REVIEW: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Uprising"
Here is something I’ve almost never said about the third episode in literally any season I can think of at the moment: I enjoyed this episode better than the one before it. It’s strange, considering nothing of real value was gained from watching this, nothing out of the ordinary anyway. However, I was still attached to the story and interested in what happened next which hasn’t happened for a few weeks. Care to witness my existential crisis? Here is my review for “Uprising.”
I know, how can I like the first episode of the season that didn’t even feature Ghost Rider? I did miss the flaming skull head, but there was always something missing in the first two episodes, and that was a sense of urgency. They didn’t have a major villain, an overwhelming threat to the world, or even a set time jump from one episode to the next. This episode…still doesn’t really have any of that either, but, for an hour, they at least pretended like they did.
Mysterious blackouts occur throughout the world with the team forced to combat against the threat of rioters and Inhuman uprisings as they night sets around them. Meanwhile, May is on the verge of literally dying of fear unless Simmons can come up with a cure. Then the power goes out for her. None of those things matter after this episode, but it at least gave a sense of desperation and need to do things. If anything, the Robbie part was actually the least interesting part of the episode, though it at least gave some important insights (i.e. I might be right about Eli Morrow).
I’m also surprised how once again SHIELD gives a better dissertation about the faults of the Accords than Civil War ever did by actually showing the registration list being used against them. Granted, I’m actually against the ridiculous idea that absolutely NO Inhuman couldn’t be for an uprising since the last two seasons ended with exactly that happening. However, like Coulson believed, it’s stupid to think that nothing bad can come from having a list of names and addresses of nearly everyone in the world who has superpowers available to any little government agency. Because if there is one thing science fiction teaches us, it’s that we should above all always trust the government.
It’s also the little things that make and break an episode for me too. For example, we’re just counting down the moments before the anger at Fitz keeping a secret from Simmons turns into the anger at Simmons for being too stupid not to know. That’s probably the show’s master plan to make me accept a horrible idea. Unfortunately for me, I can’t be sure if it would work or not.
Another little thing is the reappearance of Yo-Yo Rodriguez and our opportunity to meet some of her friends. With the additional conflict with Mack after he discovers her secret assistance of Daisy, I can now say that…yeah, she’s dying. It’s a shame since this episode renewed my love for her speed effect and her unique presence on the show. True, I could still hold on to the slim belief that she could still hop up to a series regular for the second half of the series, but nothing points to that direction. More importantly, season four is not the time when I start hoping for things to change.
On the bright side, the show is starting to ease its way into its smaller cast in a far superior method compared to season three. Sure, there are still a bunch of supporting characters who all have their conflicting plots, but the screen is less crowded with dull. Even better, the screen actually decided to put characters together for a change. Literally, half of the main characters were in a van together for almost half the episode. That shouldn’t be a big deal right now, but considering we are nowhere near getting the group back together, it can be.
Where it stands, however, the future episodes still look dim. They managed to create some tension, but I don’t know how they can keep that up again and again without settling down with some enemy or mission. We still have the ghosts and Eli Morrow, who is obviously returning if we’ve seen his face, but what could they possible want? As ghosts, their touch drives people insane, but they just overcame that. Plus, how can they top threatening the entire world?
Now, I didn’t say me liking the episode made it perfect. I’m only saying that the pacing and interactions in this one were far greater than the ones in the previous one and even some in the opening. This is a good direction for the season but one that does not leave any promises. The only thing I do hope for is maybe another episode that at least makes sense. Stories about the ghosts playing endless rounds of the pronoun game are really hard to follow.
