An Essay on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its Season 3 finale

At front and center, Clark Gregg as Director Phil Coulson

    I’ve never missed an episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In its first season, I was a staunch supporter. It was an exciting new window from a different corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Moreover, I thought the idea of the developmental “slow burn” was just more risk-taking genius from Marvel Studios. Every week I would shake my head about the ratings decline. AoS is the little-show-that-could. Despite a seeming distance, the continuity of the show is integrated with the movies. There have been a handful of guest appearances by characters like Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Lady Sif (From Thor). In the film, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Cap discovered the deeply-embedded infiltration of Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. and following that, the tie-in to AoS was gripping. Winter Soldier directly unraveled the life of Phil Coulson and revealed a Hydra double agent on his team in Grant Ward which made for some very tense interactions for the seasons to come. In case you didn’t know, it was Coulson who prepared the Helicarrier for Nick Fury in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

    But I want to talk about the recently wrapped third season which at the finale welled up gladness in me. For those who don’t watch the show, I need to quickly illustrate how Coulson is still alive after being impaled by Loki, and how the third season takes off.  

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Agent Coulson in Project T.A.H.I.T.I.

    Phil Coulson did die in The Avengers. During the course of AoS, we learn that before the Battle of New York, Coulson and Nick Fury were involved in implementing a device for the express purpose of “resurrecting” an Avenger killed in battle. A device that Coulson resigned work from with a recommendation for it to be shut down. Because Director Fury held such value for Coulson, he ordered for him to undergo the process. This is a concept that delivers on the gruesome. In flashbacks, Coulson is seen laying on a gurney with his scalp opened as S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors look on. A metallic device massages his exposed brain amidst his agonized cries for death. He returns with implanted memories of having been well-rested referring to it as “the magical place.” On a mission to save one of his agents, Coulson discovers the corpse of a Kree in a S.H.I.E.L.D. compound. It’s the alien whose fluids were drained to create the medicine that restored his life. 

Coulson discovers the Kree corpse

    After the events of Winter Soldier, Nick Fury reunites with Coulson and names him acting director with the task of rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. The revelation of the Inhuman phenomenon develops further, essentially leading to one of their agents, Daisy Johnson to be reborn as an Inhuman (She becomes the character, Quake who originated in the comic book). During the third season, Grant Ward continues his operations as a rogue Hydra agent and in vengeance assassinates an ally and love interest of Coulson. Coulson is consumed with an uncharacteristic vengeance and tracks Ward down.

At right, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury 

Brett Dalton as Grant Ward

    Grant Ward is murdered by Director Coulson on Maveth. Maveth is a planet mostly covered in darkness where an ancient and extremely powerful Inhuman was banished centuries earlier by the Kree. It turns out that Hydra started out as a branch of followers that embraced this Inhuman as a deity and developed a religious, crusading organization around him. Over the centuries, this sect of Hydra found a way to transport members to the banished Inhuman under the false impression they were making noble attempts to return their “god” to rule. But later, we discover from a high ranking Hydra officer that “followers” were actually sent to “satiate” their god. The Inhuman devoured these men. It gets very interesting and causes me to wonder about Red Skull’s reactions to this legend since he led the modern day reformed movement. This new revelation about Hydra brings to it a new depth that makes it more of a compelling mystery.

Maveth

    Coulson leaves Maveth, but the body of Ward is inhabited by the Inhuman later to be known as Hive. Hive returns to earth and begins to amass an army of Inhumans under a kind of hypnotic sway. He can manipulate the pleasure centers of their brains and turn them into acolytes with a religious fervor. Hive takes on the attributes of a certain world leader or Anti-Christ. In fact, as the episodes progress it’s no longer subtle. The content of the episodes reverberate like different notes on a piano that is the song of Christ-- His return, the defeat of the Anti-Christ and the monumental sacrifice He made for the forgiveness of the entire world—all played out in the words and actions of the characters in various ways. This is the real reason I’m writing this blog. Not so much to herald the courage of the show runners, because you see, I don’t know for sure why they would- or even could- write such a story like this. Or how it could even be sanctioned without a fight… if that. Whatever took place in the writer’s room, whether they realize it or not, the latter part of the third season undeniably gives glory to Jesus Christ. For a show on network TV to do this is astonishing! The reason that it is astonishing is because the world is increasingly hostile toward Christians. Several months ago, I read an interview Brett Dalton gave where he describes how people thought the monologue he delivered made him sound like he was "... born again, devout, off-my-rocker..." That's the attitude I'm talking about. I only know, that I know, what God says about Himself is absolutely true: that He is in control. As hard as it is to believe for anyone in these very troubled, harsh times we live in. My reaction would surely prompt many to say something like, “Well, you only saw what you wanted to see.” Okay.

Brett Dalton as Hive

Chloe Bennett as Daisy Johnson/ Quake

    Imagine if I wrote a TV script called, Hamilton. Hamilton is a regular brother from a Brooklyn projects neighborhood, who just happens to be a prince. Hamilton’s dead father talks to him through a Ouija board and tells him that his uncle murdered him. In my script, I write that Hamilton becomes insane with despair; drinking and smoking weed, stunted by indecisiveness on how to deal with his uncle’s treachery. How can he guilt-trip his own mother about marrying his uncle? In my script, I write that Hamilton stands one night in front of the corner bodega, declaring to himself aside a sleeping drunk, “To act or to delay, that is my prayer…” Take in all of that and you would be within your bounds of good sense to assume that I am lifting much of my content from Hamlet. Of course, I might say you only want to see what you want to see.

Daisy Johnson under sway with Hive

    Agent Mack finds Daisy in her cell. In their last encounter, Daisy was under sway with Hive and brutally beat Mack, even using her powers to fracture his bones and nearly killing him. But after Daisy comes back, Mack refreshes his commitment as her partner. Mack restrains her in loving embrace, and tells her that he forgives her. She breaks down in sobs, murmuring how she doesn’t deserve it. Note, the same conflicted and tormented Daisy finds Hive again and falls to her knees before him asking him to take her back. He doesn’t. He says to her that she’s been made impervious to his power. But this act from Daisy portrays the painful reality of sinful addiction and the hopelessness to break free of it. Legions of Christians testify today that the power of Christ broke them from all kinds of addictions. The real Satan can create a false sense of this which mirrors what Hive can do. The real Satan cannot undo the salvation of a true, genuine Christian. What Hive gives to his followers seems substantial, but just like in real life it doesn’t feed or satisfy the gnawing of the soul. Chloe Bennett plays Daisy/Quake. She’s a very young actress, but it needs to be said this may be her best acting yet. I repeatedly was moved to tears because of the sorrow that she conveyed. That one scene with Mack choked me up. It was undeniable. I’ve known that sorrow personally. There was nothing gratuitous about her performance. Marvel take notice, please. 

Henry Simmons as Mack

    Daisy Johnson is guilt-ridden by the horrible betrayal she has committed under the sway of Hive. I find it interesting that she condemned Grant Ward for his betrayal and it must’ve been grating for her to realize she was somehow guilty of much of the same. She doesn’t see how she can go on. She’s got an idea on how she can atone which is to give her life to destroy Hive. It was at this point, I expected the show to go in the clichéd direction of finding redemption through selfless deeds, which most of the world still believes is the answer to eternal life. But my heart leapt at what happened next. My chest heaved with emotion. A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent named Lincoln-- also an Inhuman and Daisy’s lover pushes her out of the ship. Bleeding and weakened, he catapults Hive and himself into space where a deadly blast would take them out leaving the earth unharmed. Director Coulson remarks to an inconsolable Daisy, “He’s dying for all of our mistakes.” Before detonation, the recurring scene of a floating cross attached to a chain in zero gravity.

Luke Mitchell as Lincoln

Scene foreshadowed throughout the third season
with floating cross.

The true face of Hive

THE BASIC CHARACTER OF S.H.I.E.L.D.    

    The placement of Coulson’s body to be reanimated by machines is one of the more unsettling, darker aspects of S.H.I.E.L.D. and reveals further how this organization is less heroic than presumed. That’s some indication to me how Hydra could’ve remained hidden for decades. The writers are very honest in manifesting the true spirit of S.H.I.E.L.D. which finds more expression in the weariness of the agents in what they say and what they do. They are isolated and without peace. The team has repeatedly expressed their desire to see Ward dead and in later episodes voice their approval of his murder. Coulson’s likability falls for me. Evil always wins when we choose to practice it against our enemies. I don’t condemn the character, but I firmly condemn the celebration of that thinking. I’d like to see how Coulson will deal with that failure in his life. I applaud the honesty of the characters, but it’s the amorality of the show that has waned my interest in it now. No matter how much a show glosses its work with handsome and beautiful, talented and charming people, the true essence of who they’re playing is like sudden and piercing body odor. It can’t help but be sensed. S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits the brightest, the most talented, but with special attention to the most apathetic, the ruthless and cynical. Because of this, I was initially puzzled as to where the show was going next, but the crescendo of this third season really was wonderful in a surprising way.

    God is so very compassionate in giving the world every reason to believe that the cross is true. Scholarly, professional men have tried to prove that Christ was a myth and came away deeply humbled and saved. They receive a power that causes them to walk in love and truth. Religion can’t duplicate that. Neither can society. 

   

    I think that Marvel Studios ought to make Phil Coulson, Daisy Johnson and Melinda May a significant part of Avengers: Infinity War, with actual appearances in those movies. You can’t leave AoS out when Thanos arrives. Plus, I am looking forward to see Coulson appear in the upcoming Marvel‘s Iron Fist. 

KEY EPISODES FOR THE THIRD SEASON ON MARVEL‘S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.:

Episode #9- “Closure”

Episode #10- “Maveth”

Episode #11- “Bouncing Back”

Episode #12- “The Inside Man”

Episode #15- “Spacetime”

Episode #16- “Paradise Lost”

Episode #17- “The Team”

Episode #18- “The Singularity”

Episode #19- “Failed Experiments”

Episode #20- “Emancipation”

Episode #21- “Absolution”

Episode #22- “Ascension”

THE TALENTED WRITERS FOR THE EPISODES LISTED

Brent Fletcher, Jeffrey Bell, Monica Owusu-Breen, Craig Titley, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon, George Kitson and Sharla Oliver, DJ Doyle, Lauren LeFranc, Chris Dingess and Drew Z. Greenberg.