Agents of SHIELD - Season 2 Discussion Threads. (Spoilers Likely)

[RJDiogenes]

Also, Coulson was acting a bit more like his old self, which was encouraging. I loved the bit at the end when he met with Talbot. Maybe the dumbass will learn if the show lasts long enough.

Has Col. Decker ever learned anything while he chased the A Team?

No, characters like Jack McGee and Alamo Joe seldom learn anything-- although Phillip Gerard, who was the template for that trope, wised up in a big way.

 

[Reverend]

I liked the name-drop of Dr. Faustus in reference to HYDRA's brainwashing technique. I wonder if we will see the character either on AoS or Agent Carter?

I'd say more likely the latter. I mean we already have three immortal WWII era Hydra-Nazis kicking around (plus Red Skull will probably show up again at some point) just how many more could there be? ...not that I'd put it past them mind you.

 

[bbjeg]

Also, I was wondering why Trip didn't go on the mission but I figured that scene with him and Coulson was prerecorded and he's busy with his other show.

He did go on the mission - he and Coulson were on the Bus. I think Trip stayed there in case they needed to make a fast getaway.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have May in that position? I have a feeling she's the better pilot.

 

[Vendikarr]

Speaking of Ward.. i really, really hope he doesn't get redeemed but being a prisoner of Shield he comes off so believable in his remorse (also kudos to the acting of Dalton) that i slowly begin to think that's what the writers will do even if they go for the very long haul (or only to make us want him back on the team before killing him).

I expect at some point Coulson's facility is going to be compromised and Ward will be set free. And he will make the decision to apprehend the baddies, which will earn him some trust.

 

[bbjeg]

^I thought that would already be the case for the season premier, that Ward escapes yet does good to try to redeem himself. Sort of like how Black Widow wants to get the red out of her ledger, Ward would be seen every now and then assisting our heroes and escaping before they get to him.

 

[JD]

This was a great episode.
I knew pretty much right away that Simmons was undercover for Coulson. I just hope she eventually finishes the assignment, and rejoins the team.
The stuff with Gill was a nice call back to season 1. I wonder how it will be before we see Dr. Hall again?
I loved Fitz visit with Ward, that was a great scene.

 

[Masiral]

Also, I was wondering why Trip didn't go on the mission but I figured that scene with him and Coulson was prerecorded and he's busy with his other show.

He did go on the mission - he and Coulson were on the Bus. I think Trip stayed there in case they needed to make a fast getaway.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have May in that position? I have a feeling she's the better pilot.

Probably, but they were trying to bring in a gifted, so I understand why Coulson would want May on the ship - her fighting/shooting skills were needed more than her piloting skills.

 

[dansigal]

Speaking of Ward.. i really, really hope he doesn't get redeemed but being a prisoner of Shield he comes off so believable in his remorse (also kudos to the acting of Dalton) that i slowly begin to think that's what the writers will do even if they go for the very long haul (or only to make us want him back on the team before killing him).

I expect at some point Coulson's facility is going to be compromised and Ward will be set free. And he will make the decision to apprehend the baddies, which will earn him some trust.

Regardless of the legitimacy of his remorse, there's literally nothing he could do to redeem himself for the amount of innocent people he has murdered. If the show redeems him and brings him back into the fold it will lose its credibility with me. The best they can do with any kind of straight face is have him die doing something noble.

 

[Forbin]

Yeah. Putting two rounds in Agent Hand's head when she was down wasn't exactly a warm and fuzzy act.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

To be fair, he was placed in the position of having to kill Hand or kill Garrett. He killed other people since then (and before then) in cold blood without remorse, but he had to do something in that situation.

 

[Guy Gardener]

If you're a monster and going to shoot her anyway, why not shoot her in the hands as well, or instead?

It would take so much will-power not to, surely?

 

[Photoman15]

I see (Coulson level) brain surgery for Ward that will purge the "bad" Ward.

 

[kitik]

Regardless of the legitimacy of his remorse, there's literally nothing he could do to redeem himself for the amount of innocent people he has murdered. If the show redeems him and brings him back into the fold it will lose its credibility with me. The best they can do with any kind of straight face is have him die doing something noble.

Keep in mind that Coulson isn't exactly in the position to turn down help. He's already got a mercenary like Lance Hunter on the team. He needs all the skilled agents he can get.

That said, I did appreciate the clear and definitive statement from Ward that there was no brainwashing involved. Everything he did was his choice. Good job by the show writers and bosses to make sure they immediately shot down that little back avenue shot at easy redemption.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I think Ward is playing them...he wants to lower their guard where he's concerned.

 

[kitik]

The title of the episode was Making Friends and Influencing People. An obvious reference to Simmons' assignment, but perhaps also a little hint about Ward.

(And perhaps also a note about Hunter fitting in with the team. And maybe even applicable to Fitz too. But mostly Simmons and Ward.)

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Mostly Simmons. I could see Ward, but I would imagine they would have played up some kind of parallel if that were the case.

 

[Mr Light]

Where was the Doctor Faustus reference?

 

[FPAlpha]

Speaking of Ward.. i really, really hope he doesn't get redeemed but being a prisoner of Shield he comes off so believable in his remorse (also kudos to the acting of Dalton) that i slowly begin to think that's what the writers will do even if they go for the very long haul (or only to make us want him back on the team before killing him).

I expect at some point Coulson's facility is going to be compromised and Ward will be set free. And he will make the decision to apprehend the baddies, which will earn him some trust.

Regardless of the legitimacy of his remorse, there's literally nothing he could do to redeem himself for the amount of innocent people he has murdered. If the show redeems him and brings him back into the fold it will lose its credibility with me. The best they can do with any kind of straight face is have him die doing something noble.

Well.. let's look at (Joss) Whedons' Spike and Angel.. both initially some very dark villains (in Angel's case it's rather Angelus) who got to be fan favorites and slowly grew to become heroes in (at least to me) believable ways but it also took several seasons of character growth.

I'm not saying it can't be done but it'll require some major and solid writing on behalf of the production team if that's their goal at all.

As i said already i think it would be far better to get the viewers to the point of wanting him back on the team only to remind us harshly about what he's done before killing him off in a blaze of glory (or for bonus points going out like a punk).

 

[Turtletrekker]

Where was the Doctor Faustus reference?

Early on. At about two minutes in.

 

[DEWLine]

The title of the episode was Making Friends and Influencing People. An obvious reference to Simmons' assignment, but perhaps also a little hint about Ward.

(And perhaps also a note about Hunter fitting in with the team. And maybe even applicable to Fitz too. But mostly Simmons and Ward.)

I'd also argue for Reinhard/Whitehall and Bakshi to some extent and how they view "acceptable methods" to such ends. Just about every major character in the story is trying to achieve one or another of the goals in the episode title.