The second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. opened with a very familiar face and a tease on what we’ll expect to see this winter when Agent Peggy Carter (Hailey Atwell) and the Howling Commandos led by Dum Dum Duggan (Neal McDonough) storm a Hydra facility in 1945. Here they take possession of a mysterious artifact that would remain dormant till the present day. Warning, spoilers ahead…
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| Agent Carter and the Howling Commandos |
Because of the events of Winter Solider, the reemergence of Hydra and the disbanding of S.H.I.E.L.D., as we knew it, Coulson and his band of “guardian angels” have to work in the shadows in order to be effective and bring Hydra to its knees. Part of bringing them to their knees is to seek help from those who were not compromised by Hydra. One such help is Isabelle Hartley (Lucy Lawless) and the other, General Talbot (Adrian Pasard). Hartley would prove to be easier to work with than Talbot. Both however were welcome additions to the show that needs more punch.
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| Creel AKA the Absorbing Man |
The big bad of this episode and potentially for the season was Carl “Crusher” Creel, AKA the Absorbing Man. Finally the images of Nick Nolte’s ill conceived version in Ang Lee’s The Hulk has gone away. But I digress. Played with ultra coolness by Brian Patrick Wade, Creel brings carnage and destruction at every turn and will prove to be a handful for Coulson and company. This is the direction S.H.I.E.L.D. should go with in terms of villains and other characters from their Marvel catalog that probably won’t make it to film but still have a role in the overall universe.
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| Agent Hartley (Lucy Lawless) and the rest of SHIELD |
There are of course lingering questions that will probably continue on throughout the season. Questions regarding the relationship between Fitz and Simmons, who as we have learned, left the team after the conclusion of season one. Fitz, is not the same man both mentally and physically. Then there’s Coulson and Skye and the connection they share. I’m sure all will be revealed soon enough.
And lastly, seeing Hartley “die” by the hand of Creel leaves me wondering whether or not we’ve already seen the last of Lucy Lawless after much hype that she had joined the show. Keep in mind this is a comic book inspired show and she was holding onto that mysterious device that was introduced in the opening scenes. What kind of power does it possess? Why was Hydra so hell bent on obtaining it? Questions and more questions, that’s where season two starts us off with.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s greatest purpose has been and will continue to be, to serve as a bridge for the cinematic universe. Season one ended strong and on a high note. Season two had a solid start with many unanswered questions. With Avengers 2: Age of Ultron eight months away, we’ll have to wait and see what surprises (if any) S.H.I.E.L.D. provides us till then.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
