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'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Season 4 Episode 2 Review


After her encounters with Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider last week, Daisy is on his trail, tracking his whereabouts. Daisy finds him at his shop and threatens to expose his secrets unless she can get more information out of him about who he is and what's happening. They wind up getting into another scuffle, as Robbie knocks her out and ties her up.

Coulson and May have a meeting with new S.H.I.E.L.D. director Jeffrey Mace. Thinking the director would come down hard on him, Coulson is tasked by Mace to help guide a tour of the facility to government officials, as S.H.I.E.L.D. is being legitimized again after the signing of the Sokovia Accords. Director Mace appears to be a charming, charismatic man that is later revealed to be an Unhuman with super-strength and invulnerability.

Another plot point features the "ghost" we saw in the premiere that is driving people insane. May is losing her mind, seeing ghastly faces when she looks at her colleagues, even going so far as attacking her trainees and Coulson. Mace intervenes and subdues her, and we're shown an end-credits clip of her being transported in a Quinjet strapped to a gurney. Fitz and Mack track the location of the place where the box that was holding the ghost was manufactured, where Mack is locked in a machine by another ghost that has its reactor core melting down. Ghost Rider and Quake show up, as Ghost Rider is able to destroy the spirit and Quake saves Mack.

Robbie believes that the ghosts have something to do with him, as it was revealed that the people turned into the apparitions are seeking revenge on someone for their condition. Also mentioned is a book called the Darkhold that has some kind of supernatural connection. After looking up information on the book from comic history, it has been in the possession of many Marvel characters, like: Chthon, Conan, Red Sonja, Morgan Le Fay and Doctor Strange. The book contains practices of black magic in the comics and could reveal the origins of Ghost Rider and could serve as a great tie-in with the 'Doctor Strange' movie and all sorts of supernatural aspects of the Marvel lore.

This episode was good in the sense of its plot devices and world building, but didn't have much action. I don't need intense action scenes every episode if the story is good, so I didn't mind the slower episode. I love the direction this season is taking with its edgier tones and horror themes with Ghost Rider and the Darkhold. I really think this season could start bringing in more "monsters" and could actually see the inclusion of The Punisher (check out the current theories online). The new 10 PM/EST time slot is allowing for grittier tones and themes, which could be the catalyst to have darker characters.

My rating: 8 out of 10

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