This ep had it's ups and downs, and darned if we're still heading to the destruction of the Earth.
Daisy wakes up. She's at the Confederacy.
Daisy: Where are my friends; May, Coulson,
Kasius: You mustn't worry about them. They are your past. I am your future.
Nope, sorry Kasius. You shouldn't have called Inhumans an "experiment." (Though it would have been cool if Daisy would have said, "No, they are my future. And you, are my past.")
Meanwhile, back on the Amorath ship...
Qovas: You are now prisoners of war. I suggest you use your time to consider the disrespect you've shown.
Coulson: Suggest all you want. You're just the villain of the month, and you're going down. Just like all the rest.
Qovas: And how do you plan to stop me? With Earth weapons? The tools of cowards. We Amorath, we earn our kills. That is how we earn our rank. With humans, it's not about earned power. It's about the gun. It allows the weak to pretend to be strong.
May: I don't need a gun to stop you.
Qovas: I have several ionizer missiles aimed at your Lighthouse right now. If you or your people do anything, I will release them, since you like weapons so much... (Door to cell closes. Outside is Talbot.) Will they be held indefinitely, or scrapped?
Talbot: It depends on whether or not they push you to it. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. We are both about to get everything we need.
Qovas: All I need is gravitonium.
Talbot: Well, I know someone who may be able to help us out.
Meanwhile, back in the lab...
Jemma: ...it's unpleasant, isn't it?
Fitz (Exhales): Try not to think about it. Think it'll work?
Jemma: Daisy's plan? I don't know. Frankly the Centipede serum is terrifying to me.
Fitz: Yeah, let's walk through the simulation one more time.
Simmons: Yeah. The centipede serum forces new cellular pathways like biological infrastructure. In doing so, it can also carry any elemental (unintelligible)
Fitz: For example Jiaying's human DNA. Which we could deliver to say, Coulson's ailing cells.
Simmons: Should work. It's just...
Fitz: What Yo-Yo said, danger...
Simmons: Yeah.
Fitz: Well, I been thinking about that, and her warning was that trying to save Coulson ends the world, right? Well, what if... What if we just don't try. What happens if we actually succeed? Jemma, what if there's another way to frame this?
Simmons: Coulson wasn't there in the future. You're saying we break the loop not by allowing someone to die, but by making sure they live?
Fitz: What if all we have to do is not fail?
Simmons: That's quite an audacious leap. Especially from someone who once believed time cannot be changed.
Fitz: Maybe it's time to be audacious.
Meanwhile, Talbot (and his minions) board the Zephyr, and redshirts Agent Kim. Deke and Davis hide.
Talbot: I've spent some time on this plane. The quinjet is this way.
(Cut to Lighthouse, WHIH news, "Destruction And Panic In New York, is more devastation on the way?" on one of the monitors.)
Mack (to himself): Warnings were right.
Deke (Over PA): Zephyr to Lighthouse. Mack. Anyone. Mack, are you there?
Mack: Yeah, I'm here. Talk to me. What's going on?
Deke: Ah, things have gone a little crazy.
Mack: Yeah, it's all over the news.
Deke: No, Talbot. He's boarded us, him and his new Amorath friends.
Mack: Talbot. Did he see you?
Deke: No. And that's a good thing. Agent Kim wasn't so lucky.
(Yo-Yo enters room)
Mack: Talbot killed Kim.
Deke: Very, very much. The gentleman is not on our side anymore, okay? (Beeps heard.) Oh no.
(Cut to quinjet)
Talbot (to pilot): Stand down. I don't need the jet so I can fly, I need it so I can breath.
(Cut to exterior, quinjet tears itself away from the Zephyr. Nice CGI!)
Deke: He's leaving. I think he's coming down to you.
Title card!
(Whew! All team members present and accounted for...)
Mack (Trying to track Talbot): If we can find Talbot, maybe we can talk him down and end this before anyone else gets hurt.
Yo-Yo (unconvinced): Yes. Maybe.
Meanwhile, back in the prisoner's cell (which, I believe is the same one Hale was in, just lit differently)...
Coulson: Prison cells are all the same no matter what species built them. There's a way in, there's gotta be a way out.
May: So, we're just not going to talk about him?
Coulson: Him, who?
May: Phil, come on. Talbot.
Coulson: Oh, that him.
May: Look, I hate it too, but I've seen a man go rotten overnight. He might be lost. You don't have to feel like your respon...
Coulson (interrupting): Of course I do. After all our ups and downs? Talbot got shot in the head, and he waited for us to rescue him from Hale.
May: We were a little busy. (Yeah May, just a little.)
Coulson: Yes, but even after we didn't come, even after Hydra messed with his brain, he still put himself in that machine. He did that for us.
May: We didn't ask him to.
Coulson: We didn't have to. (Pause. May smiles.) What?
May: First time we met him?
Coulson: When he told us about the peacekeeping force he was sending to the Hub?
May: Can you imagine back then if someone had told us that someday, *we'd* be worried about Glenn Talbot.
Coulson: Yeah, I know. But things evolve. They change. People change.
May: Yeah, they do. And sometimes even then, you can't save them.
Coulson: But you still have to try.
I read those last three lines a few times, trying to figure out who they were actually talking about... Props to the writer... Oh nice SFX looking through the walls. What can't Inspector Coulson's hand do?
Back to Daisy...
Kasius: You are formidable, but your strength has been going to waste. Come with me, and I can show you how to unleash your power.
Daisy: As your weapon.
Kasius: As my disciple.
Daisy: Oh god. What is it with your family and this god-complex?
LOL. Daisy tries to quake Dad-Kasius. She doesn't have her powers (immediately checks her neck), because she's not conscious. Well, why didn't she just slug him? Are they incorporeal too?
After an awkward scene between Mack and Fitz (Fitz: He and I will work it out.), the show begins to become a little more fun...
Back in May and Coulson's cell. Coulson spotlights something behind the wall.
May: There.
Coulson: Circuit panel. Good. Amorath tech wasn't exactly my major, but let's assume the circuitry still creates an electric field. I use the charge from my arm, maybe I can short it out.
May: And the door opens.
Coulson: That's the theory.
May: At this point, I'll take theory.
Coulson: We'll still have to face the guard outside, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
(Coulson is about to slug the wall, but the door opens, Deke is outside knocking the guard out.)
Deke: Hey guys! Did you ever notice these schmucks are really hard to beat up?
Coulson: We're glad to see you!
Deke: Yeah. Likewise. We just had a tiny adventure with Talbot. And with a man down, I figured I better start looking for you on the prison level.
May: Good thinking.
Deke: Where's Daisy? She's not here?
Coulson: No. Qovas handed her off to his warriors. We gotta find her next.
May: Did you see where Talbot went?
Deke: Sort of. And you're not going to like it.
Cut to Talbot in hospital with Creel. Nice transition there, team! But how did Deke know where the prison level was?
So Talbot turns Creel into gravitonium, then absorbs Creel.
Talbot: This part isn't going to be great for you Carl. But it will be over quickly I promise. Two of us is stronger than one. Your suffering, it's over now. Thank you, Carl. (Cut to commercial.)
Wow. Diabolical, gruesome and pretty darned ingenious at the same time. Didn't see that one coming. Oh, and I think Talbot may have to die. Shame, really.
Back from commercial, Mack and Yo-Yo watch Talbot absorb Creel, then go into Mack forgiving Creel for killing Hartley. At which point Yo-Yo *has* to point out to Mack that he can forgive... Ugh. Why don't you just get on your knees and plead at this point...
Daisy/Kasius resolution.
Kasius: You've already lost your sense of how long you've been here, haven't you? I find that people, outside of physical space, when they lose time, when they get hungry, but can't eat, when they get tired, but can't sleep... They break. So. I already know what your future holds.
Daisy: Hmm. Funny, I can see your future too. You have two despicable sons who wear even dumber make-up than you, and they die like cowards, stabbed in the back. When I get out of this, I'll be stronger than you know.
Kasius: Everyone thinks that.
Daisy: But in my case it's true. I'm the DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
Quake concentrates, and the device holding her unconscious cracks. What a kick-ass scene. Nice score to go along with it. At which point, my theory that Deke saves Daisy, dies.
Back in the lab...
Simmons: Funny, isn't it. The centipede serum was part of our first mission, and now it's the key to curing Coulson. We've come full circle.
Fitz: Just in time for the end of days.
Isn't that the point? Then Jemma puts a test tube in a centrifuge, but doesn't balance it. Bzzzt... Sorry. You need to counter-balance a centrifuge, otherwise bad things will happen. If you look close, the centrifuge was starting to shake even before they cut the shot...
The scene continues with a rather depressing scenario of how to kill Talbot using the odium and the centipede serum. Let's see. What could Talbot do under the power of the odium before he dies? Ummm... Destroy the Earth? And how, exactly do you administer the stuff to Talbot?
Back to the Three Stooges, where Moe (Coulson) looks around a corner, with Curly (May) below Moe, and Shemp below Curly.
Coulson: A little too quiet in here. That make anyone nervous? (Even paranoids have enemies, Phil.)
Deke: Maybe it's Amorath nap time.
May: We need to wake one up and ask for directions. All these hallways look the same.
(That's because it is! They probably have one or two, and re-shoot them over and over and over from different angles. Saves on production costs for that expensive CGI of that spaceship with the Zephyr on it...)
Coulson: This is that same writing as in the Lighthouse in the future. What's it say Deke?
Deke: How would I know.
Coulson: Because you lived there.
Deke: They don't teach you the language. I can count to five. (May looks at the ceiling, turns away in disgust...
)
Coulson: You lived there for decades, and you know five numbers?
Deke (indignant): I also know zero, so no, I know six numbers!
May: I'm amazed you were able to survive.
Deke: You know, I found you, didn't I? (Coulson face palms, he's about to crack up) And I can lead us back to the Zephyr, so I'm doing my job. You're the ones who lost Daisy.
May: We didn't lose her...
Coulson: Just do your best Deke, it won't be long before they figure out we're gone, so just pick a direction.
Deke: This way. (Turns corner, two Amorath are there.) Wait! No, not that way.
Coulson: We can fight, or we can run.
May (already walking ahead): Fight.
(As May starts toward the opponents, they draw their weapons, and... They get blown away, and Daisy enters the frame. Nice entrance, Daisy!)
Mack and Yo-Yo discuss where Talbot could have gone. It's Mack who has to figure out Talbot wants to save his Dadness.
Talbot: Hello George, Daddy's home.
Aw, crap. If anyone thought Talbot wasn't a paranoid nut ball, this should be a wake up call...
Meanwhile, back on the ship, the scene everyone's been waiting for...
Qovas: They are fools if they think they'll get off this ship. Bring me the powered one. She belongs to Kasius. As for the others, they do not deserve a warrior's death. Kill them with their own weapons, let them die in shame and dishonor. (Okay Qovas, you signed your death warrant.)
Coulson: We're getting close to the bridge.
Deke: We've got a clean path to the Zephyr from here. We might not get that chance again.
Coulson: We're not leaving until we finish the job.
May: Yes, you are.
Coulson: May?
May: I'll deal with the missiles and get back to the base. You and Daisy get to the Zephyr and go home.
Deke: Lovin' this plan. Good luck, May!
May (grabs his arm): You're with me. I need you to set the coordinates for the trip back.
Deke: Right. Because numbers. Yay.
Coulson: No. It's too risky we'll do it together.
(Daisy quakes a bad guy and Daisy/Deke run to finish him off.)
May: I'll take care of it. Go home, Phil. Now.
Coulson: Are you giving me an order? That sounded like you were giving me...
May: Yes, I'm giving you an order. You're just going to slow me down so zip it and get to...
An alien shows up with a gun, Coulson puts up his shield (which is a very cool shield) and it happens. Coulson and May finally kiss. A comically long kiss. Well played, sir. Daisy reenters scene, is about to go after the bad guy, when she stops and had to stare (open mouthed) at Phil and May for a second before going after the bad guy. Best shot of the episode.
Coulson: Thought that might shut you up. Now go. (Well played again, sir. Even Deke looked impressed. Like this is what you're supposed to do when the lemons don't work.)
Daisy: Uhhhh...
Coulson: Not a word Agent Johnson. That's an order.
Daisy: Copy that, Hot Lips.
Then we have go back down the hole to Talbot. His wife is still up on the wall, and his kid is scared to death. He's about to absorb his wife when SHIELD shows up in two MiB SUV's. Oh yeah, that organization that sets him off. Should we discuss *how* they got there? The bullet thing was fun, though if you Pasdar, you just stood there looking cool for a few shots with the bullets added in later...
And back on the ship, they're about to launch the missiles when wonder boy steps in.
Deke: Excuse me, fellas? Just looking for the men's room. You know if there's one close by? (Aliens extrude their weapons.) You know what? On second thought, I'm actually just going to find a corner somewhere.
After killing the aliens
May: Don't just stand there, start transferring the missile target numbers to the transporter.
Deke: Right. Because the Lighthouse and the target coordinates are the sa... Oh, that's good thinking, May! Which one's the launch system?
May: I don't know, pick one!
Deke: That's navigation... (port opens up with a cartridge) I'll take that just in case... (Tries another console.) Okay, got it. Weapons systems. I found the launch codes. Do I deactivate the missles?
May: We're not deactivating them.
Deke: Then what the hell are we doing here?
May: We're giving them a new target.
And George saves the Mack/Yo-Yo mini-team. It is also established Yo-Yo can't get close to Super-Talbot. Talbot says he just needs "a little more fuel in his tank", so it sounds like he needs more gravitonium.
And back on the ship:
May: Got it. All right, give me the next one so we can get off this ship.
Qovas: You will never get off this ship.
May: Watch me.
Qovas (who's got bigger one's than May): I will watch you bleed.
And of course,
Qovas: You have just sealed the fate of everyone in your base. Now you will die. (Launches missiles)
May: Well, one little thing? We changed the target. (Smirk on May's face... Priceless.) Told you I didn't need a gun to stop you.
Qovas: How?
Deke: I know zero!
1. Nice destruction of the alien ship! I'll bet Talbot's gonna be pissed.
2. Why do they always ask, "How?"
3. Why did Qovas just sit there like a bump on a log?
Escaping in the Zephyr, Coulson starts to bleed uncontrollably.
In the lighthouse.
Jemma: He's not going to die. Not yet, at least. But his condition is worsening... and accelerating.
Daisy: How about the treatment we talked about?
Jemma: We have something that we think will work, it will just take some time to combine it with the centipede serum.
Daisy: Time we don't have.
Jemma: We're doing everything we can.
Mack: What about Talbot? We find a way to stop him? He's worse, too.
Fitz: Yeah, we think so. Unfortunately, it's not a cure, it's more... it's more terminal. If we can combine the odium with another does of the centipede serum, it should be able to penetrate his cells.
Daisy: That's not possible.
Fitz: Well, yes, it's entirely possible, we ran the simulation...
Daisy: No, it's not possible, there is no more centipede serum. What I brought back, that's the last of it.
May: We either save Coulson...
Yo-Yo: Or we save the world.
Fade out. sigh. This sucks.
Epilogue:
Talbot has Polly and Robin.
Talbot: You drew me. You see me in your head, don't you? (Robin nods.) You ever see me tearing the Earth apart, bringing something up from the ground? (Robin nods.) Good. Now tell me. Where?
Why did he have to use the phrase, "Tearing the Earth apart?"
What was the cartridge Deke took from the navigation console on the Amorath ship?
Qovas, did not die slowly enough.
One ep left. And here's to hoping for another season!
Nov 24, 2024 23:10:42 GMT
Nov 24, 2024 23:10:42 GMT
I'll be spending next weekend with some family I like and trying to avoid any remotely controversial conversations with others that I spend the rest of the year avoiding 