Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D 7×09 “As I Have Always Been” delivers one of those old familiar sci-fi/fantasy tropes: “the time repeating itself”episode. All the great shows from The X-Files to Legends of Tomorrow have done this. The only surprising thing is that it took this long for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to do one.
“As I Have Always Been” gives us a ton of great and surprising moments: A first kiss for a quickly growing ship, some lovely family-like moments between Daisy and Coulson, some heavy secrets revealed and a ultimate sacrifice. It wouldn’t be Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D if you didn’t have a moment of pure joy and a moment of crying. “As I Have Always Been” gives us both by the handful in the best episode of the season. So let’s now talk about the Positives and Negatives of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D 7×09 “As I Have Always Been”!
POSITIVES
- Time loop episodes always bring the best of the shows that do them and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D was no exception. Dare say, this might have been the best of all of them. Having your time storm episode also play as a murder-mystery episode was pure genius.
- Eventually, Daisy and Coulson figure out that Simmons has the key to stopping the time loop but they have to get the implant out of her head. But in every attempt, something stops them from getting it out. Eventually it’s figured out that Jemma programmed Enoch to stop the implant from being taken out no matter what. Including killing Jemma if she tried to! Starting to think that maybe this implant really isn’t worth all the trouble.
- One of the time loops delivers our very first Sousa/Daisy kiss! Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has done a almost masterful job building up their growing relationship. Having Sousa reveal all of his feelings for her and having Daisy respond with a kiss (and a really hot one, too) was pretty awesome. Now I know it gets wiped out, but Daisy will remember kissing Daniel and it’s going to be interesting to see where they go to next.
- Coulson and Daisy are working together a lot in “As I Have Always Been” and the bond between the two is still as strong as ever. Their scenes have the great ability to range from humor (Coulson was extra sassy in this episode) to completely deadly serious. Their chat about whether or not Coulson has a soul was one of the most powerful scenes in “As I Have Always Been”
- Elizabeth Henstridge directed “As I Have Always Been” and did a phenomenal job. Hope she gets to direct more in the future.
- So finally they’re able to get Jemma’s implant out and figure out that Enoch’s power source is the key to stopping the time storm they’re in. After a short argument, Enoch willingly gives it to them to save the team. It’s sad, but also beautiful in showing how much Enoch cares about the people around him.
NEGATIVES
- Fitz not being there to say good-bye to his friend Enoch. All the tears.
- When they get the implant out, Jemma also remembers something that overcomes her with such emotion that she can’t stop crying. What is it that she remembered? Please don’t be what I fear it could be.
- The end tag. Sorry but Nathaniel Malick just feels like a wimpy final baddie for the team to beat. He looks like he should be trying to terrorize some 80’s high-schoolers at their favorite mall.
What did you think of “As I Have Always Been’? Let us know in the comments below!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs at 10 pm on Wednesday nights on ABC.
