Last Week on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
After four time jumping episodes, last week’s fifth episode, A Trout in the Milk, stepped up the drama in a big way for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Mack finds out that his parents are being held hostage at the Lighthouse. This forces him into a decision that allows the Chronicoms to detect the Zephyr’s location. Meanwhile, Deke, who was sent to bring Wilford Malik in, chose instead to shoot and kill him. Before his death, he had in his possession a picture of two important people that he claimed that S.H.I.E.L.D. would want to see. After his death, Yo-Yo expresses her concern when she sees the picture but we do not know who is in the picture, yet.
After Mack aborts Coulson and May‘s mission of flooding the Lighthouse, they have been captured by the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents there. In addition, Sousa and Daisy have been captured by Nathaniel Malik, who has visions of recreating Daniel Whitehall’s work. And if that’s not enough, Jemma is having memory issues that appear to have something to do with Enoch. Whew! That’s a whole lot to unfold. So let’s get busy because in this episode, we either “Adapt or Die.”
Sibyl the Predictor
We start with Sibyl the Predictor, who talks about the ways of the universe to Luke the Chronicom. While she see’s possibilities, he sees failure. Malik is dead, Project Insight has been destroyed. But she reminds him that when one branch is pruned, another takes its place. S.H.I.E.L.D. has revealed their position. They will undoubtedly attempt to rescue Mack’s parents, and Nathaniel has taken Daisy and Sousa. She sees them as divided and it is time for the next phase. They will continue to adapt. Luke tells her he will wake the Hunter Chronicoms one by one…and it seems there are many.
Back at the Lighthouse, Stoner’s team has verified that Project Insight has been destroyed but they have located the source of the attack. At that moment, the captured Coulson and May are brought to see Stoner. He is holding a slab of steak against his eye where May slugged him. Stoner admits that his rocket was blown up, on the 4th of July. Coulson reassures him that he really wouldn’t have wanted that satellite to be launched. Stoner finishes the sentence for him…”because of the time traveling robots who would direct their deadly lasers upon the Earth.” Coulson confirms his statement.
Tracking the Zephyr
Stoner then turns to May, lamenting that his ice pack was supposed to have been a celebratory steak. He then surmises that Chastity (the name that May had given him three years ago was probably an alias. (Nothing gets by General Rick Stoner). She tells him her real name and also admits the she isn’t from HR. Coulson reminds her that their bag of explosives probably already confirmed that hypothesis. During this time, the base has begun to lock onto the Zephyr.
Speaking of the Zephyr, Jemma is somewhat surprised the ship hasn’t already been fired upon. Especially since the Chronicoms now know their position. Enoch, who is flying the plane in place of May, reports no contacts as of yet. This was even after Deke and Yo-Yo docked the QuinJet with the Zephyr. Needless to say, Mack is unhappy when Deke reports that he shot and killed Malick. That was not the order he was given. However, Mack doesn’t have time to deal with that. His parents are in the Lighthouse and he must rescue them. Yo-Yo insists she go with Mack on his rescue mission. He tells Jemma to continue to search for the missing Daisy and Sousa while he and Yo-Yo go after his parents.
Losing Control of the Base
Returning to the base, it has been triggered into Lockdown mode. This was the same mode seen in Season 5 with the holographic Stoner explaining what is going on. For his part, Stoner is wondering why this is happening when he never ordered it. Coulson tells him that the Chronicoms have taken over the base’s computer systems. Stoner reminds Coulson that he didn’t bring Coulson in to speak. (Truth is, Stoner didn’t bring Coulson in at all, his guards did.) The base weapons system becomes active much to Stoners surprise. Before he can order the system to be dismantled, the missiles are launched. Enoch immediately recognizes the danger and tries to avoid the missiles by deploying counter measures to distract the ordinance. It works to a point but one of the missiles hits the Zephyr.
Discovery Requires Experimentation
Meanwhile, Daisy and Sousa are still feeling the effects of whatever drug that Nathaniel shot them with. Sousa explains that he hadn’t felt so out of it since his leg injury. Daisy said she would like to hear that story sometime. But right now, the weapon’s influence is strong enough that Daisy cannot use her powers. She talks about Malick’s “little psycho” when Nathaniel walks in, feigning his displeasure about being described so.
He instead expresses his excitement about seeing Daisy and Sousa again since they kidnapped him three years ago. The day he said changed his life. Daisy, upon hearing this, asked him to unchain them so they could “hug it out.” She also explained that if he let them free, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra could be together at last. Nathaniel scoffed at this idea as he had no loyalty to Hydra. What he wanted the pair for was for their blood, and other things. He knew that Daisy was an Inhuman and he suspected Sousa of being one as well, since he appeared not to age. His plan was to implement the work started by Daniel Whitehall. It would be as Whitehall was fond of saying, “Discovery Requires Experimentation” and he would start with Daisy.
The Chronicom Danger
Coulson and May are being questioned by Stoner. Coulson tells him that his base just shot down a plane full of good agents. Stoner remind him that the Zephyr had just shot down an important defense system. Of course, they fired upon them. But Coulson countered that it really wasn’t the base that fired. They had been taken over, just as he and and May had warned him.
Stoner regarded him for a moment and then inquired that if he DID believe what Coulson was saying, what would he be looking for? Coulson explains that the enemy in question can act like humans, but they need human faces to pull it off. Stoner takes this information with the air of a man who didn’t believe a word of it.
May makes a Discovery
At that moment, Agent King enters the interrogation cell and hands some information to Stoner. She then explains to the pair that this was her first assignment and that Coulson and May had made a mess of it. King leans over and tells them to enjoy their time in prison. As she says this, she touches both Coulson and May on the shoulder. Big Mistake. Stoner reminds her that they need to remain professional. King apologizes and tells Stoner that he is needed in the basement.
As he takes his turn to leave, Coulson asks Stoner to let May and him assist them. He asks Coulson if they had visited Wilford Malik recently. Coulson confirms this explaining that Malik was Hydra. Stoner responded that Malik is dead. They would remain where they are. After they are left alone, May tells Coulson that Agent King is a Chronicom. When she touched her shoulder, May felt nothing. Just like with Coulson.
Still in the air, the Zephyr has suffered damage and the shield that protects it is failing. Without that protection, parts of the ship will be destroyed when the Zephyr jumps. Unless they can repair the damage. The problem is that Jemma cannot seem to remember how to fix the problem. Enoch recognizes this and reassures Jemma that it will be okay but they need to address her issues. She leads her away to do just that.
Rescuing Mack’s Parents
Back on the Lighthouse, Mack’s parents are in their cell when someone cuts through their cells wall. Upon completing his task, Mack and Yo-Yo enter the cell and Mack, forgetting himself for a moment, hugs his mother. This, of course, is a surprise to both Mrs and Mr. McKenzie who is wondering why this strange big man is hugging his wife. Mack apologizes telling them he just got carried away. He introduces Yo-Yo as his girlfriend. Elena reminds “Macklemore” that these “Strangers” didn’t need to know about that. They agree to go with Mack and Yo-Yo but they are still wondering why they were taken in the first place. “We are nobodies,” exclaimed Mack’s Dad. But Mack disagrees with that assessment. (What a good son).
Possibly Losing Face
Stoner is being lead to the bases basement by Agent King. She tells him that they need his Personal authorization to reboot the computer system. As they walk toward the basement, Stoner sees his holographic self and tells King that he wants it taken down. She reassures him that his face would be taken down soon.
Back in the interrogation room, Coulson and May are discussing their situation. Mainly the differences between the Chronicom that May suspects and Coulson. This turns into a semi heated discussion about their relationship and the fact that Melinda, although she doesn’t appear to have feelings, can show them. Which is what Coulson wants. She tells Coulson that she had mourned him too many times. He NEVER dies. He always comes back. As May expresses these feelings, he wonders if they are real or is she just imitating him. He then realizes what the Chronicoms are up to. Taking S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents and uploading their personalities into a Chronicom host to take over S.H.I.E.L.D. covertly. Upon making this discovery, he breaks his cuffs as well as May’s. Stoner is their next target.
Just like the Brake Calipers on a Car
Mack is still leading his parents to safety. But they end up at a steel door. This doesn’t sit well with his Dad. He wants to go home. Mack’s mother explains they have two boys at home they want to get back to. Mack then decides to appeal to his Dad’s love of cars. He explains that locks on the blast door are like the brake calipers on a car. They grip the door and need to be released for the door to open. His father suggests they cut the hydraulic line to the clamps. Mack nods his approval. They set to work on opening the door.
Helping Stoner to save Face
As they return to the basement, Stoner is seen in the transferral chamber next to a waiting Chronicom. The Chronicoms plan to awaken another Hunter for the next conversion when Coulson and May confront them. May takes out the female Chronicom while Coulson gets a Chronicom weapon and takes out the other two. He then pulls the power on the chamber, reviving Stoner. The General gets up telling Coulson and May he now believes them. He then find his agents without their faces, just as Coulson and May had described. While this was shocking, Stoner knows he still has Agents on the base that need to be rescued. May reminds Coulson that Mack was no doubt there to rescue his parents. Coulson agrees and tells her and Stoner to link up with Mack. As for him, Coulson was going down to see where the Chronicoms were coming from.
Needles to Knives
Elsewhere, Sousa is concerned about Daisy. She has been gone awhile with Nathaniel and he doesn’t know what that entails. They bring Daisy in and she doesn’t look too good. Sousa asks Nathaniel what he did to her. He explains he took blood samples as well as spinal fluid and some from her glands. But he must synthesize his work and transfer it to himself. After that, if he doesn’t get the results he wants he will go from needles to knives.
Sousa’s Story
After he leaves, Sousa asks Daisy if she is alright. She explains that the same thing happened to Jiaying, her Mother. As she struggles to stay conscious, Sousa scrambles to her and rests her head upon his lap. He then offers to tell her the story of how his leg was injured. It was during World War II. The man who had saved him was Mike Stevens. He was a “resolute ass” but he stayed with Sousa, constantly telling him they would be going home. Unfortunately, only Daniel made it. But it was his encouragement that made the difference. He would do the same for her. They would make it home. But she would need to stay awake. She would need to fight. As he says this, she raises up her hand and he sees a large piece of glass embedded in her hand. He pulls it out, acknowledging that there was plenty of fight in her. But could he put her gift to use.
CLEAR!
Back on the Zephyr, Enoch is working on Jemma. There appears to be some kind of implant in her neck and Enoch is manipulating it. Deke comes across this scene, and does not know what is going on. He charges the ships defibrillator paddles and zaps Enoch, taking him down. Quickly grabbing some smelling salts, he awakens Jemma. She looks around in bewilderment and the see’s Enoch. “Deke…What Have you done?” Jemma inquires.
Coulson, is climbing down to explore where The Chronicoms are coming from. He finds the Hunter storage chamber and he sees what he believes is a control interface. Examining the panel, he places his hands into the device. This immediately places him in the sterile world of Sibyl. As she sees him, he asks if this would be a bad time to talk. She smiles slightly at his appearance.
Defending his Parents
Meanwhile, Mack and crew are still trying to get through the door. While making the attempt, Mack’s father appears to injure his arm. Since it initially doesn’t appear serious, he doesn’t give it much thought. Mack then hears something and leaves Yo-Yo and his parents to work on the door. He will confront the Chronicoms, making sure to protect his parents. It becomes necessary when he runs into Luke and another Chronicom. The fight is on.
This could be Interesting
Coulson is exploring the sterile white world of Sibyl. He asks her who she is and she tells him her name. The Chronicoms call her a predictor. Coulson inquires if that means the future. She tells him that instead, she reads the past. Tracking events that lead to a single future, while also seeing the possible alternative branches that could lead to that future. Coulson expresses surprise that she so readily answers his questions. She explains that she doesn’t have a reason not to. “Well, this should be interesting,” replies Coulson.
When we last left the Zephyr, both Deke and Jemma had some explaining to do. Deke for why he interfered and then attacked Enoch. Jemma for what had transpired between now and when she left Fitz. Deke tells Jemma he thought that Enoch was doing something nefarious to her. He thought whatever Enoch was doing looked creepy so he stopped him.
Jemma gives some Answers
Jemma explained that Enoch was helping her. During their time before she had arrived at the temple, Fitz and Jemma discovered a way to monitor what the Chronicoms were doing, undetected by them. Fitz decided to stay behind to continue this surveillance. But he is exposed and in danger. To protect his location, Jemma designed the implant that Enoch was repairing. Jemma calls it Diana. She is adorable and they are inseparable. Diana also prevents her from remembering where Fitz is, while giving her the knowledge to maintain the Zephyr. But before that can be completed, they need to repair the Zephyr. So with Deke’s help, they get to work.
Back with Sousa and Daisy, one of Nathaniel’s henchmen come in to get Sousa. He takes the glass he removed from Daisy’s hand and uses it to take out the guard. Sousa grabs the keys and removes his manacles as well as Daisy’s. He then scoops her up in his arms and turns to leave when Nathaniel appears. The ground is shaking but Nathaniel is struggling to control it. He is learning the same lessons that Daisy did when she first had her powers. His bones are splintering under his power as does the roof, which collapses on top of him. Sousa carries Daisy past the prone Nathaniel.
Dying is my Superpower
Coulson continues to talk to Sybil and uses the fact that she is so willing to talk to find out why she wants the Earth. Why should the Chronicoms have the Earth instead of humans? What makes them better? Sybil explains that the fact that Chronicoms do not die. They do not fear death like humans do. If nothing else, they will wait until humans just run out of time.
Coulson explains that humans will continue to fight. They will sacrifice and they do not give up. And she is wrong about him as well. He does not fear death, in fact…Dying is kind of his super power. As he says this, he disappears. When he returns to the Hunter modules, he sets the bag of explosives down by the control panel. He radio’s May that he has found Chronicoms ship. He then triggers the explosives just as a Chronicom climbs down. The blast takes out the ship and him with it. As Glenn Talbot once said, “Phil you die more than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Stoner to the Rescue
Mack is still fighting the Chronicoms and it is a hard battle. But he is holding his own and prevailing until Luke shows up again. He pulls his weapon but is shot by General Stoner who appears with May. Mack, Yo-Yo, and his parents along with May head to the Quinjet. But before May leaves she thanks Stoner for his assistance. The shake hands and May once again responds strangely. Stoner must put off some strong sexual energy.
Afterwards, Enoch finishes fixing Diana while Jemma encourages Deke to apologize to Enoch. He begrudgingly does so calling Enoch an “important member of the family.“ Enoch appreciates this and accepts his apology. Jemma makes Deke promise to keep her secret. No one could know about Diana.
He will return
As the rest of the team returns to the QuinJet, they ask May where Coulson is. She tells them he is gone. He was caught in the explosion that freed the base. But she believes he will return. He always does. In time, May is flying the Quinjet while Mack is talking to his Dad about the ships engines. Yo-Yo is talking to Mack’s Mother about her oldest son. As Mack turns away, his Dad touches May and thanks her for helping them. May immediately turns back to look at him, realization dawning on her. She sets the autopilot to make the ship circle. She pulls Mack aside and tells him that she didn’t get anything when his Dad touched her. He cannot take him to the Zephyr. Mack refuses to believe it. May touches his shoulder, and tells him she understands his feelings. But Mack is not sure himself. May tells him to look at his Father’s injured arm. Just to be sure.
The Hard Truth
Mack asks his Dad to show him his arm. He initially refuses saying that he is fine. Mack insists and his Dad reluctantly rolls up his sleeve revealing the metal underneath. He immediately grabs Mack by the throat while Mack’s mother attacks Yo-Yo. May tries to intervene but they are struggling against the Chronicom’s superior strength. As Mack struggles against his “Dad,” he asks him what happened to his real parents. He is told that they have been gone for a long time and they enjoyed taking their skin. As Mack starts fighting harder, Yo-Yo assists and snaps the Chronicom’s neck. Meanwhile, his “Mother” is still battling. May jumps into the pilot seat and opens the bay. Mack’s “Dad” falls out of the door. Meanwhile, Mack struggles with his “Mother,” pushing her toward the open hatch. She appeals to Mack, calling him Alfie. He reluctantly pushes the Chronicom out the hatch. They were gone, but Mack’s scars remain.
Left in the 1980’s
Deke and Enoch finish the Zephyr’s repairs and the ship prepares to jump. Yo-Yo is trying to console Mack while Daisy has been placed in the healing pod. Sousa stands by watching. Jemma tells him that this is his last chance if he wanted to get off. He assures her that he is where he is supposed to be as the Ship makes its jump. As soon as the ship settles, Mack lowers the Bay and gets on his Motorcycle. He needs some air so he rides out. Deke, who thinks he understands what Mack might be going through goes to talk to him. Before he can reach him, Jemma radios Deke telling him that Mack and he needs to return to the Zephyr. It is jumping again. Before they can even react, the Zephyr is gone. They have been left in 1982 as the episode ends.
Thoughts:
This episode pulled at the heartstrings for a number of reasons. Especially for the character of Mack. As I look back at his history in the show, the man has been though a lot. From being possessed by aliens, losing, regaining and losing his daughter Hope, and difficulties in his relationship with his brother. This was just another gut punch in his life. If nothing else is certain, Mack loved his parents. Dealing with this loss was apparently why he did not react when Deke told him the Zephyr was leaving. So now Deke and Mack will get the Enoch experience. Left in time.
Diana is Adorable
Jemma’s situation is somewhat clearer as we now know the lengths Fitz, Jemma and Enoch went through to protect Fitz’s location. This includes Jemma’s bio implant lovingly called Diana. She is adorable and they are inseparable. But now Deke knows about Diana and must keep it a secret from the rest of the team. But the question remains, where is Fitz? We now have 6 episodes to reveal that. Don’t make me sick my wife on you.
May is a Chronicom Smoke Alarm
May’s empathic abilities have proven to be a good tool to have when it comes to recognizing the Chronicoms. You would think that Miss Sybil would have figured this out and suggested to her Hunters that they STOP TOUCHING MAY! She is a proven Chronicom’s detector. Not that I don’t want her to regain her normal emotions. Perhaps it only takes Phil Coulson to bring them out of her. Although….She seems to be getting something from General Stoner…but what?
Coulson once again does what he does best. He sacrifices himself for the team. It wasn’t the first time, probably won’t be the last, knowing him. Coulson lives forever. Just ask May. Nice montage of the team while Coulson was explaining the difference between humans and Chronicoms. Right before he went out with a bang.
Some nice chemistry between Sousa and Daisy. Watch out Deke. You might have someone else sending Daisy lemons. But is that the last we will see from Nathaniel? That didn’t look like a fatal blow. I guess we’ll see.
What’s Next?
So we know Daisy and Mack are in 1982. (Probably attending my high school graduation). But when they’re not doing that, they are facing the robot apocalypse. Mack should be in his element. As for Coulson, it looks like a bit of Phil Headroom. Cool. What did you think of Adapt or Die? Let us know at Geek Vibes Nation.
Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more!
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
