a HYDRA agent. And by Talbot, I mean a HYDRA agent is pretending to be him. Remember that awesome mask that Natasha had in Captain America: The Winter Soldier? HYDRA now has it. May confronts the HYDRA agent, and is quickly out numbered and tased. The newly brainwashed Agent 33, poses as May and heads to the Bus to bring Coulson to her boss, try and find out the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. and kill the rest of the team. All of which she actually succeeds at. Or so it seems. Coulson goes with her, and thinking she’s May, confides in her that she needs to have a plan in case he does crazy like Garrett did. Agent 33, was able to leave a device on the Bus that causes a virus to kill the entire system. Just as she’s bringing Coulson to the room where May is being tortured, Coulson finds out that the person he’s with isn’t his May.  This is May and Coulson, so of course they win. They get the painting, and they flee. All while the Team struggles to save the Bus. Skye works on fighting the Virus while Fitz gets Hunter to help him with the mechanical engineering side of things. While Fitz is still struggling to communicate, he’s able to get Hunter to listen and understand. The two are able to save the ship, despite Fitz’ reservations. Still struggling with the debilitating affects of his healing brain, Fitz is also trying to form friendships with the new Team. He also blames himself for Simmons leaving; believing she left because she didn’t return his feelings.

Finally, May confronts Coulson with her ‘contingency plan’. Refusing to shoot him, she gives him a bag full of money, a passport, and a weapon. Claiming she wont let him die, but she will always take care of him. While all seems well with the team, our HYDRA agent that brainwashed Agent 33, is paying Raina a visit. He’s demanding the Obelisk (the original 0-8-4), and not giving Raina much of a choice to return it to him. With a timeline of 48 hours, or death, Raina is left between a rock and a hard place. This is not the bumbling HYDRA the comics and cartoons have given us. HYDRA doesn’t mess around, and they’re not above any means to obtain their goals. What lies ahead? Danger, of course.

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