S7 Ep 7 spoiler thread!

Tonight is a rerun from last season?😎🙀🙀😹

How to steal from a dozen different movies and get away with it...


Dude! What a totally awesome episode! This is more like a running commentary, since that's how I started it...


Ep 707 is strangely told in flashback. No wait, it was just strange, but told in flashback. Marvel logo dissolves, and May is debriefing Deke.

May: Agent Shaw, I want a full report. What happened. Start from the beginning.
Deke: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
May: Try me, and we'll find out.

Well, hell, fellas, I still don't believe it. This episode was a mix of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Battlestar Galactica (well, maybe it was Knight Rider, it is 1982, after all), Max Headroom, Short Circuit, the X-Force from Deadpool 2, Fat Thor and a couple of slasher flicks. Oh, and sometimes they refer to that TV show Agents of SHIELD...


So, there's this computer geek named, "Russell". Like the kid in "Up", seemingly the same character type. Some guy brings in a broken PC, and needs it fixed because of a "power surge". Russell boots it up, slot three is merely described as "occupied", at which time a dot-matrix printer starts printing in a strange script. Of course. You always plug in the printer when trying to diagnose a PC problem... When it's done, a prompt appears on the monitor:

"WILL YOU HELP ME? Y/N?"

Russell looks around (this isn't normal behavior for an XT clone), and presses "Y". The computers responds, "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU". Russell voices, "Who are you?"

The printer starts up, and prints a picture of... Sibyl. I'm gettin' kinda tired of her...

Title card:




Flash to Deke and Mack. Deke is freaking out the Zephyr is gone, and Mack is still in his own world, and abandons Deke. He goes and visits his parents grave, and travels to his Uncle's house where young Mack and his brother live. Mack's got a gift for his young self, but chickens out. Mack needs some better writers.


Russell, in the mean time, builds a voice modulator for Sibyl, so we won't have to keep read dialog off of a computer monitor. Russell's going to build a Chronicom. (Well, a 1982 version of a Chronocom.)

Meanwhile, Mack finds a place to live, and a montage starts of Mack building model car kits. Now, I haven't really looked, but I understand there's a market for a lot of those old model car kits, and some can bring some serious money.

Of course, the first kit he puts together is... Lola. Attention is brought to a trashcan full of empty beer cans. Deke finally tracks him down, and is carrying a grocery bag, with a large ball visible in the bag. Mack throws the ball out the door, Deke goes to retrieve it, and Mack closes and locks the door. For some reason, I laughed way harder than I should have. Mack is turning into Fat Thor from Endgame...

Several months and visits later, Deke finally just shoves a message under his door, saying to come to a bar, and it's urgent.


Meanwhile, Russell is giving flowers to the 1982 version of a Chronicom. Half Johnny 5 and half Cylon. (Okay, the oscillating red light could have been from Knight Rider, which debuted in 1982, as opposed to Battlestar Galactica which was 1978-1980...) Notwithstanding the adoration Russell seems to have for Sibyl, it should be pointed out that these mixed relationships never end well...

Now, every time we see Mack, his beard is getting longer. Average beard growth is 1/2" per month, but he had a beard to start with.
Mack shows up at the bar, it looks like it's 9 or 10 inches long. So maybe 8 to 9 inch growth, which would be 16 to 18 months...

He goes to the bar, looking for Deke. Turns out Deke's a pretty famous guy. He's a Rock Star! He's going to sing the encore to his set, Don't You (Forget About Me) by  Simple Minds  The Deke Squad!

Mack (to bartender): I'm gonna need a drink.


Break for commercial. When we get back from the break, we're back at the Deke debrief on the Zephyr.

May: Okay. Stop right there. A band?
Deke: I said you wouldn't believe me. Do you want me to finish or not?
May sits back down with a bemused look on her face.
May: Can't wait to hear the rest.

Back to the bar, where we get an 80's style music video of Deke doing that Don't You cover. I mean, it's like 2 minutes 30 seconds of air-time. And in the end, Deke's performance wasn't bad, lol.


And seriously. Deke knew coke as the cola reference, but not the drug reference? (Okay, it was Deke, but...) And if any of you picked Deke to be the next Director in the poll, your hopes have been dashed.



Strange things are afoot at the Lighthouse. The team Deke has assembled is... certainly not the A-Team. Deke's team is sad, and Mack is mad.

Mack: This is a top-secret military facility, not a party pad for you and your friends.
Deke: Seems like you're overreacting.
Mack: Not even a little.
Deke: Coulson seemed fine with it.
Mack: Wh... Coulson's alive?
Deke: Coulson's body disintegrated when he blew up those Chronicoms, but his mind, life data, stayed safe and sound on a hard drive. Now I didn't have much in the way of resources, so... I had to improvise.

He turns on a TV and a VCR (and has to hit the VCR to get it to work) and Phil Headroom appears on the screen.

Way back in 701 I said:

And for the 7th incarnation, we have Phil Headroom in a TV. How many more Coulson's can we get? I'm in for a couple more...


Mack: Coulson?
Coulson: And not a bunch of ones and zeros trapped in a digital Hell? I'd like to think so. But admittedly, there's been some real soul-searching here... (lol..)
Deke: God, listen to this guy. So humble. You know he single-highhandedly demolished the Chronicoms, right?
Coulson: Actually it cost me both hands. It's good you're here Mack. From what I can tell, Sibyl's still out there.
Mack: Sibyl?
Coulson: The head Chronicom. She uses something called Time Streams to predict the future.
Deke: Yeah, but I'll bet her crystal ball didn't show a certain Big Bang coming. Am I right?
Mack (takes a deep breath): Shouldn't this Sibyl have died in the blast?
Coulson: You'd think, but then again, I made it out on a hard drive. which got me thinking about how she might have escaped.
Deke: Coulson's found evidence that Sibyl slipped into the River's End power supply.
Coulson: I've been monitoring the local grid. Every time there's a power surge, more of these appear. (Strange printout similar to the one printed on Russell's printer early in the show.)
Mack: So you think she's reaching out. Any idea what for?
Coulson: I think Sibyl's building new Hunters.


Meanwhile, Russell re-enters his shop. He has some bags from "Big Em's Ammo Emporium", lol.

Russell: Picked up that stuff you asked for. Interesting place.

Inside the back room, Sibyl is building another robot.

Russell: What's going on?
Sibyl: I needed to expand my capabilities.
Russell: I've been waiting my whole life for you. Was I not enough?
Sibyl: You have served a purpose.
Russell: You can't leave me. Not after everything we've shared.
Sibyl: I concur. You know too much.

Another robot appears, and drills a hole through Russell's chest. No, I mean it. With a drill. Through his chest. I did warn you, Russell...

Commercial.



When we return, Mack is pushing the TV/VCR/Phil Headroom down the corridor. And they're having a discussion. I have a very difficult time watching this scene with any sort of seriousness, even though Coulson is trying to get Mack back into action...

And we get to see "The Deke Squad" in action, running Deke's obstacle course. Wow, this is scary. Especially Olga, the Russian woman.

And then, Deke shows Mack a shiny new shotgun-axe.

Mack: That's not a team. It's a bunch of losers playing dress-up led by a Peter Pan that in constant need of attention. (HAhahahaha...)


Well, that about sums it up. Mack starts to leave. At the same time, Johnny 5 and his cohorts are breaking into a top-secret military facility through the sewer. I'm glad the designers of the Lighthouse thought so much of security that someone with a drill couldn't break in with just a drill...  Oh wait...


So the drummer (Cricket? I'm not looking his name up, 'cause he's about to die) and his... girlfriend? Girl for the night? Anyway, they hear a noise. They go investigate, and find one of Sibyl's hunters. The girl thinks it's cute. The guy makes fun of it.

Number 2: You should not have patronized me. (I swear it even sounded like Johnny 5, but it was Number 2...)

Whereupon the hunter starts up a circular saw (this must be power tool week) and the camera cuts down, and the thickest blood you've ever seen and a pair of drumsticks fall to the floor. Hahahaha...

Mack on the other hand, is being lectured by Roxy, one of the more rational members of Deke's team. Mack finds out Deke's been taking care of... Little Mack. She thinks it's Mack's kid (looks just like him, lol) and he's abandoned him. Well Mack, yes you are being an ass.

As they stand there, a door opens to show Number 3 (the robot hunter with the drill).

Roxy: What's that robot doing here?
Mack: Not again! Take cover!
Robot: EXTERMINATE!

Well, if you don't get the reference, you don't get the reference. At which point, Number 3 sprays the corridor with machine gun fire. Apparently you can get automatic weapons at Big Em's Ammo Emporium. Who knew?


After Deke admits he's not a leader, the girl who was with Cricket (apparently her name is Tawni) appears in the doorway with blood splatters all over he body, and screams that it murdered Cricket, whereupon a robot arm grabs her and is pulled away from the doorway. I have often remarked how the show runners... overestimate how much blood you can immediately get from a human body, and they don't fail to disappoint, as her blood floods the corridor.  (Side question.  Who cleans all this up?)  Number 2 appears in the doorway.

Number 2: Can you please help me? I'm lost.
One of the Chang brothers: I think it's a trick.

Oh really? Not that I want to diss the Chang brothers, but do you think?

After getting a POV from Number 3 ("Search and Destroy" is at the bottom of the screen, because all Chronicom hunters take instructions in English), we find Mack and Roxy hiding in a room as Number 3 goes by.

Mack: Deke was right.
Roxy: About what? Gun-totin' robots?
Mack: He and Coulson believe Sibyl was building an army.
Roxy: So, you've encountered these things before?
Mack: Yeah. They killed my parents.
Roxy: I'm sorry.
Mack (music reaching crescendo): Me too. But somewhere, somehow, someone's gonna pay. (1985 - Commando)
Roxy: You mean the robots?
Mack: Yeah, yeah, the robots. That's... That's what I meant. Yeah.

lol...

So Mack joins the Deke Squad. He shaves off his beard, and becomes... Punk Mack. Complete with a shiny, new, shotgun axe.  I mean, he could be an action figure, lol.  Is he wearing lifts in his shoes?  Just a question...


Coulson thinks Sibyl is after a device left in the Lighthouse after the demise of her time ship. Mack decides to turn the tables, and they hunt down the Chronicoms.

Mack locates Number 2.
Mack: You and I got a score to settle, Short Circuit. (lololol...)

They kill (well, overkill) Number 2, only to be confronted by Sibyl's robot, who of course has a laser gun. So you can find laser blasters at Big Em's Ammo Emporium. Who knew?

The Russian woman (Olga) gets shot, and the team evacuates. Well, most of the team evacuates, the Chang brothers just run away. Nothing like a little courage when it's needed the most... Deke comforts Olga.

Roxy: What now?
Mack: I want you to throw this at the Sibyl-Bot.
Roxy: But it's not rigged to a detonator.
Mack: Shhh. Not a problem. Agent Shaw, can you create a distraction?
Deke: Oh, this Peter Pan's an attention grabbing son of a bitch.

Lol, I knew there'd be a payoff to that line...

Deke (to Sibyl-Bot): Surrender now, and I promise not to make a speak and spell out of your spare parts. 'Cause that would probably be embarrassing for a robot.

Sibyl shoots Deke for such a cheesy line, Roxy throws the explosive and Mack shoots it with the shotgun axe. Sibyl-Bot blows outward, even though the explosive blew up above her, but who am I to argue physics at this point. Deke is saved by some sort of protective vest.

Mack: You okay?
Deke: Yeah. Hoo. That's not even the worst rash I've had this year. (lololol...)
Mack: Nice work, D.
Deke: Thanks, Mack Daddy.
Mack: Nope.
Deke: Roger that...

But, there's a smaller robot who has the Time Streams that's trying to get away.

The Deke Squad in the meantime, is winding down in the control room.

Mack: I've been over every square inch. Sibyl's nowhere to be found.
Coulson: Sibyl must have gotten them out somehow.
Mack: Which means she's still alive.
Deke: Okay, so what happens next? Kick back, relax, and wait for the Zephyr?
Mack: There's something you and I need to take care of.

Cut to Mack and Deke in front of Mack's Uncle's house.

Deke: Last semester, you got straight A's, you racked up the high score on Ms. Pac-Man... and you cried buckets when you read "Where the Red Fern Grows."
Mack: Wh... That stays between us.
Deke: Not making any promises. (lol)
Mack: Uncle Marcus' car looks nicer than I remember.
Deke: You don't say.

The way Mack looks at Deke. Genuine fondness, there.

Mack: How are Reuben and I... doing with, uh... You know.
Deke: Still hard. I mean, they were your parents. I don't think that pain ever goes away completely. But every day's a little easier, and your Uncle Marcus has been great. I think you and Reuben are even closer in this timeline.

Mack reaches into a bag. He's got a model car kit.

Deke: Do it. It's gonna help. (They start walking toward the house.) Now remember, you're just a friend from my band, okay?
Mack: Yeah, okay, but what instrument do I play?
Deke: I don't know. I was thinking maybe... Harmonica?
Mack: Oh, what? Harmonica? Oh, hell no. No, no, no, no, no... I'm a sax man, all the way.
Deke: Of course the big man plays the sax. All right I'm into that, but we're gonna have to get you a couple of lessons. It's got to be authentic.

A surprisingly touching scene. I'm pretty sure Mack and Deke's relationship won't be as caustic as it used to be...


Cut to the Zephyr phasing into 1984. The Team has 27 days before their next jump. May and Yo-Yo are in the quinjet.

May: Mack's okay. We have his location.
Yo-Yo: Okay and alive are two very different things. It's been 20 months. No one should ever have to go through something like that alone.
May: We'll be there soon.

And Mack and Yo-Yo reunite. Touching. May walks into the control room.

May: Good to see you Deke. (Sees Phil Headroom.) You too, Coulson.
Coulson: That's really not the reaction I was expecting.
May: Simmons gave specific orders to find your hard drive. Said it was our most important asset. I might even agree with her.
Coulson: Did she mention anything about...
May: Building you a new body? You'll just have to wait and see.
Coulson: That's cold, May, even for you.

Cut to Yo-Yo and Mack.

Yo-Yo: How are you holding up?
Mack: It wasn't easy, but it helped that I had time, and I had friends.
Yo-Yo: These are SHIELD agents?
Mack: Mm. Come on. Let me introduce you.

Fade out.

Epilogue.

Sibyl-Bot is roaming around town, and finally arrives at a destination. Someone takes the Time Streams from the robot, and... It's little Nate. So the slime ball still lives.

Nate: It's smaller than I imagined. (Yeah, like your... Well, no reason to get personal I guess...)
Sibyl Headroom, who's now on a TV like Coulson: You now have the one tool necessary to control your world's future.
Nate: Well, lucky me. Aren't you just full of neat tricks, digital lady.
Sibyl: I'm confident we'll make a perfect pair.

Yeah, that's what Russell thought too.

End Episode.



So The Deke Squad still exists. I don't want to say they're all wearing Red Shirts, but with Cricket gone, they all seem to be a bunch of well-meaning guys. Especially Roxy, who if anyone comes out of this as a real SHIELD agent, it might be her.

Pretty sure Deke's and Mack's adversarial relationship is over. Well, maybe not over, but I think Deke's become an important person in Mack's life, who showed more compassion to Mack than Mack did, whether an adult or child.

As stated in the live watch, I've officially reduced Ian to guest star status, and if he doesn't show up soon, cameo status. Sorry Ian, but you just couldn't be bothered to show up...


This was another episode where on one hand, it was hilarity, but on the other, it was quite a touching story of family and friends where you can find it. I just hope Mack becomes less of an idiot.


And finally, be excellent to each other!  We only have 6 more eps!