Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: The Asset - Dork Review

Rejoice, for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has been picked up for a full season of 22 episodes. Huzzah, but if a full season also means that we get answers to our two burning questions (Why is Coulson alive? Who is Skye anyway?) remains to be seen…

Anyway. This week, our intrepid Agents featuring Phil Coulson go on a search for one of S.H.I.E.L.D’s assets. Said asset being a human (or is he?) male, by the name of Dr. Franklin Hart, who has been kidnapped. Why?

Spoilers after the jump. Catch up with the series so far on Channel Four’s 4oD.

“Hell, I can’t explain.”

A seemingly innocent office supplies transport truck gets a nasty surprise when the car in front of him is lifted out of the air and careened to the side of the road. By what force, exactly? The man driving the truck, revealed to be an Agent of SHIELD, is a bit dumbfounded himself, uttering the words “Hell, I can’t explain.”

He works for SHIELD, and yet can’t explain what’s going on here. So you know there must be something seriously wrong.

His cargo is one of SHIELD’s assets, a scientist named Franklin Hall, who is under the protection of Coulson and his minions. So it falls to them to go and look for him, prompting immediate excitement from FitzSimmons (then again, what doesn’t?) who inform the team that he used to teach them.

Malta – now open for nefarious business

Hall has been kidnapped by his former college mate Ian Quinn – or so it appears. It transpires that Hall has discovered a new gravity-manipulating element, making him a hot target. So, SHIELD go after him, to the land of glitz and glorious crime…. Malta (hardly the crime-haven Quinn makes it out to be, but hey, this is SHIELD logic).

Skye is sent in on her first undercover mission, infiltrating Quinn’s humble little massive McMansion. Meanwhile, the team find out that Hall’s motives are not what they appear to be. Aren’t they always?

“Chemical Kinetics”

In its third week, SHIELD firmly establishes itself as good, daft fun. Skye has established herself, with this episode giving some much-needed back story and the necessary kick-assery for her to partake in. Along with May (GIVE HER MORE STUFF TO DO), Skye is fast becoming a very intriguing character.

The same however, can not be said for FitzSimmons (now officially one entity as opposed to two separate humans), who this week take annoyance to an entirely new level and actually start finishing each other’s sentences.

Ward is still Ward, gruff and grey as ever, although he does get some good scenes with Skye. Plus, we get to learn about what his motivation to become an agent was, which helps. Still, another character that needs more stuff to do.

The mystery that is Phil Coulson is a bit sidelined this week, although we do again get some hints dropped about his death. Most notably, he appears to not have any muscle memory…

It’s that guy! From that thing!

Insidious Villain of The Week is businessman Ian Quinn, played by David Conrad of Ghost Whisperer fame. And, to be honest, he’s a bit of a rubbish villain. All he seems to do is menace about in his fancy suit.

Franklin Hall, played by Ian Hart, also doesn’t get an awful lot of development. Although in his case, in a little stinger at the end, we do see him transform into SHIELD’s first major comic book villian – Graviton.

So, this might not be the last we’ve seen of the not-so-good Doctor….

Next time on SHIELD… well, I’m not sure. But I am sure it’s going to be very exciting.

More Agents of SHIELD on Dork Adore | Agents of SHIELD – 0-8-4 – Dork Review

Jillian Boyd

Jillian Boyd is a lifestyle blogger, author of romantic/erotic fiction and a self-confessed film addict. Likes Doctor Who, Hannibal, Matt Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye comics, crafting and baking.