We all knew there would be a bit of a cooldown after last week’s stellar FitzSimmons episode for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and “Toldja” feels like that as weird as it sounds. But even a okay episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D still delivers better than most other shows best efforts.
Two main plot points advance a little further (One more than the other) as they get ever so closer to connecting. We learn a little more about some of Sarge’s crew and Sarge himself as we also say goodbye for now to a fan-favorite character over in the FitzSimmons side of the story. So let’s dig in on the Earth side of things even captured, it looks like Sarge is controlling the game.
Sarge’s games never end 👀 #AgentsofSHIELD pic.twitter.com/wkV1xsBrZ0
— Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (@AgentsofSHIELD) June 29, 2019
A large chunk of “Toldja” focuses on Mack as a leader of S.H.I.E.L.D and how it seems he might be out of his depth living in Coulson’s shadow. Heck , he even uses the hologram of Coulson to try to play to whatever emotions Sarge has at one point. Now I think Mack has been a good leader this season but this episode shows that when it comes to the Shrikes — only Sarge knows how to stop them. BUT Sarge isn’t playing ball unless he and his team are freed along with their truck. Sarge even states that by the end of the day , he’ll be in charge.
The team tries different ways to convince Sarge and his crew to help them — from the Coulson hologram moment to Yo-Yo’s talk with Jaco which goes nowhere but does let us know about him (He was the runt of his family????). So when they find two Shrikes in the mid-west, Mack has no choice but to send May and Yo-Yo in there to get them with no clue on what to do when they get them.
So I don’t have to tell you things go bad on the mission because with Mack’s luck as leader, how could they not??? The Shrikes merge together inside of their containment unit and it looks like they are going to bring down the plane they are on if something doesn’t happen fast. So with no other options, Mack is forced to ask Sarge for help and agree to his terms. Sarge is able to help May and Yo-Yo destroy the shrikes by telling them one of their weaknesses — cold. So they fly the plane up into the atmosphere to freeze them which smashes them into a million ice cubes.
Yes, this move will most likely blow up in Mack’s face. But one of the first roles of leadership is that sometimes there really are no-win situations. Mack made the best choice for his team but saving them. Would Coulson have done this? I don’t know and I don’t care. Because the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D is Mack now and he did what he thought was right. The tough calls aren’t always the best ones but they are the ones that save lives. That’s what Mack’s did for May, Yo-Yo and the rest of the agents on that plane.
So with Sarge now the man in charge, what’s next? Well if he’s right, there’s a lot more shrikes out there and we haven’t even met the big boss yet. It’s all hands on deck even if you can’t trust the man who is now in charge.
MISSION BRIEFINGS (PART 1) :
- Daisy’s return to Earth is a rough one as she can barely stand the sight of the man who has the face of someone who was a father to her. It’s not touched upon much, but you definitely know it will be in the next few episodes. As for her reunion with Deke, the phrase “Same as it ever was” is very true here. Deke is still a awkward goof in love and Daisy still has no clue about it. Deke not knowing who Michael Jordan is was a clever joke.
- Deke finds out about Future Fitz’s death and the search for current Fitz and blows up at Mack about it. While I don’t blame Mack for not telling him, Deke is also right in that he should have been told, as he is family. I also 100% believe Deke when he said he would have gone on the mission to find Fitz.
- Jaco can breath fire if he is without his medicine as Agent Khan finds out. (Sidenote: Did Agent Khan and Sequoia already break up? These Instagram romances never work out.)
As for FitzSimmons and their friend/loyal puppy Enoch’s adventure , the teleportation lands them back on the planet Kitson. “Same as it ever was.” It’s funny how the three react to being there – Enoch : confusing. Simmons : done with it all as she has found Fitz and now just wants back on Earth ASAP. Fitz: gambling and yelling at Enoch. So as they are still wanted criminals, they are captured and sent to Mr. Kitson.
Mr. Kitson (Played by 80’s legend Anthony Michael Hall) gives them a history less on Kitson and then tells them their fates : Enoch is going to the brothels while Fitz and Simmons are stuck playing a game for their lives. Literally. They are having to hold a guillotine from their heads with another guy who uses the opportunity to make a pass with Simmons. Right in front of Fitz!! Well now I won’t feel so bad when he eventually is the one who loses his head.
Which he does but with a little help from a red-haired stranger who has taken a interest in FitzSimmons. She buys their freedom and Enoch’s from Mr. Kitson and even wants to go to Earth after Fitz and Simmons tell her of how they are done with space adventures. Everything is going so swimmingly for FitzSimmons now so nothing must be up with her!…If you believe that, there’s a bridge in San Francisco that I’d like to sell you. She tells them that someone stole something from her and now it’s on Earth. She needs their help to get it back. Whatever it is that she wants back, it will end up being something that will get Fitz and Simmons into a lot of trouble.
The end credits scene of the episode has Enoch bidding farewell to Fitz and Simmons as he has accomplished his mission and now has a new one : Find the remaining Chronicoms a new home. If you want to know how good Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is, they were able to give this character that was a minor bit player at best a complete story arc and character growth. When we first met Enoch, we didn’t have a clue what to make of him but now much like Fitz, we are really going to miss him. Thankfully though goodbyes suck so this is more of a “See you later” hopefully.
MISSION BRIEFINGS:
- Enoch gives Fitz some sort of beeper to contact him if he ever needs him again. So it’s good to know we haven’t seen the last of Enoch.
- We also see the two space crewmen who took the ship from Fitz and Enoch during their first visit to planet Kitson. Good to see that they are still dirtbags.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D airs on Friday Nights on ABC at 8/7c.
Let us know what you thought of “Toldja” in the comments below!